Water Damage Restoration in Alys Beach, FL

On a weekend trip to Panama City Beach, a beach town in Florida's panhandle, I heard a recurring comment from the locals.

"Have you made it over to 30A yet?" said my Lyft driver. "You've got to — it's the up-and-coming spot around here."

While I was purchasing tickets for the Shell Island Ferry, the cashier said, "Do you have plans to go over to 30A?" When I said no, she insisted I return to the area for a trip because it's just so beautiful.

I live in a different Florida beach town that often gets inundated with spring breakers and summer beachgoers, so I couldn't decide whether Panama City Beach locals were trying to run tourists out of town or they really meant what they said about 30A.

Eager to find out, I planned a trip to Florida's 30A area — a 24-mile stretch of beach between Destin and Panama City Beach that's been called "the Hamptons of the South."

Turns out, those locals were right. I think 30A is one of the best gems in Florida, and I liked it even more than Panama City Beach.

Panama City Beach is great for tourists, but 30A has a more luxury feel.

Panama City Beach reminds me of the beach towns I grew up visiting in the Northeast: lots of souvenir shops, a pier for walking and fishing, and more tourist attractions than one could squeeze in during a vacation.

There's lots of good food in PCB, including a crepe shop adored by reviewers on Yelp, but I'd say the general vibe of the area can best be described as "touristy beach town."

The landscape changes entirely when you drive just 15 or 20 minutes to 30A. High-rise hotel chains become private rental cottages, and souvenir shops give way to luxury shopping venues.

The overall vibe switches from a busy vacation spot to a place where you'd do beachfront yoga and sip freshly pressed juice before spending your day on a quiet, white-sand beach.

The beaches along 30A felt pristine.

The beaches alongside 30A communities such as Rosemary Beach and Seaside are home to white sand and transparent blue water. They took my breath away.

To get onto most beaches in 30A, you need a wristband or beach tag — visitors can get these from whichever rental property they're occupying.

I think the beaches benefit from the lack of large nearby hotels and public access. With limited visitors, there's less of a strain on 30A's beaches, resulting in a beautiful setting that feels more intimate.

It's also the best spot in the area to watch the sunset.

There are some spectacular sunsets along the Gulf of Mexico, and 30A is a great place to see them.

On my trip, I especially loved watching the sunset from Bud and Alley's, a Seaside restaurant with sweeping coastal views. Another evening, I watched the sun set from the beach and was equally blown away by the beauty around me.

It's easy to hop from town to town and explore 30A.

During my stay in 30A, I chose a rental property between Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach.

Fortunately, the area is very bikeable, with ample spacious sidewalks and bike lanes throughout. Lots of condos or hotels here come with bicycles, plus there are many rental companies in the area.

Often, I took a beach cruiser from my condo over to Rosemary Beach for coffee or a meal, or I'd bike down 30A and stop to explore each town.

Since I also had a rental car, I drove to some of the spots farther away from me, such as Seaside and Santa Rosa Beach. Parking felt easy to find, and the area was simple to navigate by car with my phone's GPS system.

I loved Seaside, which had the vibe of an upscale beach town.

My favorite spot in 30A was Seaside, a beach community where the movie "The Truman Show" was filmed.

It had beautiful beach houses, a small boardwalk area with shops and restaurants, as well as a collection of food trucks, and an outdoor amphitheater for concerts.

It felt relaxed and not too pretentious, but more upscale than Florida beach towns such as Fort Lauderdale, Cocoa Beach, or Panama City Beach.

I loved exploring the area, and it's the spot along 30A where I saw the most families with children.

Visiting 30A's Alys Beach felt like stepping into the Mediterranean.

If Seaside is a family-friendly-but-upscale beach town, Alys Beach is on the opposite end of the luxury vacation spectrum.

This small community is filled with white-washed, stone vacation homes and Mediterranean-inspired architecture — it felt like a big resort.

In fact, there's nothing comparable to Alys Beach in Florida that I've seen. Because of its stunning homes and high-end feel, Alys Beach feels like one of the areas least accessible to the public in 30A.

I didn't spend much time here, especially because I saw so many residential streets with signs prohibiting the public from walking through or taking photos.

If you're interested in vacationing in a more private area of 30A, though, Alys Beach is worth taking a look at.

