Travel
How to Start a Blog: Tips to Make it Happen
In today’s fast paced culture, one would think a blog is antiquated. However, blogs are a thriving mode for communicating with a mass audience covering any topic of interest. Read along as I share how to start a blog: tips to make it happen.
Family photo at Rosemary Beach 1. Select a niche.
I almost hate using this phrase for a subheading. If you spend any time at all online, you will hear the buzzword, “niche”. Honestly, sometimes it is stressful when I hear, “select a niche” or “niche down”. Take a deep breath and do not fear, selecting a niche might be easier than you think. What is it that you want to share? What perspective do you have that you want the world to know? For me, I like sharing about my home and family – our lifestyle. I have selected the niche of “Lifestyle Blogger”. When creating your own blog, select a niche ideal for you.
Much of my blog inspiration comes from what I share on my Instagram account. 2. Utilize a host site.
It is almost comical that I have a blog when being tech savvy is not my forte. The good news is, there are YouTube tutorials that can walk you through a step-by-step process for setting up your blog. These tutorials do a great job of helping you understand the ways to begin to monetize your blog. I decided to use WordPress to create my blog. WordPress has a wide range of templates to use when designing your blog.
Over and over again as I started my blogging journey, I saw information about bluehost.com. This is my host site for my blog. It allows me to own the name of my blog and its place on the internet. I pay an annual fee for the website name and site upkeep.
3. Determine a schedule.
Once you have hammered out the nitty gritty of a niche and have taken the time to set up and create the look of your blog, it is time to determine a schedule. Admittedly, this last one has been my weakness. For the 2024 year, one of my two goals for the year was to write 52 blog posts. I wanted to consistently show up on my blog in a way I had not previously done. Notice, I did not say I would post once a week – ha! I know myself too well and wanted to give myself grace in the event that something happened one week and I could not generate a blog post on a specific day of the week. Currently I am targeting releasing a new blog every week. A bulk of my blog posts have been released on Wednesdays with few exceptions. Determine a schedule that works for you and stick to it!
My hope is that these tips are just the motivation you need to start your own blog! Please let me know in the comments if you have a blog and what its name is. I would love to check it out!
Tips for Planning Your Own Travel Itinerary
Summer is the perfect time for travel! With kids out of school, beautiful weather, and vacation days, travel sounds like a great idea. You can check out another favorite vacation spot of ours here. Feeling overwhelmed with the idea of planning your vacation? Here are some tips for planning your own travel itinerary.
Conwy Castle
Tip 1: Pole your partner or family on desired location
Ask your partner or family members what locations they would like to visit. I’ve even heard of some family members creating PowerPoints with the highlights of their desired destination! Getting input from your traveling party allows you to consider what locales will best meet everyone’s ideals.
Tip 2: Utilize Pinterest and Google
Once you have a location, spend quite a bit of time researching the locale. Pinterest and Google are big supports in researching information regarding vacation destinations and amenities. My personal favorite is Pinterest. You can check out my Wales/Ireland board here.
I did use Google for Google Flights and booked my airline tickets through this site. Google Flights also required travel insurance purchase for the airfare. This is beneficial in case of an emergency that would require you to cancel your trip. We did not get travel insurance for the rest of our trip because it was not all-inclusive. Our car rental and hotel stays had their own cancellation policies that provided the necessary “insurance” to protect our interests in the event of a need to cancel. Whether or not to purchase travel insurance is a decision only you can make – you know your personal situation best.
Tip 3: Create a Google Doc
As you formulate a draft of what you would like to see and do on vacation, create a Google Doc for your Itinerary. This format will be easy to edit and add to as you gain more knowledge of your accommodations and activities. For our recent trip to Wales, I added all of my Google Map links to the itinerary to assist with traveling from one location to the next. I also included all of my accommodation confirmation numbers and ticket purchase verification numbers. Our flight numbers were also typed into this itinerary and was easily accessible via Google Docs.
Newborough Beach
Tip 4: Don’t plan too much
Vacation should be just that – a vacation. I planned three activities at most for each day of our vacation with the understanding that we might not get to everything. I wanted enough options to keep us entertained but wanted the ability to opt out if we were feeling tired or overwhelmed.
