Seaside is legendary. And not because of the impact it has had on others, but because of the way it has impacted my life, personally. Of course, I am not the only person to have been drawn to Seaside, Florida. Before I give my account, I’ll note some others.
Time magazine remarked on the architectural aspects of seaside residences, “the most outstanding design achievement of its era…” The New Urbanism movement of Seaside is often regarded as the first of its kind. Many accolades can be bestowed upon Seaside from many sources, but I’ll stick mostly to its affect on me.
Several years ago I was at a stage in my life where a change was needed. I had friends who lived in Sandestin Florida and who wanted to take me out to 30A. I was unfamiliar with the area but once I visited, I was entranced.
Seaside was our destination along the beautiful highway 30A. We parked near the Seaside post office at the amphitheater. The beautiful architectural aspects of the Seaside community immediately impressed. The Seaside community served as a backdrop to the Jim Carey movie, The Truman Show, but its impressiveness was even more apparent in the flesh.
In Seaside, we first directed our efforts at a place called Bud and Alley’s. The Seaside establishment has a restaurant downstairs and what is called The Tarpon Club upstairs. A view of Seaside gained here is a magnificent and glorious encounter with life, I assure you. You can look out and discover where Seaside meets to emerald Gulf waters and the white, fluffy sand. You can also look back over the Seaside town center and fall in love from your vantage point there.
Another place to gain a magnificent view of Seaside is from the second story of the Sundog Bookstore, located in the Seaside town center. From here you overlook the amphitheater, post office and shops of Seaside. The town center of Seaside, in the amphitheater, is where a free concert summer series takes place. Kids absolutely love the bowl shaped grounds and it somehow seems to pull people together. Seaside truly is a special place.
Modica Market in the Seaside town center offers something to eat along with spices and other groceries on a limited basis. It has a feel of a by gone era, like many places do in Seaside. Art galleries exist within the glorious grounds of Seaside along with other shops, too, and a stroll through the area is memorable.
But where my kids invariably want to congregate in Seaside is by a little old Airstream camper affectionately called, Frost Bites. It serves cold snowballs in a multitude of flavors and is parked out by the road in Seaside. Seaside recently planted a host of Oak trees surrounding the amphitheater and the street that will provide shade for years to come.
Seaside, to me, is like the soul of highway 30A. Seaside is positioned in nearly the center of the magnificent 30A. Seaside has a walking and bike path that runs through it and all along highway 30A, providing a perfect place to exercise and enjoy spectacular views.
A landmark in Seaside that is sure to catch your eye is a towering white structure near the beach. Walking through and under this tower in Seaside will take you to the stunning white beaches that make Seaside and South Walton such a prized location.