Pacific Northwest Travel: Seabrook recreates old-school beach town vibes with a modern touch

Seabrook is the quintessential coastal beach town — the one we all grew up going to, at least in our dreams. But this Washington coast gem, located three hours from both Seattle and Portland, only feels like a centuries old enclave. This village was built in 2004 and curated to evoke nostalgia — and woo guests to the region.

Unlike its southern neighbor, Oregon, Washington State has not made much of its rugged Pacific coastline. Seeing a lack of oceanside getaways for state residents, Casey and Laura Roloff decided to build their own waterfront oasis using Seaside, Florida as a guide. (If you’ve seen “The Truman Show,” you’ve seen Seaside. The iconic 1998 Jim Carrey movie was filmed there.) The 2004 project was their second planned community in the Pacific Northwest; the first — Bella Beach — is on the Oregon coast.

Seabrook was painstakingly built to exude the coastal charm of historic beach towns in
America, while keeping sustainability and urbanism in mind. Every planning decision has a reason, from slowing traffic to make streets safe for play to building neighborhoods where everyone has a view of the water.

When you arrive, you’re greeted by a walkable town square flanked by East Coast-style buildings and an oversized beach chair — for photo ops, of course — beneath a gray and blue-hued sky (this is Washington, after all). It didn’t take long to be smitten by the beach town vibe. Shops cater to the ultimate summer vacation with a flair that feels at once family friendly and upscale. With 500+ homes tucked into nine micro-neighborhoods, the town welcomes full-time residents (mostly retirees), day trippers and, most notably, vacationers.

More than 275 of those properties — everything from stately compounds to colorful yet quaint homes — are available to rent and sleep anywhere from two to 24 guests. Outdoor sports courts, parks, biking and hiking trails are easily accessible. And you can explore everything else this walkable town has to offer—18 parks, an event space, boutique spa, fitness center, central amphitheater, outdoor firepits, sports and pickle ball courts (of course), an indoor pool, award-winning restaurants and plenty of shopping.

Among our favorites was the cozy Joie Des Livres: The Joy of Books, a two-story shop lined with
novels, books and knickknacks for all ages. A space in the back is set up for kids who want to
curl up with a book, while they wait for parents to shop. This is also the spot to grab games, puzzles and art supplies to enjoy throughout your stay.

The Salty Dog has everything needed to spoil Fido, PONDR caters to chic male clientele with a sense of style, Magnolias Boutique offers womens wear and Brooklets Toys fills its shelves with toys, games, puzzles and gifts you won’t find at your neighborhood Target.

Because the Roloffs have a hand in every decision made in Seabrook design, they ensure no two
shops are the same. This isn’t the town where you’ll find branded souvenirs in three buildings on
the same street; to cut down on competition, there’s only one of those, and it’s high end not
kitschy.

Walking the town is one of the best pastimes in Seabrook. There’s no shortage of things to do — and Olympic National Park is only a 45 minute drive away — but the allure of the stately Town Hall building, the larger-than-life Sasquatch statue and those ocean views are irresistible.

And when it comes to dining, the restaurants follow the same rules as retail businesses — no two are alike. Vista Bakeshop serves coffees and pastries, including cruffins which have people lining up around the block. For lunch, Rising Tide Tavern is American cuisine, heavy on seafood options, with a back patio perfect for people watching. For dinner, choose between the margarita and taco scene at Koko’s Restaurant & Tequila Bar or pizza at Frontager’s Pizza Co. & Social.

Adults will love The Stowaway Wine Bar, where fireside seats and hanging chandeliers create a distinctive ambiance for wine flights and charcuterie platters. And if you want to cook at home, head for Fresh Foods, the town’s 13,000-square-foot grocery store.

The weather is pleasant throughout the year, and each season has its own activities, which the concierge at the Seabrook real estate office can help arrange, from mushroom foraging in the fall to razor clam digging in winter and spring. Or you can simply DIY it: set out on a hiking trail on your own, check out a sunset concert or rent a SUP, kayak or surfboard. Surfing is a year round sport here, and the Pacific coastline promises large swells for enthusiasts.

Grab your family for a walk along the sandy beach (even in summer, temperatures are mild, which makes diving in a brave task), check out the old school arcade and stock up on specialty candies and fresh scoops of ice cream at The Sweet Life.

If you’re keen to leave Seabrook for an afternoon, you can explore some of the more notable attractions at Olympic National Park, such as Marymere Falls, Lake Quinault and the Hoh Rainforest, or visit the town of Forks, a mecca for “Twilight” fans. Each attraction is just 45 minutes to two hours away. And anglers can check out the fishing at the Wynoochee River, Lower Quinault River, Hoh River or Queets River.

Or simply kick back in Seabrook, a little slice of nostalgia on the Washington coast.

If You Go

Getting here: Seabrook is a 130-mile drive from Seattle airport; it’s 170 miles from Portland’s airport.

Vacation rentals: Book a vacation house and check out the town’s amenities, including shops and restaurants, at www.seabrookwa.com/.

Joie Des Livres: The Joy of Books: Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily at 216 Market St, Pacific Beach;
www.facebook.com/joiedeslivres.seabrook.

The Salty Dog: Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily at 215 S. Meriweather St., Pacific Beach; www.shopsaltydog.com.

PONDR: Open noon-5 p.m. daily at 207A Market St., Pacific Beach: www.pondrpnw.com.

Magnolias Boutique: Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, until 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 212 Market St., Pacific Beach, www.shopmagnolias.com.

Brooklets Toys: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at 208 Market St., Pacific Beach, www.facebook.com/brooklets.toys.

Vista Bakeshop: Open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. daily at 202 Meriweather St., Pacific Beach; www.vistabakeshop.com.

Rising Tide Tavern: Open for lunch and dinner daily, plus breakfast on weekends, at 223 Market St., Pacific Beach; www.risingtidetavern.com.

Koko’s Restaurant & Tequila Bar: Open for lunch and dinner daily, plus breakfast on weekends, at 5 W. Myrtle Lane, Pacific Beach; www.kokos-restaurant.com.

Frontager’s Pizza Co. & Social: Open for lunch and dinner daily at 21 Seabrook Ave., Pacific Beach; www.frontagerspizza.com.

The Stowaway Wine Bar: Open from noon-8 p.m. daily, until 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, at 203 Market St., Pacific Beach; www.thestowawaywinebarseabrookwa.com.

Fresh Foods: This market is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily at  224 Market St., Pacific Beach; www.freshfoodsmarketplace.com/seabrook-wa.
Open 8 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.

The Arcade: Open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily, until 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday at 16 Front St., Pacific Beach; www.seabrookwa.com.

The Sweet Life: Open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, until 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, at 215 S. Meriweather St.; Pacific Beach, www.sweetlifewa.com.

Olympic National Park: Find trail maps and park information at www.nps.gov/olym/