Many southerners spend time throughout the year along scenic 30A on Florida’s Emerald Coast. The beaches have the most perfect white sand and gorgeous sand dunes, and each town is incredibly family-friendly. And, it’s a fairly easy drive (or short flight) from many southern cities.
We recently spent time in the 30A area, and we took note of all the great places to move our bodies, grab a green juice or order a healthy meal so we could share it with all of our fellow Southern Well Beings…
WHERE TO MOVE
Otium Studios | We repeated Otium Studios twice because we just loved the vibe of the studio, the class lineup and our instructors so much. Otium is a boutique retail and fitness studio located in Inlet Beach and their class lineup includes hot yoga, power yoga, restorative yoga, barre and TRX, among others. They do have drop-in pricing, and be sure to look around at the cute retail while you’re there. They have mats, water and towels, so just bring your pretty self (and it’s recommended to sign up for classes in advance). MORE INFO
Yoga Elements 108 | If you’re a yogi looking for a new experience while on vacation on 30A, definitely go grab a class from Yoga Elements 108 in Panama City Beach. You can choose from yoga classes either in/on the water (SUP yoga), in the air (aerial yoga) or on the earth (more traditional studio classes). Our aerial class with Dawn was fun and playful, and her gentle guidance and instruction made it seem like a piece of cake (well, almost). Yoga Elements 108 has a wide variety of classes on the schedule to suit your preferences and your level. Be sure to sign up online to get the spot you want. MORE INFO
30A Bike Path | The bike path is a beautiful way to take in the scenery along 30A, while also getting in your daily steps or turns on the wheel. The path is 18 miles long and runs from Dune Allen to Inlet Beach, it’s paved and for the most part, it’s fairly flat. Rental bikes are available from several shops along the trail, and there are options galore to stop for a water or an espresso. MORE INFO
WHERE TO EAT
Freshii | This fast and fresh franchise restaurant is conveniently located in Inlet Beach, right across the street from Otium Studios. We only had the chance to sample their yummy fresh green juice post-yoga class, but the rest of their menu including lots of salads, wraps and bowls, looked delicious. MORE INFO
Basmati’s Asian Cuisine | We hit Basmati’s in Blue Mountain Beach for a sushi dinner on the recommendation of friends who spend a lot of time in the 30A area, and we were not disappointed! The menu is quite extensive with literally anything you’d like. We especially loved the fact that they have so many plant-based options on their menu. MORE INFO
George’s At Alys Beach | Dinner at George’s is always a treat when visiting 30A. The menu is cheekily divided into two segments, Behave and Misbehave, to make choosing your option (and your intentions for your meal) that much easier. For a plant-based option, we created our own plate and balanced combination of misbehaving and behaving with the Roasted Root Vegetables, Sautéed Power Greens and a side of french fries, natch. MORE INFO
The Summer Kitchen Cafe | This perfectly situated restaurant is just a stone’s throw from the beautiful beaches of Rosemary Beach. They serve casual breakfast and lunch by day and at night, a more fine dining experience. If the weather is nice, grab a highly coveted outdoor table for great people watching. We love the Tri Dip with hummus, guacamole and salsa to start, and the salads are fantastic. Or, splurge on a burger or wrap if you’re feeling it (we love the Black Bean & Quinoa Burger for a plant-based option). MORE INFO
Taco Bar Seaside | This colorful oceanside taco bar serves up Baja fish tacos, fresh guacamole and burritos for lunch and dinner daily, and just a few steps away from the beautiful beach in Seaside. The flavors are fresh and the menu is simple but with plenty of options. Our healthier picks are the fish, shrimp or veggie tacos, and always with a side of guac. MORE INFO
For The Health Of It | Conveniently located right off 30A in Santa Rosa Beach, For The Health Of It specializes in certified organic produce, fresh made-to-order smoothies and juices and a pretty wide selection of organic and natural groceries. They also carry a variety of nutritional supplements and homeopathic remedies, so if you forget any of yours at home, you’re likely to find just what you need in their store. We were very impressed with this little store and its friendly staff, especially when we found they had some of our favorite organic dark chocolates, healthy snacks and kombuchas in stock (because, healthy beach snackin’ ya’ll). MORE INFO
Raw & Juicy Organic Juice Bar & Café | We didn’t actually have the opportunity to get over to Raw & Juicy to sample the cold-pressed organic juices, fresh salads and healthy snacks which are prepared fresh in their kitchen each day, but this spot comes highly recommended. Raw & Juicy is located in an airstream trailer in Central Square in Seaside and is owned by a certified Ayurvedic Consultant, and we felt like our list of healthy area options wasn’t complete without Raw & Juicy on it. Let us know if you give them a visit! MORE INFO
WHERE TO EXPLORE
Deer Lake State Park | Apparently Deer Lake in Santa Rosa Beach is one of 30A’s best kept secrets. Too bad we didn’t make it over there for a hike, but you better believe it will be one of the first places we hit up next time we’re there. We’ve heard that the beach is secluded and undisturbed, you can picnic, swim or fish there, and that there’s a dune boardwalk that’s pretty amazing with views of the dune ecosystem. MORE INFO
Bombora Sun & Surf | This shop in Rosemary Beach is our favorite place to pick up an on-trend swimsuit, coverup, chic hat or casual beach shoes when we’re in the 30A area. There are also loads of fun beach toys for the kids, so you’ll basically be able to look around for a bit without being interrupted…and your kid might just find a beach toy that buys you some uninterrupted time to read on the beach later. MORE INFO
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