Small beach town like Seaside, FL?
 

Hi everyone.

We happen to live pretty close to Seaside, Florida. We love everything about Seaside. It's close to the beach. You can rent bikes. Everything is within walking distance - restaurants, entertainment, shopping. Although it's geared towards tourists, it's a quieter vibe. No mini golf or t-shirt shops or arcades. We love that about it and often spend a lazy Saturday morning in the area.

What I'm looking for is something similar but a little farther from home - somewhere on the east coast of the US (Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas). A small beach town where we can park our car (for the most part), rent bikes, shop, eat, and generally relax.

Any ideas? I'm tagging those four states (with apologies for the cross posts - mods please remove if I did the wrong thing).

OK, I admit it. I am having difficulty even imagining a BEACH town which doesn't have at least one t-shirt place.

Maybe I'm off base but I think of Pawleys Island.

Easton or St Michaels in Maryland for water based activities but not on a beach.

Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard are in many ways (not architecture) the models for Seaside. Marion or Mattapoisett in Massachusetts. South Coast beaches in Rhode Island, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, St Simons Island, GA.

Gulf Beach Near Ocean Palm Hotel St. Petersburg Florida is a good option for u. because only few miles are away from the Hotel..................

Further than you want to go but
Shelter Island between the Hamptons and the North Fork on Long Island
Sag Harbor, NY
Spring Lake, NJ
Cape May, NJ

I think NeoPatrick's idea of Pawley Island is probably correct. Tybee Island and maybe Amelia Island are others. Bermuda is great too.

You have to leave Pawley's Island for restaurants and shops.

Look at Wrightsville in NC. It's near Wilmingon.

Jekyl?

St. Simons, Ga.

McLaurie: Have you been to the places you recommend....or just guessing?

Seaside is pretty unique in that it was one of the first master planned communities, the New Urbanism. 30 years ago a teacher-friend wandered by when there were only 2 streets - and bought. Most of her friends thought she was crazy. We all should be so lucky to be that kind of crazy. For better or worse, Seaside is not a "real" community that develops over time so you would probably be happy with a master planned community elsewhere. That would ensure that the pesky not-so-nice things (like Tshirt shops) would be kept out. Celebration, FL is another example.

There's a reason Seaside was chosen to be the set for the Truman Show.
http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/19/real...d_communities/

My favorite "real" seaside community is Provincetown, MA. In the SE I agree with the resorts on the islands of SC or perhaps St. Simons. St. George Island would work, but that's not further from home for you. Keep in mind though, you will be comparing a planned community with an organic, real community - unless you chose another planned community.

"You have to leave Pawley's Island for restaurants and shops."

What? I haven't been there for a while, did they all blow away in a hurricane or something. Sure, it's no NYC for major shopping and lots of restaurants, but then neither is Seaside, the town we were trying to "match".

Starrs is right about the "planned" and designed element of Seaside. That's kind of hard to match. It's Seaside's best feature, but also the feature than some "hate" the most.

Somewhat of a tangent, but if anyone is interested -

Pocket neighborhoods - http://www.pocket-neighborhoods.net/

http://www.ashevillehabitat.org/feat...mmunity.248119

http://www.notsobighouse.com/urbanism.asp

http://www.clarksgrove.com/

suewoo and I met up yesterday to hear Sarah Susanka speak at Fearrington Village, NC. I've been fascinated with the New Urbanism movement since Seaside began. I'm totally on board with her Not So Big house movement, but defintely mixed feelings about the planned communities.

Thanks everyone. I appreciate all the responses.

And maybe no t-shirt shops is a little harsh (and probably not even true in Seaside). Maybe a better description would be that we don't want the typical tourist strip. We like things a little quieter, a little more local if that makes any sense at all.

Go to Hilton Head

Starr's, how can a person who is so intelligent about the New Urbanism and is avSarah Susanka fan recommend Hilton Head. :-). I think I need to lie down; I feel the vapors coming on!

Hilton Head--ick,ick,ick.
Sue is sort of correct that there are no shops ON Pawley's--they are on the mainland part of Pawley's.
Actually Ocean Isle Beach has been kept entirely residential except for one area for a grocery store/resto, etc.
Sunset Beach might also be such.
Wrightsville I think is VERY commercial--charming however.

I don't like Hilton head

I think the OP will

Neopatrick, you have to cross to the mainland off Pawleys for those Hammock shops and stuff. I wouldn't ride a bike on Hwy 17 for love or money. I think you are thinking of the retail along the highway to Myrtle Beach.

We go to Rosemary beach every year which is similar to seaside (we much prefer it over Seaside) and I think it is hard to find places that have a similar feel to it since they are so self contained. I have been to some of the above that are mentioned and don't really find that they would be comparable. I think 30A is unique and you would have to find a different beach type of environment for your family. I love Nantucket! (We used to live in New England so are familiar with many of the things up that way) I think if someone hasn't been to a town like Seaside you can't really get accurate recommendations since it is so different than most beach places (but that is just my opinion)