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)

We love Rosemary as well (maybe even a little more than Seaside) but I didn't mention it because I know it's a little less known than Seaside. Thanks again to everyone - huge help.

I just have to ask. Do you "love" "sterile". I completely understand liking an "underdeveloped" beach place if you can find it, but LIVING in one as a home is really a lot different from going to a "beach" place. I think I don't understand this.
BUT, having gone back to Ocean Isle after being there 30 and more years ago when there was only the first and second row--there are MANY more rows but no commercial development on that beach because it was controlled by one family. It is really pretty amazing.

Ekscrunchy your question infers you disagree with my comments. If that's the case, explain why you disagree.

If the OP is a fan of Seaside, Rosemary Beach, Watercolor, etc. she is looking for the equivalent of a planned, upscale (often gated) community. Celebration, FL is another example but is inland. Those are consistent - and won't have those Tshirt shops (although they will have Tshirts for sale). The closest I can think of is Hilton Head. Tybee is not what she's looking for nor most beach towns that develop organically.

All good points.

I agree with starrs - when I hear the OP state that she wants "a small beach town where we can park our car (for the most part), rent bikes, shop, eat, and generally relax", other than "small beach town" she's describing Hilton Head pretty well.

While Hilton Head is a large island, there are areas (Sea Pines, Coligny Circle) that are smaller and self contained where one can park the car and get by almost completely on foot or bike. And on the east coast, HH's beaches and tree canopy and natural areas can't be beat.

Being part of a planned community does have its perks - restrictions on commercial signage, no street lights or overhead power lines, extensive bike paths, etc.

Does it have the character of older beach towns? No, but I don't think that's what the OP is looking for.

Sometimes people mistake a recommendation for what a poster is looking for as a confirmation that what is being recommended is something the responder likes. Some of us really do listen to questions and try to respond with things that answer the question, not just give our own favorites or try to switch what the person is asking for.

Is Okracoke what you are looking for? http://www.openingtimes.co/ocracoke-...ba-ocracoke-nc
On the right side of the website is a list of the other shops in town. The National Seashore takes up nearly all of the island.

<<Sometimes people mistake a recommendation for what a poster is looking for as a confirmation that what is being recommended is something the responder likes>>

I tried to understand that. I don't.

Ocracoke is beautiful but I don't think that's what the OP had in mind. If you enjoy planned communities, Hilton Head is your best bet. Kiawah, maybe.

Funny, if you reread the OP's posts, she never mentions an attraction to "planned communities" - I think that just something other posters have inferred. Even the reasons she lists for liking Seaside don't necessarily require a "planned community."

I'll throw out Folly Beach as another alternative if you stay reasonably close to the center of town, though it is not as bike friendly.

"...she never mentions an attraction to "planned communities" - I think that just something other posters have inferred"

Yes, that is something I inferred.

My first post suggestion included non-planned beach communities in case the inference was incorrect.

When she later added they liked Watercolor too, my inference was confirmed (IMO anyway) and I modified my suggestion to Myrtle Beach.

Nothing wrong with inference. Lack of inference would result in Panama City Beach or Myrtle Beach tossed out as suggestions.

I agree - nothing wrong with inference - that's where a lot of good information on this forum comes from. It just seem to me that later posters had taken this inference and ran with it as if the OP had stated that preference.

Did the OP say she also liked Watercolor? I didn't see that.

I can't copy and paste on this site for some reason but she DOES modify her request to "more quiet and local"--not planned, etc.
Sounds like an older beach town to me. I'll still go to Ocean Isle for it--you can eat at one or two places on the beach. Can buy a few groceries but not much more!!
Maybe even Wild Dunes. I can't see Myrtle Beach fitting at all!!

OP here. Again, thanks for all the information. For what it's worth, the community doesn't have to be planned. We just like small, walker/biker friendly, and not all neon/plastic (no offense to those that like that sort of thing). It's just not us (at least not us in our mid-40's). We've been to Hilton Head and really liked it but it was completely off season (Christmas). Definitely want to try that again and am researching many of the other suggestions as well.


Again, thanks.

"I can't see Myrtle Beach fitting at all!!"
Me either. That was my point (re the inference comment).
PCB and/or MB would be the opposite of what it sounds like she wants.

"Did the OP say she also liked Watercolor?"
Nope. She said Rosemary. In my mind I substituted Watercolor for Rosemary - probably because they kind of merge/blur in my mind. That is my mistake but I do think they are very similar.

Too much overthinking for me. I've tossed out some suggestions as have others. Hopefully those suggestions will be a starting point. I like funkier places - although I wouldn't say no to a free house for a week at any beach place/town. My favorite is way too laid-back (read dead) for most people.

I'll second Brian's Folly Beach nomination.

If you don't have to walk/bike to every dinner (although you can eat at Webster's or Litchfield Inn) I recommend Litchfield by the Sea. It is a gated community and even on July 4th the beach itself is not crowded.
You don't say if you "need" oceanfront housing (I require it if I am going to the beach!!) but it is available--in high rises (5 story tops). Beautiful property--VERY quiet, pools, ocean, bike rentals available, etc.
Best seafood on the coast in nearby Pawley's and Murrell's Inlet.

I am familiar with Seaside....and I too love it. I understand what you like about Seaside, and I must recommend Bald Head Island off Wilmington, NC
You take a ferry to the island...so there are no cars just golfcarts and children love it. Children can ride bikes and roller blade on the narrow cart paths...it is very natural...you can see the sea turtles lay eggs....the stars are soooo bright and the sand is very clean.

Bookmarking for great suggestions.

If you really want to get away there is a town in the state of Washington modeled after Seaside. Seabrookwa.com

The weather is not quite as good but the wide wild beach is amazing.