Destin and 30A hold a special place in my heart. We have been traveling there almost every summer for about 20 years. Over the years, we seem to have perfected the travel, restaurants, and day-to-day activities. Super excited to share them all with you! If you have any questions, please as always feel free to reach out. My DM’s on Instagram are always open.
How to Get There
Prior to having kids, we always drove. Even when we lived up north in Ohio, etc. We liked having our own cars and the luxury to pack the cars full of everything we could possibly need. When we would drive from Texas, we would split the two trip into two segments and stay the night in New Orleans.
After I had Cooper, half of our group flew (my mom, my dad, myself and Cooper) and the other half drove with all of our luggage (Isaac, my brother, my brother’s friends). We did that the last two years, but this summer now with both kids, we decided it would be easiest to all fly.
Previously, we flew our normal United. When we stayed in Destin, we flew from IAH to Destin-Ft. Walton. When we stayed in 30A, we flew from IAH to Panama City. This year we decided to try JSX and let me tell you, game changer! It was no more expensive than flying commercial. JSX flies out of Hobby to Destin Executive Airport. They are smaller planes but there are so many benefits. You can show up 20 minutes before your flight, no walking through a huge airport hauling luggage, no TSA, you walk right out to your plane, simplified boarding process, and when you get to your destination your rental car is right off the plane waiting for you. Highly recommend.
Where to Stay and How to Book
Years ago, we always stayed at Sandestin in Destin. We didn’t have as big of a group at the time and opted to stay in 2-3 bedroom condos. It’s great because it’s right on the beach and a lot of the units have been recently updated and modernized!
As our group continued to grow each summer, we decided to start looking at booking a house instead of a condo. We have stayed in a different house each summer for the past five years and have enjoyed all of them! When we first started staying in a house, we booked through VRBO. Over the years, we have discovered it is often less expensive and more beneficial to book through local services such as 360 Blue, Five Star Gulf Rentals or 30A Escapes.
One thing I love about Destin/30A is how each beach town has its own vibe. They are all extremely close together and easy to access which makes every day a new adventure. On the west side is Destin proper. That is where we stayed for 10+ years. More recently, we have stayed down on 30A. 30A is, in my opinion, significantly less commercialized and easier to navigate.
From west to east, the beach towns go in order from Sant Rosa, Dune Allen, Blue Mountain, Grayton, Watercolor, Seaside, Seagrove, Watersound, Seacrest, Alys, and then Rosemary. We personally like Seagrove the best because it is laid back, less crowded, and the beaches are always empty.
Watercolor is super family friendly with plenty of pools, Camp Watercolor, and lots of amenities. Seaside is also another family friendly option. Both are great because they allow golf carts to get around. In my opinion, Alys and Rosemary are less family friendly and would be great for an older group, couples trip or bachelorette. A lot of the restaurants in Rosemary are 18 and up and golf carts are not allowed.
Restaurant Recommendations
And of course what I would consider the best part of a vacation, the food! Below are our family’s favorites along with cocktail and dish recommendations.
Red Bar (Grayton Beach): a classic! Live music, eclectic decor, and a small menu that makes ordering and eating quick and easy. There are also shops to walk around while you wait for your table.
Drinks: Cucumber Margarita, Blueberry Mojito
Food: Shrimp and Crawfish, Manicotti (THE BEST)
Mimmo’s (Destin): new Italian restaurant that is super vibey and upscale with new Italian flare. Adorable cocktails paired with amazing food.
Drinks: Rossini, Martini Giardino, Lavender Bees Knees
Food: Famous Italian Garlic Rolls, Focaccia Del Sud, Tuna Salad, Pappardelle All’aragosta, Gnocchi Al Forno
Great Southern Cafe (Seaside): everyone knows this place if you have ever been to Seaside. It’s great because it is right in the heart of all the shopping. They also take reservations!
Drinks: they have the BEST mojitos, try out the strawberry or mango
Food: Crab Cakes and Fried Green Tomatoes, Soul Rolls, Baked Oyster Trio, Grits A Ya Ya, Seafood Celebration, Balsamic Salmon
Cafe Thirty A (Santa Rosa): my personal favorite. Everything is amazing. Make reservations ahead of time as they fill up quickly. This is my number one pick.
Drinks: The Hummingbird, Bellini Tini, The Blueberry Lemonade Tini
Food: Tuna Poke, Cajun Chicken Eggroll, She Crab Soup, Maine Lobster in Paradise, Crab Cake Entree
Blue Mabel (Santa Rosa): tucked away in an unsuspecting strip center, although there may not be beach views, the food is fantastic. They also have adult capri-suns, yes please!
