Blue Mountain Beach sits right in the heart of 30A, which means everything worth doing on this stretch of coast is only a short walk or drive from your door at 30A Beachouse. Whether you’re planning a full week or just have an afternoon free, here’s where to start.
Begin with the water. Grayton Beach State Park, often ranked among the best beaches in the country, is five minutes away and worth the trip for its dunes, pine forest trails, and that unmistakable turquoise Gulf. If you’re after something quieter, Deer Lake State Park offers the same natural beauty with a fraction of the crowd, thanks to a long boardwalk that keeps the busiest spots a short walk from the parking lot.
When hunger hits, you don’t have to go far. Cowgirl Kitchen, a five-minute walk from the house, covers breakfast, coffee, and evening pizza in one easygoing spot. For a proper dinner, head to The Perfect Pig for Southern comfort food or Old Florida Fish House in Seagrove Beach, where the deck sits right over the water.
As the sun starts to drop, 30A shows a different side of itself. AJ’s Grayton Beach Club is the spot for sunset views and live music over the bayou, while the Red Bar’s jazz trio and mismatched chandeliers have been a Grayton Beach institution since the eighties.
If the weather turns, there’s still plenty to do. Browse the shelves at Modica Market in Seaside, or duck into the Hidden Lantern Bookstore in Rosemary Beach for an hour with a good book. And if anyone in the group dives or snorkels, the Underwater Museum of Art sits just offshore from Grayton Beach — the first permanent underwater sculpture museum in the country.
However you plan your days, it helps to book a few dinner reservations ahead in peak season — Old Florida Fish House and AJ’s both fill up fast on weekend evenings. Everything else on this list rewards a little spontaneity, so leave room in the schedule to wander.
The beauty of staying at 30A Beachouse is how little you need a car once you’re settled in. Most of this list is walkable or a five-minute drive at most, which means more time on the sand and less time in transit.