A Weekend Along 30A: Inlet Beach & Alys Beach

If a slower pace and sugar-white sand sound appealing, Inlet Beach and Alys Beach on Florida's Scenic Highway 30A deliver both — with a lot to fill a weekend in between beach time.

Start on the sand. Inlet Beach Regional Access is the largest public beach access point on 30A, with a boardwalk, lifeguards, and plenty of parking. Inlet Beach Access is at 438 S Orange St Inlet Beach, FL 32461.
For Inlet and other Panhandle Public Beach Access points visit: https://www.panhandlegetaways.com/30a-public-beach-access-points

For something quieter, Camp Helen State Park sits right in Inlet Beach, offering dune trails and access to Lake Powell, one of Florida's largest coastal dune lakes , great for kayaking or a slower nature walk. For more info on Camp Helen State Park: https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/camp-helen-state-park

Get on two wheels. The Timpoochee Trail, a 19-mile paved path, connects Inlet Beach straight through to Alys Beach and beyond. It's an easy, flat ride and one of the best ways to see several 30A towns in a single afternoon. For more on the trail: https://www.visitsouthwalton.com/blog/a-guide-to-the-timpoochee-trail/

Eat and browse. 30Avenue in Inlet Beach has a solid lineup of restaurants and boutique shopping, while Alys Beach itself is worth wandering just for the architecture, white Bermuda-style buildings, courtyards, and manicured green space that make it one of the most photographed spots on 30A.

Wind down at the water. A sunset beach bonfire or a paddle on a calm morning is about as 30A as it gets.

For ideas in Walton Co visit: https://northwestfloridabeaches.com/destinations/walton/

Whether you're weighing a getaway or thinking about what makes this stretch of the Gulf Coast so sought-after for second homes, Inlet Beach and Alys Beach are worth putting on the list.