Visit Rosemary Beach if you want to feel like you're in a cute European town.

Rosemary Beach has made its rounds on TikTok, going viral for its similarities to a little European town.

Its downtown area is lined with cobblestone streets full of shops and al-fresco eateries, and it has a hotel complete with spires that reminded me of something I'd see in the Swiss Alps.

I passed many street carts selling wares such as scarves and fresh flowers, and homes with European-style architecture. The area also has beautiful private beaches, which can be accessed only with a key card.

There are plenty of unique, smaller beach communities to explore along 30A, too.

Seaside, Alys Beach, and Rosemary Beach are perhaps the most famous spots along 30A, but I was impressed with the lesser-known areas I visited, too, such as Santa Rosa Beach.

You truly could make an entire day out of exploring the tiny towns and communities that make up this beautiful part of Florida.

It's home to lots of nature, including state parks and coastal dune lakes.

In addition to beaches, shopping, and dining, 30A has lots of beautiful, natural landscapes to show off.

I stopped by Eden Gardens during my visit — a 163-acre state park home to sweeping gardens, a bayou, plenty of walking trails, and centuries-old oak trees.

The area also has a collection of coastal dune lakes, a rare saltwater and freshwater phenomenon that only exists in a few spots around the globe.

As vacationers drive onto Florida’s 30A scenic highway from the East, they’ll soon approach the scrub oak trees and European-style architecture of Rosemary Beach.

The community on Northwest Florida’s Panhandle was established in 1995 but has the feel of a much older beach town, modeled on colonial structures in the Dutch West Indies, St. Augustine and New Orleans. “It usually captivates people as soon as they pull onto 30A and they’re like, ‘Wow, Rosemary,’ ” said Coco Gilliam, an independent travel agent with Magic on Main Travel who lives in the area.

There are cobblestone streets, shops and restaurants steps from the white sand beach. The town was among Vrbo’s hottest vacation destinations for 2025 during spring break and Memorial Day, according to a January news release.

Rosemary is just one of many seaside communities on 30A, each with its own look and feel. Travelers from the Southeast may be familiar with the popular destination, but here’s what new visitors should know.

What is 30A?

Located between Panama City Beach and Destin, 30A is a 24-mile corridor. The area is home to state parks, coastal dune lakes and more than 10 distinct communities. “You can go to the beach, but it's the towns that, for me, just bring it to a full vacation,” Gilliam said.

Most feature vacation rental homes, but some also have hotels. Visitors can easily ride bikes between them; some houses and resorts provide them, but visitors can also find rentals in each town, according to Gilliam.

What other beach towns are on 30A?

Along with Rosemary Beach, the area's communities include:

◾Seaside: “That's usually the first town people go to because they recognize it from ‘The Truman Show,’ ” Gilliam said. Seaside’s cottages and main square served as the backdrop for much of the 1998 film starring Jim Carrey. The area is highly walkable and kid-friendly, she added, with beloved restaurants like Bud & Alley’s, which overlooks the gulf, and activities from live music in the amphitheater to farmers’ markets.

◾Seagrove: Gilliam described Seagrove as a "quieter spot” next to Seaside. While still close enough to walk between the two, the area’s location offers “slightly” more affordable prices, she added.

◾Alys Beach: Alys’ 158 acres feature white houses, including villas and courtyard homes that draw on the architecture of islands like Bermuda and Antigua. Visitors will find a 20-acre nature preserve, along with shops and restaurants, including The Citizen, a coastal tavern. The community also hosts activities like the Digital Graffiti Festival, where artwork is projected onto its white walls.

◾Grayton Beach: Grayton Beach is “more of an artsy area,” Gilliam said. Tourists can check out local institutions like The Red Bar, which is located in an old general store and hosts live jazz and other music, and explore Grayton Beach State Park. Guests will find hiking, fishing, campgrounds and more on the park’s nearly 2,000 acres.

◾Blue Mountain Beach: Blue Mountain is less well-known among tourists than some other nearby communities, Gilliam said. Located closer to 30A’s western entrance, she noted that the area is more affordable and the more laid-back vibe has its perks. “The beaches are going to be less crowded over there because you don't have as many houses built up in that area,” Gilliam said.

Travelers can find a full map of 30A by clicking here.

