Submitted by a recent Grayt 30A Vacation Guest

A recent experience vacationing at Off The Bucket List in Seaside. 

Seaside is not the oldest but might be the most famous beach town along 30A. Throughout the years, it has become a bucket list item for a lot of people. Ironically, it turned out the home we stayed at was called Off the Bucket List. The home is filled with southern charm. It’s solidly built in the Victorian style, with an elegant interior decor and comfortable contemporary updates.  

Off the Bucket List has 4 bedrooms, 3 baths plus 2 half baths, in 3+ floors of living area.  It has plenty of interior space, 3 outdoor porches, 2 common rooms, and quiet corners where guests can carve out some space for a little time alone. A cozy 4th floor perch is a nice spot to see sunset skies over the Seaside roof-tops and the Gulf beyond. 

We found the house to be very clean, well-appointed, the beds comfy, and there are TV’s aplenty. Just bring beach towels and some extra kitchen trash bags. We brought a take-out dinner with us as well as breakfast items for the next morning. The grocery store is close but very busy on check-in day. We did our grocery shopping mid-day the following day.

The car was parked at the back entrance of the house but we used the front door for daily Seaside adventures. Our adult daughter had the first floor. She was working remotely, (just part-time, she had plenty of time to play), but I could see it being used as a quiet spot for the grandparents to enjoy. With the large living area, en-suite master and large shower, it is almost its own lovely apartment. 

The main living area is on the 2nd floor. It has a big, bright kitchen, well-stocked with cooking utensils, dishes and even a slow cooker. The counter space is generous and there is storage to stock pantry items. The lighting is really something in this home. A dining table, seating 10, is lit by a spectacular chandelier.  We made use of the kitchen seating and the porch for our meals, but the dining area is beautiful; a perfect setting for a holiday feast. You can spill out of the living room into a reading nook or onto the delightful porch which we absolutely loved. 

One side of the 3rd floor holds the larger, more romantic en-suite master with a spa-like bathroom and a sitting room nice for reading or watching your favorite show without distractions. This floor also has a queen bedroom and a bunk room for 4 that share a roomy jack and jill bath.  

Everyone really loved the location in Seaside. Wakulla Avenue is a quiet, shaded street facing the croquet lawn framed by the family pool, volleyball pit, and tennis. Sitting on the 2nd floor porch, expect to hear birds chirping and the laughter of people at play. Daily entertainment is provided by deer enjoying the lawn as well. The adult pool, the play area and the family pool are close neighbors. The “family pool” was especially nice for laps at the end of a day at the beach. It's an easy, shaded walk to the Seaside private beach and the stunning Gulf of Mexico. The Tupelo Pavilion is a nice spot to watch the sunset and/or sunrise show. A leisurely walk takes you to Central Square with wonderful shopping, dining and events and shows at the Rep theatre. Take the neighborhood paths between the cottages to get to the town square for a fun perspective of Seaside. 

Some of our favorite places:

On the way in or out of town try The Bay on 331 (Kelly Rolls at happy hour), 

The Great Southern (Grits a YaYa), Bud and Alleys (for sunset). We also go to Cafe 30A in Seagrove (seared Tuna…a family tradition), and take a daily trip to Black Bear for coffee. Favorite shops: Central Square Records and Sundog Books, The Art of Simple and all children want to get into Duckies. Have a field trip to Eden Gardens if you can. We were surprised by dolphins feeding in the bayou. This is just the tip of the sand dune. There’s plenty to do. You will not want. 

We had a great beach vacation in Seaside. And Off the Bucket List was a lovely home base.