“It feels like a movie set.” That’s how our server described Seabrook during our first family meal in town — and he’s right.
It’s my first time “on set” in Seabrook, and I could already tell the Sound Department and Lighting Crew were hard at work. The July sun filtered through soft clouds to put our table of 8 in the patio spotlight, with the distant roar of the ocean as a soundtrack to our meal. The Set Design? Top-notch. Towering wind-sculpted trees added drama to the endless coastal views.
For one dreamy weekend, we got to play the lead characters in our very own Seabrook story.
The Town
Comparisons to “The Truman Show” or Wisteria Lane are easy to spot upon arrival in Seabrook, Washington. The streets are meandering and tidy, lined with picket fences and crushed oyster shell paths. The beach cottages are shingled to perfection. Each house is distinct in color and design, but the overall effect is beachcore harmony. And don’t get me started on the names. This is Pacific pun paradise, with cottage names like Beachy Keen, O’ceananigans, and Whale Hello There.
Everything I’d been told about Seabrook is true: quaint, picturesque, walkable. My Seattle cynicism expected the town to feel a bit contrived, but it just felt… wholesome. The kind of place I could let my 4-year-old sprint out of earshot and cherish that freedom for him, instead of the stress it would bring me in the city.
Seabrook celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024. It’s a young 20, with obvious signs of growth ahead: construction sites and expansion plans scattered about the area. It’s also a timeless 20, with a real sense of identity. Seabrook is carved from a stunning portion of Washington’s coast, and you can see how the town’s aesthetic aims to honor its surroundings.
The Town Center is a few blocks of cute cafes, restaurants, a sweets shop, themed boutiques, and at the hub of it all is Fresh Foods Market. On the first level, the Market features fresh flowers and produce, an impressive meat and seafood display, some ready-made picnic fare, and shelves of coffee and wine. The ice cream and s’mores stuff are also conveniently placed at kid eye-level. Upstairs, the shelves are neatly stocked and packed with anything you’d need, and the prices are on par with Seattle.
The town has a make-your-own candle shop, several boutiques filled with apparel and nautical knick-knacks, and the beautifully designed Joie De Livres, an independent book and gift shop with an upstairs reading nook and adorable kid-sized cranny for the little ones.
PHOTOS | Tour ‘Joie De Livres,’ a darling bookshop in Seabrook
Brooklet Toys is another kiddo favorite, and for the kids-at-heart, cross the street to Basecamp for all of your outdoor adventure needs. That’s where we picked up two hefty e-bikes that became a trip favorite for my brother-in-law and teenage niece and nephew. They saw a whole new side of Seabrook (and even deer!) as they powered across paths and winding streets.
Basecamp has a ton of outdoor gear you can rent or purchase, like the bikes, paddleboards, and surfboards. It also has a great collection of PNW surf styles to shop for all ages.
Anchored Soul
There are 550+ houses spread across Seabrook, and we landed in the perfect home for us. My parents had been to Seabrook once before and suggested staying near the town center. We only used the car once all weekend (for an ethereal drive on the beach), and soaked in the rest of Seabrook by foot, e-bike, or in-town taxi.
Our house, Anchored Soul, offered more than a good location. It offered intention. The name alone evoked a sense of calm. The space was warm, personal and well-equipped. A welcome binder shared stories from the homeowners, and a guestbook invited us to add our own chapter.
My parents settled into the main-floor suite. Downstairs also included a modern kitchen, large dining table, living room, and a big yet confusing TV that we needed the tech-savvy teens to figure out. The rest of us claimed the upstairs. The teenagers fit comfortably with their little cousin in the sailor-themed kids’ quarters, complete with double bunk beds and a boatload of toys. I snagged the media room with a Queen sleeper sofa (and retro Nintendo games). My sister and brother-in-law enjoyed the upstairs primary suite that included a darling balcony with ocean views. There’s a large hot tub in the backyard, but my favorite feature was out front, with an ample set of bright red Adirondack chairs. It unlocked a life goal for me to have a covered porch someday with identically cheerful chairs.
