Seaside Spotlight
A picture of New Urbanism, this small beach town is the quintessence of 30A

White picket fences line the sidewalks of the small, walkable Seaside community. A quaint downtown post office greets visitors with its bright red door. A nearby ice cream parlor beckons. Beach house porches face their counterparts across the street, fostering neighborly catch-ups over coffee.
Robert and Daryl Davis dreamed up this picturesque town back in 1980 when they looked out over 80 acres of family land in Santa Rosa Beach. A year later, their vision became reality and the birthplace of New Urbanism, a movement in urban development influenced by desires for a slower, more connected lifestyle.

In the early 1980s, the Davis family brought to the Emerald Coast a vision for community. Seaside founders Daryl (center) and Robert (right) raised son Micah (left) in their picturesque town. Photo courtesy of SEASIDE®
Southeastern vacationers traveled to Seaside to unplug, ride bicycles around Ruskin Place Park and dip into the Gulf Coast’s emerald waters. In 1998, Seaside’s idyllic allure came alive in technicolor, reaching worldwide audiences as The Truman Show’s fictional town, Seahaven. Mike Ragsdale, founder of The 30A Company and resident since 2005, attributes the appeal to one word: design.
“The environment blessed us with natural design,” Ragsdale said. “Then, instead of building a 30-story tower with a pool, parking lot and miniature golf course, Robert Davis tried something radically different. His vision set the tone.
“The beach is the same 60 miles in either direction, but because of Davis, we are amid this flip-flop renaissance where people are creating businesses, pop-up events, music, art, food — we are designing the life we all want to live.”
Ragsdale’s iconic blue and yellow 30A stickers adorn bumpers all around Seaside where height restrictions cap buildings at four stories and five state parks and forests surround the town. Here, the urban bustle becomes a carefree amble as families ride bicycles to Modica Market for a cup of coffee and homemade pastries before popping next door to Sundog Books to grab a beach read.

Bud & Alley’s. Photo courtesy of SEASIDE®
The sense of community still reverberates throughout Seaside’s shops and restaurants, many of which, like Bud & Alley’s, have been there since the beginning. An avid surfer, Dave Rauschkolb fell in love with the crystal-clear waters, soft white beaches and Seaside’s small-town charm. At just 24 years old, he opened his flagship restaurant with former partner Scott Witcoski because he believed in Davis’ plan for the town. Now he helms six restaurants on 30A, including Bud & Alley’s, Taco Bar, and Pizza Bar, all in Seaside. He and business partner Phil McDonald opened a third Black Bear Bread Co. location adjacent to Seaside Town Center in 2022, so their popular pastries and perfectly proofed loaves are now just a stroll away.
Susan Benton, local artist and writer, cites Bud & Alley’s as the iconic Seaside spot to visit. “You can usually find me eating the smoked tuna dip with lavash, sipping a cocktail, waiting for the bartender to ring the bell signaling sunset,” she said. “It’s the best view in town.”
Downstairs at Pizza Bar and Taco Bar, visitors can grab casual beach bites in an open-air atmosphere. Next door is Daytrader Tiki Bar & Restaurant where guests can “trade a day at the office for a day at the beach,” and sip on tropical cocktails served in whimsical glassware and enjoy tiki-inspired bites like spam musubi or tuna crispy rice.

Daytrader Tiki Bar & Restaurant. Photo courtesy of SEASIDE®
Neighboring Bud & Alley’s sits a rotating pop-up market featuring artisans, independent manufacturers and crafters stocking unique gifts, beach-inspired clothing, jewelry, shoes, hats and more. Just behind Pickle’s, a longtime favorite burger and shake spot, sits Sandbar, a popular new spot for a “toes in the sand, cocktail in hand” experience.
A day in Seaside would not be complete without a visit to Airstream Row where they serve everything from green smoothies to barbecue to portable frozen rosé concoctions. Behind the food trucks, the amphitheater hosts regular events and performances. On Saturdays, 30A’s longest-running farmers market takes over the amphitheater from
9 a.m.–1 p.m.
After some shopping, refuel at Great Southern Café. Chef Jim Shirley has served the king and queen of Spain his Southern fare, cooked at the James Beard House and opened many restaurants from Pensacola to 30A. The 100-year-old house is home to Shirley’s famous Shrimp and Grits Á Ya Ya. His breakfast menu features eggs Benedict five ways, including a fried green tomato Benedict. But Shirley’s personal favorite is the Soul Rolls — a blend of collards and chicken encased in a crispy wrap, pickled peach chutney mounded on the side and zesty Creole horseradish mustard ribbons.

The family-owned, independent Sundog Books dates back to the early years of Seaside and stocks shelves with everything from beach reads to literary classics. Upstairs, Central Square Records keeps in tune, delivering a vinyl selection of indie, rock, pop and more. Photo courtesy of SEASIDE®
Creating the pedestrian-only semicircle on either side of Great Southern are longtime businesses like the Mercantile, Art of Simple, Fusion Art Glass, Sundog Books and Central Square Records. There, shoppers can find local art, locally made candles, new and used vinyls, stacks of books and boutique designer clothing. The ice cream parlor still anchors the circle, but now It’s Heavenly gelato shop joins the crowd. Ruskin Place Park now has a slew of independent shops and art galleries surrounding its graceful oaks.
Even when its streets fill with ambling visitors, Seaside maintains that nostalgic appeal. As the world keeps moving faster, Seaside remains a town where you can hop on a bicycle, mail a postcard from the town center, and as Ragsdale said, enjoy a slice of paradise unlike anywhere else on Earth.