Getting Around

Seaside, along with a group of 30A business owners, is making it easy for guests to visit Seaside with a complimentary shuttle service, which also makes traveling around Scenic Highway 30A more convenient. Sunshine Shuttle & Limousine implemented the transportation program with the cooperation of local business leaders dedicated to changing the car-centric culture of the 30A community.

John Finch, owner of Sunshine Shuttle & Limousine, sees this as a jumping off point for expanding public transportation from county line to county line. The Turtle Express stops at Grayton Corners, Grayton Bar & Grill, Seaside, V Seagrove, 723 Whiskey Bravo, and Publix on 395 (WaterColor Crossings). The shuttle runs from 11 a.m. to midnight each day through Labor Day weekend (Sept. 1, 2014) and is free to all riders.

Finch and Alan Roberts, Sunshine Shuttle’s vice president of sales and marketing, sought funding from numerous sources. But in the end, a private system turned out to be not only expedient, but also collaborative.

“We felt it was important to start planning for the future,” says Seaside Community Development Corporation General Manager Pam Avera. “That’s why we invested in it, and why we hope this helps change the attitude of locals and visitors alike.”

Trolley riders can access a live map through the Sunshine Shuttle website (sunshineshuttle.com; For route map see page 14.), which shows all stops and the Turtle Express vehicle’s current location at any given time.

Community leaders who have supported the new program include:

Robert and Daryl Davis — Seaside Community Development Corp.

Johnny Earles — Grayton Bar & Grill

Chip Haring and George Hartley — V Seagrove

Grant Blackwell and Billy Buzzett — Grayton Beach Neighborhood Association

Skip and Victoria Moore — 723 Whiskey Bravo

Joel Williams — The Bowery on Thirty-A

Harriet Crommelin — Cafe Thirty-A

Jane and Marie Solomon

Richard Veldman — Rivard Realty

Misty Blair — D.R. Horton

Joe Freer — Shades