Love, SEASIDE®: More than 45 Suggested Activities
If this is your first time here, welcome. If it’s not, welcome back. Either way, let this note be your reminder that SEASIDE® is best enjoyed slowly and together with your favorite people. A simple, beautiful life takes shape merely through the art of noticing. Notice small details. Notice shared moments. Notice how you feel.
Take a self-guided bike tour or venture on foot with time to linger. Rush less. Explore more with intention and allow the town to reveal itself as you go. As the birthplace of New Urbanism, this destination was built for people and made for connection. Buildings face each other, so life happens between them. Public spaces encourage gathering, conversation, and celebration. That’s why so many guests return and why countless couples say “I do.”
Nothing is accidental. No two paths or days are the same, and variety comes from choosing different routes, different encounters, different rhythms. This is your invitation to experience Seaside, Florida, the way it was meant to be experienced.
Read along for inspired itineraries and suggested sights that remind you why you return season after season or help you discover something new. Choose the path that fits your mood today and let the experience ebb and flow. There’s always something familiar to revisit, and often something new waiting to be found.
Most of all, enjoy!
Love,
SEASIDE®
The Food Lover
If you love to plan trips around what you’re eating next, and believe good food is a love language.
Sweet and Savory stops
The story of SEASIDE® has food at the heart. After all, a farm stand had a role in starting it all. Kick off the day with one of Black Bear Bread’s open-faced tartines (salmon, avocado, or banana) paired with a Cereal Milk latte or the seasonal special. A fresh orange scone or a famous cinnamon roll is an excellent option, just indulgent enough to count as a treat. Ever tried a kolache at Wild Bill’s Beach Dogs? Worth every bite. How about the most delicious house-made dumplings at ‘drome with chili oil to your heart’s content? Taste-test the truffle fries at Pickle’s Sandbar just because. The Tuesday and Thursday paella at 87 Central is an experience in itself.
Browse between meals
Pick up something that feels thoughtful and personal at Lala Links. Jewelry has a beautiful way of reminding you where you were when you found it. Try on a few styles at Headley Hat to see what suits you or pick a patch that speaks your language. Stop by Mercantile for inspired gifts (and maybe one for yourself). Browse the latest logo shirts, coastal styles, and chic home finds at The Seaside Style®. It’s the perfect place to be introduced to the souvenir you didn’t know you needed.
Food for the soul
Take the long way around and note the visual delights of architecture and public art. Murals in town include work by Sarah Page, Art by Doman, Kelsey Montague, and graffiti artist Gaia’s 4-story portrait of renowned architectural historian Vincent Scully.
Match the colorful murals with a frozen banana dipped in confetti sprinkles from Nigel’s Bananas, located in Ruskin Place. Opt for a rich serving of Dawson’s Yogurt & Fudge or the extra fun deconstructed waffle cone in a bowl. Don’t miss the SEASIDE® Farmer’s Market, held every Saturday with an accompaniment of live music. It’s a decades-long tradition with a noteworthy collection of vendors and makers. Grab a bite to savor in the moment or find fresh ingredients to whip up the next meal on your own.
The Sport
If you love to keep things moving and enjoy a friendly competition.
Food as fuel and fun
Grab a coffee or matcha to your liking at Amavida and give yourself a few minutes to sit before the day gets going. If you’re lucky, you might score a breakfast taco before they sell out.
Opt for a colorful lunch bowl that doesn’t weigh you down at Daytrader. Match your energy at Pickle’s with a famous burger or a chicken salad as spot-on as your serve. Share a slice with buddies at Pizza Bar and don’t skip the side of brussels sprouts. Wild Nectar offers a good reminder to refresh with sparkling energy or refuel with a tasty acai bowl. These choices can be light but legit, because there’s plenty of fun to be had.
Shop with purpose
Whether your preferred activities are on a course, a court, or riding the waves, you can discover something new. Find the latest SEASIDE® athleisure apparel at SPORT by The Seaside Style® with golf shirts, activewear, and logo shirt colors you can’t find anywhere else. Treat yourself to a new pair of plush sneakers at Town Square Shoes, fit for a morning run, or make it a double date with his and hers flip flops at the salty and sweet Ono Surf Shop. These small stops can add something unexpected to the day.
Add on the Activities
The day is what you make it with a couple’s or family bike rental from SEASIDE® Transit Authority. See the town on two wheels or cruise the Timpoochee Trail to the east or west. For a structured round robin or a pickleball game for your crew, reserve a spot at SEASIDE® Athletic Club. Along the way, pop into Artful Eye to browse the latest sunglasses from practical to purely aesthetic. Bike. Stretch. Sweat. Then absolutely book a massage courtesy of the Spa in Seaside. Because you deserve it.
