My Favorite 30A Things

🎼Raindrops on beach walks and sand dunes at sunsets,

Bright sunny mornings and warm days are best bets,

Seaside Farmers Market packages tied up with strings,

These are a few of my favorite 30A things…

OK, OK… I can’t make the whole song rhyme, but there are quite a few wonderful things to love around 30A.

• The magnificent coastal dune lakes along 30A are quite rare and can only be found at four other locations in the world.

• Rush hour takes on a whole new meaning around here. Only on 30A will people stop to pull off the road to watch a gorgeous sunset.

• Part of the reason 30A feels like such a special place is because of the building restrictions that limit new construction to only 4 stories tall.

• You haven’t lived until you’ve tried the tuna dip at Bud & Alley’s, the Veggie Pizza at Pizza by the Sea, the Café Breakfast at Great Southern in Seaside, or enjoyed the Burgers, BBQ, and football on the big screen at the Hub. There are some fantastic places to eat and hangout up and down 30A.

• The average year-round temperature tops out at 78 degrees, now that is hard to beat.

• The Songwriter’s Festival in January, The Alys Beach Wine Festival in March, Rosemary Beach gets Uncorked in October, and the festive holiday celebrations that bring all the neighborhoods to life in December -- there are some truly wonderful, special times to be had around 30A all year long.

🎼When the cold bites, when the sand fly stings,
When I'm feeling sad,
I simply remember my favorite 30A things,
And then I don't feel so bad.

So, there you have it, I’ve shared some of my favorite 30A things. I’d love to hear about some of your favorites…give me a call today!

The Best Places to See Christmas Lights on 30A

Ask a local and they will tell you…it’s the most wonderful time of the year on 30A. And to get into the holiday spirit, simply drive down 30A after sunset to take in all the sparkle and shine of the festive holiday lights. From Rosemary to Baytown Wharf and in between, all the beach towns and communities do their best to put on quite a show throughout the holiday season.

Here’s where I recommend you go to see some of the best holiday lights this year:

In Rosemary Beach Christmas lights drape the oaks on both sides of Barrett square, giving the town a soft-lit, magical glow. The highlight of the community’s decorations is the 25-foot Norwegian Spruce set against the backdrop of Town Hall.

Not to be outdone, a 24-foot tree stands tall at the Seaside amphitheater and the entire town is lit up with festive holiday lights making it a great spot for an evening stroll to get into the holiday spirit.

There is also the towering 30-foot Christmas tree at Alys Beach amphitheater, which is the centerpiece of their holiday decorations. And you can’t miss the string of garlands that crosses over Scenic Highway 30A. It’s the perfect spot for a pre-sundown photo opp.

And some say the most beautiful sight on 30A is the 30-foot tree located in the town center of Watercolor. When the sun sets and the lights begin to twinkle and shine -- it’s a wonderful place to meander around.

If you want to wander off the 30A path a bit, be sure and check out:

The Village at Baytowne Wharf really puts on a show — literally. All through the month of December, you can enjoy a fun, family-friendly light show over the lagoon set to popular holiday tunes. Visit www.baytownewharf.com for more information.

Grand Boulevard also gets into the spirit with lights and decorations, the highlight is the Festival of Trees -- located in the center’s courtyard. Twelve beautiful trees have been decorated by local non-profits and will be on display through Christmas.

So, there you have it! Come on down this holiday season and be sure to take our 30A “fancy-lights tour.” And I hope all your days and nights are merry and bright!