Rosemary Beach
My family’s summer trip this year was road tripping to Rosemary Beach, Florida. All you need to know about this travel destination can be summed up into one little sentence. Just Go Here! There you have it, travel review done. You will thank me later.
“Physically I’m here.
Mentally I’m at the beach in Florida ordering my third mojito...”
For those that require a more detailed review before planning a vacation, I will expand. Picture white sand beaches, bordered with sea oats, and with blue water so clear that you can look down to see your toes once you are in it. Now picture your family laughing and wearing relaxed smiles. Yes, even the children. (Until you point a camera their direction…) The relaxed vibe here is contagious. The setting is picturesque. This stretch of 30A is special and totally lives up to the hype. Everything seems to move slower here. From families walking with a wagon in tow to couples biking to dinner, no one ever seems to be in any hurry. You only have to travel here once to see why families come back year after year.
It wasn’t until we were on our way back to Texas that I realized I totally spaced on taking photos for the blog. (Luckily, I did get some solid selfies and a few family snapshots that I can share!) Although, getting caught up in your vacation isn’t the worst way to travel.
Rosemary: The town of Rosemary is quaint and has a sweet quality about it. There is also something romantic about Rosemary that would make it an ideal destination spot to travel with your special someone! If you need a break from the beach (which is walking distance from just about everywhere), there are pools spread throughout that you can choose from. If you are watered out entirely, there’s always the shops, lawns that are perfect for a game of tag or frisbee, ample biking opportunities, and a playground. When it comes to places to stay, The Pearl (hotel) is a destination favorite and is directly across the street from the beach. We chose one of the many VRBO houses and could not have been happier. It was perfect for our family to be able to spread out and it gave each boy their own room. This way everyone slept great. (Insert hands raised emoji here.)
Seaside: Only a twenty minute drive from Rosemary. (Though it doesn’t feel that long with how scenic the route is.) This place is the total package for a family destination. This town is so stinking cute! From the shops, to the bookstore, the grocery market, and the cutest stinkin’ post office that you ever did see. If I had to sum up this location in one word, it would be CUTE! We drove here several times during our stay to grab a bite to eat. Seaside is extremely child friendly and takes the stress out of the dining experience for mom and dad. Right in the center of town is a pavilion area where they show movies on the lawn and plays for the kiddos in the evenings, and it is lined on one side with food trucks!
Food: We need to address the food here in its own little category. Never in my life have I had exceptional food one meal after another. Everything we ate was amazing. Everything. Even simple fried shrimp that is normally just okay. Thank goodness you walk and bike everywhere or I would have had to roll all the way back to Texas. (Because I consumed my body weight in food each meal.) Our favorites were: Southside Slice Pizzeria, Amici 30A Italian Kitchen, George’s, The Donut Hole, Great Southern Cafe, Seagrove Village Market, and Bud & Alley’s.
Beach: Though this entire stretch of 30A contains white sand and beautiful water, my preference for the beach itself is in Rosemary. We found it to not be as crowded (because of the coded access) as Seaside. There is also a chair service (for an additional fee) that makes arriving at the beach a breeze. Each morning, two chairs, an umbrella, and a table are set up for you and marked with your name. (This is one set. You can add as many as you need.) This way everyone gets there own spot set up for the day. A detail that makes it super easy to come and go with a fixed location each day (and no added stress).
Housing/VRBO: We had the most amazing stay in our VRBO home. (We stayed in “Amen Corner” and loved, loved, loved it!) Our house was centrally located and was within walking distance of all the restaurants, shops, and the beach. That said, you cannot go wrong with location here. Even from the farthest location away from the beach, you are only minutes away via bicycle. You simply have to find a place that fits your family’s wants and needs. If you choose to forgo the hotel and stay in your home away from home while on vacation, I recommend choosing a spot that comes with its own parking location. Parking is scarce across 30A, and with plenty of homes that come with a designated parking spot, there is no need to add an ounce of stress by searching for a place to park. Our house had two spots available for us to park and we made a mental note of this luxury for next time.
Our family had the best time in Rosemary Beach, and we cannot wait to return next summer. This is definitely a location that we will visit year after year. We look forward to the memories that 30A has in store for us.
xoxo