A Weekend in Alys Beach, 30A Florida
For years I’ve dreamed of staying in Alys Beach (30A Florida), and this year we finally decided to do it! I got a lot of DM’s while we were on our trip about where to stay, what to do, and how to best plan for a trip to 30a, and I’m gonna answer them all here in this blog posts! If you want to watch our vlog of our time in Alys click the video below or keep reading for my pros and cons of staying in Alys Beach!
What/wher is 30A? Is Alys Beach A Good Place to Stay? What Is Special About alys beach?
What is 30A and why is everyone going there for vacation?
Let’s start with the most common question I get, not only in my DM’s but from friends as well! We’ve now been down to 30A for 4 anniversaries, and every time someone doesn’t know what 30A is, when they ask us where were going for our anniversary trip, it is surprises me. Because it’s actually the best. 30A is a road that goes through multiple pristine beach towns, comprised of the main ones Alys, Rosemary, Seaside. Each of these small towns are beautiful & quiet communities that each have their own unique aesthetic (which we’ll get into). It’s located not far from Panama City, so it’s not too bad of a drive if you’re form Tennessee, Georgia, or Alabama - basically it’s the south’s go-to beach destination. What’s so incredible about 30A is the atmosphere. Instead of super busy, touristy feeling places like Panama City, you’re getting a much slower and calmer vacation experience. Not to mention the actual beaches and water are immaculate! Super white, soft sand and beautiful water - plus a lot to the beaches are private to residents which means you wont be battling everyone for a spot by the ocean.
Is it better to STAY IN Alys, Rosemary, or Seaside?
Alys Beach PROS:
Alys Beach has a modern, clean aesthetic. If you love Restoration Hardware you’ll love Alys Beach. It’s white and bright and oh so dang beautiful. Also feels like the younger “hip” crowd if you will. Perfect for bachelorette groups, girls trips, couples trips, or an anniversary trip! It has a few great restaurants & coffee shops that are all walkable if you’re staying there. You’ll literally just walk around and say “wow” the whole time is so aesthetic lol. Also Alys is really close to Rosemary, so you can easily walk or bike there which gives you more options!
Alys Beach CONS:
Alys beach is one of the newer communities along 30A. Even though its pretty well developed, it’s not done. You’ll definitely have construction in Alys beach, so make sure where you’re booking your place to stay isn’t near new developments! The place we stayed at didn’t have any construction near it, plus it was a 2 minute walk from Raw & Juicy (coffee/juice shop) and Fonville Press (market, restaurant, and bar)! Alys is pretty dang pricey to rent. Because a lot of the homes are bigger (again perfect for trips with multiple couples or girlfriends) it can be harder to find a smaller/more affordable place to stay. There also aren’t as many food or shopping spots in Alys since it’s still being developed! They’re coming, just not fully done yet.
Alys Beach is similar in price to Rosemary, and more expensive than Seaside :)
Rosemary Beach PROS:
Rosemary beach is so quaint! It’s streets are shaded by big trees, and a lot of the homes are tucked back in beautifully landscaped pockets. Rosemary is fully built out and more on the quiet side. It’s got more to do than Alys, so it’s a little more busy, but not nearly as crowded as Seaside. There are lots of cute shops and restaurants & plenty to do in Rosemary beach. There is a hotel in Rosemary called the pearl which is a great option if you don’t need a house - perfect if there are just two of you staying in the area. We spent a lot of time in Rosemary & love the area. Rosemary is also right next to Alys, so you can easily bike or walk there!
Rosemary Beach CONS:
Rosemary is more busy than Alys. You’ll find more bridal parties and families there, but if you have kids Rosemary is a wonderful place to stay! It’s relatively pricey to stay in Rosemary, but other than that there aren’t a lot of cons! We love Rosemary & might stay there next year :)
Seaside PROS:
Seaside is the happening place in 30A! There are lots of restaurants & shops (and even cute food trucks). Seaside is completely built out, so it’s a great spot if you like to explore more than the beach. Seaside is more affordable than renting in Alys or Rosemary, but it still has a very charming and quaint aesthetic. We love to bike through the streets of seaside and get dinner and lunch there every time we are down there. If you’ve ever seen the movie “The Truman Show” - this was shot in Seaside!
Seaside CONS:
It’s busy - and you now have to pay to park there if you aren’t staying there RIP. There are also a lot of teens in seaside lol - but don’t let these deter you from staying there!! Just something to keep in mind. Seaside isn’t as chill and calm as Rosemary & Alys :)
Alys Beach Rental EXPERIENCE
Our Experience renting through alys beach - Is Staying in alys beach Worth It? What’s Included When You book through alys beach?
Is staying in Alys Beach Worth The Price?
It’s very obvious why it costs as much as it does to stay in Aly Beach. When we arrived to pick up or keys from the rental office we were kindly greeted and offered water while we waited. They had booklets and a map of the Alys Beach Property - they got our keys and passes ready (you need those passes to access the Alys amenities). Then we were driven on a golf cart to our house. Once we got into the house we were welcomed with 2 bottles of wine, snacks, and water bottles in the fridge. They really do go all out to make sure you have a wonderful experience staying in Alys. When we went to the Alys pool we we’re supplied with water, sunscreen, and towels - they also had full bar service to order from and very attentive staff waiting to take care of you! The experience of staying in Alys (beyond actually being in a beautiful house, great location, etc) is a lot like staying in a 5 star hotel. You will be taken care of from point A to point B which is reflected in the price! Alys also has a gym & spa that are only accessible to Alys residents as well, so if you are interested in enjoying those benefits it’s well worth it.
Why we loved our stay in Alys Beach:
Location - You’re so close to restaurants, the beach, coffee shops, and Rosemary Beach
Vibes - the vibes in Alys are just immaculate. It’s impossible to take a bad photo in Alys :)
Amenities - Sitting by the pool was actually really enjoyable! We loved chilling there for most of the day and ordered drinks and food.
WHAT TO PACK FOR YOUR BEACH TRIP
What should you pack for visiting Alys Beach? How to dress for a vacation to Alys Beach in the spring?
Shorts and Tanks - obviously it depends on the time of the year that you’re visiting, but even late February/early March it’s warm enough during the day where you’ll want shorts and short sleeve tops.
Lightweight button up tops - I loved having a long sleeve button up to cover up from the sun. If you’re biking a lot or laying out by the pool or beach you might want a top to throw on to protect you from the sun. I wore mine basically every day.
Sandals & one nice pair of shoes - you’ll want sandals for sure, one nice pair for the day and a pair of Birkenstocks would be perfect for coming in from the beach with sandy feet. You also might want to bring tennis shoes for biking or walking (I wore my Birkenstocks) & one nice pair of shoes for dinner - there are a lot of nice restaurants in the area.
A dress or nice outfit - Alys & Rosemary are higher end vibes. They definitely have casual spots as well, but if you’re thinking you might go out to a nice dinner bring a long dress to protect you from the potential beach wind - a midi or maxi is perfect :)
Sunglasses, a sun hat, and SPF - it’s all about protecting yourself from too much sun when you’re out all day walking or at the beach.
Beach chairs & towels - this isn’t a necessity, but nice to bring if you happen to have them! Some places will rent you chairs (Alys has daily rentals). We brought our own cause you can carry them on your back and they’re super cute!
A beach tote and a good book - don’t forget your cute beach tote & good book! I got mine from Abercrombie & I used my kindle during the trip which was perfect.
