Bring your funky beach cruiser to the third annual 30A Sand Rover Rally in South Walton, Florida, on April 9, 2016, presented by Land Rover Gulf Coast. Last year, over 80 vehicles showed up for the rally, which was featured in the Summer 2015 issue of ROVERS magazine. Land Rovers, dune buggies and beach cruisers of ALL MAKES AND MODELS are welcome. SCHEDULE 8:30am – 12pm: Trail Rides or early setup 12pm – 5pm: 2016 30A Sand Rover Rally (in the parking lot at the corner of 30A and 393 by Gulf Place) 5pm – 8pm: After-party at La Playa (just across the street) featuring The Courtyard Saints (More details below) CLICK HERE NOW TO LET US KNOW YOU’RE COMING! PRESENTED BY: WE’D ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR 2016 SPONSORS: 3RD ANNUAL 30A SAND ROVER RALLY SCHEDULE SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2016 8:30am – Noon: Trail Rides or Early Setup This year, we’ll skip the long, slow caravan crawl out into the woods. Instead, we’ll MEET in the woods at 8:30am. We’ll provide everyone with coordinates to the big meadow where we did the drone flyover last year (see photo below). After a few minutes of photos and introductions, we’ll break up and hit the trails for hours of fun! With any luck, we’ll have some rain in advance that week. All drivers are asked to be responsible and courteous to other drivers and to local property, and any off-roading activities should adhere to Tread Lightly principles. South Walton features over 25,000 acres of protected land, including Point Washington State Forest. But if getting muddy or dusty just isn’t your thing, no worries! You can hit the beach that morning instead, or cruise along Scenic Highway 30A, or just head over to the official rally location to mingle with other enthusiasts. IMPORTANT TRAIL RIDE NOTES: Some of the trails in Point Washington State Forest are very narrow (as in, “knock your mirrors off,” “scratch your paint,” and “tear up your roof rack” narrow). If your don’t like the sound of limbs scratching along the sides of your vehicle, we strongly recommend that you stick to the main dirt roads (see map below). If you drive down the narrow unmarked sand trails, you might not be able to back out, especially if you’re part of a long caravan. Please also note that anything on TOP of your truck (flood lamps, luggage, surf boards, etc.) could easily be damaged on the narrow trails, so please take it slow and easy. Please don’t feel pressured to venture onto these narrow trails. There are plenty of wide dirt roads to explore! 12pm – 5pm: The 2016 30A Sand Rover Rally will be held in the parking lot just across the street from Gulf Place and Ed Walline Beach Access. We’re expecting another big turnout this year, so if “getting a good spot” is important to you (or if you have a stunning “show car”), you might consider skipping the morning trail ride and head straight to rally location to secure a great spot. We really have no way of knowing for sure how many vehicles are planning to attend, but volunteers will be ready to help park vehicles as they arrive. If the main parking lot fills up (first come, first served), there are other public parking spaces nearby. Just come prepared to HAVE FUN and bring your best casual beach attitude! 5pm – 8pm: Official rally after-party featuring The Courtyard Saints at La Playa in Gulf Place CLICK HERE TO LET US KNOW YOU’RE COMING! Check out this recap of our 2015 event by 8 FIFTY Productions: CAMPING: Campgrounds fill up fast, so if you plan to camp, please make your reservations as soon as possible. Local camping options include: Grayton Beach State Park Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Camping on the Gulf Live Oak Landing Point Washington State Park: $10/night (RSVP: 850-547-7083) HOTELS & RENTAL HOMES: Scenic Highway 30A is home to a very wide range of accommodations, from multi-million dollar beach front estates to cabins, studio apartments and boutique hotels. To find some great options, visit 30Ahotels.com and 30Arentals.com. OFF-ROADING TRAILS: South Walton is home to 25,000 acres of protected land, with Point Washington State Forest accounting for over 15,000 acres. This map shows the best access points for trail rides: GENERAL CONDITIONS: — Easy Trails: 2, 6, 8, 11, 13, 20, 22, 26, 27, 28, 31 (the north side) — More Challenging Trails: 1, 12, 14, 15, 24, 25, 33 + unnumbered roads and trails Click here now to join our official 30A Sand Rover Rally Facebook group! Photos by Sean Murphy Photography: