If you’ve ever spent time as a kid in Seaside or brought your own children here, you know just how special the town is. There are few places where kids can bike freely, roll down the amphitheater, and pop into Modica Market for OJ on their own. It seems like the fine folks voting on the Parents Travel Awards agreed, as they nominated our town for best beach town on the Gulf Coast and it won.
Best Beach Town on the Gulf Coast went to Seaside, where Parents Magazine encouraged readers to bring their whole family.
The publication wrote, “Stroll down the brick streets past pastel-colored cottage rentals, each more gorgeous than the last, until you reach the white-sand beaches and emerald Gulf water. That’s how life goes down in this community in the state’s panhandle that was designed so families could walk or bike everywhere.”
Standouts included the row of Airstreams, the children’s show at the amphitheater, and the children’s book selection at Sundog. They dubbed the town “Paradise found.”
Parents staff and family travel judges initially nominated more than 150 places within the United States. They looked for locations that provided outdoor activities and room to social distance, as well as enhanced sanitation protocols for COVID-19. Staff and judges then voted on the nominations, making sure to keep an eye out for a wow factor for kids.
photo from Instagram
If you’re planning a vacation, look through the Parent Travel Awards winners for some entertaining options, including a Colonial Williamsburg resort near Busch Gardens, a Maine getaway with Broadway-style performances at night, and a beach resort that was seen on The Bachelor. Or you could always bring your family to the best little beach town on the Gulf Coast.