DD
05-28-2006, 10:31 PM
Article today in Dallas Morning News about Seaside. Writer loved Bud & Alley's. Sounded like they stayed at the cotttages...
Overall, a nice article..
tried to link it, but came up that you had to register with DMN....sorry..here it is...
The living's easy in idyllic Seaside
Pioneer of planned towns is home to beautiful Florida beach and sunsets
10:32 PM CDT on Saturday, May 27, 2006
By MELANIE RADZICKI MCMANUS / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
Twenty-five years ago, Robert Davis had a dream: to take the 80 acres of scrubby beachfront property in the Florida Panhandle that he’d inherited from his grandfather and create an idyllic town.
One with life’s conveniences close at hand so people could walk or bike everywhere. One with cottages contained by whose low fences and deep porches that promoted would promote the neighborliness of days gone by. One whose architecture resembled the Florida Panhandle of old.
And so he created Seaside, widely acknowledged as the prototype for the New Urbanism or “smart growth.”
The first few structures in town were a cottage, sales office, gazebo and beach pavilion. Today nearly 500 picturesque dwellings sit cheek-to-jowl along more than a dozen streets fanning out from the town center. Biking and walking are the favored modes of transportation and the sugar-white beach and emerald sea the main attractions. While most cottages are second homes, half are in a rental pool, giving everyone a chance to experience Mr. Davis’ dream.
Why pick Seaside?
Florida has a gazillion oceanfront towns, each with its own charm. But none is quite like Seaside. Two British gentlemen stood gazing at the town square in awe recently until one finally said, “It’s like we’re on a movie set” — which it has been. All of Seaside’s cottages are set on small red-brick streets, each with its own uniquely styled white picket fence.
Ordinances require homes to be painted in pastels, so each street is a rainbow of periwinkle, melon, lemon and sea foam green. Carefully raked white-clay-and-sand paths run between many homes and through lush medians — secret passageways, of sorts, that kids find irresistible.
And you won’t find a wrapper on the ground or a derelict home anywhere, lending the town a sense of safety and serenity.
What’s new?
Robert Davis has long appreciated a fine glass of wine. So when he created Seaside, he made sure it wasn’t hard to find one. Wine is sold in Modica Market, the local grocery store, and every restaurant. And the town’s two annual wine festivals are sold out every year. The next, the Seeing Red Wine Festival, is Nov. 2-5. The events feature a winemaker dinner and luncheon and plenty of wine tasting.
Beware of imitators
Alas, Seaside’s success didn’t come without a price. Once a charming development in the middle of nowhere, it’s spawned copycat towns along County Road A in Walton County such as neighboring Water Color. While these developments incorporate some of Seaside’s New Urbanism elements — and one contains a Starbucks that I pedaled to nearly every day — they also deviate enough from that concept to spoil the effect Seaside must have had when it stood all alone.
Bike it
You can’t stay at Seaside without renting a bike, preferably an old-fashioned cruiser with coaster brakes and a basket. A relative bargain at $15 for three hours or $50 per week, it’s perfect for making your way around town. A 10-mile paved bike path connects Seaside with its eastern and western neighbors, so head out of town with a picnic lunch at least once.
Scene it
Movie buffs will quickly realize they’ve seen Seaside before — it was the setting for The Truman Show, a 1998 film starring Jim Carrey as Truman Burbank, an insurance employee who suddenly discovers he has unwittingly starred in the longest-running show in TV history, and all of his friends and co-workers are actually actors. Only a few facades were constructed for the film, which was shot almost entirely on location; the “Architectural Office” in the movie is actually a residence in Seaside’s Ruskin Place.
Beyond the borders
There are three state parks relatively close to Seaside. Grayton Beach State Park is considered one of Florida’s finest, featuring rolling sand dunes smothered with golden sea oats, white sandy beaches and pine flatwoods. Best of all, it’s only about two miles from Seaside — a flat, easy bike ride. Hop in the car to check out Eden State Garden, on the shores of Choctawhatchee Bay, and Topsail Hill State Preserve.
Don't miss ...
Sunsets on the ocean are incredible. Every evening at sundown, the venerable Bud & Alley’s, Seaside’s first restaurant, rings a bell to let you know it’s time to stop what you’re doing and enjoy the view. Don’t ignore it. Watching the colors change from melon, lime and pale yellow to fiery orange, cinnamon and indigo is relaxing and inspiring.
Checking in
Cottages are available that sleep up to 14 and range in price from $165 to $1,265 per night, depending on the size and time of year. Let the Seaside Cottage Rental Agency book one for you (1-800-277-8696) or go online for photos and virtual tours of the cottages (1-888-732-7433; www.seasidefl.com). Seaside also features one B&B, Josephine’s (1-800-848-1840; www.josephinesinn.com).
Eating out
Bud & Alley’s, a five-star restaurant with a rooftop bar facing the Gulf, offers killer views and soup, salad, pasta and grilled fish specials each evening. Try the tuna dip, a local favorite, to get things going (1-850-231-5900; www.budandalleys.com). Café Spiazzia is a casual joint dishing up pastas, seafood, sandwiches and pizza; try the Spiazzia White, topped with tomatoes, basil, onion, mozzarella and ricotta cheese (1-850-231-1297). For lunch, pick one of the 53 sandwich wraps at Roly Poly Rolled Sandwiches (1-850-231-3799).
Getting there
Seaside is about a 12-hour drive from Dallas. There are also numerous daily flights from Dallas to the confusingly named Okaloosa Regional/Fort Walton-Valparaiso Airport at Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, an hour’s drive from Seaside.
