There are several communities along 30A, which all have a little different vibe. All are so quaint and the best part is everything is so close you can check out several areas along 30A in one trip if you’d like.
Rosemary beach area has become one our family’s personal favorites along the 30A stretch. While good for families of all ages, I have noticed many nearby events are great for younger kids, which is perfect for my family. The town is centered around an adorable town square and city hall. The cobble stone street is lined with amazing shopping and restaurants.
Another thing I love about Rosemary is the location along 30A! Rosemary Beach is located on the south east side of 30A in-between Inlet, Seacrest and Alys [pronounced “Alice”] Beach. You can fly into the Panama City Beach airport and it’s a quick 20 minute drive! Anything to help the logistics of travel and actually getting to the “vacation” part helps tremendously when traveling with littles.
30A has grown in popularity, so there are a few things you’ll want to research and reserve in advance of your vacation. I recommend saving this post as a great resource in planning your trip!
*This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn a commission on purchases made after clicking on these links. We only recommend products we believe in. Thank you for your support!
Where to Stay
We have stayed in a number of places within the Rosemary Beach area. You can stay in one of the Rosemary Beach rentals, and gain access to one of their 4 pools and private beach. These homes are beautiful and great for large families. There are also smaller condo type rentals in the Pearl, which is a stunning hotel located in the center of Rosemary. This hotel offers a European feel an is amazing, but something I’d recommend for a smaller family or a couple. Check out the Rosemary Beach website for a listing of all homes and options. These options will be in the heart of the town, but will be a little more pricey, especially in peak times.
We also have stayed in multiple Villas at Seacrest Beach Rentals. This community has an amazing community pool and small center called Peddlers. Peddlers has nightly live music, several small shops, restaurants and bike rentals. There is a small grocery to stock up on any items you may have forgot to get at Publix. The beach access through Seacrest Beach is near a beach restaurant called Crabby Steve’s. This area offers houses for large families or poolside condos. This location typically is more affordable than Rosemary Beach rentals, and it’s just a short ~3 minute walk to downtown Rosemary. We often travel to 30A with my sister and brothers and their kids, and this area has become the perfect location for multi-families staying in one home.
For a small family I recommend staying at the Pointe. This is a luxury resort in Inlet Beach offering 2-3 bedroom condos. I’ve stayed here with my husband and two-year-old daughter and it was the perfect getaway for a small family. There is an incredible kid friendly pool with cabanas and a local eatery onsite called Big Bad Breakfast. It is extremely clean and easy for a small family. You can ride the tram to the beach, which includes chair service. This is a must need with children! Downtown Rosemary is a ~10 minute walk or short bike ride away.
Dining
- The Donut Hole – Stop at the donut counter for grab and go or stay for a full sit down menu. This place can draw a crowd so get there early if dining in or play bag games while waiting in line.
- Big Bad Breakfast – Connected to the Pointe Hotel, BBB has an amazing food and fun drinks to enjoy as you overlook palm trees at the cabana pool.
- Charlie’s Donuts – Located in downtown Alys, this is a fun spot to bike to and enjoy big, fresh unique toppings donuts. They also now have a location in Peddlers and my daughter loves their smoothies!
- Cowgirl Kitchen – Located in downtown Rosemary, they have a casual menu you and your kids will enjoy. Then, stop by their CK Feed & Supply across the street. This is a must stop for us at the beginning of the trip to stock up on fun snacks and beverages to have at our rental.
- The Pearl Havana – I highly recommend getting appetizers and cocktails at the Havana Rooftop. Kids are allowed but it’s quaint. I have brought my 2-year old to the rooftop and the live band serenaded her with You are My Sunshine (so sweet!). Since having 3 kiddos, we’ve moved to the inside dining for brunch with large groups. The service and food is fantastic.
- George’s at Alys Beach – This restaurant has become very popular in Alys. You will see a line starting to form around 4:30 prior to opening. I’ve only been here for dinner and ordered the Spicy Salt & Pepper Shrimp, which I highly recommend!
- Pescado – I highly recommend an adult’s evening. Plan out a sitter in advance and set a reminder to make reservations exactly 60 days in advance, as they book quickly. The view of Rosemary is unbelievable and the fresh seafood is even better. If you miss reservations you can get apps and listen to live music in the courtyard.
- Old Florida Fish House – The restaurant is further down 30A in Santa Rosa Beach. I highly recommend for several reasons. First you can make reservations on Resy, which is hard to do in 30A. The ambiance is fun, there are games for kids and the place is huge, perfect for large groups!
- Goatfeather Seafood Market – This market sells fresh seafood to cook at your rental. We love stopping by on the way home from a day of shopping in Seaside, as it’s located along 30A in Santa Rosa Beach.
Entertainment & Shopping
- Rosemary Events – Before visiting 30A take a look at the events calendar. Rosemary offers several activities including outdoor movies, crafts, yoga and a magic show. Our kids love these events and we typically plan a lot of our dining and activities around the summer calendar.
- Alys Playground – You can’t miss Alys and all of the stark white buildings. It is one of the most expensive and luxe of all the towns along 30A. I recommend biking to the playground which is a work of art in it’s own. This spot is perfect for young children!
- Seaside Shops – About ~20 minutes down scenic 30A you can visit the popular Seaside. You will find several shops, food trucks and outdoor markets. I recommend eating at Bud and Alleys and ice cream at It’s Heavenly. My kids always remember this day because of Duckies, and I love it because of the cute outdoor markets.
- The Big Chill – This venue is very large so perfect for those traveling with large families. It has live music, outdoor movies and several food trucks. Check out the events in advance – we personally love the movie night! It about a ~8 minute drive for Rosemary.
Rentals
- La Dolce Vita – Beach chair rental is an absolute must! Book early in advance in order to get the premium seating if you prefer this, however anywhere on these white beaches is amazing. LDV also offers bonfires on the beach. We have not done this but it looks amazing and something I plan to try out soon!
- Beach Baby Crib Rentals – There’s nothing better than renting all the things for the kids so you don’t have to cart on the plane. Beach Baby Crib Rental company is very professional has great products and the delivery complete before you even arrive.
- Peddler Bike Rental – Another must is bikes! It’s common for some to come with the house rental – so look out for this! But I normally need to get a few kids sizes. I recommend reserving from Peddlers in advance so you can make sure to get the size you need. Again this company will delver to your rental!
For more posts on family check out the Family section of our blog here.