Drinks: Annie Oakley Coconut Margarita, Pardon Me Dolly
Food: Gulf Coast Ceviche, Smokehouse Nachos, Elote Corn Dip, Island Grill Skin On Salmon, Roasted Wild Mushroom Pasta
Pescado (Rosemary): 18+ and perfect for a date night out. Walk around the precious town of Rosemary and then dine on the rooftop with impeccable views.
Drinks: En Route, Pequeno Tipo, Southern Reviver
Food: Chimichurri Shrimp, Scallop Bruschetta, Tuna Rolls, Orecchiette, Seafood Paella
Havana Beach Bar and Grill at The Pearl Hotel (Rosemary): great option for lunch or to grab a cocktail to walk around and shop!
Drinks: Pina Colada on the rocks (it’s off the menu, but one of the waitresses got me hooked a couple of years ago!)
Food: Gulf Shrimp and Pineapple Salad, Blackened Grouper Sandwich
Shunk Gulley (Santa Rosa): if you are an oyster lover, you definitely have to check this place out. Another restaurant with ocean views from their seating on the upper deck.
Drinks: White Sands, Watermelon Margarita, Shunk Juice
Food: Cheddar Jalapeno Oysters, Blue Chair Bay Key Lime Shrimp, Gulf Sandwich, Fried Sweet Tea Chicken Fingers
Boshamps (Destin): awesome place for families, it’s HUGE! But there is often a long wait, so get there early. There are multiple bars to grab a drink while you wait and it’s on the dock so you can watch as charters come in with their catches from the day.
Drinks: Boshamps Banana Breeze, East Pass Punch, Pain Killer
Food: House Smoked Yellowfin Tuna Dip, True Alabama Feta Cheese Dip, Raw Oysters, Corn and Crab Chowder, Pan Sauteed Gulf Snapper, Cornmeal Dusted Gulf Grouper Pecan, Gulf Coast Duck Confit Cassoulet
Old Florida Fish House (Seagrove): tons of outdoor seating but they also take reservations. AMAZING sushi, you have to get the nigiri. There are little shops as well as outdoor games for the family and kids. There is also a quaint wine bar on site where you can get wine/beer on tap, or bottles and beer to-go.
Drinks: Mexico Beach Margarita, Seagrove
Food: Grouper Fish House, Charbroiled Oysters, Buffalo Crab Claws, Volcano Roll, Nigiri
Chiringo (Grayton Beach): I have not personally eaten here, but they have my favorite cocktails out of any other restaurant. It is located across from Red Bar so we often grab a drink here while we wait for our table. And sometimes, I’ll grab a drink after to take for the road.
Cocktail Favorites: Hotz Summer Days, Tsunami, Island Lemonade
The Donut Hole: a must for donuts, coffee, and key lime pie.
Coffee: Amavida, Black Bear, Kahve and Cream, Beachy Been, East Pass, Capriccio
Traveling with Littles
Going on a plane or a road trip with a tiny baby or toddler can be intimidating. Yes, it is a lot of work. But the memories are worth it. TAKE THE TRIP. It is so fun to see your babes enjoy the sand, ocean breeze, and everything else 30A has to offer.
As far as the plane ride, bring all of the things. Pre-download shows or movies on an iPad. Bring wireless bluetooth headphones. Reusable stickers are fun to put on the plane windows! ALL THE SNACKS. And bring a waterproof cup for your toddler as well to put any drinks/liquids in.
If you are bringing a baby, I highly recommend baby wearing. It made things so much easier when I was hands free. Of course, the Solly Baby Wrap is my personal favorite. Bring pre made bottles, a formula stacker, and bottled water. Try to feed or put a pacifier in babies mouth during takeoff to prevent any uncomfortable ear popping with the altitude change. Lots of diapers, wipes, purell wipes, body wipes, pacifiers, a portable sound machine, diaper cream (just in case), extra outfits, socks, bags to dispose of dirty diapers, a small blanket in case the plane is cold, burp cloths/rags, etc. Bring extra ziploc bags! Also, LOVED the Bogg Bag for traveling. 100% worth it.
I will link some of the things I ordered off of Amazon that helped make travel easy in separate post! Keep in mind, if you are flying commercial, strollers and/or car seats do not count as checked bags and can be gate checked at no charge.
Last but not least, label everything. This was so extremely helpful. I got an inexpensive bluetooth label maker off of Amazon.
