Thanks for a wonderful stay!!!

[JoBu]

Just wanted to say 'thank you' to 30-A for yet another great vacation. We stayed in Seaside last week and had a perfect time. Already planning next year's trip!!!

A few quick side notes: When we arrived in Seaside, there were new "No Parking" signs up on all the streets leading to the houses in Seaside. Nice signs, painted to match the street name signs. A day or so later, they were removed. Probably an interesting story behind that.

Seaweed? Oh my goodness. I know its good for the nurishment of the beach and all, but still...how does so much of the green slime get into THOSE bodily places.....

Beach Chairs at the water's edge...Our chairs (Cabana Man) were moved to the water's edge one day so that no one could set up in front of them. The rest of the time they were back away from the water. One group would come down early in the morning and set up their chairs and umbrellas before the Cabana Man got their chairs out. One day the Cabana Man had no choice but to set up 2 of the umbrellas behind the group's chairs. When the people came down to their paid-for set ups, they drug their chairs out in front of the other folk's set up. I didn't hear the conversation - but there was one believe me. By their movements they were 'discussing' who had the right to be in front of who. My wife kept telling me, "Mind your business..."

Can't wait till next year.....

 

[Kurt]

Glad y'all had a great time! Seaside is an interesting place with so much going on in the summer. I heard about the signs but didn't see them this time. They tried that before with signs in the road but they were blocking emergency access. It seems a handful of owners don't want anyone in their town. I feel sorry for them because it's such chaos but it seems like they'd better spend their energy shopping for luggage and a community with a gate.

The beach chair issue will probably get more heated every year.

Seaweed is sneaky like that.

What are your favorite things about Seaside? SoWal? Eat any good food?

 

[JoBu]

We started coming to Seaside back in 2001. Only missed one year (2006) due to the birth of my daughter (June 26). My brother-in-law's sister owns a house in Seaside, Play Therapy. Its the pink house on the corner of 30A and Pensacola Street. We usually come with family-in laws, but this year our schedules didn't work out so my family rented a house on East Ruskin.

We enjoy Seaside for many reasons: Kid friendly (very important since i have a 5 and 3 year old); the houses with the front porches are so relaxing and inviting; the beach is always clean as is all of Seaside; the variety of things to do once you finish your day at the beach. I enjoy walking around the neighborhoods and pick out houses i would like to stay in. Just the overall feeling of being in a community as opposed to just being a 'guest' in a condo.

I haven't been able to explore much outside of Seaside due to our limited time down there and i feel i'm missing some great experiences because of that. I would love to explore the dunes and lakes, spend time at some of the other beaches, meet some of the 'locals' and get familiar with great places off the beaten path. But when you're building sandcastles all day and jumping waves with your kids, time just simply gets away. As my kids get older, there may be more time for me to explore. But i'm pretty sure i'll want to take them with me. That's really a good thing ya know...

In the past, we have had a pattern of places we eat: Goatfeathers, Red Bar, Spicy Noodle. Course we always have something from Pickles in Seaside. Of all the years we've been down there, we've never eaten at Bud and Ally's. Had a few (too many) drinks there, but no food. We did try out the Shrimp Shack in Seaside this year. Good food and a great view from their outside dining area. Went to Red Bar for lunch one day. Good as always. Had Pizza by the Sea when we first arrived. (Hour and a half wait for a to-go order...) Mexican one night from The Taco Bar. Met up with some friends in Destin at The Back Porch. Yum. Since we have kids and take them with us, we have to make sure any place is kid-friendly.

I would welcome any suggestions about places to see while we are down there and places to eat that we haven't tried yet. Like i said, got on VRBO when we got home to look up houses for next year.

I try to explain to our friends who haven't been to Seaside - and who don't understand paying for a place thats not on the water - that there is a feeling to being in Seaside. A sense of relaxation, of home, of belonging. Not being confined by concrete and steel, where balconies are replaced by porches. Where trees and bushes are home to birds and lizards (much to the delight of my son!!). Seaside is a place where you can bring your kid's bikes and they can actually ride them. A place where going to get an ice cream is just as much a part of the vacation as going to the beach. In one way, a place of families, for families, by families.

I've seen some artist's concepts of what the downtown area of Seaside may look like in years to come. I personally wish everything would stay pretty much the way it is. More concrete, steel and 'improvements' i dread will slowly erode the charm that Seaside now has. The Airstreams and their sidewalk tables. The open markets. Some things are better if left unchanged. For my kid's sake, i wish Seaside would remain as it is now.

 

[Abby Prentiss]

Wonderful, wonderful post! Thanks for sharing I love to hear other people's perspective and it sounds like you have it all in order. It is a magical place. Take the kids on bikes down to Grayton when they are able and catch some music At Hibiscus outdoors.