Coastal Escapes with Vacasa: Hilton Head to 30A
Hilton Head, South Carolina
Where to stay: We stayed at the coziest Vacasa rental tucked away in Hilton Head. Airbnb always provides all the homey feels, and this one was no different. The living room had a giant velvety blue sectional that basically begged you to cancel your plans and stay in for the day. I admired the painting on the wall of the red chair overlooking the ocean. It felt familiar — slow and quiet, like the kind of spot you’d sit to read, journal, or get lost daydreaming. I spent most of my time on that couch flipping through a Local Life magazine which I stumbled upon at the place we had dinner the night prior. Everything about this stay just felt good. Comfortable in the way good vacations should be.
What to see: We spent the afternoon walking along Calhoun Street, checking out a few local shops before stopping into Fiddle and Shine House Market a really cute little plant shop filled with plants and cute home trinkets. Right outside, The Pearl Kitchen & Bar, there was a cookbook swap box which made the neighborhood feel welcoming.
The next day we made our way over to Harbour Town, did a bit of shopping, and walked to the lighthouse. I was super bummed I didn’t get a good photo it was windy and the timing just wasn’t in my favor.
One of my favorite moments from the trip was visiting The Red Piano Art Gallery in Bluffton, South Carolina. There was a painting that reminded me of the kind of hats I’d see church ladies wear to Sunday service. It felt very Southern in the best way.
Destin, Florida — 30A
Where to stay: In Destin, we stayed at another Vacasa rental inside the Grand Sandestin. The space felt super cozy soft and just easy to settle into. Even though the weather was rainy and moody most of the time, it honestly made the whole stay feel more relaxing. We had a cute balcony that we sat on every morning, overlooking the bay. It was the perfect slow start to each day.
What to see: Of course, Destin’s beaches are beautiful that kind of goes without saying. We did some stopping at Destin Commons and Silver Sands Premium Outlets, both great spots if you’re looking to shop during some downtime.
One of my favorite parts of the trip was heading over to Seaside. We explored a few of the cutest little shops along 30A and stopped at Tracery, a boutique home and lifestyle shop. I found the sweetest little seashell dish that I decided to use as a jewelry holder it’s such a simple but special reminder of the trip. My friends and I spent the afternoon driving around the neighborhoods, just admiring how much charm each house had from the coastal colors and big porches to the white fences, and arched entryways. We started talking about how our dream is to have a beach home one day, something like Cousins Beach from The Summer I Turned Pretty. A place we could come back to every year, where everything feels easy and familiar.
Where to eat: We kept the food stops super casual this trip. Merlin’s Pizza hit the spot super laid-back, quick service, and the pizza was really good and so were the leftovers the next day lol. We also ate at The Back Porch, which had a great view and felt like one of those staple beach town spots.
For something sweet, we stopped at It’s Heavenly Shortcakes & Ice Cream in Seaside. I got cookies and cream my fav!
Funny how a short trip can fill you up in the best way. I didn’t plan on turning this into a travel journal, but it felt worth documenting. Not just the places but the pace, the light, the stillness. That’s what I’ll remember most.
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