Route 30A is a scenic road that runs along the northwest coast of Florida, stretching from Destin to Panama City Beach. It passes through 16 quaint beach towns, making it a place you can visit many times before ever seeing it all. From the ocean, to shops, live music, and everything in between, there’ is an endless amount of things to do. You also get a clear view of both the sunrise and sunsets from the beaches.

For the past four years, my family has visited different beaches along 30A during spring break. With the quaint, historic beach towns, it makes for such a fun getaway. Here is a list of the best places you can visit along the Florida Panhandle.

5. Destin

Destin is more of your “typical” Florida city, offering a wide variety of water activities, places to stay, and things to do. It’s accessible to anyone, with just as many indoor activities as outdoor. It can be a more affordable option if you choose to stay somewhere that isn’t directly on the ocean. However, the white sand beaches and the bright blue water make for incredible fishing opportunities. It does rank last on the list because it doesn’t stand out in any particular way, and it resembles many other beach cities.

4. Alys Beach

Once you step foot in Alys Beach, you feel like you’re in a completely different country. The entire town is made up of unique shapes and structures, all in the color white. Alys Beach is known as being a “study in geometry” because of how distinct the town is as a whole. It’s more of a vacation spot for relaxation as it doesn’t offer many activities for children. It’s still ranked in the top five as it’s a once in a lifetime place to visit. Alys Beach includes more high-end dining and shopping options, and is just a short walk away from all the neighboring towns. 

3. Seaside

Seaside is unique as the houses are all painted pastel colors, making it a super attractive destination spot. Seaside offers a large variety of shopping located around the main square, as well as many restaurants located in the downtown area. It was also the filming location of the 1998 movie “The Truman Show” starring Jim Carry. I would rank it lower on this list as over the years it has become incredibly touristy. 

2. Seacrest Beach

Seacrest Beach is one of the most underrated towns along 30A. Seaside is very similar to Seacrest Beach as the whole neighborhood is centered around a main square. Having more resort options, this town makes for the perfect spot for all ages. Seacrest Beach’s main square features many souvenir shops, restaurants, and live music venues. Being such a small, inclusive town, everyone feels like they’ve known each other forever. If you’re looking for the ideal beach town destination, Seacrest Beach is the place for you.

1. Rosemary Beach

Rosemary Beach is ranked at the top because of its European style architecture, and it’s location directly on the beach— the perfect destination for a relaxing getaway. Tourists can enjoy anything from biking and swimming, to shopping and enjoying amazing food— just mere steps away from the beach. What also makes this town unique is that many visitors rent out bungalows rather than staying in a traditional hotel. Rosemary Beach has the perfect balance between beach life and historical aspects of traditional European culture.