There are few places that I’d visited are sweeter than Seaside, FL. It’s so quaint it’s nearly surreal. Have you seen that Jim Carey movie, The Truman Show? You know that precious too-cute-to-be-real town Truman grows up in? Well, that’s Seaside, FL.
Seaside is like no other place I’ve ever been. It’s got the atmosphere of a dream. I guess, because that’s what Seaside is: a dream. The settlement that we know today was the vision of J.S. Smolian. After his passing, his grandson carried out their shared vision. They dreamed of a place where everything you needed {including the beach} was within walking distance. A place where people biked, lingered on porches and relaxation reigned. Mission accomplished. More than 30 years later Seaside still exemplifies this attitude.
Seaside’s architecture is a perfect blend of sunny, quaint, and futuristic. Houses are designed to maximize hours of sunlight and to show off the best seaside view from every window.
To me, the best part of a trip to Seaside is exploring all the quaint and quirky shops lining the sidewalks. I firmly believe this is the greatest collection of small businesses you’ll see anywhere. It’s a great place to shop…or, in my case, just look around and get inspired. Inspiration abounds in shop decor, organization and merchandise. Whether you make a purchase or not, you’ll leave with loads of ideas and a refreshed mind.
Shops shown here…on the left Mercantile. Don’t you just love those rustic burlap curtains? The other two images are from Focus. I’m head over heels for her eclectic array of quirky merchandise…and the beautiful photography lining the walls. Check out this screenshot of their Facebook page. See what I mean? It’s just delicious.
Go to Duckies for bright and colorful gifts, including loads of nostalgic finds. {Top photo}. The Art of Simple carries “novelties and curiosities.” You like things that smell good? You’ll love their candles, lotion and soap. You like vintage? You’ll love their antiques.
A must on any Seaside trip is the record store, Central Square Records. This is what a music store should be. Clean, organized, hipster. If you are wondering, those are speakers built in to vintage suitcases. So awesome!
While you’re here, you’ll have to eat. There are so many food trucks and hole in the wall restaurants. Sometimes it can be hard to choose. Make it easy and just go to the Pizza Bar. It’s good and totally splittable. Which makes lunch very affordable. Ask to eat outside. You’ll be seated on this adorable and comfortable porch with bamboo ceilings, cozy deck chairs and a strong Gulf breeze.
If you’re ever in the Florida Panhandle. Make the trip to Seaside. You’ll never forget it and you’ll count the days until you can come back.
