Seaside is nestled along Florida’s 30A, a scenic 24-mile strip that’s been nicknamed “the Hamptons of the South” by those who visit.
This stunning-but-quaint little community has wonderful white-sand beaches and immaculate sunset views, plus there’s lots to do in the area.
When I visited, I did a guided walking tour that outlined the history of the town and saw many great restaurants, shops, and entertainment options packed into one small area.
In Seaside, you can rent a beachfront vacation cottage, bike just about anywhere, eat next-level cuisine, buy amazing souvenirs from small businesses, and even attend outdoor concerts in a community amphitheater.
It’s like Stars Hollow from “Gilmore Girls” popped up along pristine beaches with bright-blue waters. This is the No. 1 spot I recommend to people looking for a relaxing, beautiful Florida vacation.
Because 30A’s communities are within a short drive of each other, I could easily spend time in one of my other favorite spots, Panama City Beach, during a trip to Seaside.
Panama City Beach (or PCB) is home to a crepe restaurant I still daydream about, Gypsea Crepes, plus other great restaurants.
It also has Russell-Fields Pier, which allows visitors to walk 1,500 feet over the Gulf of Mexico for stunning views, and Pier Park, a shopping and dining district built around the fishing and walking pier.
Another highlight of my time spent in PCB? Taking a ferry to Shell Island, a white-sand beach that’s only accessible by boat. It’s one of the prettiest beaches I’ve found in the Sunshine State.
Though considered a city, Fort Lauderdale feels more like a super-developed beach town on the Atlantic coast to me.
It’s a popular cruise port, so I’ve spent plenty of time in the area the night before a sailing. I typically make sure I dine at one of its many restaurants and enjoy an early-morning walk along the Fort Lauderdale Beach Promenade.
If you enjoy a little bit of city vibes with your beach, but still want to relax, Fort Lauderdale is a great spot to visit.
Located on the Gulf Coast, St. Petersburg is a quirky city with beach-town vibes that’s high on my must-visit list for people who are new to Florida.
On a recent weekend there with friends, we packed an incredible amount of activities into a few short days, from a pedi-pub bike tour to gourmet brunches to a tiki-bar sightseeing cruise.
We always have fun there, whether we’re visiting the Salvador Dalí Museum or Dog Bar St. Pete — an off-leash bar where you can pet dogs while having a cold drink and listening to music.
And when the busyness of St. Petersburg feels like too much, you can always head to its relaxing beaches.
As much as I love 30A spots like Seaside and Panama City Beach, Alys Beach is a can-skip in my book.
Most of my time in Alys Beach was spent passing gated, private housing areas or walking through shopping spots that felt a bit too pricey to me.
I had good food while I was in Alys Beach, but otherwise felt a bit underwhelmed and didn’t find much to do there. The white-washed, Mediterranean-style construction is pretty to look at, but you can enjoy it plenty as you drive or bike by.
In my opinion, with really great towns like Seaside just down the road, there are better ways to spend your time in 30A.
You may have heard about 30A’s Rosemary Beach on TikTok, where many creators compare it to a European town.
Yes, Rosemary Beach is gorgeous and has Euro vibes with its cobblestone streets and al-fresco dining options, but in my opinion, it’s the kind of place I only need to spend a few hours in.
It has a lot of shopping spots, but I found many of them to be too expensive for me. Local hotels and restaurants have pretty rooftop bars where you can get a glimpse of the sunset, but I didn’t feel there was much to do in this area beyond walking and doing basic sightseeing.
Since Rosemary Beach is close to other 30A towns like Seaside and PCB, it may be worth briefly stopping there for pre-dinner, sunset drinks. However, it’s not a town along the Gulf that I’d recommend for a lengthy stay.
I’ve found that most Floridians I encounter have a deep love for the city of Miami, but I am not one of them.
I think it’s crowded, chaotic, and busy — a typical city through and through. Each time I’ve visited, I left wishing I’d just spent a little more money to travel to New York City or Los Angeles instead.
However, there are several things I think are worth visiting Miami for, like attending its South Beach Wine & Food Festival (it’s pretty cool to try food and drinks right on the beach) or taking a speedboat tour of celebrity homes in the area.
If you’re looking for a lively city with a beach and warmer weather, Miami may be a good fit for you. However, it’s an area I just haven’t fallen in love with yet.