I have always wanted to explore the 30A inlet and finally got my chance to do so this past weekend. We were there for a family wedding where Sutton was the flower girl and while we were technically only there for a little under 48 hours, I got just enough of a taste to know that I definitely want to return.  

The sandy white beaches and emerald/aqua waters were just as pretty in person as I had seen in photos and the picturesque little beach towns that run single file down the road are beyond dreamy. 

We rented our house through Air BNB and it was such a great experience. It was practically brand new and extremely reasonably priced. We weren’t on the beach but it was within walking distance along with many restaurants and other amenities. *if you are interested in the exact home we rented, please reach out to me and I will be happy to share.  

My favorite town that we also spent the most time in was Alys Beach. It felt like a mix between Palm Beach and Santoini with its white buildings and beautiful landscaping. Fonville Press is a must stop if you are a coffee lover and they also offer a great variety of breakfast and lunch options. There is the most charming playground area right beside it that is perfect for little ones to run around and roll down hills while you sip your coffee. We attempted to grab donuts at Charlie’s donut truck but they were sold out by the time we got there so we took a quick drive down the road to the Donut Hole and were very pleased with their selection. The thing I was most impressed with this area was just how family friendly everything was. There were so many restaurants that had green space to run around or a cornhole set to their entertain guests and if you are a parent of small children, you realize just how much of a gift this is that allows for a more enjoyable experience for all parties involved. 

We also made a pit stop at The Hub for lunch and to catch part of a football game. This is the outdoor venue of my dreams with food trucks, a giant lawn for kids to play and a big screen TV for watching games.  

The rehearsal dinner took place on the patio of Bud and Alley’s underneath twinkling string lights with the sound of the ocean in the background. Bud and Alley’s is one of the most iconic restaurants in Seaside known for their crab cakes and they did not disappoint. 

Sutton was in HEAVEN the entire weekend and was totally milking every moment of her role as the flower girl. She did such a great job and the little boy who was the ring bearer was the CUTEST! They held hand the ENTIRE ceremony and apparently she gave him a kiss or two on his shoulder! I sadly didn’t see this but had several people tell me afterwards that it happened. Needless to say, we have since had a conversation about how she only gives mommy and daddy kisses 😉 

Its about an 8 hour drive from Palm Beach to 30a and we needed to be back home by 3:30 to meet with our architect about the house so we left at the wonderful hour of 4:00 AM This would allow for the amount of stops we knew we would need to take for the kids and to hopefully make the most of the drive time by allowing them to sleep in the car. I am NOT a morning person so when Dwight told me he wanted to leave at this time…it took me a bit to mentally gear up for it.  As hard as it is to get yourself out of bed at 3:45 in the morning, it made the drive SO much more enjoyable for us and the kids since they slept for a large portion of the trip. We would totally do this again for a long roadtrip. (And my sweet husband drove the entire way back…so grateful for that).

We made a pit stop in Orlando at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and it is the perfect kid friendly place for a roadtrip lunch. We had a family friend let us in on this little secret a few years ago and have since taken advantage of it a few times on our long roadtrips through Florida. You don’t have to be staying on property to eat there and The Mara is their quick service restaurant with several great options for adults and kids alike. They also have a great playground area and of course amazing animals to admire on the grounds of the hotel. 

I am already planning on getting my side of the family there for a vacation and can’t wait to return again soon.