When is the best time to visit 30A?

Gilliam said the area is “becoming a year-round destination,” but the most popular season runs from May through October when the water is warm. However, the winter months can mean fewer crowds.

“If you're OK not getting in the water and swimming but enjoying what there is to experience in all the beach towns, the off-season is a great time to come,” she said.

How do you get to 30A?

Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) in Panama City is the most convenient airport, according to Gilliam. The airport is located roughly a half-hour drive from 30A.

Travelers can also fly into the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) or Pensacola International Airport (PNS), but those are about an hour and an hour-and-a-half drive away, respectively. Gilliam recommended renting a car to explore the area more easily.

Driving in is another option. 30A is less than a daylong road trip away from many cities, including Birmingham, Alabama, (roughly four-and-a-half hours); Atlanta (a little over five hours); and even Nashville (about seven hours).

How expensive is 30A?

There isn’t one price point for the area, as rates can vary depending on where guests stay and the type of accommodations they choose.

For example, nightly rates at The Lodge 30A – billed as an “affordable stay” – start at $176 in early September, according to its website. The Pearl Hotel, a luxury property in Rosemary Beach, starts at $555 per night for the same dates. If travelers rent a six-bedroom house, however, they’re going to be looking at “way more,” Gilliam said.

“Especially depending on the time of year you visit, the price range can also vary,” she added.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.

If your dream vacation includes wandering cobblestone streets, gazing at whitewashed buildings kissed by the sun, and feeling the salt air on your skin, you might assume you need to book a flight to Greece. But right along Florida’s scenic Highway 30A is a coastal community that brings the Mediterranean dream to life, without ever leaving the States. Welcome to Alys Beach, a master-planned town that blends Old World charm with modern elegance, and might just be America’s best-kept Grecian secret. I fell in love with this town not just for the fact that it reminded me I could travel continents within my home state, but also because of the history and intention behind the town's planning.

At first glance, Alys Beach looks like it’s been plucked right from the island of Santorini. Stark white buildings with clean lines and soft curves gleam under the Florida sun, accented by wooden doors, lush courtyards, and wrought iron details. But Alys Beach isn’t just mimicking the Aegean—it’s creating its own version of paradise, rooted in both beauty and sustainability.

Founded in the early 2000s, Alys Beach is part of the famed New Urbanism movement, a design philosophy that emphasizes walkability, community spaces, and architectural cohesion. The town was designed by the Miami-based firm Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company, the same visionaries behind nearby Seaside, Florida—another idyllic 30A destination. But while Seaside leans into quaint and colorful, Alys Beach embraces minimalism and Mediterranean grandeur. The town’s namesake, Alys Stephens, was the mother of one of the developers and an avid traveler. Her worldly inspiration helped shape Alys Beach into the tranquil, storybook setting it is today.

So, how does Alys Beach compare to Greece? Let’s start with the architecture. In both places, whitewashed buildings aren’t just beautiful—they’re practical. The reflective surfaces keep interiors cool under the blazing sun. While Greece often showcases domed roofs and centuries-old stonework, Alys Beach leans into sleek, modern interpretations. Homes and buildings are fortified with concrete and designed to withstand hurricanes, a necessity in Florida’s coastal climate. While you won’t find ancient ruins here, you will find details that nod to the past, from archways and colonnades to fountains and gas lanterns.

The ambiance, too, draws parallels. Both Greece and Alys Beach invite slow living. Days are best spent strolling through quiet streets, sipping wine in shaded courtyards, or lounging near impossibly blue water. Alys Beach’s Gulf-front location offers sugar-white sand and warm turquoise waves—different in texture than the pebbled beaches of Greece, but every bit as breathtaking. And much like a trip to the islands of Mykonos or Paros, time in Alys Beach encourages a kind of romantic, unhurried lifestyle that’s hard to find elsewhere.

Dining in Alys Beach mirrors the Mediterranean philosophy of fresh, flavorful ingredients. Restaurants like The Citizen or Neat offer coastal cuisine and craft cocktails in sleek, stylish spaces. While you won’t find a traditional taverna or ouzo on the menu, the experience evokes the same joy of lingering over a long, leisurely meal with the sea nearby.

