A great getaway is about more than where you stay.

Over the years, our family has spent time exploring the beaches of 30A, the magic of Orlando, and the sunshine of Arizona. Along the way, we’ve found favorite restaurants, family activities, local spots, and simple ways to make each trip a little more memorable.

This page is our personal guide to the places we love — with recommendations to help you make the most of your stay.

There’s something about 30A that makes it easy to slow down.

Seagrove Beach gives you the best of both worlds — a quieter stretch of the coast with easy access to Seaside, WaterColor, Grayton Beach, Alys Beach, Rosemary Beach and everything in between.

Our favorite days here are usually the simplest ones: a morning at the beach, an afternoon by the pool, a bike ride along 30A, dinner somewhere local, and one more Gulf sunset before the day is done.

Our 30A Favorites

Eat + Drink

★ Buchmann Favorite — Café Thirty-A
One of our go-to choices for a nicer dinner close to Seagrove - and basically right across the street!

Old Florida Fish House
A great combination of seafood, atmosphere, outdoor space and live music on Eastern Lake.

★ Buchmann Favorite — Goatfeathers Seafood Market
A great stop when you want fresh seafood to take back to the house and cook yourself - an easy walk and super convenient for cooking at home!

Explore the Beach Towns

Seaside
Walk the town square, browse the shops, grab something from the food trucks and enjoy one of the most recognizable spots along 30A.

WaterColor
Beautiful for walking or biking and an easy stop between Seagrove and Seaside.

Grayton Beach
A little more laid-back and old Florida, with plenty of personality.

Alys Beach + Rosemary Beach
Worth heading east for the architecture, restaurants, shopping and a completely different feel from Seagrove.

Beach + Outdoors

The Gulf
Sometimes the best plan is simply walking down to the beach, setting up for the day and staying until sunset.

Timpoochee Trail
One of the best ways to experience 30A by bike, connecting many of the area's beach communities.

Grayton Beach State Park
Beautiful beaches, trails and one of the area's coastal dune lakes.

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
Another great option for hiking, biking, beach access and seeing a quieter side of South Walton.

With the Kids

Beach and pool days usually win, but there are plenty of easy ways to change things up.

Bike along 30A, paddleboard or kayak, explore Seaside, grab ice cream after dinner, or spend an afternoon discovering one of the nearby state parks.

The nice thing about 30A is that a great family day doesn't have to be complicated.

Shopping + Essentials

For groceries and everyday supplies, we typically recommend nearby Publix locations, with Walmart available for larger shopping trips.

For local shopping, explore Gulf Place, Seaside, Grayton Beach and the shops farther east along 30A.

And if you want fresh seafood for dinner at home, local seafood markets are always worth a stop.

A Perfect 30A Day

Morning coffee.

A walk to the beach.

Lunch somewhere casual.

A few hours by the pool.

Dinner along 30A.

Then back to the Gulf for sunset.

Sometimes that's all the itinerary you need.

Explore Sugar Sand 30A Retreat Today!

Orlando is all about the magic — but some of the best parts of a Disney trip happen when you’re not rushing from one attraction to the next.

Our favorite way to do Orlando is to mix the big park days with slower mornings, pool time, easy dinners, and a little room for everyone to recharge.

Staying at Storey Lake makes that balance easier, especially for larger families and groups who want plenty of space when the park day is over.

Our Orlando Favorites

Disney Days

Magic Kingdom
The classic Disney experience and still the park that feels the most magical for families.

EPCOT
A great mix of attractions, food, festivals and an evening around World Showcase.

Hollywood Studios
One of the best choices for bigger rides, Star Wars and Toy Story.

Animal Kingdom
A different pace from the other parks and one of our favorites when we want a mix of attractions, animals and atmosphere.

Beyond Disney

Disney Springs
An easy evening option for restaurants, shopping and entertainment without using a park ticket.

Universal Orlando
A great addition for families who want to mix Disney with a completely different theme-park experience.

Resort Day
One of the most underrated parts of an Orlando trip.