Another factor to consider in your planning is the physical abilities of all of your travel party. You may have some highly active, physically fit members of your party as well as some members that struggle with stairs. Consider everyone’s activity levels when making your travel experience plans. For example, Wales had a variety of activity levels from a “Ziplining World” to train rides to see the local scenery. We crafted an itinerary that met our physical abilities.
Tip 5: Expect the unexpected
Know that no matter how much planning you do prior to your vacation, something can and will go wrong. Try to roll with the punches and appreciate each moment. For example, our vacation went beautifully until the last day. We had three legs of our flights. Our first leg of the flight from Dublin to London went as planned, the last two legs of the flight were delayed for 24 hours. We made it home and remembering all the fun we had on our vacation helped lesson the dissappointment of delayed flights.
Did I leave anything out? Do you have another tip in mind when creating your own travel itinerary?
Tips for Successful College Campus Tours
Brainstorm Colleges of Choice
I’ve been cautioned for years that this season of life approaches and passes quickly. Oh how true that is! The season of planning for college is upon us. From my experience, I want to share some tips for successful college campus tours.
Tip #1 is to sit down with your high school junior and discuss: career interests, college location interests, and financial obligations for college. Having these discussions early during junior year is ideal. Have your junior create a list of possible colleges he/she would like to visit.
As you can tell here, I love to travel! And visiting colleges offers multiple opportunities to see new places.
Auburn University’s Football Stadium
Set Up College Campus Tours
Returning to work outside of the home this year, I really felt behind on setting up college visits for my son. However, we picked an evening with no distractions and sat down with our computer and calendar to schedule college campus visits.
I learned during this process that some colleges only have Monday visits available. In my mind, I thought all college visits would take place on the weekend. That is not always the case. For example, the University of South Alabama held their college Pre-Med tour day on a Monday and since my son is interested in the medical field, we needed to schedule our visit for this particular day.
Out of the four schools we visited (University of South Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Auburn University and Mississippi State University), two tours were held on Mondays and the other two were held on weekends.
Include All Relevant Tours
Typically at each school, there will be a variety of tours offered. The standard tour is the campus tour; however, some colleges request their housing tours be booked separately as well as their recreational center tours. Take the time to look at all the tours available and schedule any tour that might be of interest to your student.
We booked campus, housing, and recreational center tours. In some cases, we scheduled meetings with the department chairs of the College of Math and Science. Scheduling meetings with specific department chairs allows you to ask detailed questions about the major your student is interested in pursuing.
A part of our campus tour at Mississippi State University.
Take in the Extras
If the college your student chooses is their home for the next four, six, or longer years, then take in the extras. What do I mean by that? If the college/university is a distance away from your home, book a hotel and stay a night or two. Allowing your student to experience the surrounding town of the college/university will afford him/her the opportunity to get a feel for what life will be like while they are in school.
We love asking the locals where to eat. I enjoy seeing what famous spots the towns are known for. For example, if visiting Auburn University, then Toomer’s Drugstore is a must stop for their world famous lemonade. The picture below is of the cute area of downtown Starkville, Mississippi where Mississippi State University resides.
The beautiful downtown area of Starkville, Missississippi – home of Mississippi State University.
Hopefully these tips will help guide you as you tackle this developmental milestone. May you have many successful college campus tours!
Five Day Trips in Alabama for Labor Day
Labor Day is quickly approaching and I have crafted five day trips in Alabama for Labor Day! As a child, I heard a speaker once share that she was clueless to the notion of Labor Day being a holiday because her father had convinced her family it was a day to labor on cleaning their property. Ha! That was a pretty smart father until his children became teenagers and aware that others were not cleaning their properties on Labor Day.
In preparation for the upcoming HOLIDAY, I have put together five day trips in Alabama that would make for quite a fun Labor Day.
1. Visit WildWater Cullman.
Here in Alabama, there is a new water park located in central Alabama, Wildwater Cullman. About an hour north of Birmingham, this water park would provide a wonderful day of water fun for the holiday. If you live outside of Alabama, do a quick Google search and see what water parks are near you. For most water activities, Labor Day marks the end of the season and a perfect way to celebrate the summer’s end.
2. Plan a hike.
Spend the day outdoors on a beautiful nature trail. Red Mountain Park is a nearby locale that provides miles of trails to hike and explore. Hiking is not the only activity available here. This is a place you can walk, hike, and mountain bike. There is also a dog park on the property.