So if you’re craving Greek island vibes or simply looking for a getaway that feels worlds away from the everyday, Alys Beach, Florida, delivers. It’s a destination that captures the essence of European escape—no passport required. And with its unique blend of design, culture, and natural beauty, it’s not just a Florida town—it’s a little slice of the Mediterranean right here at home.

It’s not hard to find beauty in the Sunshine State. Yes, there are the beaches, of course. With two coasts, there’s a picturesque stretch of sand for everyone. But Florida also has botanical gardens, historic hotels, nature preserves, incredible architecture, and so much more. Every time I visit my home state I find something new to marvel at and appreciate. This list covers a handful of these places, but each one is uniquely beautiful and worth a visit.

20 Florida Beaches That Could Pass For The Caribbean

Alys Beach

Alys Beach

This beach town's contrast of stark white buildings and turquoise ocean might make you feel like you're in the Mediterranean. Alys Beach is known for its striking architecture, which blends Bermudian and Greek influences to create its own distinct look.

Bioluminescence Season

Space Coast

In the summertime, certain bodies of water on Florida's Space Coast (roughly Titusville down to the villages of Grant and Valkaria) get an incredible nighttime show thanks to a natural phenomenon called bioluminescence. The presence of comb jellies and a marine plankton called dinoflagellates give the water a shimmering blue-green glow.

Lake Santa Fe

Melrose

This spring-fed lake east of Gainesville is a stellar fishing spot for bass, but it has such natural beauty—from the old cypress trees to a variety of water birds—that you could spend an entire day paddling around and taking in the views.

Park Avenue

Winter Park

With its blend of historic buildings, charming boutiques, sidewalk cafes, and gorgeous landscaping, Winter Park is the kind of place that’s instantly charming. The city’s main (cobblestone) street, Park Avenue, is one of the most pleasant places to spend an afternoon. The main business district is home to more than 140 businesses like long-time breakfast spot The Briarpatch, independent shops like Writers Block Bookstore, and big-name retailers like Lilly Pulitzer. Not to mention the fountains, rose bushes, and colorful planters in Central Park, just across the street.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Key Largo

America’s first underwater state park opened in 1963 in Key Largo and is still a haven for snorkelers and scuba divers. The area is home to miles of protected coral reefs, mangrove swamps, seagrass beds, and a multitude of sea life. While much of the park’s beauty is found under the water’s surface, you can take a glass bottomed boat tour to see the reef’s colorful inhabitants.

The Don CeSar

St. Petersburg

In 2023, our readers voted the Don CeSar the best historic hotel in Florida, and it’s easy to see why. The ornate, flamingo-hued building is as stunning inside as it is viewed from the sandy shores of St. Petersburg beach, where it has resided since 1928. The Don Cesar was redesigned in 2021, but its opulent look nods to the hotel’s history, from the Art Deco-inspired geometric tile floor to the rich green hues and gold accents in the Lobby Bar.

Everglades National Park

Everglades City

Experience Florida’s wild, untamed beauty at the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. Once you’re inside, you’ll find something to marvel at no matter where you look—massive cypress trees, colorful waterbirds, breathtaking views of the wetlands, and maybe even a panther or two. You could visit the 1.5 million acre park hundreds of times and never have the exact same Everglades experience twice, but you’re guaranteed to see something that will take your breath away.

The Gasparilla Inn & Club

Boca Grande

This famous Florida inn has been welcoming guests for more than 100 years. And while the property has been updated many times since then, it still retains its colorful, old Florida charm. Whimsical details like hand painted walls and chandeliers that look like jellyfish are combined with a palette of pale pastel colors; bright, natural light; and ocean views. It’s a little slice of paradise.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Miami

Formerly a vacation home built in 1916, the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is one of the most scenic places in South Florida, and perhaps the state. The historic Mediterranean-style house is filled with art and antiques (including ancient Roman sculptures, one of the largest collections of Italian furniture in the U.S., and tapestries from the Renaissance). Outside, you can spend hours exploring European-style gardens in distinct styles (like a maze garden and a fountain garden). Tropical plants and sculptures are interspersed throughout the property, which runs along Biscayne Bay. It’s a truly transporting place.

Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge

Crystal River

Manatees might not be described as 'beautiful,' but swimming with one in clear aquamarine water is certainly a beautiful only-in-Florida experience. Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge is the only place in the country, where you can legally swim with these endangered and protected mammals through licensed tours.

