Don’t Wait for Summer: Seabrook Shines in the Off-Season

When those January blues hit in the Pacific Northwest, I have one persistent thought: A trip to the coast would cure me. With its sweeping views of the ocean, charming cliffside houses and quaint shops, I set my sights on Seabrook.

Staying at Seabrook has honestly been on my vacation bucket list for five years. I first stopped by the coastal town with my husband and in-laws on a trip to Ocean Shores, spending an afternoon admiring those beautiful homes and cliffside views. I had a feeling it would be the perfect spot for a family vacation. As it turns out, I was right.

A walkable community and family-friendly destination

A lot has changed at Seabrook in the past few years. It’s grown intentionally into a lively community with expanded neighborhoods, new shops and restaurants in the town center, and plenty of ways for families to spend a weekend (or longer!).

Even with Seabrook’s expansion, you can get from one place to another in Seabrook in a 15-minute walk or less (but give yourself 20 if you have little legs walking next to you). Both indoor and outdoor activities abound. And homebodies rejoice: There are plenty of ways to enjoy the rental house, too.

Tip: If you’re staying during the weekend, be sure to get the code for the Seabrook Town Taxi and download the app. You can book a free ride between attractions (and save yourself from hearing, “My legs are tired!” a few times, like I did).

Indoor things to do in Seabrook

There’s no denying that the weather in January in the Pacific Northwest calls for indoor activities, even during a beach vacation. While we lucked out with sunny, clear blue skies on our weekend in Seabrook, the chilly breeze pushed us inside for a few meals, games and shopping.

Try new foods at kid-friendly restaurants

There are a handful of restaurants and cafés in Seabrook’s town center, and trying new foods is easily one of my favorite parts of vacation. We made the town center our first stop, stretching our legs after a few hours in the car before landing on a patio lunch at Frontager’s Pizza Company, where we could enjoy the unexpected sunshine and dine with our sweet golden retriever by our side.

I am still craving another slice of the pickle pizza (trust me!), but the steak tacos at Koko’s Restaurant I had later on did not disappoint either. My daughter led her own weekend quest to find Seabrook’s best chicken nuggets (Rising Tide Tavern took an early lead; Frontager’s strength is, of course, pizza), but she took a break to enjoy the quesadilla, rice and beans from the kids menu at Koko’s. One of the benefits of visiting during the off-season: There was never a long wait for a table.

We also made not one, but two stops at The Sweet Life for scoops of ice cream. The cute shop has candy galore, along with rotating flavors of ice cream. (While you’re there, pick up some saltwater taffy for the drive home!)

Fresh Foods Market also had a great selection of groceries and grab-and-go items, perfect for meals back at our rental house.

Battle it out at the Seabrook Arcade

Kids (and kids at heart) will not be able to resist the ’80s-inspired arcade at Seabrook. My daughter and husband were so enthralled, I probably could have slipped away from the arcade and read the rom-com novel I (optimistically) packed while they played nearly every game in the place. But, to be honest, I also couldn’t resist a round or two of Space Invaders and a play-til-you-win claw game.

You can buy a reloadable arcade card at the entrance, and then swipe it to play each game. We found the prices to be reasonable, and racked up enough points for some extra prizes at the end of the night. My tip: Snag a $1 fortune from Zoltar on your way out the door.

Browse shops and make your own souvenir

There are many shops along the streets of Seabrook’s town center, and I could’ve spent a full day hopping from boutique to boutique. But with a 4-year-old by my side, I stuck to ones that we both would love.

We started our mercantile morning at Lorraine’s Candle Studio, where we made our very own candle. The lovely shop employees first directed us to the wall of scented candles, where we sniffed our way to our favorite ones. They helped us narrow down our options, holding bottles of our favorite scents together to see how the final candle would smell. We poured the wax for a lavender and moonflower combination that is now a delight to light at home.

Our other two stops were kid favorites: Brooklets Toys and Joie Des Livres bookstore. Brooklets Toys offered a whimsical selection of toys, from glow-in-the-dark treasures to sparkly costumes and charming musical instruments. The kite selection is top-notch, and my daughter picked out one with a pink unicorn on it to take to the beach.

At Joie Des Livres, my daughter tucked into a reading nook and flipped through the pages of “Good Night Seattle,” while I picked out a beautifully illustrated children’s book to bring home for bedtime.

Take a swim break in the indoor pool

What vacation would be complete without time in the pool? Seabrook has both indoor and outdoor options for a swim, but the indoor one is most appealing this time of year. It’s a short walk from the town center, at the south end of Crescent Park. It is nice and balmy inside, and the water is 84 degrees. If you want an even warmer dip in the water, the hot tub is 104 degrees. Towels are provided, but you’ll need to bring your own life vests and small pool toys if desired. An access code for the indoor pool is shared at check-in.

Outdoor activities for families

I know, I know. I’ve already mentioned we lucked out with sunshine on our trip. It’s not always the case in January along the coast, but I still would’ve pushed my family outside even had it been cloudy or rainy. There’s just so much to do.

Brave the outdoor pool

The outdoor saltwater pool was closer to our Seabrook rental, and we braved it on a sunny morning. The water is 87 degrees — slightly warmer than the indoor pool, but those extra few degrees are needed when a chilly breeze comes through. We loved being in the water, but the few steps from the pool to our towels was a chilling journey.

There are a couple of warmer ways to enjoy the outdoor pool and spa: The hot tub is kept at 104 degrees here too, and there is even a cedar barrel sauna (for ages 16 and older).

