Not lucky enough to celebrate the holidays at the beach? Why not do the next best thing and gift a little slice of 30A this holiday season! We’ve rounded up a few finds:
Shane Carter Photography
You can pedal up to 20 mph, travel up to 50 miles or more on a single charge and leap tall buildings … wait, we got a little ahead of ourselves there.
The 30A Electric Bike will make you feel like a superhero though.
With 30A logos, 3” fat tires and a rear wood rack, this bike will put a smile on your face (just remember to keep your mouth closed while riding). The new “Truman” bike is a limited edition, so be sure to get that one quick. CHECK OUT 30A ELECTRIC BIKES BY YOLO HERE..
30A locals Arix Zalace and Jennifer Kuntz found the solution to traveling with reusable straws. Lastra, a food-grade stainless steel trio of straws, is gorgeous and is packaged with a nylon brush cleaner and carrying case. It all comes neatly bundled together, like eco-conscious nesting dolls … if they were straws. Lastra also offers a titanium coated collection, and rose gold, gunmetal and rainbow collections, along with a host of accessories to take this next-level straw to the next-next level. BUY HERE
Francisco Adaro’s eye-catching art can be found around the world, but he’s most comfortable in his joyful gallery in WaterSound.
We love his custom family portraits, created in Adaro’s unmistakable contemporary style.
It’s a gift like none other. BUY HERE.
Gift a Sushi by Jeff personal chef experience for the next time you’re on 30A. Jeff prepares the freshest sushi on the Emerald Coast in your very own kitchen while you and your friends sit back and watch. What could be more fun than that? BUY HERE.
Speaking of fresh fish… when was the last time you caught a big one on a charter and were left with only a photo on your phone to prove it? Destin artist Harley Van Hyning, owner of Gnarly Fish Prints, uses the Japanese art form of Gyotaku to transform your catch into artwork that generations of your family will vie for. Buy in advance of your next fishing charter from one of our great captains in Grayton Beach, or neighboring communities of Panama City Beach or Destin, and Harley will be ready to immortalize your catch. BUY HERE.
There’s nothing like a good book at the end of the day. This December, why not start a new family tradition by wrapping 24 books and placing them underneath the tree?
Each night (or morning or whenever) instead of unwrapping a tasteless piece of candy, children will discover a new book to read and share.
The folks at Sundog Books and The Hidden Lantern Bookstore can recommend a selection based on age and reading level.
Now here’s a uniquely 30A gift to give this holiday season. Russ Gilbert, glass artist and owner of the famed Fusion Art Glass Galleries has a hands-on learning studio that teaches glassblowing, glass sculpting and kiln formed glass. Schedule a class and go home with a treasure that you created. BUY HERE.
Are you one of those people who have trouble with that whole rub your stomach while patting your head thing? This snorkel was made for you.
Say goodbye to the weird balancing act of mask and snorkel and say hello to all the fish and sea life you are about to enjoy.
Snorkels available in kids sizes too. BUY HERE.
We’ve got all your favorite 30A expressions printed on soft apparel made with recycled plastic bottles. Every 30A shirt saves about eight plastic bottles from a landfill so you not only look good, but you feel good too. We even use water-based inks to reduce our carbon footprint. Christmas ornaments, keychains and more. BUY HERE.
Hurricane Michael weighs heavily on all of our minds. Luckily, it is easy to help a local in need. 30A’s charity foundation, The Sonder Project, is dedicated to helping those in dire need, locally and abroad. Or if you’re looking for other inspirations, go to 30acharities.com for ideas on ways you can help our local communities.
SUSAN VALLEE is an award-winning journalist who has spent the past 20 years writing about the 30A area. She’s the author of the popular guidebook, “Meet Me on 30A,” a content creator, a published fiction writer and an editorial reader for the Peauxdunque Review, a literary magazine. She’s currently working on a few short fictional stories and a book proposal. You can follow her writing exploits on her occasionally-updated blog at susanvallee.com.
