Seaside, FL

[lovetheprincesses]

Is it worth all the hype, or should I save the $$?

 

[jkgrant]

We have rented houses (with pools) nearby in Seacrest Beach and Seagrove Beach. The ocean is a beautiful green color. You can see your feet, which is the only way I'll go in waist-deep water. The beach is beautiful!

 

[MarieLuvsWDW]

I'd rather stay in Destin, and make a daytrip (or two) to Seaside. Seaside is quaint, but there is way more to do in Destin, and the water looks exactly the same.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I have never been there but my DD has and she said that it was really neat. It's like a private little community. She and her friends had fun riding bikes and eating at the little cafe place. She said that the people were friendly. Her pictures were beautiful too. I think it's a quiet, low key area which would be great for a relaxing vacation.

I love going to the beach at Gulf Shores or Orange Beach, because that's what I know. I grew up going there and I know the good places to eat and and all of that.

 

[MrsGoofyMitchell]

I have never been but my Aunt and Uncle and 3 cousins go every year. They have been going for the past 6 years and the pictures are beautiful. They swear it's worth the money. There are not many "attractions" but that is what they like. They like to just swim, BBQ, lounge around, etc.

 

[rparmfamily]

My family always rents a home in the neighboring community and bikes to Seaside town. Very pretty, very quaint, very relaxing. Truman Show was filmed there. (which while we were there was the movie they were showing on the lawn LOL)

I think it's worth it, depends on what you are looking for...relaxing or lots of touristy stuff to do.

 

[Kies99]

I'd rather stay in Destin, and make a daytrip (or two) to Seaside. Seaside is quaint, but there is way more to do in Destin, and the water looks exactly the same.

I agree.

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

My former inlaws rented a gigantor house in Rosemary Beach (supposedly the "new" Seaside) one year for the whole family - 20+ ppl. I personally thought it was - meh.

Full disclosure: I LOVE Hilton Head Island, even though the Gulf of Mexico is a much prettier ocean. We've had a couple of bad experiences in the water (tiny tiny jellyfish, or something, stinging my daughter all over for example) that we have not encountered at HHI. I have a dear friend who lives in Destin and I just don't see the appeal of that area.

 

[mmkk]

My Dsis owns a home in nearby Watercolor (same concept as Seaside) and I love when we've gotten to go for a mini vacation there. To me its just as pretty and just as relaxing as Watercolor. If you don't want a "touristy" vacation-miniature gold, water park, chain restaurants, etc.-and you are just looking to relax and enjoy nature then you will like Seaside (or Watercolor for that matter). Watercolor has great bike paths that take you through the wooded areas and near the water-its very pretty. (Seaside may have similar bike paths but I'm not sure) But its also close enough to Destin to take a jaunt over for shopping, entertainment, etc.

 

[lovetheprincesses]

Thank you everyone!! Yes, I think that may be exactly what we are looking for...since it is just DH and me. I was thinking the same thing you all are....we will go to Orange Beach for Mother's Day and summer, b/c DD loves all the touristy junk, but we don't. Tell me what there is to do in Destin, for a day trip. Shopping, eating, etc. Where do you stay in Destin if we go that route? Anyone have experience with particular cottages at Watercolor or Seaside?

 

[Kies99]

Thank you everyone!! Yes, I think that may be exactly what we are looking for...since it is just DH and me. I was thinking the same thing you all are....we will go to Orange Beach for Mother's Day and summer, b/c DD loves all the touristy junk, but we don't. Tell me what there is to do in Destin, for a day trip. Shopping, eating, etc. Where do you stay in Destin if we go that route? Anyone have experience with particular cottages at Watercolor or Seaside?

See this recent thread for Destin:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2384230

 

[MarieLuvsWDW]

I used to live in Destin, and there is just about anything to do there, that you could do in a larger town. Putt-putt, water parks, great restaurants, nightlife, fishing, etc.

When we go back to visit, we always stay in Sandestin. It's actually one of the closest resort areas to 30-A, which is where you'll find Seaside, Watercolor and Rosemary Beach.

Watercolor looks nice too, but IMO, it has more of a resort look to it, whereas Seaside looks more like a retro community. Rosemary Beach has a more Spanish-inspired style, but I would liken it more to Seaside in appeal, than Watercolor. Destin is in a whole category of its own.

You can also find some nice rentals in Grayton Beach. In the order heading into Panama City from Destin, you'd find Destin, Grayton Beach, Watercolor, Seaside and then finally Rosemary Beach. Each place offers something different, but if you're looking for white sand and that blue water, it's all going to look the same.

To put it simply: if I were looking for an active vacation, with plenty of beachtime, I'd stay in Destin, and take day trips. If I were looking for nothing but beach time, with a little bit of lazing around, I'd stay in Seaside. It's a very cute town, but there is not a lot to do there, and it's going to cost more to stay there.

JMO - YMMV

 

[bwolfe]

We are big fans of Seaside. Look for "Roger's Lighthouse". It's our favorite home to rent.

 

[rparmfamily]

Personally I don't like the strip malls etc of Destin. Seaside is pretty, relaxing, bike trails,etc. Very quaint. go to www.seasidefl.com

 

[mecook61]

We live 1.5 hours away, so we go often. We rode the length of 30-A once just see Seaside, Watercolor, etc. There are some pretty places, don't get me wrong, but I wasn't impressed with the Seaside community. We stopped and walked around the "town center". We'd spend all our time traveling back to Destin to shop, eat, and watch movies at the Rave.