Sometimes the best decision is sleeping in, spending the day by the pool, letting the kids play, and giving everyone a break from lines and crowds.

With the Kids

Orlando gives you endless options, but we’ve found that kids usually remember more than just the rides.

Character meals, pool time, themed bedrooms, game nights back at the house and a little unstructured time can be just as memorable as the parks themselves.

Food + Evenings

For a special Disney experience, consider a character meal or dinner inside one of the resorts.

For something easier, Disney Springs has plenty of family-friendly choices and gives you the Disney atmosphere without committing to another full park day.

And after a long day out, sometimes the best dinner is simply takeout back at the house while everyone relaxes.

A Better Way to Do Disney

Don't try to do everything.

Pick the experiences that matter most to your family.

Build in some downtime.

Give yourself enough space to recharge.

And leave something for the next trip.

A Perfect Orlando Day

A relaxed breakfast at the house.

Head to the parks for the experiences everyone is most excited about.

Come back for a swim and a break.

Then either return for the evening or enjoy dinner and a quieter night together.

Disney is a lot more fun when the vacation still feels like a vacation.

Explore Once Upon a Time @ Storey Lake Today!

Gilbert & the Arizona Desert

Sunshine, Golf & Desert Evenings

Arizona is our change-of-pace getaway — warm days, big skies, great golf, desert scenery, and evenings that are best spent outside.

Gilbert gives you easy access to the East Valley while still feeling relaxed and residential when you return home. It’s a great base for golf trips, family visits, spring training, hiking, dining, or simply escaping colder weather for a few days in the sun.

Our Gilbert Favorites

Eat + Drink

Downtown Gilbert Heritage District
One of the best places to start. Restaurants, patios, coffee shops and a lively but still walkable feel.

Agritopia
A uniquely Gilbert spot with restaurants, shops and a farm-centered atmosphere that feels completely different from a typical suburban development.

★ Buchmann Favorite — Blue 32 Sports Grill

One of our go-to spots in Gilbert, and an easy walk from the house.

Blue 32 has the relaxed feel of a sports bar, but the food consistently goes well beyond typical bar food. Whether you’re grabbing burgers and wings, having a full dinner, or just stopping in for a drink, we’ve always had a great meal.

It’s casual, convenient, and one of those places we’re happy to return to again and again.

Golf

This is one of our favorite reasons to come to Arizona.

Gilbert puts you within reach of a huge variety of courses, from easier local rounds to some of the best desert golf in the Valley.

For a convenient round close to home, look at courses around Gilbert and the East Valley. If you’re willing to drive a little farther, Scottsdale, Fountain Hills and the surrounding desert open up even more options.

Our ideal Arizona golf day?

Early tee time.

Lunch afterward.

Then back to the house for the pool.

Get Outside

San Tan Mountain Regional Park
A great way to experience the desert landscape with hiking, mountain views and plenty of Arizona scenery.

Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch
An easy outdoor option in Gilbert with walking trails, wildlife and a completely different feel from the surrounding desert.

With the Family

Arizona doesn’t have to be all golf.

Spend the morning exploring, grab lunch in downtown Gilbert, enjoy the pool in the afternoon, and settle in outside as the temperature drops in the evening.

Depending on the season, spring training, hiking, shopping and day trips can all fit easily into a stay.

Explore the East Valley

Gilbert also puts you within easy reach of:

Mesa for additional dining, entertainment and spring training.

Chandler for restaurants and shopping.

Scottsdale when you want a bigger night out, more shopping or some of the Valley’s best-known golf.

A Perfect Arizona Day

Coffee outside.

An early round of golf or a desert hike.

Lunch somewhere local.

An afternoon by the pool.

Dinner in downtown Gilbert.

Then back outside for a fire, a drink and an Arizona sunset.

Sometimes that’s the whole reason to come.

Explore Your Sun Valley Escape

Still Deciding Where to Go?

Beach, Disney, or desert — each destination offers something completely different.

Explore the homes, see what fits your trip, and choose the getaway that feels right for you.

Find Your Getaway