rosemary beach/scenic 30a, fl

R O S E M A R Y B E A C H/S C E N I C 30A , F L
D E S T I N AT I O N G U I D E
I N S P I R ATO I N S I G H T S
MARKETS & MUSIC
The Town Center is the hub of activity in Rosemary Beach. You’ll find the Harvest
Market there on weekends, as well as a concert series during the summer and
numerous shops and restaurants.
BEACH PARTY AFTER DARK
What better way to end the perfect beach day than with a family bonfire right on
the sand? A number of local companies along 30A offer custom beach bonfire
packages right on the sand, including all set up and clean up. From beach blankets
to tiki torches, all of the details are taken care of while you roast marshmallows
beneath the stars. Ask your concierge for recommendations.
PICTURE PERFECT
Rosemary Beach is one of several planned communities from architects Andres
Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk along Florida’s Emerald Coast. Their first project,
the nearby Seaside, was featured in the 1996 film The Truman Show, thanks to its
perfectly manicured lawns and nostalgic, small-town vibe.
T H I N G S TO K N O W
QUICK FACTS
IDEAL FOR
Families, couple, bicyclists, nature
lovers
AIRPORT
Northwest Florida Beaches
International Airport (ECP)
TIME ZONE
UTC - Central Time Zone
SEASONAL INFO
+ Summer is peak season for
weather and visitors.
+ Visit in April or May for perfect weather, warm water, and fewer
crowds.
GETTING THERE
TIPPING GUIDELINES
You’ll fly into Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) in Panama
City. Many airlines offer service here and there are daily direct flights from Baltimore,
Atlanta, Houston, St. Louis, and Tampa. Taxis are available at the airport, but we
recommend renting a car.
+ Housekeeping: $5 per occupied
GETTING AROUND
+ Rosemary Beach
+ Seacrest
+ Alys Beach
+ Water Sound Provinence
+ Seagrove
+ Seaside
+ WaterColor
+ Grayton Beach
+ Santa Rosa Beach
Rosemary Beach and the surrounding towns are very bike-friendly and visitors are
encouraged to explore without a car. However, the greater 30A area is large and
many of the attractions and restaurants are not within walking distance. For this
reason we recommend a rental car to make exploring easy. Your concierge team is
happy to discuss options with you.
CLIMATE
Florida’s Panhandle is ideal for escaping cold winter weather or soaking up summer
sunshine. Winter stays mild with temperatures in the 60s while summer is hot and
humid in the 80s and 90s. Fall and winter are the driest seasons, but summer
thunderstorms disappear as quickly as they appear.
room per night is typical.
BEACH COMMUNITIES ON 30A
(Listed east to west)
T H I N G S TO D O
GOLF
Raven Golf Club is a premier Robert Trent Jones, Jr.-designed course just 20 miles west in Sandestin. One of four courses
on the expansive Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort, Raven is sufficiently challenging for even the most experienced players.
Fairways roll along marshes and wetlands, dotted with Florida’s distinctive pine trees, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.
BEACH
Clear green waters lapping onto crystalline sandy beaches have earned Florida’s Panhandle the nickname of “Emerald
Coast.” Guests in Rosemary Beach can cross one of the nine dune walkovers, outfitted with changing rooms, to reach the
nearest water’s edge. There are a number of other stunning beaches along Highway 30A, including Henderson Beach State
Park with wildflower-strewn nature trails through the dunes, and outdoor grills and picnic areas.
TREAT YOURSELF
The name tells you everything you need to know about the Sandestin Hilton’s Serenity by the Sea Spa. The 14,500-squarefoot space has 16 lavish treatment rooms where you can savor a heated bamboo massage or seawater pearl facial. Extend
your relaxation in the Serenity Lounge, floating in zero-gravity chairs, followed by a light lunch from the spa menu.
FAMILY
A day at the beach building sand castles is exactly what most parents picture doing with their kids on vacation. Former
architect Rick and his wife Capri founded Beach Sand Sculptures to show families how to do just that. Traveling up and
down the beaches of Highway 30A, Rick and Capri will help your family design a sand sculpture and teach you how to build
the elaborate and creative sand castle you’ve always envisioned. You can’t take it with you, but a sunny day on the water,
building and playing with your family, is something you’ll never forget.