Melanie Radzicki Mcmanus is a Wisconsin freelance writer.
Overall, a nice article..
tried to link it, but came up that you had to register with DMN....sorry..here it is...
The living's easy in idyllic Seaside
Pioneer of planned towns is home to beautiful Florida beach and sunsets
10:32 PM CDT on Saturday, May 27, 2006
By MELANIE RADZICKI MCMANUS / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
Twenty-five years ago, Robert Davis had a dream: to take the 80 acres of scrubby beachfront property in the Florida Panhandle that he’d inherited from his grandfather and create an idyllic town.
One with life’s conveniences close at hand so people could walk or bike everywhere. One with cottages contained by whose low fences and deep porches that promoted would promote the neighborliness of days gone by. One whose architecture resembled the Florida Panhandle of old.
And so he created Seaside, widely acknowledged as the prototype for the New Urbanism or “smart growth.”
The first few structures in town were a cottage, sales office, gazebo and beach pavilion. Today nearly 500 picturesque dwellings sit cheek-to-jowl along more than a dozen streets fanning out from the town center. Biking and walking are the favored modes of transportation and the sugar-white beach and emerald sea the main attractions. While most cottages are second homes, half are in a rental pool, giving everyone a chance to experience Mr. Davis’ dream.
Why pick Seaside?
Florida has a gazillion oceanfront towns, each with its own charm. But none is quite like Seaside. Two British gentlemen stood gazing at the town square in awe recently until one finally said, “It’s like we’re on a movie set” — which it has been. All of Seaside’s cottages are set on small red-brick streets, each with its own uniquely styled white picket fence.
Ordinances require homes to be painted in pastels, so each street is a rainbow of periwinkle, melon, lemon and sea foam green. Carefully raked white-clay-and-sand paths run between many homes and through lush medians — secret passageways, of sorts, that kids find irresistible.
And you won’t find a wrapper on the ground or a derelict home anywhere, lending the town a sense of safety and serenity.
What’s new?
Robert Davis has long appreciated a fine glass of wine. So when he created Seaside, he made sure it wasn’t hard to find one. Wine is sold in Modica Market, the local grocery store, and every restaurant. And the town’s two annual wine festivals are sold out every year. The next, the Seeing Red Wine Festival, is Nov. 2-5. The events feature a winemaker dinner and luncheon and plenty of wine tasting.
Beware of imitators
Alas, Seaside’s success didn’t come without a price. Once a charming development in the middle of nowhere, it’s spawned copycat towns along County Road A in Walton County such as neighboring Water Color. While these developments incorporate some of Seaside’s New Urbanism elements — and one contains a Starbucks that I pedaled to nearly every day — they also deviate enough from that concept to spoil the effect Seaside must have had when it stood all alone.
Bike it
You can’t stay at Seaside without renting a bike, preferably an old-fashioned cruiser with coaster brakes and a basket. A relative bargain at $15 for three hours or $50 per week, it’s perfect for making your way around town. A 10-mile paved bike path connects Seaside with its eastern and western neighbors, so head out of town with a picnic lunch at least once.
Scene it
Movie buffs will quickly realize they’ve seen Seaside before — it was the setting for The Truman Show, a 1998 film starring Jim Carrey as Truman Burbank, an insurance employee who suddenly discovers he has unwittingly starred in the longest-running show in TV history, and all of his friends and co-workers are actually actors. Only a few facades were constructed for the film, which was shot almost entirely on location; the “Architectural Office” in the movie is actually a residence in Seaside’s Ruskin Place.
Beyond the borders
There are three state parks relatively close to Seaside. Grayton Beach State Park is considered one of Florida’s finest, featuring rolling sand dunes smothered with golden sea oats, white sandy beaches and pine flatwoods. Best of all, it’s only about two miles from Seaside — a flat, easy bike ride. Hop in the car to check out Eden State Garden, on the shores of Choctawhatchee Bay, and Topsail Hill State Preserve.
Don't miss ...
Sunsets on the ocean are incredible. Every evening at sundown, the venerable Bud & Alley’s, Seaside’s first restaurant, rings a bell to let you know it’s time to stop what you’re doing and enjoy the view. Don’t ignore it. Watching the colors change from melon, lime and pale yellow to fiery orange, cinnamon and indigo is relaxing and inspiring.
Checking in
Cottages are available that sleep up to 14 and range in price from $165 to $1,265 per night, depending on the size and time of year. Let the Seaside Cottage Rental Agency book one for you (1-800-277-8696) or go online for photos and virtual tours of the cottages (1-888-732-7433; www.seasidefl.com). Seaside also features one B&B, Josephine’s (1-800-848-1840; www.josephinesinn.com).
Eating out
Bud & Alley’s, a five-star restaurant with a rooftop bar facing the Gulf, offers killer views and soup, salad, pasta and grilled fish specials each evening. Try the tuna dip, a local favorite, to get things going (1-850-231-5900; www.budandalleys.com). Café Spiazzia is a casual joint dishing up pastas, seafood, sandwiches and pizza; try the Spiazzia White, topped with tomatoes, basil, onion, mozzarella and ricotta cheese (1-850-231-1297). For lunch, pick one of the 53 sandwich wraps at Roly Poly Rolled Sandwiches (1-850-231-3799).
Getting there
Seaside is about a 12-hour drive from Dallas. There are also numerous daily flights from Dallas to the confusingly named Okaloosa Regional/Fort Walton-Valparaiso Airport at Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, an hour’s drive from Seaside.
Melanie Radzicki Mcmanus is a Wisconsin freelance writer.