Red Mountain Park provides ample trails similar to this one to hike and explore. 3. Host a cookout.
Don’t want to go far? Have no desire to get in your car and go for Labor Day? Don’t! Host a cookout in your backyard or in my case, an alleyway. Invite friends, neighbors, or family over to eat and fellowship together. A cookout is another great way to celebrate the summer’s end. Pinterest lends a hand when finding guides like this one for how to host a cookout.
4. Visit a waterfall.
What is it about a waterfall that makes life seem peaceful? Located north of my home is Bankhead National Forest. It has been nicknamed “Land of a 1,000 Waterfalls”. What an apt name for a locale that hosts such amazing beauty. Labor Day provides a wonderful pause in life to go exploring a waterfall.
Sougahoagdee Falls in Bankhead National Forest 5. Visit a Labor Day Celebration
Tannehill State Park will host a Tannehill Labor Day Celebration on Labor Day. This includes Alabama’s largest Moon Pie eating contest. In addition to this celebration, Bham Now includes other Labor Day Weekend activities to explore. Tannehill State Park is a wonderful campground that we have visited in the past. We love to go camping and we recently purchased a popup camper and put our own decor touch on it. You can read all about our camper and what to do when camping, here.
Bonus activities.
Choose Labor Day to get out and go biking. Another bonus idea is to check out a new spot you have not visited. With the hosting of the World Games, Birmingham did a wonderful job of creating a City Walk. My family and I have yet to visit it. Labor Day would be a good time to check it out! Leave a comment below and let me know what you are doing this Labor Day.
What to do at Seagrove Beach
A vacation to Seagrove Beach is a trip packed with fun! My family recently stayed at this beautiful 30A community and we thoroughly enjoyed our time there. With lots of free activities, plenty of eating options, and gorgeous water, Seagrove Beach is a fantastic vacation destination.
The waters off of 30A are beautiful! Where to Stay
AirBnB and VRBO are my two go-to sites for vacation rentals. I am uncertain if AirBnB still does this trick but in the past if you “favorite” a location then come back to it later, the site will increase the price. I have learned to keep a running, written list of houses I like then go back and type in their description in order to avoid the price increase. On one hand, the fees are ridiculous but on the other hand, there are several whole house rental options that are a good fit for my family’s needs.
I do strongly encourage you to read the reviews left by previous guests. Do not only read one or two reviews – do a deep dive to see what a place is truly like. This advice was given to me years ago in an attempt to reduce being scammed or tricked by a fake rental host. Thus far, we have had great experiences with both our AirBnB and VRBO sites.
What to Do
There is an app called 30A and it provides a wealth of information about the stretch of highway 30A that includes several coastal communities in Florida. This app provides a running list of ongoing events in the local 30A communities. During the summer time, there is no shortage of free concerts, plays, and family movie nights.
We had the privilege this year of vacationing during the week of July 4th. The night of July 4th was nothing short of magical. From our beach chairs, we were able to view the fireworks shows from Destin, Seaside, Alys Beach, Panama City, as well as the fireworks shot off at our very own Seagrove Beach. The comradery of other beach goers along with the cool ocean air and music playing freely provided such a neat holiday experience.
This year, we were able to vacation with extended family.
Cousins are friends for life!As I have shared in other vacation posts, here and here, bike riding is a biggie for me on 30A. Another reason I like bike riding at the beach…it’s free! Seagrove Beach has several bike paths and gravel roads that will give you an abundance of adventure options. We would even ride our bikes to the Publix in Watercolor to pick up sundries.
Biking in Seagrove Beach Another free activity is games. Many vacation rental homes will have card or board games available to play. Don’t have a lot of money to go out and spend while on vacation? Stay in and play a board game as a family. We brought the game Taboo with us this year and played with my extended family. We laughed until we cried. This was a cheap way to make good memories!
Where to Eat
While on vacation at Seagrove Beach, we did not eat out every night. The 30a Farmer’s Market provides several meal options to make at your vacation rental. My family loves the tamales from It’s Tamale Time! We also picked up chips and guacamole from Alligator Pear Foods.
Local seafood markets such as Buddy’s Seafood and Goatfeathers Seafood allowed us to have a low country boil one night. We ordered our shrimp from Goatfeathers – it was delicious!
