We just wrapped up a week in our favorite place, 30A.
Man, oh man, we love it there. This trip was a little different than all the trips before, this trip we had a baby in tow.
Faith Hill was right, a baby really does change everything!
If you’re looking for baby travel tips, then check out our podcast for airplane and hotel advice.
In 2016, I wrote a 30A travel guide and I reviewed our favorite restaurants at that time.
In this post, I’ll be reviewing all different locations, so be sure to check out the original post as well if you’re planning a trip.
where we stay
The #1 question I get asked is where do we stay when we visit 30A.
We stay somewhere different each visit depending on who is coming with us. Our preference is to rent a house using VRBO or AirBnB.
We did have a very bad rental experience with 360 Blue two years ago and highly recommend not renting with them.
BONUS:
The one pain about renting a house vs. staying in a hotel? Going grocery shopping for the week. I have a fix for that… And trust me, you’ll never want to vacation without this service again!
Introducing Be My Shopper. Okay, so they’re not just a grocery delivery service (here’s where it gets so cool), they will work with the rental company or owner of the property you’re renting from to deliver prior to your arrival.
Be My Shopper will stock your fridge and pantry before you arrive, so all you have to do is get there and start your vacation!
I’m wishing they could do this for me every week at home in LA. If you have an upcoming trip to 30A planned, then use Be My Shopper for your grocery needs.
Use coupon code: LANTER20 and get $20 of your grocery order!
what we ate
There is no shortage of incredible restaurants on 30A.
There are so many incredible places to eat, which is exactly what we like to do on our vacations. In my original post, I covered our favorite original spots, but we’ve since discovered some new places I’d love to share…
Bud and Alley’s Pizza Bar: Anyone who’s been to 30A knows Bud and Alley’s (hello insane crab cakes!) But they now have a sister restaurant and it’s incredible. We started off with their grassfed meatballs, which were delicious. For our entree, we had several different pizzas for the table and each one was amazing. The location is almost as good as the food, it’s right in the heart of seaside and just a few steps from the beach.
Shunk Gulley: Award for restaurant with the best view! We had lunch here twice this past trip and both times the view and the food were both amazing. I’m not the biggest tuna dip fan, but theirs blew my mind, it was that good. Their cheeseburger was in the top 5 I’ve ever had, and trust me, I’ve tried a ton of burgers.
Surfing Deer: This spot has incredible food and a really cool vibe. Where else can you order bacon that comes on a clothesline?! I find that a lot of restaurants along 30A have a very limited menu selection, but Surfing Deer has a lot to choose from. We dined with a party of six and ordered for the table, so we tried a little of everything, and it was all amazing.
Caliza: This is easily the best date night location. You feel like you’ve been transported to Morocco as you dine poolside. I had the burrata toast and grilled cobia, both dishes were divine.
Blue Mountain Beach Creamery: Every time you pass this ice cream hut, the line is crazy. I now know why. It’s fantastic. This ice cream is worth the wait.
The Perfect Pig: One of our absolute faves. We’re really sad because Matt’s favorite menu item isn’t currently being offered- it was their goat cheese appetizer. My personal favorite item is their hickory smoked BBQ chicken- oh so good!
Chiringo: I had a grilled shrimp salad at Chiringo when I was pregnant and I kid you not, I craved that darn salad my entire pregnancy. I still crave that salad! This is a great lunch spot in Grayton that’s just a quick walk to the beach.
what we do
Beach Bonfire: One of my favorite memories from our 30A trip last summer was the bonfire on the beach. Shoreline Beach Services came out and set up the fire, the chairs and a smore’s buffet, so we could enjoy the fire while watching the sunset. The night was so magical and I couldn’t recommend this experience enough.
Pedego Bikes: If you’re planning a 30A vacation, stop what you’re doing and book Pedego Bikes. They were so. much. FUN. We had a blast pedaling along 30A with our family and friends. We had double bikes so our nephews could join in on the fun as well.
Shop: My favorite home interiors store in the world is in 30A- Beau Home Interiors. If I could decorate my entire house with pieces from Beau’s, I would. My guest room bedding and various other pieces throughout my home are Beau purchases.
If you’re looking for gorgeous clothes, then you HAVE to stop in at Willow Boutique. They have the best brands and I love their selection. Willow has several stores along 30A, so be sure to stop in!
The Hub: If you have kids in your group, don’t miss out on evenings at The Hub. They screen movies throughout the week on the lawn which is fun for the whole family. I would say to pass on the restaurants, there’s nothing remarkable about the food there.
Art: Matt and I have never been big art connoisseurs, but we can appreciate a beautiful piece of art.
This past trip, there were two paintings in our rental house that we just fell in love with. Matt looked up the signature on the paintings and found that they were by the 30A local artist, Justin Gaffrey. We had to see more of his work, we were so hooked. We visited his showroom in 30A and we also were lucky enough to stop into his studio and meet Justin himself.
I hope you enjoyed this travel guide.
Leave a comment below and let me know if you’d like me to write guides for anywhere else we’ve visited or lived (LA, Vancouver, New Orleans…)
Also, if you’re a 30A lover like me, leave a comment and let me know!
The picture of MacKenlee in the red striped bathing suit (above) looks exactly like her daddy. Uncanny.