rosemary beach for beginners

Rosemary is my happy place. We have been going yearly for 5 years now. I remember our first trip with a tiny little newborn Hayes so well.

We had no idea what to expect.

We didn’t have any real plans.

We found a house to rent the week before our trip.

and we still had the BEST time.

Because there really is no way to go to Rosemary and not have the best time!

With hat being said, we’ve learned a lot in our 5 years and I’m here to share my knowledge with you all. We have made this trip with my mom and dad every year and it is such a special place to us. So many happy memories that will last a lifetime.

Where to fly into: We have flown into Destin (VPS) and Panama City NW Florida (ECP) and ECP is by far the better option. Southwest and American both fly here. Destin traffic can get crazy and its a longer drive so we avoid that. You may still experience some traffic on 30A but ECP is a short drive to Rosemary, usually around 30 min.

Car rental: We have rented a car every year but for some this may not be a HAVE to and is a place you could potentially save money. We like having the flexibility to go to restaurants further away and with all of our people and all of our luggage transfers could get pricey. Enterprise, Alamo, National, etc have desks inside the airport and they make is super easy to pick up and drop off. A quick search will find you the cheapest rates.

House rental: I feel like this area took me some time to figure out. Our first year we stayed in an adorable house in Rosemary but it was quite a hike to the beach. I wouldn’t advise that if you have small children. Older kids that can ride a bike with parents that are pulling a wagon, totally doable. A newborn and a breast feeding mom…..nope. By the time we got to the beach we were worn out. Nick actually built an AC unit out of a cooler with some ice that year. He is totally MacGyver.

We have rented through VRBO & ROSEMARY BEACH COTTAGE RENTALS and I’ve always been really pleased. If you do stay in Rosemary I would suggest staying on the south side of 30A. It makes getting to the beach so convenient but with that prices get higher. I also remember thinking 30A would be this crazy highway that my kids couldn’t cross. It’s not. It is a 2 lane road with tons of stop lights. If you stay north of 30A you’ll be totally fine crossing on foot or by bike.

We have also stayed in Seacrest (a little more sleepy than rosemary but better prices) and Inlet Beach. While both were really nice it just didn’t compare to Rosemary for me. It is so cute and quaint. They don’t allow any golf carts like Seaside. They cater to families with things like movies on the lawn, farmers markets, faceprinting, etc. It is just the most magical little town.

I know a ton of people who love Seaside. It felt like it was overrun with teens….on golf carts, not really my vibe. If you have teens I could see this spot being more appealing to them though.

Groceries: We usually hit up the Publix on the way into town but this year I used my instacart account and it was perfect! I definitely recommend using a delivery service because these groceries stores get super busy on Saturdays which is when most of the houses start their rental week.

Renting bikes: This is probably my kids favorite part of our beach vacations. We ride bikes everywhere. The houses we’ve rented from almost always come with enough adult bikes but we usually rent a few extra for the kiddos. Peddlers has a great selection. Stop for pizza at Pizza by the sea after. This is our first day tradition.

Renting Chairs: In Rosemary you can rent a beach set up with chairs, umbrellas and tables. This is definitely a luxury and not cheap, but its so nice. We usually rent enough chairs for the adults. The houses normally have some extra beach chairs laying around that the kids will use. You’ll want to check your address and have your chairs set up on the closest walkover. Try to book early so you can be on row 1.

How long should you stay?: A week! Most houses rent sat-sat and that may sound like a long time but we are never ready to leave. It takes a few days to get settled, then time flies by.

Where to eat? We usually cook half the time and go out half the time. Here are a few of our favorite spots:

George’s: no reservations so get there early, get the key lime pie.

Havana Beach at the Pearl Hotel:

Pizza by the Sea: quick and super casual. Ice cream next door and live music in the evenings.

The Donut Hole for Breakfast

The Bay (go when there is live music)

The Hub: A fun area for the kids and adults. Bring a football.

Sugar Shack (this will definitely be the kids favorite) for an after dinner treat.

What should I pack? We are a casual family but this is a beach town so no need for fancy clothes. Swimsuits and coverups during the day. Sundresses and sandals at night. Houses will most likely have a washer/dryer so I try my best to not overpack and wash as needed.

Professional Pictures: I love getting our pictures made on the beach each year. Having my mom and dad in them is so special to us too. We have gone through the same company, Shore Shooters every year. Some years it’s great & others it’s just ok. I love the memories regardless. They have a large business and you will not know which photographer you get until they show up but their prices can’t be beat.

Here are a few of ours through the years…

2016

2018

2021

More things we love to do:

Kickball on the Green:

Crab hunting:

Lots of walks on the beach:

Sandcastles:

Basically just being beach bums…

Rosemary, you have a piece of my heart. I am so thankful for all the memories we have made here.