The Story Seeker
For people who love ideas and a good story.
Classic SEASIDE® flavors
The longest-running restaurant in SEASIDE®, the iconic Bud and Alley’s, is best enjoyed where you can watch people wander by. Order a famed margarita or spritz and enjoy the view with a tasty seafood special. You’ll see why it’s a favorite to savor. Led by renowned Chef Jim Shirley, Great Southern Café is another classic that rewards lingering. This is not a rush-through meal, as you’ll find with the famous Grits a YaYa dish. Shrimp Shack serves up the kind of timeless coastal hits that keep it simple and satisfying, with shrimp to your heart’s content or a lobster roll worth every bite. Modica Market is where nostalgia lives. Walking in feels like a scene from The Truman Show (because it was), and you really can’t go wrong choosing any of the gourmet offerings or house-made deli items. Locals know the hidden gem here is grabbing a prime cut of steak, though candy also counts as a memory.
Thoughtful shopping
For clothes that really tell a story, Cabana by The Seaside Style® is a repeat winner. From female-led brands to colorful wardrobe additions and the largest selection of e.newton jewelry, it’s easy to shop for something meaningful and special here. Explore the latest art installation at Anne Hunter Galleries, where a single painting can take you to another moment in time. The stories behind the art are part of the experience. Nearby Art of Simple offers a compelling case that more is more, as each curated piece of creative art or decor serves up interest. For the gentleman who appreciates fine detail, Brothers is an excellent destination for refined looks worth repeating. Browse Central Square Records for a sentimental record or an artist that resonates. The journey is best taken slowly until the right selection finds you.
With a variety of vendors that can change with the seasons, The Pop Up District is a place to meet brands in their early stages, and it is always worth a look.
Quiet moments
If you love a moment of reflection, take a timeout in any of the Tupelo Goods chairs lining the Amphitheater. It’s an intentional moment to slow down and take in the space, where there’s often a ball being tossed or a conversation to be had. Walk to the SEASIDE® Pavilion for a gorgeous water view and imagine hosting a special event with the Gulf as your backdrop. For another romantic location, Tupelo Gazebo is your pause button. Sit. Read. Talk about nothing important. Or nothing at all. Continue along the picket fence-lined paths to the tucked-away Rose Walk between Tupelo Street and Robert’s Way, or discover the town’s sundial quietly counting the day on the westernmost side of town. There are many gems off the beaten path.
The Family Focused
For memory makers of all sizes.
Easy wins for everyone
Barefoot BBQ keeps things low stress and satisfying with something tasty for all ages. For a sweet treat, It’s Heavenly Shortcakes & Ice cream is a must, whether you opt to share or savor each bite solo. The Meltdown is exactly what it sounds like in the best possible way, with classic grilled cheeses and specialty combinations to suit any taste. .
Shops kids actually love
Duckie’s is bright, playful, and impossible to leave empty-handed. It’s what pint-sized dreams are made of. Kids + Baby by The Seaside Style® balances practical and sweet with mini outfits and plenty of beachwear to style now and at home. Sundog Books is always worth the stop ,and letting the littles choose the book somehow makes it more memorable. A young adult section satisfies even discerning teens, and the curated selections by Sundog staff don’t miss. At Poeta, a Gulf view pairs well with block print bags and pouches waiting to be personalized, while Huck and Harlowe offer the perfect finds for furry members of the family.
Run it out
Families love Seaside’s unofficial playground of Central Square and the Amphitheater, but the official Playground is a must for excited little ones. Energy breaks are needed, whether scheduled or not, and even the scenic walk to the swings adds a few extra steps. If school isn’t in session, wander through the Lyceum Lawn, noting the architectural details, sky-high medjool palm,s and a scenic setting for future “I do’s”. During the season, Cabana Man beach rentals give a great home base on the sand, and Austin Magee’s Surf School is an activity they’ll remember for years to come. For the multi-generational trips that deserve a warm welcome or a precious send-off, a beach bonfire with CC. Boone is just the ticket.
Explore at Your Own Pace
There are endless details that make it easy to fall in love, though harder to check off all the to-dos, which is kind of the point. SEASIDE® has a quiet way of reminding you that familiar doesn’t mean finished. There’s an experience for every season and always more to explore.
