traveling to the emerald coast
Our wedding will be held in Grayton Beach, Florida, one of the charming towns along Florida's Emerald Coast. This stretch is known as 30A, and we hope you enjoy its nature (and food!) as much as we do.
While our wedding will be in Grayton Beach, the surrounding area is dotted with small beach towns including Seaside, Watercolor, Seagrove, Watersound, Alys Beach, and Rosemary Beach – just to name a few. You can stay in any of them and be within 20 minutes of all our wedding weekend events, with plenty to explore in between. See below for travel information as well as our recommendations for the area!
transportation
The nearest airports are ECP (Northwest Florida Beaches, in Panama City) and VPS (Destin-Fort Walton Beach). From either, you can take an Uber or schedule a transfer to your accommodations. If you'd like to explore the area during your visit, we recommend renting a car, though Ubers are also usually readily available between locations.
lodging
We are confirming a hotel block for those interested — details coming soon! There are also many hotels and Airbnbs throughout the area if you'd like to book independently.
nature
30A is home to a rare and beautiful ecosystem of coastal dune lakes, longleaf pine forests, and rolling white-sand dunes – one of only a handful of places in the world where freshwater dune lakes meet the Gulf. There are miles of biking and hiking trails weaving through the area. Point Washington State Forest is one of our favorite places to hike, with quiet trails through pine flatwoods and cypress wetlands.
our recommendations
beaches
The beaches here are famous for their white sand and emerald water. Most beach access is through public state parks and small neighborhood walkovers. Grayton Beach State Park is a short walk from our wedding venue, and Deer Lake State Park is another favorite, with a quieter stretch of beach and a striking coastal dune lake that flows directly into the Gulf.
towns
Each town along 30A has its own personality. Grayton Beach is the oldest and most eclectic, with a relaxed vibe. Seaside is the iconic pastel-cottage town you may recognize from The Truman Show. Alys Beach is all crisp white Bermudian architecture, while Rosemary Beach has a European feel with cobblestone streets and courtyards. Watercolor and Watersound are newer and more residential. Each town has their own restaurants, shops, and beach access points. For food lovers, our favorite restaurant in the area is Shunk Gulley.