Explore the parks and playgrounds

Seabrook boasts more than 20 parks, ranging from pocket parks to larger parks with open space and lawn games. You may stumble upon a bocce ball court by chance like we did, or you can be more proactive and rent lawn games and other equipment from The Dugout at the outdoor pool and fitness center.

There are two playgrounds in Seabrook. Kucera Park Playground is near the town center, making it a perfect first stop to let the kids stretch their legs after a long car ride, or even as a last stop to get the wiggles out. Or anytime, honestly, to just enjoy the ocean view.

Alderwood Playground has more ways to play, from swings and slides to monkey bars and a zip line. It’s near the Farm District, meaning you can pair playtime with the chance to watch the horses out in the pasture. You might even see chickens and ducks!

Take a hike (or bike)

One of the highlights of our trip was walking the Gnome Trail down to the beach. Tucked behind the Old Stump, the trail is home to small fairy houses, gnomes and other mythical creatures. Families are even encouraged to make and leave their own gnome house — just be sure to only use natural materials! My daughter loved stepping just off the trail to peek under branches and into stumps, looking for evidence of gnomes. A ship made of bark and seashells was my favorite find.

Additional hiking trails range from easy to moderate, and outdoorsy families can map out quite the adventure. There are mountain biking trails too, and families can rent bikes from Basecamp on Front Street (or bring their own!). We are not quite a mountain biking family, but we brought my daughter’s balance bike and had a fun morning letting her test it out on the street outside our rental house.

Comb the beach

More than once during our weekend stay, we found ourselves taking the steep steps down to the gorgeous beach. From just digging in the sand to flying kites and combing the beach for sand dollars, it was easy to spend a few hours here. In the evenings, we saw families on the hunt for razor clams (you can get a license and rent clamming equipment from Basecamp). We also stuck around for a gorgeous beach sunset on our last night.

Seabrook rentals

Amenities and features vary between homes, but families have more than 300 vacation homes to choose from at Seabrook.

When I asked my daughter to tell me her favorite thing about Seabrook, she didn’t hesitate to exclaim, “The bunk beds!” Indeed, we all loved different elements of our rental home, Wildwood. Tucked on a quiet street, we could roast marshmallows in the fire pit, dip in the hot tub and gaze at the stars in the clear night sky. There was a small box of toys for my daughter to play with, plenty of family-friendly games, and even pet-friendly touches like a mat for dinner time and a towel to wipe off wet paws. I didn’t feel guilty about spending a slow morning in the house instead of rushing to start the day; after all, it was part of the appeal of a Seabrook vacation.

Our three-day itinerary

With so much to do in Seabrook, it’s easy to fill a long weekend with different activities. I imagine every stay can be different, and it’s easy to tailor an itinerary to your family’s interests. I’m already planning our next trip, which will likely look a little something like this:

Day one

• Arrive by noon: Skip the evening traffic and get an early head start to get to Seabrook by midday.
• Let the little ones stretch with a playground romp: Kucera Park offers coastal views and a mini playground to get some wiggles out after a couple of hours in the car.
• Grab a bite to eat: Might I recommend the Pickle Pie from Frontager’s?
• Walk down to the beach: Walk along the seashell-lined path, then down the wooden stairs to the beach. You’ll see driftwood, sand dollars, seashells and an enthusiastic dog or two.
• Pick up groceries: It’s completely reasonable to pack a cooler of groceries and bring those to your vacation home, but you can also stop at Fresh Foods Market for the essentials (and a few specialty items). Marshmallows, chocolate, graham crackers and firewood topped our list.
• Check in on Front Street: Regardless of which vacation home you choose, check-in happens at 4 p.m. at the Guest Services Office, located at 301 Front St., right in town.
• Explore the rental: Take your groceries, luggage and enthusiastic kids to the rental home to explore. There might be bunk beds, arcade games or even a hot tub!
• Make dinner (or order takeout): Both options are valid.
• End the night with s’mores and stargazing: If your vacation home has a fire pit, this is what it’s for!

Day two

• Dip in the pool: After a leisurely morning and breakfast at home, take your pick of the indoor or outdoor pool.
• Take a town tour: If any of your vacation days happen between Wednesday and Saturday, book a spot for the 11 a.m. town tour. You’ll learn a few fascinating tidbits about Seabrook’s history.
• Grab lunch in town: After your tour wraps up, take your pick of tacos, pizza, sandwiches and more from one of the town center restaurants.
• Make a candle at Lorraine’s: Just remember to pick it up later in the day or before you leave; it takes two hours to set!
• Take the gnome trail to the beach: The magical trail starts behind the Old Stump. Keep an eye out for fairies and friends.
• Fly kites on the beach: The windy coast makes for perfect kite flying conditions.
• Wind down with board games: Trek back to the house, make another delicious dinner in the kitchen and wind down with a game or two. Our favorite: Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza.

Day three

• Treat yourself to a pastry: Walk into town for a morning caffeine boost and fresh-baked treat from Vista Bakeshop.
• Prepare for checkout: Checkout is 11 a.m., and you’re responsible for emptying trash and recycling, running the dishwasher, and staring wistfully at your vacation home after you’ve locked the door for the final time.
• Get the last of the wiggles out: You can linger in town or on the beach after checkout (we certainly did). Just plan for a final stop at the playground to let the kids burn off some energy before the drive back home.

Editor’s note: This trip was hosted by Seabrook, but all opinions expressed here belong to the writer.