21 Things to Do on 30A with Kids

If you are planning a family trip to the 30A area in Florida, you may be searching for activities and other things to do with kids.

The Florida panhandle is home to the beautiful Emerald Coast, which features many quaint beach towns that serve as perfect vacation spots for families.

Highway 30A has become a really popular destination for those looking for super soft sand and amazingly clear water. Not only do the beaches provide family friendly play areas for kids; but, the towns along 30A also offer many activities for the whole family.

30A Towns

The area known as 30A runs right along the Florida coast from (just after) Destin all the way to Panama City Beach. As you travel this scenic road, you will drive through many adorably small communities full of character and activities.

Some of the towns you will pass through on 30A include:

• Santa Rosa Beach
• Blue Mountain Beach
• Grayton Beach
• Watercolor
• Seaside
• Seagrove
• Alys Beach
• Rosemary Beach

If you are looking for a place to stay in one of these popular 30A beach towns, you will notice that hotels and high rise condominiums are not as abundant as they are in neighboring Destin. Instead, you will find that most of your rental options include cottages, townhomes, and houses.

When searching for rentals in the Highway 30A region of Florida, my family and I like to use VRBO. This website allows you to search available rental properties while narrowing down your results by number of bedrooms/bathrooms, price, amenities, etc.

I particularly like to use VRBO to read in-depth reviews of a property before renting it. We have always been incredibly pleased with the condos and homes rented through VRBO. If you want to price out available rentals for your travel dates, you can check out the official website here:

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We never visit Florida beaches without boogie boards in tow. You can find available options to purchase on Amazon, but I find the prices to be much higher than in local stores. On our last trip, we found boards for around $5 at the Publix location in South Walton.

Paddle Board

Similar to renting bikes near the beach, you can pay a small fee to use paddle boards and kayaks on the water. Some of the rental companies even deliver them to you!

Walk on the Beach

In order to ensure that my toddler takes a decent nap while on vacation, I like to tire her out with a walk along the beach. Kids love running through the waves on the shore and searching for fish and other sea life in the water.

Go Fishing

In some of the less crowded areas along 30A, you can fish directly on the beach. On our last visit to Santa Rosa Beach, my family and I saw others setting up fishing poles right on the sand. 

Visit the Gulfarium

Panama City is home to Gulf World Marine Park, which offers dolphin and other animal encounters.

In addition, the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park in Fort Walton Beach is a great place to spend time with your kids. You can read my full review here:

• Ultimate Guide to Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park

Watch the Birds

I have to admit that I typically don’t take time to watch and appreciate birds in my own backyard.

However, bird watching at the beach is a totally different story! My whole family loved watching the pelicans and seagulls hunt for food by diving right into the ocean over and over again.

Play on a Playground

If you are visiting the 30A area during a time of year with mild weather, you can visit one of the community parks to experience lots of fun on the playground equipment.

Attend an Event

Make sure you check out the local event guide before your trip to Florida. You will often find free entertainment like musicians, festivals, magicians, and more. 

Build Sandcastles

We typically drive to the 30A area for our family vacations, and we like to pack our sand toys in the car. Just a few sand pales and shovels can provide hours of entertainment for kids on the beach.

 *Mom Tip- store your sand toys in a mesh laundry bag like the one pictured above. It helps make it super easy to rinse off all the sand. The strap also helps make carrying the bag back and forth much less of a hassle. You can find more tips for your beach vacation in this post:

• Packing Guide for a Family Beach Vacation

Search for Shells

As you walk along the beach or sit in the sand, take time to search for seashells. You can often find tiny shells right where the water rushes onto the sand.

Swim 

If you rent a property from VRBO that includes a swimming pool, your kids will undoubtedly want to spend time playing in the water.

If your rental property does not include access to a pool, you can swim in the ocean. The ocean water on the Emerald Coast is often really warm and calm.

Hike

Take time to hike at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, which is located right on the beach near Santa Rosa Beach.

Walk the Timpoochee Trail

Follow the Timpoochee Trail to the nearest ice cream shop or just explore the area on foot. This is also a great place for kids to ride bikes or for toddlers to ride in the stroller.

Take Sandcastle Classes

For a fee, you can sign up for classes on how to build extravagant sand castles. Since my kids are small, we haven’t tried the Sandcastle Lessons yet; but, it’s definitely on our bucket list.

Visit Gulf Place Town Center

Located in Santa Rosa Beach, Gulf Place Town Center offers shops, restaurants with live music, and ice cream/candy stores. You can read my full review of Santa Rosa Beach and Gulf Place Town Center here:

• Santa Rosa Beach Vacation with Kids

Catch a Performance at Seaside Amphitheater

Visit the town of Seaside, which often offers live music and performances at its amphitheater. 

Visit the Village of Baytowne Wharf

Located in Sandestin, FL the Village of Baytowne Wharf features lots of restaurants, shops, and entertainment options for families. My kids love the adventure zone and the carousel at Baytowne Wharf.

You can read more about all the fun things to do here: Ultimate Guide to the Village of Baytowne Wharf.

Cool off in the Fountains at Grand Blvd Towncenter

Also located in Sandestin, Grand Boulevard Towncenter is a popular area offering shops and restaurants. This trendy spot also features a splash pad with fountains that kids love to run and jump through.

Just make sure you pack a towel and change of clothes for your car ride home.

Fly Kites

In the evenings, we love to take time to fly kites right on the beach. I bought the kite below from Amazon several years ago, and it’s super easy to use. The kids love watching the dolphin shaped kite fly through the air. 

You can find the kite we use here: Beach Kite for Kids (Amazon Affiliate Link)

Search for Crabs

You can often find sand crabs running back into their holes in the sand while on the beach during the day. If not, take a flashlight down to the beach at night, and your kids will love watching all the crabs running around just after sunset.

What are your favorite things to do around 30A?

Comment below to share them with us!

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