Tag: vacay

I haven’t been on a beach trip in FOREVER so I was beyond excited to head to Florida for a little R&R, sunshine, and a girls weekend!

My trip got off to an interesting start. Our town was hit with straight-line winds the day before I left, and after we were able to get to our house I had to pack by lantern light. News flash: I absolutely HAD to do some shopping when I got there because my adventures in packing weren’t so great. And who can turn down shopping on vacation?! My first flight was canceled so my husband had to cart me to DFW to make my second flight to Destin. A few delays and a mimosa later, and I was on my way!

My best friend and I do an annual reunion weekend so we met at the airport and then ventured away towards the beach! We had a cute condo that was walking distance to restaurants, shops, and access to a beautiful beach. I have wanted to visit 30A for a while now and I’m so glad I finally did! Everything about it was picture perfect and such a great place to spend the weekend. If I lived closer I feel like I would spend EVERY weekend there!

Also, I still don’t think I completely have a grasp of “30A” because writing this blog post I had to pull up all the restaurants. So basically our adventures took us to Rosemary Beach, Seacrest Beach, Alys Beach, Seaside, and Santa Rosa Beach and I’m still sitting here like which one is which?! No wonder everyone just says 30A.

FOOD AND WINE

La Crema Tapas & Chocolate – SO SO GOOD. This was our first stop for food and it did not disappoint. We sat outside and enjoyed the people watching and counted how many people can’t parallel park. It was a lot. The piquillo peppers, cheese board, and veggie paella were delicious! And don’t worry, I sampled some dessert too. The classic chocolate chip cookies served with a shot of milk…perfection! Highly recommend! They also had a great wine selection.

La Cocina – This was downstairs from our condo and a great spot to grab a drink before we headed home for the night! We didn’t try any food, but the cocktails were good and the place was packed out every time we walked by.

Grits and Grind – This was another super conveniently located spot from our condo. We popped in for breakfast one morning and I had the chilaquiles stack and HOLY GUACAMOLE it was delicious! We also had mimosas because #vacation and OJ is good for you, right?!

The Pearl (Havana Beach Rooftop Bar) – This place definitely exists for the ‘gram haha. The outside of the hotel is absolutely precious and I’m a sucker for rooftops. Match made in heaven. We snacked on fries and their Hemingway Dips (it’s delicious!) and enjoyed some beverages before dinner. They also had beautiful cabanas that would be perfect to relax in all summer long and fire pits for the cooler nights.

Pescado Seafood Grill & Rooftop Bar – We stopped in here for drinks after a shop owner told us this was THE place to be and BONUS another rooftop! She wasn’t kidding. It was packed to the gills (sea what I did there..and again). Okay, I’ll stop. The views were beautiful and while we didn’t sample the menu the atmosphere alone was enough to convince me I’d go back!

Great Southern Cafe – Our server was excellent! I had avocado toast and we had mimosas to go for walking around the farmers market and down to the beach. All in all, a great little restaurant and top-notch service!

The Gulf (Okaloosa Island) – We stayed the night in Fort Walton before an early flight so we ventured to this neat restaurant on the water! They had a wedding while we were there, a group headed to prom, live music, and I met Jess from Lipstick Heels and a Baby! This place was the perfect casual atmosphere to enjoy an outdoor dinner and drinks and just soak up one more night in Florida before we headed home! We missed Eli Young Band by one night – so definitely check for concerts if you go!

THINGS TO DO

We spent most of our time eating, drinking, shopping or relaxing on the beach or by the pool. We saw plenty of people on bikes which you can rent but it was also very walkable! We did go for a run one morning but Florida humidity slapped this Texan in the face. I’m not sure how anyone can run outdoors while breathing in 10 gallons of water. I am still sweating. Two weeks later.

If you enjoy window shopping, buying everything from cute boutiques, or just picking out a few things from a local shop, 30A is the place to go! We wandered in and out of so many fun stores, but my favorite was Frolic and Detour Boutique. The sweetest lady helped us and I bought a few things I just couldn’t go home without! If you see me around town sporting some beachy looks, just let me live my mermaid life, okay?

30A would be the perfect place for a girls weekend, family vacation, couples trip etc. The beach we went to had an umbrella and chair rental service and it was very reasonably priced for a half day! The water was beautiful and the sand was soft. I could have sat there all day but then I would have been even more lobster toned when I left. Don’t forget your sunscreen. But just in case, keep some alocane nearby for post sunburn recovery. You’re welcome.

We spent some time in Seaside and had breakfast, walked around the farmers market, stopped in at the Cabana by The Seaside Style (so many cute clothes!), and then just sat and watched the waves. It was such a relaxing place but I do recommend getting there early if you aren’t staying in Seaside/walking distance! We snagged a parking spot before it really got crowded and this made it even more enjoyable just enjoying the beach before everyone was up and about!

Where are you heading to this summer? Where are your favorite girls weekend destinations? Let me know in the comments below and don’t forget to follow along on Instagram!

Thanks for stopping by!
Taryn