There is nothing like the white sugar sandy beaches lining 30A! From Grayton to Rosemary and everywhere in between, this magical paradise has it all! We just got home from a wonderful week-long vacation in Seaside, a family friendly vacation destination that is one of our favorite places to visit again and again! Seaside has been named the “Best Beach on Earth” for families by Travel + Leisure magazine and we have to agree! Seaside is so close to home and has serenity like no other place. There is so much to do, see, and eat here, and of course it is one of the most relaxing places!
We had the most magical week in Seaside, FL! Mornings spent exploring and swimming, days spent building sand castles, enjoying snacks on the sugar sand beach, watching the sea life in the crystal-clear waters and taking in the most beautiful sunset! We even had a few date nights! I’ll treasure the sweet memories forever! We were so excited to take Brooks, our 13-month-old son, with us for the first time to show him around our absolute favorite place to visit!
Where to Stay
We stayed in the Emma Lou, which is a beautiful, newly renovated light, bright, and airy cottage right in the heart of Seaside! Emma Lou is less than a 5 minutes walk from the Odessa beach Pavilion and the Seaside Central Square. Seaside is a community made up of about 400 homes and has everything you need within walking distance including shopping, dining, galleries, and offices.
The rental included Seaside Amenity passes that gave access to 3 pools (the largest pool is 3 houses down), a fitness center, and wrist bands that allow access to all 9 of the private beach pavilions in Seaside. These amenities are available to Seaside residents and Seaside renters, making it private and less crowded.
It truly felt like our home away from home! With a dreamy upgraded kitchen fully stocked and a two-story traditional wrap around Southern porches this place makes for the perfect family getaway. Wake up to a cappuccino and unwind with a glass of wine and a book on the porch bed swing. There are beach towels that are provided making it easy to grab and go to either the beach or pool in minutes.
Emma Lou also comes with several beach cruisers available for use during your stay, which is a huge perk especially if you want to visit neighboring towns. There’s parking, Wi-fi and TVs in every room.
Where to Eat
There is only 1 traditional grocery store, a Publix in Watercolor, which is a 5 min drive from Seaside. There is an artisan market in Seaside called Modica Market with gourmet groceries, sandwiches, and snacks for the beach!
Airstream Row – Home to several custom retrofitted Airstreams serving up elevated street food! There’s truly something for everyone. Our favorites are Barefoot BBQ and The Meltdown on 30A!
Bud & Alley’s – The newly renovated, Bud & Ally’s is one of the only ocean front restaurants on 30A offering great food, fun vibes, and beautiful views!
Bud & Alley’s Taco Bar – This is our favorite Seaside spot! Located in the Seaside square, this super casual walk up bar allows you to walk up straight from the beach or the pool or take it to go. The shrimp and fish tacos are our favorite and you have to get their cheese dip and chips! Baby Brooks was a huge fan too!
Bud & Alley’s Pizza Bar + Trattoria – Home to the best pizza on 30A!
Amavida Coffee & Tea – Fresh baked goods, fresh coffee, and Kombucha on tap! Amavida is one of our favorite ways to start our mornings.
45 Central Wine Bar – We recently celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary here and had a great experience. We had wonderful service, shared several sushi rolls, and they even brought us sparkling rose and homemade seasonal dessert to celebrate.
Great Southern Café – We’ve dined here several times and this was the first time we’ve had their famous mojitos! I tried the watermelon/coconut and it was delicious and oh so refreshing. They serve local and fresh southern seafood dishes. If you haven’t tried their cheesy grits, do it!
Pickle’s Burger and Shakes – A colorful and kid friendly beachside grill serves sustainably sourced burgers and has the best chicken fingers and bucket of french fries. Get it to go and enjoy it at the beach or sit under the neon pickle on their patio.
It’s Heavenly Shortcakes and Ice Cream – serving up some of the best gelato, this spot makes for the perfect place to cool down.
What to Do
The beach – The white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters of Seaside are easily accessed by 9 private beach pavilions. To access the Seaside beach, you must be a home owner or renter. Each beach pavilion has unique architecture and all of them have showers and bathrooms accessed by code and wristbands. Don’t feel like walking down to the beach and getting sandy? The beach pavilions make for the perfect place to watch the sunset or enjoy your morning coffee.
Cabana Man – Cabanas line the beach every day for fun in the sun. Since the reopening of Seaside from COVID-19, all Seaside guests will need to make a reservation with Cabana Man to help with crowds. It’s such a nice service and allows you to come and go and walk hands free to the beach! The hours are 8am – 6pm.
Pool – During your stay at the Emma Lou you have access to all three heated pools. The largest adult and kid pool is 3 houses down. We enjoyed a swim before Brooks went down for his first nap.
Parks and green space – Head down Forest Street which will lead you to a park, beach volleyball court, and a huge grassy area. It’s right by one of the covered heated kids and an adult only pool. Another one of our favorite grassy areas is Ruskin Park which is surrounded by shops and homes. If you are looking for places that kidos can run around and play really every square inch of Seaside is kid friendly!
Blue Magnolia – Seaside Vacations 30A had the talented daughter and dad team behind Blue Magnolia create the dreamiest beach picnic to help us celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary! We even let our third wheel dig in first! Meeting this sweet duo and hearing the story behind their brand was so special! If you’re visiting or live on the emerald coast I can’t recommend hiring Blue Magnolia to help you create lasting memories! So grateful for this special time around the table with my little family and for another beautiful day!
If you stay at the beautiful Emma Lou, you will come home to an amazing charcuterie graze box from Blue Magnolia! I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t think of a better way to kick off your vacation!
Shopping – Located in the Central Square these shops have something for everyone!
Bump + Baby by The SEASIDE Style – A beautifully curated boutique. We found Brooks a matching white and navy SEASIDE Style tee shirt here. We sized up to a 2T and it was perfect.
Cabana by The SEASIDE Style – An open-air market filled with fashion and accessories for just about anyone!
Duckies Shop of Fun – This shop is a kid haven! A store filled with toys, gifts, and clothes. It’s hard not leaving with something in hand.
Sundog Books– Looking for a new beach read? Sundog Books is one of the original shops and has a book for everyone. We left with an alphabet Seaside book for Brooks.
The SEASIDE Style – Timeless and classic, a true reflection of the Seaside way which features the original “New Town, Old Ways” tee shirts. We all bought new and matching navy and white tee shirts and hats for our trip! I always love picking up something here every time I visit!
Art of Simple – One of my favorite little home décor and gift shops in Seaside.
Seaside Amphitheater – A great place for the kiddos to run around and hopefully soon they will resume the family friendly concerts, farmers markets, and events.
Deep Sea Fishing – I can’t recommend fishing with Kerry from Not a Dog Charters enough! We’ve chartered a boat with him twice now and always have a blast. Be prepared to take home lots of fresh fish, which he preps for you!
It was the most magical trip! So thankful for this sweet time away with my little family! We made lasting memories we will treasure forever!
Inspired, Maryashley