A few weeks ago, I had the honor of visiting one of Florida’s hidden gems. It was green, it was adorable and it was famous. I loved visiting Seaside, Florida and with spring break just around the corner, you can love it too. Here’s why you should visit this quaint beach town during spring break:
1. College can be a *beach* — so why not go to one?
College is hard. Do you need another excuse to go on a vacation besides that you’ve earned it? If you’re from a coastal town like me, then you’re probably aware of the lack of beaches in Gainesville. You know that lake beaches do not count as actual beaches, and by now, you probably miss real beaches.
Seaside is located in the Florida Panhandle, about an hour from Panama City Beach. The entire town is a beach town, meaning you can definitely get your beach on here! Seriously, if you miss a real beach, or even just the beach town feel, this place will make you feel right at home.
2. Adventuring in unfamiliar towns is fun.
Chances are that if you don’t frequent the Panhandle, you probably haven’t been here. This place is a hidden gem in Florida because of its relative obscurity. The town is never busy this time of year, making it the perfect time to go! Also, when you don’t know your surroundings, the adventure becomes just a little more wild and fun. Seaside is a somewhat small area, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get your full of an adventure!
3. You can live out your Truman Show fantasies.
If you have ever seen the classic movie The Truman Show starring Jim Carrey, then you’re definitely familiar with this little town. The movie is about a television show focused on the life of Jim Carrey’s character, Truman Burbank. The entire movie is filmed in this quaint little town, and you can even drive up to the famous house on the show. If you want to run around and act like Jim Carrey for the day, this place is definitely for you!
4. Try the tastes of the Panhandle.
The restaurants in Gainesville are great, but sometimes something really new is a nice change. While I was in Seaside, I found some delicious places to grub at. A personal favorite is any of the food trucks—I mean Airstreams—in the downtown area. Yes, they actually serve food out of Airstreams, and yes, it is as adorable and aesthetically pleasing as you think it is! They have a bakery, a snow cone place, a barbeque restaurant and even a grilled cheese place that will rock your socks off.
If you’re looking for a more traditional sit-down place, there’s a really good pizza parlor called Bud and Alley’s Pizza Bar and Trattoria that serves a mean Clam Pie. If pizza isn’t your thing, Pickles Beachside Grill is a very well-known restaurant in Seaside, too. They serve burgers and chicken sandwiches, but they also have one of the best chocolate milkshakes I have ever stolen from a friend (he wasn’t happy, but I sure was).
If you want to get a little dressier and spend a little more, Bud and Alley’s also owns a waterfront restaurant and bar that overlooks the gulf. The only thing more beautiful than the restaurant itself is the gumbo they serve. If none of these places sound appealing to you, then that’s okay too! If you end up going to Seaside and find another delicious place, please tell me so I know for my next trip there.
5. It’s far enough from Gainesville to feel different, but close enough to Tally to catch up with friends.
Maybe you have some friends in Tallahassee who you miss and haven’t seen in a while. Although FSU has a different spring break than us (sad, I know) you can always pop in on your way to Seaside to visit them! Tally is the halfway point between Gainesville and Seaside, and what’s a better rest stop than your best friend from high school’s apartment? Hang out with some old friends while adventuring with some new ones! It’ll really diversify your spring break and add some pins to your travel map.
Happy traveling!