I visited ‘the Hamptons of the South’. My vacation in this Florida hidden gem wasn’t as expensive as I expected.

Beaches along Florida’s panhandle are known for their white sands and clear blue waters — the ones in 30A are no exception.

The road is dotted with small beach towns and villages like Alys Beach, Santa Rosa Beach, Grayton Beach, and Rosemary Beach, each with its own beach-access points and powdery sand.

I visited multiple during my visit, and each was postcard-perfect and among the most gorgeous beaches I’ve been to.

I could’ve stayed at the beach all day while in 30A, but I also wanted to see other parts of the area.

It’s home to coastal dune lakes, which were created thousands of years ago when winds redistributed sands on the dunes to make shallow bodies of water that are usually about 5 feet deep.

These rare lakes can only be found in a few places around the world.

30A is also home to bayous and state parks, like Eden Gardens, the grounds of a gorgeous mansion with ancient oak trees covered with moss.

Dining my way through 30A was a true pleasure.

Some of my favorite dishes were a smothered jalapeño breakfast biscuit ($16) topped with sausage gravy and scrambled eggs in Seaside at Pickle’s and Nashville hot chicken mac and cheese ($25) at Idyll Hound Proper in Inlet Beach.

I also lunched at George’s in Alys Beach, where I enjoyed a Nashville hot chicken sandwich ($18) while reading on the upscale eatery’s sweeping outdoor porch.

Although 30A felt fancy, the menu prices at the restaurants I visited were on par with those in my own Central Florida beach town and other local cities I’ve visited, like Miami and Tampa.

Some parts of Florida, like Miami, are renowned for their nightlife. I wouldn’t put 30A in that category — the area didn’t seem to have a lot of bars or nightclubs.

In fact, my Airbnb had signs noting a “quiet curfew” between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., and most of the groups of friends I saw out and about were keeping things pretty tame.

The area felt luxurious and high-end, and the people who were visiting at the same time as me seemed to have gotten a collective memo that this wasn’t a party town, but more of a gorgeous slice of Florida coastline designed for maximum relaxation.

Although a full week in 30A could get pricey — small rentals average between $450 and $530 a night and larger homes can be around $2,500 a night — two nights felt like too short of a time to be in the area.

I was on the go nonstop to try to explore everything 30A had to offer, but I eventually ran out of time with so much left to see and do. I think three or four nights at minimum is a great amount of time to experience 30A.

Rental costs aside, the area felt on par with the rest of the state of Florida in terms of affordability for a vacation. Food prices were similar to what I find back home, and other costs, like metered parking or park-entrance fees, didn’t feel exorbitant at all.

I can’t wait to return to the area with my husband and teenagers since a family vacation seems like it’d be pretty doable and relaxing here.

Really, I’d go back to 30A with just about anyone — the area seems ideal for any traveler looking to relax somewhere beautiful.