Five months later and we’re still reeling about this place and this trip. Visiting Highway 30A in Florida is something we see ourselves doing again and again. While we love visiting new places, there’s something comforting about returning to a beloved, familiar place when you’re seeking a relaxing vacation. Highway 30A is definitely that kind of place for us. As I’m going through these photos I’m already thinking about planning our first return trip!
While I talked about the Rosemary Beach half of our trip a few months ago, now we’re traveling 20 minutes west on Highway 30A in Florida to the town of Seaside. Pin this post using the graphic above to revisit this guide next time you’re planning a trip!
The Signature Idyllic Look of Seaside
One of my favorite parts of Highway 30A in Florida is the bright, coastal vibe of all the architecture and lush greenery around Seaside. I don’t know who decided early on to keep the town looking like this, but THANK YOU! It’s simply gorgeous and you can’t help but be in a good mood there.
Now, while I lightly edit my blog photos (mostly for lighting) the extremely blue sky in these were barely touched. In fact, as I was editing some of these I actually toned the sky down a little because it overwhelmed the photo. It’s truly that naturally gorgeous there.
Even the town’s buildings are picture perfect. Just look at the post office!
Here’s a quick 8-second look at the downtown area from the back looking out to the ocean.
When walking through the neighborhood, you’ll notice the town is 99% vacation homes. But what stands out the most is how much pride the owners have. Not only is every home pristinely well-maintained, each one has a sign with the property’s name, the family’s name and where they live year round. Many even mention their pets!
Pets are definitely important to the people of Seaside, they’re even mentioned on the town sign. Most stores allow them inside and many establishments have water dishes out front. Just the cherry on top for our dog-loving family!
Where to Eat in Seaside
Grabbing lunch from the Airstream Food Trucks is a must when you’re in town. We were there on a Thursday and Friday and saw was a mix of working locals and tourists patronizing these food trucks. You know a place is good when year-round residents choose to eat there.
The airstream row is essentially an outdoor food court. There’s about seven food trucks so everyone can get whatever they want before grabbing a table. These trucks also sit adjacent to the Seaside Amphitheater lawn so you can grab food and have a picnic lunch there!
If you’re looking for other cuisine, there’s a handful of additional options right across the street. Lining the beach, there are food shacks with tacos, pizza, a shrimp shack and a few other places. We got this delicious assortment above from Taco Bar (literally just called Taco Bar) during our second day in Seaside and we highly recommend them!
For a proper sit down meal, either indoors and outside, we recommend The Great Southern. It’s in the back of the town square near the Seaside Post Office. We had breakfast here on our last full day and it blew our socks off! Crab for breakfast is a huge yes in my book, so I ordered their crab lump avocado toast. It was seriously one of the best, freshest breakfasts I’ve ever had!
There are a few other sit down places in town and more just down 30A in WaterColor. But honestly, the main scene is at the food shacks by the beach. It’s lively with music, families and amazing food. Be sure you have at least a meal or two there, you won’t regret it!
Home of “The Truman Show”
Are you familiar with the movie? It’s a great 1998 film starring Jim Carrey and is a lifelong favorite among Kevin and his dad. So when Kevin heard we were going to the town the movie was shot in he was over the moon!
It’s clear why Seaside, Florida was the setting for a movie about “the perfect place” that “no one would ever want to leave”. The town is idyllic in every way. It’s well-maintained and gorgeous, even 40+ years after its establishment.
Naturally, we visited Truman’s house during our stay. For those looking to visit, it can be found at 31 Natchez Street in Seaside, Florida. In the movie, it’s labeled 36 (no idea why) but as you can see, they left the 36 on there as a nod to the movie. The actual street number is on the fence (I’m blocking it in this photo).
Modica Market
Modica Market is the perfect little grocer right in the middle of town. They have groceries, sundries and even some ready to eat meals. If you’re staying in town, chances are you’ll be hitting Modica Market at some point.
In The Truman Show, this is where you commonly saw Truman’s best friend, Marlon working. It was featured a few times in the movie and I recently read somewhere that the market’s owners, the Modica’s, are actually in the movie too. Inside, they have a corner dedicated to the movie; clearly they get a lot of traffic from fans!
Before we left, we grabbed a bag of Modica Market coffee beans for Kevin’s dad since he’s such a fan of the movie (and coffee). Modica Market is great place to grab a souvenir if you too have some movie fans back home!
Visit WaterColor on Highway 30A in Florida
Per Google, WaterColor is an ‘unincorporated master-planned community located in Seagrove Beach on the Northwest Gulf Coast of Florida’. In human terms, it’s a little neighborhood adjacent to Seaside that you can walk to from the center of Seaside in about 15 minutes.
It’s such a tiny community you definitely don’t need to block out an additional day to visit. Just set aside an hour or two during your visit to Seaside to see this absolutely stunning community.
Though small, it’s absolutely gorgeous. Grab a coffee, walk up and down the main streets and visit the local shops during your visit. The homes are incredible! They’re coastal and colorful like most of the area, but very grand and stately. I told Kevin that when we retire this is the house I can be found in!
There’s also the WaterColor Inn, a gorgeous resort where we saw a wedding party arriving for their dreamy weekend event. If you’re looking to plan a swanky stay while on Highway 30A in Florida, this would be the place to do it.
Grayton Beach State Park
While not directly in Seaside, the town of Grayton Beach is just west of WaterColor. I’m not sure how walkable it is, but the drive was short with easy parking. I surprised Kevin by booking us a sunset beach family photo session one of the evenings on vacation.
Several sources recommended utilizing Grayton Beach State Park for photoshoots so that’s just what I did. It’s very scenic and was a great call for sunset photos. We have some incredible photos of the sun setting over the water behind us.
If you’re looking to do some hiking or other outdoorsy activity while here, this would be the place to do it. It’s scenic and incredibly nearby. Visit their website to see what all they offer!
Other Amenities Near Highway 30A in Florida
Once you’re on 30A you don’t really want to leave. You’re only tucked into paradise for so much time, so I recommend utilizing the sundries shops right on 30A, if possible. Though their inventory is limited. For example, we realized on our drive that we forgot our baby monitor and had to grab one from Target in Panama City Beach on the way in. 🤷♀️ The sundries shops certainly don’t carry those!
What I recommend is to re-take inventory while you’re on the drive or flight down as best as possible. Run through your days, like you would when you’re packing. Or, pay attention as you unpack and make a list for one big essentials run at the very start of vacation.
If you’ve forgotten anything there are Targets in Panama City Beach and Destin. Depending on where you’re staying on 30A one will be closer than the other. Destin is closer to Santa Rosa Beach, Seaside and WaterColor while PCB is closer to Rosemary Beach, Alys and the Inlet Beach area. There’s also a Publix near Seaside if it’s just groceries you’re needing.
So, when are you heading to Seaside? I hope my guide serves as a helpful resource for your future vacation. This is one of the best places we’ve had the pleasure of vacationing. It’s a must-visit destination, especially for a family vacation. Feel free to let me know with additional questions in the comments below!
Have you been to Seaside, Florida before? Let us know your pro tips in the comments as well!
