Beautiful Beaches, Towns, and Dune Lakes: Your Luxury Guide to 30A With Kids

Spend time at the beach:

I mean, this is why you come to 30A in the first place. Pack your cooler, sunscreen and beach toys and head down to the white sands and emerald waters.

Insider tips:

• Take advantage of the early mornings with kids and go for a family walk on the beach for your best chances of spotting marine wildlife: dolphins, turtles, sharks, jellyfish, you name it.

• Elevate your beach day by renting an umbrella and beach chairs set from Redfish Rentals (or other accredited vendors). Set-up and tear-down is included, the umbrellas are very high quality and have UPF protection and the chairs are comfortable to lounge, read or sleep. Talk about luxury! Sets go for about $50/day. You will thank me when you do not have to carry the beach gear with kiddos in tow.

Explore the different beach towns:

Moving from east to west along the 30A corridor, the beach towns are as follows: Inlet Beach, Rosemary Beach, Seacrest Beach, Alys Beach, WaterSound, Seagrove Beach, Seaside, WaterColor, Grayton Beach, Blue Mountain Beach, Gulf Place and Dune Allen Beach. Each of them is unique and have something different to offer. For magazine worthy luxury homes and Instagram shots head to Alys Beach; for the most famous spots on 30A go to Seaside; for the most relaxed beach vibes visit Grayton Beach; for European flare head to Rosemary Beach; and for the most family-oriented amenities head to Watercolor.

No matter where you are based and where you go, though, you are guaranteed to have a good time.

Rent bikes:

Our favorite way of exploring 30A is to rent bikes and a trailer for the kids. We rent them for the week and use them to go to the beach, visit the beach towns, go to restaurants, you name it!

Taste the local spots:

There is no lack of amazing food in 30A. Even the most discerning foodies and picky eaters will find something to please them. More on this below.

Insider tip: get a babysitter (or bring the extended family along!) and have a date night in Rosemary Beach’s rooftop adult-only restaurant Pescado.

Hit the shops:

Each beach town has their own unique shops. From art galleries and luxury shops to extravagant toy stores, they are very fun to explore with the whole family. We love all the iconic Seaside shops and the Justin Gaffrey Art Gallery. For a fantastic time with kids, I cannot recommend a trip to the toy store Duckies in Seaside enough! Your wallet may regret it, but you won’t.

Spend time in the dune lakes:

Dune lakes are a very special environment. Walton County is home to 15 named coastal dune lakes along 26 miles of coastline. These lakes are a unique geographical feature and are only found in Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand, Oregon and in 30A. The 30A coastal dune lakes share an intermittent connection with the Gulf of Mexico. The lake water is fed by streams, groundwater seepage, rain, and storm surge. You can paddleboard, kayak, catch-and-release or play by the lake outfalls on the beach shore.

Insider tip: during your beach days choose a location near a dune lake and let the kids play in the outfall. They will have a blast playing in the warm, shallow, calm waters, building sandcastles on the shore and trying to catch crabs and minnows.

Bring the extended family along:

Our best vacations on 30A have included multi-generational groups of up to 30 people ranging from 80s to infants! There are plenty of luxury homes that can accommodate large groups comfortably. This is a place that can be enjoyed by everyone and is best enjoyed with the whole family.

Insider tip: Here at Fora, our partners offer a curated selection of luxury properties with perks like pre-arrival grocery shopping and 24-hour concierge! Instead of booking your properties through third party sites, let me VIP you.

Some of our favorite places to eat and drink include:

Breakfast and lunch:

• Black Bear Bakery in Grayton Beach

• Crackings in Grayton Beach

Coffee:

• Amavida Coffee in Seaside and Rosemary Beach

• Coffee Shop at 30A

Treats:

• Modica Market - some of the best cake you’ve ever had! Their coffee is also excellent.

• The Donut Hole - probably the best donuts in the world. Period.
  Pecan Jack's - Ice Cream

Luxury family friendly dinner:

• Bud and Alley’s in Seaside

• Cafe 30A in Seagrove

• George's in Alys Beach