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Are you looking for the perfect beach vacation in Florida this year?
One of the best destinations in the United States is actually an underrated Florida beach town tucked away on the Emerald Coast, a beautiful 100-mile stretch of the Florida Panhandle.
Santa Rosa Beach, Florida was just ranked as the third fastest growing destination in the country from TripAdvisor Summer Travel Index.
I love this beach and it’s no surprise to me that it’s finally becoming more popular as travelers discover this hidden gem on the Emerald Coast.
Here’s why travelers are currently flocking to this beautiful beach destination:
White sandy beaches and emerald green waters
One of the biggest draws to this coastal Florida town are its beautiful beaches!
Santa Rosa Beach is located along 30A, a scenic 24-mile stretch of highway dotted with more than a dozen small beach towns.
In my opinion, as someone who has spent a lot of time in 30A, this is the most beautiful part of Florida’s Emerald Coast, which is famous for its clear emerald waters and white sandy beaches.
The best public beaches in Santa Rosa are Blue Mountain Beach, Dune Allen Beach and Ed Walline Beach and all of these beaches are absolutely beautiful!
You can easily spend the day relaxing on the white sand and swimming in the warm, clear water.
Quaint small town atmosphere
Santa Rosa Beach also has a wonderful, small-town atmosphere that many visitors love.
You’ll find plenty of dining options nearby, from upscale restaurants to casual seafood restaurants and shaved ice and ice cream parlors where you can cool off with a frozen treat.
Many people prefer to get around 30A by bike, which adds to the small-town atmosphere.
Santa Rosa Beach is just one of many small beach towns along 30A, so you can easily explore the rest of the area (my favorite towns to visit are Seaside and Rosemary Beach!)
Less busy and less developed
Frankly, Santa Rosa Beach and the rest of 30A have changed lot during the past years. The area is definitely becoming busier and more developed.
After all, Santa Rosa Beach was just ranked as the third fastest growing destination in the United States!
But now is definitely the time to go before it gets to that point at busy and developed.
Compared to other parts of Florida, Santa Rosa Beach is still a quiet, relaxing destination. You won’t find the high-rise hotels, condos, or hustle and bustle of Miami Beach here.
Santa Rosa Beach is much more relaxed, but still has a small town atmosphere. The best time to visit if you want to avoid crowds is autumn and winter. Anytime in September after Labor Day and October are the best months if you still want to enjoy warm weather and swim in the ocean.
It can get quite chilly from November through February, and the spring break crowds start in March, so fall is really the best time to visit 30A.
It can still be an affordable destination
Santa Rosa Beach has become more expensive in recent years, but it can still be an affordable destination compared to many other beaches in Florida.
There aren’t many hotels in Santa Rosa Beach (or 30A as a whole – these are more about rental houses and condos than hotels), but there are a few and they often cost less than $150 per night.
You can also find rental properties on websites like Vrbo and Airbnb for under $150 per night.
This is MUCH cheaper than the most expensive destinations in Florida and actually puts Santa Rosa Beach in the most affordable range of beach towns in Florida.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