Worth Avenue Alleyways

Palm Beach

Known as Florida’s Rodeo Drive, Worth Avenue is home to the most high-end designer stores, fancy cars, and even fancier people. While this over-the-top luxury can be dazzling, the most beautiful spots in Palm Beach are the side streets and alleyways off of Worth Avenue. Venture away from the main street and you’ll be rewarded with bouganvillea-filled courtyards, hidden stores, fountains, stunning tile and mosaic work, and secluded benches where you can sit and almost convince yourself you’re in a European village.

Leu Gardens

Orlando

Far from the theme parks and the city traffic is a lush, tropical wonderland. No matter the time of year, you’ll be amazed by the variety and beauty of Leu Gardens. The property is packed with foliage thanks to its original owners, Harry and Mary Jane Leu, who collected plants and seeds from their travels. In addition to tropical varieties of all kinds (bromeliads, hibiscus, bananas, bird-of-paradise), Leu is home to one of the state’s largest formal rose gardens, a tropical steam garden (similar to a rainforest), a collection of fruit trees, a camellia collection, and so much more. Whether you’re a plant expert or a total novice, you’ll be captivated by this place.

Ann Norton Sculpture Garden

West Palm Beach

Located across the street from the Lake Worth Lagoon, this small sculpture garden feels like a private, leafy oasis. The two-acre property, which also includes a home and studio, is the former residence of sculptor Ann Weaver Norton. Now it is place where people can encounter her work (more than 100 pieces) as well as work by other artists. The jungle-like garden, Norton’s collection of 250 rare plants, including palms, orchids, and other native plants, is beautiful itself, and Norton’s massive sculptures (in stone, wood, and bronze) look right at home among the vegetation.

Flagler College

St. Augustine

Florida’s Ancient City is filled with photogenic places, but this small private college is one of the best. Unlike most universities, Flagler College is housed in a hotel. But not just any hotel—the Ponce de Leon, Henry Flagler’s opulent Spanish Revival-style hotel. The building dates back to 1888 and has been impeccably preserved so that its gilded glamor is just as breathtaking today. Tours of the hotel are available, and allow visitors to marvel at the 80-plus Tiffany-designed stained glass windows, murals by George Maynard, and the massive dining hall with its domed ceiling, and more architectural wonders.

The Colony Hotel

Palm Beach

Perhaps no hotel embodies its locale more than this Palm Beach gem. The pink-and-white building (nicknamed the “pink paradise”) with its lush, tropical grounds and preppy-meets-Old Florida decor is sophisticated but never stuffy. And The Colony’s sunny poolside cafe, Swifty’s, is one of the prettiest (and most popular) spots in town to have lunch. One look at the ruffled patio umbrellas, rattan furniture, and abundant greenery and you’ll see why.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A new poll from the James Madison Institute found voters broadly support eliminating property taxes, which are levied at the local level.

Conducted among Florida registered voters, the poll found support for eliminating property taxes for homeowners at 46%, 14 points higher than the support level for reducing sales taxes, which was 32%.

Additionally, 65% of voters would back a proposal that ends property taxes for primary residences via an expanded homestead exemption.

While voters back such a measure, they are also concerned, to the tune of 60%, about potential cuts to local services like schools, police or infrastructure. 33% were not concerned.

The result comes as Gov. Ron DeSantis has threatened to veto a House tax proposal that lowers the sales tax rate slightly. DeSantis said he wants the focus on property tax relief, both via a legislative measure and 2026 ballot amendment.

“Any Florida-last tax package is going to be dead on arrival,” DeSantis said during a press conference Wednesday. “We are not going to kneecap our ability to provide you property tax relief just so we can give a little bit of a benefit to Canadian tourists. That is not going to happen. You can take that to the bank.”

The comments came as Florida lawmakers have reached an agreement to extend the 2025 Legislative Session after several significant bills failed to pass and the Senate and House were in disagreement on key budget allocations, including the tax relief package.

Speaker Daniel Perez had previously announced the House tax relief package focused on the sales tax rate, which would decrease from 6% to 5.25%.

Now, the Senate and House are focused on negotiating and sending a budget and tax package to the governor for signature.