Low Country Boil for the win! Two restaurants we did visit this summer are Le Crema in Rosemary Beach and Bayou Bill’s Crab Shack in Panama City Beach.
Le Crema is located in Rosemary Beach –
a beautifully designed seaside community.No matter your tastes and likings, Seagrove Beach provides a wealth of options to enjoy your beach vacation!
Getting Ready for Vacation!
Lots of preparation goes into being ready for vacation. This summer my family will visit Rosemary Beach, a beach community located on the beautiful 30a highway of Florida. Read along to pick up ideas that may assist you in getting ready for vacation.
Make a Packing List
A packing list is a guide for me to ensure I do not leave anything important behind when heading out on vacation. Items included vary from clothing to toiletries to beach supplies to kitchen aids. When a family is gone for a week or longer, there is a lot to pack for said trip!
Not only do I keep a running list nearby in order for me to jot down items when I think about them, I like to also draw on the experience and expertise of other mamas who have been there, done that. Here is a blog post of a packing list I pinned from Pinterest.
The Folding Lady is also one of my favorite influencers to follow and check in with regarding how to get all my family’s items neatly and efficiently into our suitcases.
Bring Products that will Help You
Any mama or person in charge of packing for an entire family will have an idea of what products make your trip easier. For me, individual laundry bags like these help my kids keep up with their dirty laundry. When it is time to wash clothes, I simply consolidate the laundry bags and wash as needed. The bags can also be used to hold clean and folded laundry for me to return to each kids’ room.
Vacation is always a fun time to buy a few new things for the beach! We found a cute patriotic swimsuit from Target for my daughter.
You can check it out here!While I have yet to try them, I have heard a lot of people rave about packing cubes to use for organizing clothing and toiletries for trips. Here is a best seller on Amazon.
Travel size toiletry bottles are helpful as well as a variety of product bags. Rolling luggage is a plus on vacation. The ease of rolling your case along side of you allows you the space to carry other items in your arms or stack on top of your luggage. Our daughter got this set a couple of years ago. She gets a lot of use out of them. Truth be told Jeff and I need a new set for ourselves.
*As an Amazon Associate, I will earn from commissionable links. *
Create a Meal Plan
While I would love to share with you all the fun activities to do and places to eat while on 30a, I am going to save that post for the future. You can read up on our last year’s trip here. For this post, I simply want to focus on the preparation of vacay readiness.
Taking the time to think, dream, and discuss what food you want on your trip will help you save time and money while you are away. We have stayed at many beach houses over the years and when all the family is together, there is never a shortage of starving kiddos (at least they all think they are starving). Having a rough idea of what foods to bring, what foods to buy, and what nights you are eating out, makes for a smoother vacation experience.
While we have some favorite places to eat (The Donut Hole), we have some new places we are going to try out as well this year. My goal is to blog about everything we will do in an upcoming post.
For this preparation, you will need to make another list as well ( I love lists!). How many nights do you want to eat out? What special occasions are taking place while you are away?(birthdays, holidays, anniversaries?) Take this time to determine if any of your party has food allergies. Also, what are some favorite meals? For me, when I head to the beach, I want fresh, local shrimp. We have a funny but not-so-funny-at-the-moment story of the time my husband went to Publix and bought shrimp instead of going to the fresh seafood market while we were at the beach. Who knew Publix shrimp could cause such an uproar? 😉
Being ready for vacation will actually assist you in enjoying your vacation once you arrive at your destination. Hopefully, this post has given you ideas to implement as you prepare for any upcoming trips. Enjoy!
3 things my family did at Lake Guntersville State Park
Camping is a hobby our entire family enjoys. Recently there were three things my family did at Lake Guntersville State Park. Our fall break was held in mid October and we took full advantage of the break from school by visiting Lake Guntersville State Park. We camp in our pop-up camper that we recently renovated. You can check out the transformation here.
1. We camped.
Lake Guntersville State Park offers an amazing campground. Not only are there camper/RV spots available, there are also cabins and tent camping spots. We selected a prime location for our pop-up camper – next to the bath house and across from the playground. Even with a portable potty, you cannot go wrong with parking your camper near a bath house. Our stay was four days and three nights.
