Remember these… The Weekender’s Guide is back! I actually have about 10 weekender’s guides on my list for y’all but I wanted to start with one that is perfect for Summer.
The Weekender’s Guide to 30A.
If you are from the south, you’ve most likely heard of 30A. It’s a little slice of paradise in the Florida panhandle. If you see photos of it, you may think you’re in the Caribbean. Clear, blue waters. White sands. Adorable architecture and amazing restaurants. Paradise, am I right?
And if you’re from the South, it’s most likely a road tripp-able distance for you! Even if you’re not, it’s definitely worth the flight. Trust me.
Since multiple visits growing up, I know 30A + the surrounding areas of Destin & Sandestin like the back of my hand. Living in Memphis, it was an easy drive for my family and the perfect spot for family vacays. As I grew older, it became our go to spot for spring breaks, romantic getaways with babe and the pups and girl’s weekends! Basically, it’s got something for everyone
Today I’m sharing a recap of our most recent trip but I will also have a handy, pin-able guide for ya at the bottom, no matter what type of trip you’re taking!
DAY ONE
We started our trip on a Friday, but we decided to leave very, very early Friday morning to have a full beach day. Three of our Six girls left Chattanooga at 4 am and one of our friends coming from Memphis also left early. We spent the day on the beach, checked into our condo (more on that below) at 3 pm, had some major trouble from the luggage cart and then decided to treat ourselves to one of my all time favorites – Red Bar.
It’s small, dark and crowded but it’s forever one of my favorite meals. There’s usually a wait but there’s also usually a live band, cold mojitos and adorable shops right around it where you can walk around while waiting. I get a classic mojito and the Panne Chicken. There’s only 5 things on the adult menu, but if you have kids they have a few more options for them!
SHOP MY LOOKS:
| Knit Triangle Bathing Suit | Quay Sunglasses | Yellow Bow Dress (wish I got a better pic, so cute!) |
DAY TWO
The next day, the whole crew had arrived and we chartered a boat! We went back and forth on if it was worth it but in the end, we all agreed it was the highlight of our trip! We used Boat Charter Destin and it was super easy. We had an incredible captain and he was so much fun. We asked him to take us to Crab Island, but you could also do a day cruise or a night cruise. We got a lot of questions about what we were drinking on the boat. They are called Truly, they are like sparkling water and beer combined except they are very low sugar, low carb and low calorie. They are so refreshing and great for the beach, pool or even a weeknight at home. Sometimes I’ll muddle a few blackberries or blueberries in the bottom of my glass and enjoy on our back porch!
We were exhausted after the boat and decided to hit Whataburger on the way home for dinner (I only get Whataburger at the beach and it’s such a fun treat and tradition!). We napped and decided to head to Baytowne to dance the night away. Our Airbnb was in Sandestin and I cannot recommend it enough. For families, there are so many kid friendly things during the day and at night, there are such fun bars that are right below our Airbnb. This saved so much money on Ubers + was easy if girls wanted to head back to the room at different times. If you’ve never stayed in Sandestin before, I highly recommend checking it out.
SHOP MY LOOKS:
| My Bathing Suit Wearing a Medium- True to Size, Only $10! (If you’re concerned with ordering from SHEIN, I have a full post on them here) | My Hat | Floral Free People Bodysuit | Free People Wrap Skirt | Steve Madden Sandals |
DAY THREE
Sunday we were greeted by Tropical Storm Alberto. It wasn’t awful weather yet but we still were not in a hurry to hit the beach. We decided to grab breakfast at Another Broken Egg in Baytown. I do not recommend going here if you’re in a hurry, after an hour and half wait, we ended up being here for almost 4 hours. The food was fine, but for breakfast I highly recommend The Donut Hole or cooking in your condo. We were able to head to the beach for a little bit after breakfast though!
For dinner, we went to Stinky’s Fish Camp in 30A. This is one of my favorite restaurants. It has a very fun, relaxed vibe but is still a little bit on the formal side. I’ve come here with my family multiple times, on double dates with RJ and now with girlfriends. It is perfect for any occasion and has not disappointed yet. You must order the Lump Crab Stuffed Squash appetizer. I’m not even a fan of crab and can eat the whole thing. A few of my other favorites is the Buffalo Shrimp Basket and Shrimp and Grits. A girl from our trip got the Taste of Stinky’s and loved it. I always get the Mommy Dearest cocktail, it’s so yummy and refreshing!
SHOP MY LOOKS:
| White Button Down Cami [c/o] | One Teaspoon Shorts | Golden Goose Sneakers (Similar Color 30% Off!), Dupe | White Two Piece Set Wearing a Medium (Such a steal) | Flatforms (Old, Similar) |
| Two of the girl’s sets that are mine: Stripe Pants Set, Gingham Two Piece Set |
or hover over any image to pin directly.
Even though I’m a seasoned 30A veteran, I’m sure there are still so many things to add to my list! It seems like the fun is never ending there. If you go and try anything from my list, please let me know! If you enjoy these weekender’s guides but I haven’t done a city you need yet, let me know and I’ll move it up on my list! XO
Do you have a link to the AirBNB that y'all stayed in? I always love staying somewhere with a good location and yours seems great!