If you’ve read Candie Travels for any length of time, you know my feelings about the 30A beaches. Of all of the places I’ve been all over the world, these beaches are one of my favorite repeat vacation stops and I feel very fortunate to live close enough to make it a day trip. (If you’re new to the blog, you can read about previous 30A visits here and here.)

My personal favorite 30A beach is Seaside, so it was nice to have the opportunity to visit nearby Rosemary Beach when I was invited to a good friend’s bachelorette party over Labor Day. It was such a fun weekend hanging out with friends and making new ones and exploring a new (to me) beach town and its shops, restaurants, pools, and bars. Over the course of the weekend, we rented bikes to ride a few beaches over to Alys Beach and drove to bars in Seaside and Grayton Beach, but most of the weekend was spent exploring shops and eating at restaurants in Rosemary. Without further ado, my favorites from the weekend.

Eat

The Hub was a fantastic spot to go for dinner and drinks with a big group. The Hub is an open air event space with several different restaurants including tacos, burgers, and ice cream. The Hub also features several types of seating areas, a lawn for kids to run around, and a stage for live music. I definitely plan to return here, especially when we travel to 30A with friends.

Edward’s is a phenomenal fine-dining restaurant located on Main Street in Rosemary Beach. We sat in the courtyard and it truly felt like we were dining in Europe. The food is sophisticated without being fussy and is delicious. If you’re looking for a nice meal, don’t look past Edward’s. What to eat: Baked oysters, mac and cheese, any of the fish dishes.

Summer Kitchen Cafe is a great place to grab a quick sandwich, salad, or beverage for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Unfortunately, it just closed because the building was sold, but I am including it in this post because it is supposed to reopen again next year. Don’t forget about this one when it comes back.

The 30A Farmers’ Markets cannot be beat and the Rosemary Farmers’ Market is no exception. Whether you are looking for an afternoon snack, lunch, or fresh ingredients for later, the Rosemary Farmers’ Market is the perfect stop. And if you’re like me and love to taste things, come hungry! Also, Paradis (one of the local restaurants) features a stand with crepes and watermelon juice. Do not miss this delicious juice, especially on a hot summer day!

Drink

If you are a craft beer fan like me, you must stop at Grayton Beer Company for a flight. The venue has a really neat ambience and is a fun place for a big group to hang out. The staff was so nice and took us on a tour to explain the history of the brewery and the beer-making process. What to drink: Pale Ale and Watermelon if it is the right season.

For a fancy drink, don’t look past The Pearl. The Pearl is a gorgeous hotel in its own right, but even if you are not a guest, you can still have a cheese board and a glass of champagne or craft cocktail on the roof. There is ample seating for large groups and great views of the sunset. Take a cue from our group and get dressed up for happy hour here before heading to Edward’s!

I have mentioned it in past posts, but for sunset views and a fun, laidback vibe, Bud and Alley’s is the clear winner. There are always tons of people there no matter the time of day. You are bound to have a great time! Bud and Alley’s also offers unparalleled views of the beautiful 30A sunsets (which are some of the best in the world).

For live music and dancing, head to Pandora’s in Grayton Beach. We happened to go on reggae night and the dance floor was packed (on a Sunday!). The tiki bar has a great deck to cool off and have a drink when you are tired of dancing.

Do

Obviously, going to the beach is a must if you are visiting 30A. There are several beach accesses with chairs and umbrellas available for rent. Unfortunately, there was an unusual amount of seaweed when we visited, but normally the beaches are pristine and we managed to enjoy a few hours at the beach before heading to the pool.

If you are staying in Rosemary, you will also have access to the many pools in the area. Each is different so it is fun to explore them all.

The easiest and most fun way to get around between the beach, various pools, and different towns is to rent bikes. Rosemary residents (and visitors who stay there) get a 10% discount at Bamboo Bicycle Company, where you can rent bikes for $15/day. We rode them to different pools and to the architecturally inspiring Alys Beach, where everything is immaculately white. Great stops in Alys are Fonville Press for a coffee and Alys Shoppe for shopping.

Finally, there are fantastic shops in Rosemary if you need a break from the sun. My favorites are Pish Posh Patchouli’s, which has bath and body products, fragrances, and candles, and Willow and Woods, which has upscale clothing and jewelry for women.

Next up, I’ll be talking about my weekend in Miami and then I’ll be posting the Australia/Asia series for a while. Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

RECAP
Eat and Drink
The Hub, 6910 East 30A, Panama City, FL
Edward’s, 66 Main St, Rosemary Beach, FL
The Pearl, 63 Main St, Rosemary Beach, FL
Grayton Beer Company, 217 Serenoa Rd, Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Bud and Alley’s, 2236 East County Road 30-A, Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Pandora’s, 63 Defuniak St, Santa Rosa Beach, FL