Things To Do In 30A Florida For A Fun & Relaxing Vacation

Looking for things to do in 30A Florida? Our list of favorite activities, places and restaurants will help you relax or keep you entertained. Check out our best beach tips to enjoy a stress-free time by the water.

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A frequent visitor to Seaside and 30A, a fellow mom of teenagers describes it as one of the best beach vacations for families. She gives us the scoop on things to do in 30A Florida. She also shares really practical beach tips for families who just want to relax and hang out by the ocean.

Many people ask, “What is 30A?” It’s a County Road that runs along the gulf coast of Florida, connecting many small beach communities including Rosemary Beach, Sandestin, and my favorite: Seaside.

Where To Stay in Destin and 30A

There are no high rise hotels along 30A. Vrbo is our favorite resource for rentals! There are many great little beach homes, some with private or community pools to cool off in after a day at the beach.

The sun is reflecting off of the clear blue and green water on Destin Beach. The ocean blends into a blue sky and water covers the white sand — Families looking for relaxing beach vacations love the white sandy beaches and beautiful emerald waters.

Things to Do In 30A Florida

There are so many things to do in 30A Florida and Seaside! We visit to get away and relax, but there’s plenty to keep you occupied if you’re looking for activities.

Bright blue bike with tan wheels, seat and handlebars leaning against a wooden post in the sand. Bike has a black basket on the back and a brown basket on the front. Grasses and palm trees are in the background.

Ride a Bike

Ride a bike up and down 30A. Some homes will provide a pair of bikes and helmets or they can be rented through area rental companies. You will find adorable shops, food trucks, fun restaurants, and so much more.

Check out the local calendar of events

Each little town has a calendar of events that include concerts, festivals, farmers markets, and even outdoor movies on the lawns at the various town squares.

visit crab island

One of our best days ever was spent at Crab Island, an underwater sandbar. The water is extremely clear and blue, and only about 1-4 feet deep. You need to rent a boat to access Crab Island. We used Luther’s Watersports Rental Company and rented a small pontoon boat for the day.

It’s such a fun atmosphere with lots of other boaters anchored in the shallow waters. There are inflatable activities for kids, floating ice cream shops and much, much more.

Tips For Stress-Free Time At The Beach

The number one reason we go to 30A is to sit on the beach! A little preparation ahead of time means a relaxing day by the ocean waves!

Thin blue beach towel on the sand with bright blue ocean in the background. Palm branch frames right corner of photo. Striped blue straw hat, open hardcover book and blue sunglasses turned upside down on the book. All rest on the blue blanket.

Many of the rental homes will provide beach essentials such as beach umbrellas, chairs, and even beach toys, so be sure to ask when booking.

If the home does not provide those items, I inquire about the name of a good beach rental company that the homeowner recommends. Those companies will deliver, set up and take down umbrellas and chairs daily for a fee.

After many years of beach vacations, my husband and I feel we have a winning recipe:

Wireless Bluetooth speaker (We LOVE our JBL Charge 5 Waterproof Speaker)
Cooler with wheels filled with assorted veggies, fruits, cheeses, lunchmeat and crackers (This Coleman cooler is unbeatable for even the hottest days)
Beach towels and toys
Books for you and books for your tweens and teens
Boogie boards or giant inflatable floats (perfect for the calm waves on the gulf)
Lots of sunscreen

Where To Eat in 30A Florida & Seaside

Looking out over the ocean from a large pergola that frames the photo. Two white adirondack chairs are facing a walkway with railings that goes toward the beach. Blue ocean waves, a bright blue sky and puffy white clouds

The Back Porch

The Back Porch sits right on the beach, and has a delicious menu of seafood and fish. There are often beach volleyball games going on as well as corn hole and other fun games on the beach side.

Bud and Alley’s Waterfront Restaurant and Rooftop Bar

Bud and Alleys is a perfect place to enjoy a sunset dinner overlooking the Gulf of Mexico on the rooftop bar. The food is delicious farm-and-sea to table. There’s something for everyone in the family.