ROMANTIC
The only thing more romantic than sipping champagne and looking out over the water with your beloved is experiencing it
2,000 feet above ground on a private hot air balloon ride. Gliding over the coastline and marshes of Florida’s Gulf Coast,
you’ll spot lakes, rivers, trees, and wildlife from your floating basket. Exhilarating and peaceful at once, see Florida’s natural
beauty like never before.
ADVENTURE
Stand-up paddleboarding has grown in popularity on Florida’s Emerald Coast thanks to the lush dune lakes, curving rivers,
and the expansive Gulf of Mexico. Sign up for lessons, take a SUP yoga class, or have your paddleboard outfitted with a rod
holder for a SUP fishing excursion.
NATURE
Florida’s state parks combine the best of the outdoors in one place, especially Grayton Beach State Park. Spanning the
ocean and inland sides of Highway 30A, stroll the Hobbit Hole trail through scrub oaks and blue lupine to a scenic vista of the
sea at the top of the dunes. On the opposite side of the highway, there’s a bike trail through the pine flatwoods, dotted with
pitcher plants, shore birds and green lizards. One of the largest dune lakes in the state, Western Lake is an ideal kayaking
spot.
MUST–DO
Rosemary Beach was designed to hark back to the quiet, friendly beach communities of previous generations. One nostalgic
experience making a big comeback is riding cruiser bikes into the town center for ice cream sundaes at the Sugar Shak.
LOCAL
Right at the entrance to Choctawhatchee Bay lies Crab Island, an underwater sandbar at the edge of the Gulf. Rent a boat to
dock in the harbor, or try kayaking in for a workout. Floating food vendors sail over to you, selling ice cream and Southernstyle boiled peanuts, and there’s an inflatable waterslide and obstacle course beside the stage where local bands play.
OTHER ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS
+ Fishing + Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park + Shopping at Destin Commons
+ Parasailing
+ Beach volleyball
+ Jetskiing
+ Horseback riding
+ Sailing
+ Kayaking
FESTIVALS & EVENTS
+ April – South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival (local culinary treasures, live music and over 800 wines to sample)
+ May – Art Week (visual, performing and literary arts programming throughout the South Walton area)
+ June to July – Rosemary Beach Summer Concert Series (live music performed in North Barrett Square)
+ September – Destin Beer Week (annual festival offering samples of craft brews and spirits)
+ October – Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival (state-fair-style festival honoring the mullet fish with food, music, rides and more)
P L A C E S TO E AT
STINKY’S FISH CAMP
Atmosphere: Family
5994 West County Highway 30A, Santa Rosa Beach
The name might elicit giggles from little ones, but the food will leave everyone satisfied. Chef Jim Richard is known for
Stinky’s Stew, made with fresh seafood, shellfish and vegetables in a garlic and white wine broth, and the key lime pie he
makes according to his grandmother’s recipe. Sit on the screened-in patio that looks out to the marshes, live music drifting
out from the bar. Stinky’s Bait Shack next door sells T-shirts along with live bait and fishing tackle.
RESTAURANT PARADIS
Atmosphere: Romantic
82 South Barrett Square, Rosemary Beach
Offering a luxe wine country atmosphere with coastal flair, Restaurant Paradis will draw you in with its warm lounge and
impressive wine list. Laidback luxury and understated elegance reign supreme within the establishment, which provides a
charming welcome to guests on arrival with its glowing lanterns around the patio area. Enjoy expertly cooked local seafood
alongside one of the lounge’s many martini specialities.
CAFÉ THIRTY-A
Atmosphere: Fine Dining
3899 East County Highway 30A, Santa Rosa Beach
Situated in a classic, Gulf-style house with high ceilings, a metal roof, and a wraparound veranda, the relaxed and
sophisticated interior features exposed rafters alongside white linen tablecloths. You’ll feel like a true Southerner after trying
the signature grilled Georgia quail served on a bed of creamy grits with sage fritters. Come by on ‘Tini Tuesday or Thursday
to try one (or two) of their 15 different martinis.
THE RED BAR
Atmosphere: Local
70 Hotz Avenue, Santa Rosa Beach
A quirky bar and restaurant in the artsy town of Grayton Beach, Red Bar is described as part beach shack, part thrift store,
and part retro club. The interior is covered floor to ceiling in music and movie posters with red lights hanging from above,
giving the space its name. Look for the featured menu items on the chalkboard out front, especially crab cakes on Friday and
Saturday, which run out quickly.
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
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