Stay Seaside: Plan the Perfect Family Getaway at Seabrook

Home Away from Home

Finding that just-right beach cottage is the first step in planning your much-needed Seabrook vacay. Rentals are currently being accepted for 7-day stays only, so you'll have plenty of time to relax and explore the area. Plus, steps have been taken to ensure guests' health and safety, both in their rentals and around town, in accordance with the Governor's phased reopening and CDC guidelines. All that's left to get things started is narrowing choices so what you end up with is exactly what your family needs. Seabrook’s got pet-friendly cottages, cottages with ocean views and each one has different perks, like bicycles guests can use, hot tubs for soaking or gas grills for a summer BBQ, that make this an oh-so-easy place to stay with kids. Plus, each cottage’s distinct personality, with cheeky names to match like "Tide Together,” “When Pigs Fly,” "Cape Escape," and "Fleur de Sea," add that homey feel that’s comforting and familiar.

Finding the Right Cottage

While you’re browsing through the cottages, be sure to check the floor plan and pictures carefully. We noticed loft bedrooms accessed by ladders on some rentals that wouldn’t work well for the tot lot, but would be awesome for grade schoolers. Finding your cabin on the property map is also a good idea, as some of the development is under construction. Plus, based on what your kiddos love (think: the beach or playground vs. walking trails), you may want to be closer to one part of town over another. But then again one of Seabrook’s perks is its walkability. Getting from point A to point B is usually just a 5-minute stroll from your place.

Beach Play

Once you've booked a cottage, it’s time to figure out what to do when you get there. Seabrook’s big draw is definitely its expansive Pacific Ocean shoreline. It’s the pristine beach Seattle families long for (sorry, Golden Gardens and Alki), with soft sand that was made for sculpting sandcastles, digging trenches and building dams. Even after spending the whole day beachin’ it, we’re sure you will want to come back for even more beach adventures day after day.

Kites, Cars and More

Beyond building sandcastles, you’ll find plenty of wide-open spaces to fly a kite or watch others practicing with their stunt kites and other wind-powered devices. Bring a ball to kick around or remote controlled cars to race up and down the smooth beach sand. We’re pretty sure they’ll run out of batteries before they run out of shoreline. If seafood is your thing, you can also clam on the beach for razors, depending on the season. Then bring them home for a big clambake dinner with your crew. Don’t forget your license for this one!

Ride On!

The beach is also where you can take advantage of the rentals at Buck’s Bikes in town (if you don’t feel like schelping bikes from home). Stop in before you hit the beach for bikes of every shape and size, including trailers for the Littles. You can rent them in 2-hour windows or for a little more, claim it as yours for the day. Then, hit the beach for some fat tire sand time. Buck’s also rents bodyboards and Seabrook is a primo spot to check out this sport if you and your minis haven’t already.

Beyond the Beach

Editor's note: the indoor pool is currently closed.
If your minis get tired of the beach or the copious amounts of sand in their shorts, there’s plenty more recreating where that came from. The indoor pool is a good spot on an overcast or rainy summer day, or in the evening if you need a place to wear out the tiny tots, but don’t want to get all sandy again before bedtime. The Pallette by the Sea provides another option for families looking to keep kids occupied if it’s rainy (Pacific Northwest life truth) or even too sunny for your Seattle sidekick. Currently, they're offering craft kits for curbside pick up. Take and make is the way to play on this vacay. Plus, If you need something else to keep the kids busy, Booklets Toys or Joie De Livre: The Joy of Books both offer curbside options on toy or book pick-up.

Around the Town

Simply wandering around town is another surprisingly great activity. Most guests and residents park their cars when they arrive and don’t get back in them until they’re heading out of town. Because the streets aren’t busy, you’ll spy plenty of families cruising the streets on bikes or scooters or just out walking, taking in the sights. On the far end of town (near the Farm District) is where you will find a playground with a speedy zip line and a basketball court that caters to the minis, with a super-low hoop where your little baller can practice dunking. The dog park is right across the street, too.

Enjoy the Simple Things

A network of walking and biking trails winds through the town as well, and while these trails will get you from here to there, they’re also fun to wander on their own. Downed trees, rickety bridges and some hidden Seabrook gnomes make this a magical way to find the playground or head back to your cottage after playtime. The two main parks in Seabrook have volleyball, badminton, horseshoes and even shuffleboard for anyone to use. If the equipment isn’t out at the park, just stop by Buck’s to get what you need. And don't forget to pack the s'mores makings. Seabrook has two large and four small fire pits around the property---perfect for marshmallow roasting or just hanging around at the end of the day.

Foodie Finds

When it comes to eats, there are plenty to choose from, even in corona times. Since each cottage comes with a kitchen, usually stocked with most everything you need to make a meal and serve it, you can definitely bring food from home and cook it there. And if you forgot anything or didn’t feel like dragging an ice-laden cooler in your family truckster, you can rely on the Front Street Market to fill in the gaps. They're open seven days a week if you want to head in, but they also offer curbside and delivery options. This is where you can find those personal items that always seem to run out when you need them, like sunscreen and wipes. If the campfire is more your style, bring your ‘mallows to one of the fire pits scattered throughout the town for a post dinner roasting session with the kids. But if taking a vacay from your regular culinary routine is what you’re looking for, Seabrook’s got you covered when it comes to nosh-worthy restaurants.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

The Red Velvet Bakery… by the Sea is bustling on weekend mornings with families ordering up pastries, breakfast sandwiches and morning lattes before heading out to the beach. It’s the go-to spot if you need to quell a sweet tooth attack. Trust us, their ginormous maple glazed doughnuts, scones, cupcakes and cookies (baked on site daily) are as good as they look. (Psst... try the Red Velvet doughnut. You can thank us later!) Just across the street is where you will find Sweet Life, the cutest little ice cream and candy shop you've ever seen, with curbside options through May. They make small batch, organic ice cream that holds its own against anything you’d find in the big city, and we couldn’t think of a better way to cool down on a hot sunny summer afternoon than with a big scoop of your favorite flavor. They also have homemade ice cream sandwiches to go (drool much?) an array of old-school and retro candy and bean-to-bar chocolates (be sure to ask for the seafoam). If you’re thinking dessert with an ocean view, we’re right there with you.

When it comes to lunch and dinner, there are two spots, both super family-friendly, to sit and nosh. Frontager’s Pizza Co. is the happening pizza joint in town. It’s a serious pie house serving up gourmet, brick-oven Northwest-style pizza, salads, Italian sodas and to-die-for gelato. Take-out is the way it works here, nowadays, with to-go hours seven days a week. Koko's Restaurant is the other option to consider if cooking isn't on your menu. They're open for take-out Thursdays and Fridays, from 5-8 p.m. and Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from noon until 8 p.m.