2. We toured the property.
The Lodge at Lake Guntersville State Park boasts some of the best views in the entire area. Views from the back deck of the Lodge overlook beautiful Lake Guntersville. Fall colors shine bright next to the blue water. Views of sail boats and fishermen give off tranquil vibes. This park also has a reputation for being a nesting spot for many an American Bald Eagle. These amazing birds are quite a sight to see.
3. We hiked and biked.
Besides the playground, tennis courts, basketball courts, and nature classrooms, Lake Guntersville State Park offers, the size of the campground alone provides a lot of area to bike through. Bringing our bikes is a regular habit for us when we camp. Even if the entire family does not take a bike ride together, the kids love the freedom of being able to jump on their bikes and go throughout a campground. Meeting new friends while camping is a common occurrence. The following image shares a link to some inexpensive bike lights that we use while camping. The lights have three different settings: one is a steady stream while the other two are a variation of blinking light patterns. They are easy to add to your bike handlebars or wheels. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission off any usable link.
Lake Guntersville State Park is a favorite camping destination for us mainly due to the volume of wildlife we are able to view here. Deer are in abundance within the park and do not shy away from onlookers. Our kids loved seeing the many deer.
Such pretty scenery and beautiful creatures can be seen from the seat of a bicycle. The campground has an on site Camp Store with guide pamphlets for a variety of hiking trail choices. We gave our first attempt at geocaching. Let’s just say, we have a lot to learn. We could never exactly understand what we were looking for; however, memories were made as we trekked along a trail that ran beside the lake. We hiked on Seale’s Trail, an easy trail that covers up to two miles. We hiked awhile and turned around when we were ready to move on.
The sunsets each evening were incredible. Other activities available at Lake Guntersville State Park that we did not participate in are ziplining and horseback riding. Between the three things my family did and the other activities nearby, Lake Guntersville State Park is a wonderful camping location.
What to Do and Bring When Camping
Growing up, I believe I remember camping exactly one time, maybe two. Trips as a child were often only to visit extended family not for the pure enjoyment of travel. Fast forward to married life and a husband who loves to camp. By association, I am loving it too. We have camped in tents, pop ups, fifth wheels, and bumper-pull campers. Currently, we own a pop up camper. To fully appreciate camping, there is some preparation that needs to take place. Follow along in this post to gain knowledge on what to do and bring when camping.
Camper
After selling our last camper, we have camped mainly in tents. Due to our desire to be outdoors but not totally roughing it, we purchased a pop up camper towards the end of last fall. With all the quick-fix and easy application materials available in today’s market, camper renovations are wildly popular. This Instagram feed is full of camper reno inspiration! To join in the fun, I have given our camper a little refresh. In order to fully appreciate it, you need to view the original look of our camper. Thankfully, there was nothing wrong with our camper and it was maintained by the previous owners in near perfect condition. Aesthetic changes were all that was needed for it to truly become ours.
The overall appeal was low when we originally purchased our pop up camper
.Our camper can sleep six comfortably. One pop out side holds a king size bed, the other pop out side holds a full size bed, the dining table converts to a twin bed, and the L-shape couch converts to a twin size bed. Since we do most of our cooking and hanging out outside our camper, once we updated the look, we keep all its beds ready for sleeping.
Now, for what activities we like to participate in while camping, places we like to go, and what products I believe make camping more enjoyable, read on. I’ll intermingle pictures of our updated camper throughout.
Our camper looking from the full size bed towards the king size bed. Activities
On our most recent camping trip, we went tubing at Big Wills Creek Campground. Any type of outdoor activities multiply the fun of camping. Fortunately, our campsite was situated next to the creek and made for an easy commute from camper to tubing trail. Other activities we enjoy while camping are: sitting around the campfire, riding bikes, making s’mores, playing card games, and hiking nature trails. When visiting a campground, check out their website or their front office. Plenty of activities on site or nearby will be advertised. Many campgrounds include playgrounds, community activities, and nature programs available to participate in.
The left side view of our camper. Campgrounds
In addition to Big Wills Creek, we have visited several campgrounds nearby that do not require long hours on the road. Our longest road trip to go camping thus far has been to Grayton Beach State Park. The good news of owning a camper? Air conditioning! I’m uncertain I would camp anywhere without a little air conditioning running in the background (and a heater in the winter). Grayton Beach has some of the best trails to go biking due to its connection to all 30A communities.
