Back to the Beach

It's only been a week, but the zen-like days of sunshine seem like a long time ago.  Mr. Pressed Pants and I took a much deserved beach break and scooted down to Seaside, Florida for a week.  And it was PERFECT!

If you're not familiar with Seaside, click here and read about it.  For me, it's Fantasy Island, Nirvana, Disneyland, and Heaven all in one.  I. Just. Love. Seaside.  It's a planned community that celebrates the simple, good life.  It mimics a small town where you can walk to do everything and pass your friends along the way. 

 

The town is located on one side of 30A along the Gulf Coast. Then the beaches are across the street with nine pavilions that lead down to the pure white sugar-like sand.  Each pavilion is different and this was "ours".    

 

Doesn't this just beg you to hurry down and put your toes in the sand? 

It says "Hurry"!

Here's my own personal Cabana-Man!

 

Don't you just love what children leave behind? 

We had night after night..........

of perfect sunsets...........

 

and even one beautiful rainbow.

We had delicious beach food at Bud and Ally's which is always our first stop when we arrive.

And a lobster roll of your dreams at the Shrimp Shack.

And who wouldn't want to have Thanksgiving at Stinky's?

And then when we wanted to step things up a bit, we went to Alys Beach and ate at Caliza.  I did a post on Alys Beach the last time we were there.  See it here.  It's a stunning place and we loved it, but this time, Seaside was just what the doctor ordered.

 

(from Seaside.com)

The architecture is so special.  If you ever watched the move "The Truman Show", you'll know why they filmed it here.  It is so fresh and beautiful.  Lots of widow's walks, clapboard, and many, many porches.

 

(from Seaside.com)

There is a uniformity, but each house is different and has lots of unique characteristics, and lovely names 

I love this hot pink one!

And these brightly colored ones.

 

This is my favorite. 

 

 Look at the shape of those pillars. 

 

 See the three windows in the middle of the first floor?  They are concave!  Yep!  Just like a curved bay window, but backwards.  It made the porch so much bigger and prettier. And guess what?  All of the porch furniture was round, too.  Soooo cool.

I also drooled over this lattice on the side.  It's a good thing no one was at this cottage the week we were there, because I sort of stalked it.

 

And here's the charming little guest house that we rented.  It is called Moonlight Hug.  Don't you just love that?  Perfect for the two of us.

 

Every cottage is required to have a white picket fence around it, and each fence must be different from any other fence on that street.  That makes for some creative designs.  And any plantings must be indigenous to the area.

 

This photo makes me feel so good that I have made it my screen saver for my phone.  It gives me an immediate Calgon moment!

 

Linking To:

 

Oh! The Places I've Been

at

The Tablescaper

We've been to the Beach!!!!!!

The panhandle of Florida, that is, the Gulf of Mexico, was once known as "The Redneck Riviera", but my word, how that has changed!!!  These beaches have sugar-fine sand and crystal clear water and have sprouted some of the most beautiful and innovative beach communities.  There are still old beaches that have evolved into billboard laden areas full of fast food, but the area now boasts delightful and wonderful concept communities.  Our most recent find is Alys Beach. It calls itself the crown jewel of the Emerald Coast and I can't argue with that! As you travel down the Scenic Highway, 30-A, you know you're at Alys Beach when you meet these interesting structures.  

Then you enter the most interesting community with pristine manicured landscaping and a distinct Mediterranean feel. 

There is no arguing that it is total luxury.  The homes have the most awesome details and design.  They are all sparkling white and have been awarded the designation "fortified for safer living", due to the construction requirements.  This even qualifies them for special insurance rates.  That can only be a good thing at the beach, right? 

It is a green community with passive heating and cooling.

This was probably my favorite home.  That pale turquoise in the canvas awnings was echoed in a lot of the details of the house.  I had to give myself a real talking to in order not to window peek, I'll tell you!!!

The concept of New Urbanism is it's premise.  You can walk to all of the amenities.  What a beautiful walk it is, too!

Most of the homes have these rain chains to funnel the rain into useful areas.

All of the chimneys have different details and the facades are unique in every way. 

This is the most traditional home we saw.

I took so many photos of the wonderful details.  Love this fountain!!!

 I'm sure that it was not a surprise that this beautiful redbud tree was perfectly positioned to show off it's beauty against this wall.  The plants are all drought resistant native plants and flowers.

This is Lake Marilyn which graces the middle of the site.  This bridge is lit at night and is just magical.

Some of the fountains are unlike any I've ever seen.

This is the Calize pool and restaurant area.  This curtained area leads you into an area inspired by a Greek agora.  It is all paved by Dominican limestone and fitted with arched colonnades and so many interesting details.  We had such fine food and great service there.

Imagine the breeze blowing the canopy of these loungers.  I love the way the shadow of the palm tree is captured in the foreground here. 

These are the private cabanas.  I didn't get a picture of the incredible oval main pool.  There is also a lap pool and several decorative water features. 

 Mr. Pressed Pants especially loved these large driftwood equestrian statues.

Across the road, is the beach, and still more incredible architecture that left me speechless!

And the best part of all..........the pristine beach.  And I've got the sunburn to prove it!