Staying Fit
I’ve never met a scenic drive I didn’t like, an appreciation inherited from my dad. There’s just something about the long way home and taking the time to enjoy the journey. The miles slide by while fingers drum on the steering wheel, conversation flowing freely then fading comfortably.
On Florida’s Scenic Highway 30A, the ride sounds a little different. Jimmy Buffett croons through the speakers … at least in my rented mid-level SUV, where my husband, Skip, commandeers the playlist with no mercy. My son, Bob, babbles in the back seat, his current favorite words on repeat.
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The speed limit doesn’t exceed 35 mph, with cars and golf carts slowing to a crawl so families can safely cross to the beach and stroll through picturesque town squares. At 24 miles total, 30A hugs the Emerald Coast, slicing through 12 beach communities in this formerly sleepy section of the Panhandle. 30A is both a national scenic byway and Florida scenic highway, recognized for its pretty views of blue-green Gulf waters, coastal sand dunes and charming towns.
We return here, time and time again, to craft family traditions, hang with multiple generations in the same house, and watch our family play in the sea and soak up the sun. It feels like the least Florida part of Florida, in the politest way possible. No rodent-themed parks, no endless skyscrapers, just sugar sand beaches and walkable towns with structures usually no more than four stories high.
“There is magic on the 24-mile scenic byway known as 30A,” says Carrie Honaker, 51, a travel writer and Florida expert based in Panama City Beach, adjacent to 30A. “Spanish moss drapes the two-lane road in Rosemary Beach … [and] live music fills the air in funky Grayton Beach, where a stop at The Red Bar is a badge of honor.
“Each neighborhood has a unique personality and a little something different to offer visitors,” she says.
Visitors to 30A overwhelmingly stay in short-term rentals. Sites like Vrbo and Airbnb provide plenty of options, but an area-specific vendor such as 30A Escapes or Panhandle Getaways is probably a better bet.