Tannehill State Park is another favorite campground of mine as well as Guntersville State Park. While Tannehill has a beautiful creek and a cool trade day once a month, plenty of deer can be seen typically at Lake Guntersville. Obviously, Alabama campgrounds are what I am most familiar with; however, your vehicle can take you anywhere you want to camp.
Looking to the right of our front door of the camper. What to Bring
Time and experience has helped me accumulate a nice little “Must-Have” list for camping. I am all too happy to share my knowledge with you. Here are nine items that I feel make our camping experience a little more enjoyable. These items are linked in my LiketoKnow.it link included in the right sidebar.
Must-Have List for Camping
- Solo Stove – Jeff received this for his Father’s Day gift this year and I must say, I am loving it! It is light weight, easy to get a fire going, and once it is cooled off and emptied, it can be carried in its own carrying case. Perfect for a cozy campfire or some impromptu s’mores.
- Shoe Rack – Camping attracts a lot of dirt and debris inside a camper. To reduce the amount of dirt, I do not let my crew wear shoes inside the camper. Instead, shoes are housed neatly on a two-tier shoe rack.
- Outdoor Rug – Isn’t it rough to step out of your camper onto the ground with no shoes on? Good question! Me and my crew do not have to experience a rough or dirty ground when we come out of the camper and put our shoes on because we have a nice outdoor rug placed in front of our door.
- Mini Fridge – Some people say this item is cheating on camping and if that is true, I am totally okay with it. Jeff picked up a mini fridge at Bargain Hunt and at first I thought that was crazy because we have a tiny one inside the camper. Boy, was I wrong! This mini fridge has been amazing. Jeff simply plugs it up and sets it right outside our camper. It has been the biggest help with meal prep and storage.
- Stringed Lights – You know how amazing it is at Christmas time when you can drive around and see all the beautiful lights on display? I’m telling you, you can experience the same thing in a campground. Each camper, RV, and tent seems to have its own calling card when it comes to outdoor lights. We like to string one set of our lights inside our pop up tent where we house our table and another strand of lights around the awning of our camper. I’ve linked up an extra long set so you might want to get a shorter length but I think the long string looks better.
- Folding Table – A totable, folding table comes in handy while camping. We mainly use ours to house our microwave, toaster, and coffee maker. Hey, we never said we were roughing it while camping!
- Mini Keurig – As mentioned above, we place a coffee maker on our folding table. Jeff purchased a mini-Keurig for me when I was teaching a couple of years ago. Now that I am back at home with the kids, we use the mini-Keurig on our camping trips. I love it!
- Plastic Totes with lids – Storage totes are a huge help while camping. I like to use the ones that have a lock on the sides. We place storage totes under our camper in order to clear up space inside the camper. Non-pantry items such as ziplock bags, citronella candles, marshmallow skewers, tablecloths, aluminum foil, and so on are stored in one tote, another tote holds pantry items that we do not want racoons or other critters getting into, and another tote holds extra bedding. Thankfully, our camper has storage under all the seating areas to hold cooking utensils, small appliances, pots, and pans.
- Wedding Tent – Why my husband and I call our outside tent a wedding tent is beyond me. Maybe it’s because it looks like one of those tents you would see at an outdoor wedding. Jeff sets up this pop up tent right beside our camper and we call it our “living room.” It holds our folding table, small appliances, and camp chairs for us to sit around and hang out.
- ****BONUS**** I did not list this item on my LiketoKnow.it link but one item that Jeff purchased this year that has been a game changer for the middle aged woman that I am is… a portable potty. This may sound unpleasant; however, a portable toilet keeps you from trekking across a campground in the middle of the night to find a bath house.
Check out my LiketoKnow.it link in the right sidebar. If you have never attempted to camp, I hope this blog post has peaked your interest. If you are already a camper then I hope I have given you some ideas on how to improve your camping experience. Did I miss anything? Is there another facet of camping you would like to know more about, comment below. I would love to hear from you! And if you would like to read more about our travels, check out my blog post here for our recent trip to 30A!
Beach Vacay on 30A
Life is filled with many different seasons and our vacation 2021 proved to be another new season of life. We told our 15 year old and our 14 year old they could each invite a friend with us on our vacation. So enters the season of young adulthood. I remember as a teen thinking that inviting a friend to summer vacation meant you were practically grown. Our crew plus two made it to my favorite beach local…Highway 30A.
