30A|Rosemary Beach, Florida|A Photo Journal

And now to conclude my 3 part blog post series on Florida’s 30A towns: Welcome to Rosemary Beach! Below are some of my favorite photos and highlights from my visits.

You can read my other posts here: Alys Beach | Seaside.

As you cruise down 30A on your way to Panama City Beach (by car or bike), you will come across the beautiful town of Rosemary Beach just before reaching the end of the highway. You will know you’re there when you find the prettiest trees lining the road and sidewalks, creating a tunnel like view as you enter the town. This portion of road view is absolutely stunning and it was my favorite view of 30A! There was just something magical about this area. Then again, I’m obsessed with trees so I’m sure that had something to do with it.

As you approach the town (heading east) you will come to a traffic signal. You can turn either way as Rosemary Beach is much larger than Seaside or Alys. There is plenty of public parking on both sides and both times I visited I had no issues finding a spot quickly.

If you turn left (or north) at the light, you will find many shops and restaurants lining the cobblestone streets. There are some really cute boutiques, a Rosemary Beach souvenir shop, a few restaurants, the vacation rental office, Amavida Coffee (the same shop as in Seaside) even has a location here.

Tip: You can get a free 30A sticker at Amavida! Just drop a donation in the box to help support a local animal rescue organization and grab a sticker for yourself! They also have 30A merchandise for sale here as well.

Be sure to drive down some of the backroads on this quiet side of town. You will find some of the prettiest houses, gorgeous landscaping, fountains and vine covered pergolas. It’s definitely worth stopping to explore for a bit. It is so peaceful here! Oh, and it smells like jasmine. Does it get any better?

After you do some exploring you MUST cross the highway and explore the south side of Rosemary Beach! Here you will find the prettiest European inspired buildings, the Pearl Hotel, an adorable post office, delicious restaurants, more shops, and of course the Gulf of Mexico.

Rosemary Beach is so quiet and peaceful compared to Seaside. I could totally see myself living somewhere like this!

If you’re hungry you will not have any issues finding something to eat, that’s for sure! You may just have issues deciding on which place to try first. During my first visit to Rosemary Beach in April, we enjoyed some delicious pizza and cheesy breadsticks from Southside Slice. When I went back in June, we had already had brunch back in Seaside but wanted something to snack on. We headed to Cowgirl Kitchen and had some amazing shrimp ceviche guacamole! It was so good and refreshing after a long day of exploring 30A.

Also, right past Rosemary Beach in Inlet Beach there is the BEST donut shop/restaurant, The Donut Hole. It was recommended to us by a local and I am so glad we went! I had the best omelet and got some delicious donuts to bring home. It is definitely worth going to if you’re in the area.

The Havana Bar & Grill at The Pearl Hotel is another great place! We did not eat here, but we headed to the rooftop bar area and enjoyed a ridiculously priced, but delicious, pina colada with a perfect view of the gulf and the hotel pool. I’d say the view is worth it.

Rosemary Beach has a beautiful stretch of gorgeous sand and emerald water! Unfortunately, the beach is private and for residents and guests only. But you might get lucky like we did and have someone let us through gate. (Just be respectful and lay low if you do get lucky so that you don’t disturb the people who are actually paying for beach access.)

I really enjoyed just walking around the sidewalks on Rosemary Beach and admiring all of the houses. To me, Rosemary Beach is like a perfect mix of Seaside and Alys Beach. It has the charm of Seaside but the elegance of Alys Beach. It’s a perfect in between!

Rosemary Beach offers a beautiful sunset too! You can’t miss out on watching the sunset behind the water. Unfortunately, both times I visited we had clouds during sunset, but we were still left with a beautiful view!