Maryella

Heading to Seaside Florida for a family reunion next week. Have been wanting to visit this place for the last 20 years so after spending the last several summers in the Outer Banks we finally get our chance. One question for seasoned Seaside vacationers. We will all be flying in from various spots in the US (Chicago, LA, Miami) and can't bring beach chairs or towels with us. The "Cabana Man" rents 2 chairs and an umbrella for $25.00 a day. At that rate it would cost our group over $500.00 for the week for chairs. Can't find beach towel rentals anywhere. Does anyone know if there is a Walmart or someplace to buy beach chairs and towels for our stay? Is there another rental agency that is cheaper than the "Cabana Man"? Thanks!

Char2003

There is a Walmart about 30 minutes to the east in Panama City Beach. It's an easy and pretty drive if you have a car.

Maryella

Thanks! Anything a little closer? We will be flying into Jacksonville and staying on Amelia Island for a few days before hitting the highway on the way to Seaside. We would have to back track to PC to buy chairs.

dln

Maryella, you'll be driving west on rte. 10 until DeFuniak Springs, at which point you'll be going south on rte. 331, which will deadend into 30-A, the beach road that Seaside is on. The town of DeFuniak Springs will have a Wal-Mart to pick up towels and cheap beach chairs. ($25/day is highway robbery!) There's also a big grocery store which is where you could buy your weekly supplies. Seaside has its own grocery, Modica Market, and there's also a Tom Thumb convenience store in Seagrove Beach, just a mile or so west, but neither is a mega-market. You could also go to Destin on rte. 98. There are two groceries and a drug store, both of which sell beach stuff all the time. They're across from the Silver Sands Factory Outlet.

If you want an eyeful of Seaside reading, use the text search box to pull up these two posts:

Help w/ Panhandle Vacation Rentals
Back from Seaside

I love Seaside and got a bit carried away on those two posts extolling its virtues. You might find some useful information there, should you wish to plow through it all!

Maryella

DLN:
Thanks so much for all the great info!

GoTravel

Maryella don't laugh but a couple of years ago on a trip to South Beach, I did take my beach chairs and cooler. I packed two beach chairs and a collapsable rolling cooler in my pullman and still had plenty of room for my summer clothes, shoes, makeup etc.

If that isn't an option, have you thought about shipping the stuff UPS? I know here you can buy chairs for under $10.

Maryella

Since we are leaving tomorrow morning and we are already packed taking chairs and towels are not an option as is shipping (though I did send down a box of nonperishable food and sand toys). So tell me where to buy the cheap chairs?

Marci_77

Why not buy them on Amelia Island? and pack them in the car? It is going to be a 5 or 6 hour drive to seaside, so really you could stop anyplace along the way. Plus isn't Panama city east of Seaside? you could pick them up on the way.
I live on Amelia --hope you enjoy your stay.