Beach fun with friends! Jeff and I were introduced to 30A around 2010. Our first 30A trip was spent at Grayton Beach State Park. 30A is a collection of seaside communities that focuses on small town feels with beautiful architcture that can all be reached by bicycle. The communities included are: Grayton Beach, Watercolor, Seaside, Seagrove, Watersound, Seacrest, Alys Beach, and Rosemary Beach.
While I feel there are a variety of activities to participate in and reasons to fall in love with the communities of 30A, I will readily admit that its popularity has greatly increased over the last few years. Grayton Beach and its tiny spot on the map, remains my favorite 30A community.
Due to its popularity, booking a stay on 30A early is important in securing the best deal. I enjoy staying in a private house or small condo while at the beach. Vacation Rental By Owner (VRBO) has been our best rental route when traveling. AirBnB is another vacation rental site along with one that I have just been introduced to, Vacasa. I do not have any experience with Vacasa. My best tip for booking through these sites? READ THE REVIEWS – and not just the first three. I have found great information about a property, whether good or bad from the reviews. Our July 2021 trip was booked in January 2021. We stayed in the Beachwood Villas in Seagrove, Florida.
Activities abound on 30A with a wide range of prices. For my crew, budget friendly activities make my heart happy. I like to sprinkle free activities throughout our vacation week. The beauty of this Florida shoreline is hard to beat. Emerald waters and white sands make for a beautiful landscape. Walks along the beach, sitting and laying out by the water, and crab hunting at night provides lots of squeals of delight, laughter, and relaxation. Crab hunting provides squeals of terror and delight! One of my favorite activities? Bike rides. All 30A communities are connected by bike and/or walking trails. You can bike for hours if you want. You can bike to eat, bike to the grocery store, or simple bike to ramble. During the summer months, each 30A community provides free activities: children’s theater, family movie nights, and live music. 30a.com is a great resource for calendar events.
When looking to spend some money, Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin is a fun location. It hosts a wealth of shops, activities, and restaurants to enjoy. One night of our recent vacation was spent at the Gran Maze in the Coconut Creek Family Fun park. While the maze did not take long for our teenagers to navigate, we had LOTS of fun and laughs here!
Food makes any vacation better. In keeping with a relatively budget friendly meal plan, we alternated between eating at our condo and going out to eat. Rosemary Beach’s Farmer’s Market provides a wealth of vendors who have wonderfully yummy food! It’s Tamale Time! has been a fan favorite with our family for a couple of years now. We’ve cooked these tamales for two different beach vacations and they are amazing. We did not get them this time, but Alligator Pear chips are really good! For this trip, we got some super tasty jalapeno and cilantro hummus from a vendor at the market but I have totally forgotten the name. This makes me upset because the hummus was so good. Goatfeathers Seafood Market steamed large shrimp to go along with the corn and potatoes we boiled to complete our shrimp boil one night. Honestly, some nights after being out at the beach all day, we simply ate frozen pizza and cheese bread. One of my best decisions I made for this trip was to order our groceries and sundries via Walmart Grocery Pickup from a Walmart near our vacation rental. The key is to place the order 5-7 days BEFORE your arrival date to ensure the day and time are available for grocery pickup. These time slots fill up quickly, so plan ahead!
PIctures at sunset. As far as eating out, Seaside has a variety of restaurants and eateries surrounding its amphitheater. We like Pickles, a little burger, fries, and shake joint and the cool Modica Market. The market is a grocery store that is quirky and has everything you could want for a quick meal. Order a sandwich and a huge slice of cake to eat while watching a play at Seaside’s Amphitheater. The Hub at 30A is located between Watersound and Seacrest. This is another one-stop-shop for all things fun. A variety of shops and eateries surround a fun green space which boasts a large screen in the center. Family Movie Nights are hosted here throughout the summer. Our party of 7 chose supper from: Duos All American Eats; Local Smoke: Southern Pride BBQ; and Hooked: Sea to Table. There are a few more restaurants on site to choose from.
So much variety in such an easily-accessible environment makes 30A my beach destination of choice! Did I miss anything? Comment below with any questions or tips you would want to include in your trip to 30A.
