Between Christmas and New Year’s we enjoyed a trip to Seaside, Florida! I started seeing this travel destination pop up on Instagram over the past few years and was super excited to get the chance to go!

SEASIDE / 30a

Seaside is located on the Florida Panhandle (Central Time Zone) between Destin and Panama City Beach. Because of the location and the time of year we visited (December), we saw temps in the mid-60s, which felt warm enough one day for our kids to get in the ocean. Our Airbnb’s heated pool and hot tub were definitely appreciated!

One reason I think Seaside has become more popular is because there are several architectural regulations that make it very photogenic. There are rules regarding the materials, colors and styles that must be followed for buildings and signage, which makes very “Instagramable.” It’s beautiful everywhere you look! If you’ve seen “The Truman Show,” that’s Seaside!

The traffic on 30A was pretty congested at times. One person I asked said it was nothing compared to summer, but that it was busy for wintertime. He said the first week of December and the first week of January are much calmer. But if you are staying somewhere within walking distance, it won’t be as big of an issue!

WHERE TO STAY

The town of Seaside itself was designed to make walking more convenient than driving. If you want to visit Seaside Central Square in particular, especially if you are planning to go there more than once, I highly suggest staying somewhere within walking or biking distance. Golf carts are also slightly better than traveling by car, because there are designated parking lots for golf carts. I had assumed we would be able to easily find side streets to park on, but street parking is limited to people who live or rent a house right there. I think this is important to know when planning your trip. I do not say any of this to scare you, but only want to ensure you have the best trip possible. :) We truly had a wonderful time!

We stayed in an Airbnb called “Vibe” and had a good experience. The kids loved the screened in area with a heated pool and hot tub. We had 13 people, and seven bedrooms seemed to be the perfect amount. We had a handful of extra beds, so we could have accommodated even more people, but the configuration was perfect for our large family. The house also provided four cruiser bikes, which definitely came in handy, as well as a six-person golf cart.

WHAT TO DO

Beach: Of course, the beach is a huge selling point! And the soft, white beaches in Seaside are absolutely beautiful! It would be wonderful to stay on the water for easy access. There is nothing like a beach sunset!
Buccaneer Pirate Cruise: We drove to Destin one day for a family-friendly adventure. This was something we had booked in advance. As much as I don’t love touristy things, I would actually recommend this. The kids especially loved it and it kept them entertained for 1.5 hours. This was Finch’s favorite part of the entire trip. Bonus: We saw dolphins!

Beach bonfire: My favorite night of the entire trip was a beach bonfire we had pre-booked with Light Me Up Beach Bonfires. There are several companies that provide this service, but we had a good experience and would definitely recommend them (we did the “Three Little Birds” package). Ask everyone for their hype/walk-up song and make a playlist to jam out to. We had so much fun singing and dancing! And of course, s’mores!
Pool/hot tub: Rooney’s favorite thing was being able to swim in an outdoor pool the day after Christmas. :) We are Iowans so we don’t get the chance to do that sort of stuff year-round. One night all 13 of us were in the pool and hot tub, which was so fun!
Family time: Because this was a Christmas trip with my dad and siblings, the whole point was to spend time together. The cousins loved getting to fly on a plane together, and it was so fun to just hang out, order pizza, and watch or rent a movie for the night.

WHERE TO EAT

Seaside Central Square: This is a really neat area in the heart of Seaside with airstream food trucks, a green space for kids to play, ice cream parlors and upscale shops, but parking can diminish your experience so I highly recommend walking or biking (traveling by golf cart is also better than a car). Seaside Central Square is a great place to go with a large family because there are several options and everyone can get what they want. With our large group we tried nearly every airstream. I think the collective favorite spot was Crêpes du Soleil. Our favorite souvenirs were from The Seaside Style, but it is quite fancy (i.e., expensive).
The Big Chill: This is another hub along 30A with several dining options and a neat outdoor seating area in the middle. There are some cute shops here, too!
Pizza by the Sea: The first night we ordered pizza from here, and it hit the spot! Bonus: It’s located right next to Publix so you can stock up on groceries while you wait for your food.
Nigel’s Bananas: I have to mention Nigel’s. It was my favorite ice cream treat I had! I loved it so much I went twice, and Eric bought a souvenir hat!

Huge “thank you” to my dad, who gifted us this trip for Christmas. Memories were made and I will treasure these photos for years to come!