I explored 3 beach towns in 'the Hamptons of the South'. One of the Florida gems was my favorite by a landslide.
I spent time along Florida's 30A in three towns: Seaside, Rosemary Beach, and Alys Beach.
Each beach town was very different, and the one I liked best felt the most "Florida" to me.
The 30A beach town I'd recommend for a first-time visitor is Seaside for its great food and vibes.
Florida's 30A area is a stretch of white-sand beaches, Gulf of Mexico views, and quaint beach towns that runs for 24 miles along County Road 30A.
The area, which is in the Florida panhandle between Panama City Beach or Destin, has grown in popularity in recent years and has been nicknamed "the Hamptons of the South" by those who visit.
Recently, I spent a few days in 30A and explored three beach towns there: Rosemary Beach, Seaside, and Alys Beach.
All were charming and had lots to do, but as a Florida native who writes about travel for a living, there was one spot I'd recommend if you're looking to get the full 30A experience while still feeling like you had a distinctly "Florida" vacation.
Rosemary Beach gave off European vibes, but again, didn't feel like Florida.
I enjoyed my time in Rosemary Beach and found the TikToks I'd seen about the area to be accurate: The whole town has a European vibe, from the architecture of its homes to the design of its main shopping and dining area.
The area felt high-end and pricy, something some people vacationing in Florida may not expect.
Despite being cute and within walking distance of the main area of town, I found myself preferring to drive elsewhere in my rental car.
Of all the 30A beach towns I visited, Seaside was my favorite.
During my visit to 30A, I stayed at an Airbnb between Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach.
A perk of this area is that most of the beach towns are within walking or biking distance, and bike-rental shops are plentiful if a bicycle isn't included with your rental property.
Seaside was about a 15-minute drive from my Airbnb, and I found myself making the trip on two separate occasions to spend time there because I liked the area so much.
Seaside feels like an upscale beach town that's still distinctly "Florida."
As someone who's lived in Florida for the last eight years, I've come to appreciate the state's quirkiness and beauty. I love everything Florida's beach towns have to offer, and walking through Seaside felt very "Florida," while also feeling upscale.
There were gorgeous beach houses and breathtaking views of the blue-green Gulf of Mexico, but the area also had beach bars, souvenir shops, and hole-in-the-wall restaurants that reminded me I was still in my state.
Some of the best meals I had in 30A were in Seaside.
The flavors of Seaside were delightful and I'd absolutely return to the town for meals on future trips to 30A.
One night, I had a wonderful steak dinner on the rooftop of Bud and Alley's, a historic restaurant with famous sunset views.
Another day, I visited Seaside bright and early for breakfast at Pickle's Burger and Shakes, a spot on the beach that serves Southern breakfast fare like biscuits and gravy.
Even the latte I grabbed at Amavida Coffee and Tea was excellent.
The sunsets in Seaside can't be beat.
The sunsets along the Gulf of Mexico are stunning, and the prettiest one I saw was while having dinner on the roof of the aforementioned Bud and Alley's.
The restaurant even rings a bell each time the sun sets.
My dream rental property in Seaside would be right on the gulf with a balcony for viewing the sunset on the days I didn't make it to Bud and Alley's roof.
One of the best parts of my trip was a walking tour of Seaside.
The best thing I did while in Seaside was actually a free self-guided walking tour created by the Seaside Institute that I played on my phone as I explored the town.
It featured recorded audio snippets from architects and town planners who founded Seaside explaining everything from the art and design of each beach entrance to how the local historic post office came to be.
Not only was it great to see the town on foot and learn about its history, but also finding a free vacation activity that's fun is always a win in my book.
Overall, I'd describe Seaside as an upscale Florida beach town with a family-friendly vibe.
I love that Seaside doesn't seem to take itself as seriously as towns like Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach.
Instead, it seems to embrace its Florida roots while still maintaining stunning architecture, beautiful art installations, and vibrant public areas.
It's beautiful enough to feel like a vacation — even to someone from another part of Florida — while not feeling as pretentious as other towns in the area.
My perfect 30A trip would include a stay in Seaside and day trips into the other towns.
I cannot wait to return to 30A for another vacation along the beautiful Gulf of Mexico.
After exploring the area, I'm definitely a Seaside girl, and would choose a rental property right in the heart of the town for my next trip.
I'd still venture into towns like Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach for a meal or some shopping, but I'd recommend a stay in Seaside to a first-time 30A visitor.
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