10/20/2026
30a can get expensive real quick, and not everything with a pretty view is worth the price tag.
But there are a few things I will absolutely tell you to spend the money on.
Get the rooftop drink with the Gulf view. Spend the morning out on Western Lake. Stop at Black Bear for coffee and get something from the pastry case while you’re there.
And then there are the Grits à Ya Ya at Great Southern. Full disclosure, my Northwest roots run deep and I am firmly a Cream of Wheat girl. But people RAVE about these grits, and I have learned not to argue with Southerners about their grits. So they make the list.
Are some of these a little touristy? Sure.
Do I still think they’re worth doing even when you live here? Also yes.
Because one of my favorite things about living here is that the places people save for vacation are just part of our normal life. You can have your tried-and-true local spots and still be a sucker for a Gulf view and an overpriced cocktail every once in a while.
Save this for the next time you’re making plans along 30a, or send it to the person you already know you’d spend the day with.