Being near the town center gave us a lot of flexibility — family walks into town and forgotten items retrieved in minutes. But every Seabrook neighborhood has its perks. Whether you want to be near the heated outdoor pool, the stables, or a fire pit, you can’t go wrong. Many homes are pet-friendly, and nothing is more than a 20-minute walk away.
Our Itinerary
We kept our plans light: beach day, a few meals out, a Friday night concert, and the town’s 21st Annual Founders Day Celebration. The rest unfolded naturally.
Our sunny welcome on Thursday gave way to a drizzly Friday morning and we debated delaying our beach plans, but I’m so glad we didn’t. Instead of tackling the dramatic staircase down to Seabrook’s beach, we drove a short distance to Pacific Beach, where you can pull right onto the compact sand. Misty, moody, and magical — it was one of my favorite beach days ever.
My son wasted no time digging into nature’s sandbox while my parents disappeared into the fog searching for shells and sand dollars. We had books and blankets, snacks and Smashball (shout-out to my mom’s dive for the ball!); it was a smashing day with our feet in the sand.
When my son needed water for his moat, we walked hand-in-hand to fill his bucket with pure Pacific Ocean, and guess what? I found a perfectly intact sand dollar right in our path, filling my inner bucket in the process. My parents were even more prosperous, returning with $11 in sand dollars.
We spent the rest of our time flying a kite, eating gourmet popcorn and watching seagulls squabble over our dropped bites.
Back at Anchored Soul, we devoured homemade BLTs, wandered back into town, and capped the night at the Sunset Amphitheater to catch Atari Ferrari playing the Seabrook Sunset Concert series. My son, never the shy one, noticed a group of kids playing near the stage and raced off to join them. He eventually returned with a new friend to share a snack and his camping chair for the rest of the concert. The boys even shared the same first name. When it came time to say goodbye, they hugged and the older, wiser 6-year-old earnestly said to my 4-year-old, “I will always remember you for the rest of my life.” Maybe it was the salty ocean air, but my eyes got a little misty.
The next day, we utilized Seabrook’s in-town taxi for a fun cart ride to Meadowview Park for the Founders Day festival. There was a giant bouncy house, lawn games, another talented live band – and LO and BEHOLD – our little friend from the night before! The sweet buddies were reattached at the hip, playing games and chase, climbing and swinging. These vacation moments were everything I wanted for my son: less of me saying “No” and more saying, “Go!”
Also, one more athletic shout-out to my mom, who is apparently sneaky good at Cornhole.
After the festival, we made our way back to Town Center in time for the Seabrook Saturday Market, which was loaded with local vendors. It was the farm-fresh cherry on top of an endearing day. We popped into Rising Tides Tavern for a tasty late lunch, followed by a perfectly lazy evening wandering new corners of Seabrook and finally relaxing at home base.
The Food
If there’s one thing about my family, we’re gonna eat well. My mom and sister are culinary queens, so it was no surprise they came stocked with supplies for a bountiful breakfast spread, hearty lunch and snacks, and outstanding grilled salmon dinner. But even these hostesses with the mostesses deserve a break, and this is vacation, after all, so we took full advantage of the Seabrook dining options in town.
Frontager’s Pizza Co. set the tone on our first night with a smattering of brick-oven, artisanal pizzas that arrived surprisingly fast and disappeared just as quickly.
Our most frequent stop was The Sweet Life. It’s the only place in town where we encountered lines, and it’s easy to see why. The shop is lined wall-to-wall with colorful and nostalgic candy. While you marvel at the assortment, start deciding on your flavor of locally-made small-batch ice cream. Rotating flavors like Kentucky Pie, Root Beer Float and non-dairy sorbets warrant a daily visit during your stay.
Our winner for best views and plating goes to Koko’s – a Mexican Restaurant and Tequila Bar that just opened a 2nd location on Seattle’s Capitol Hill. We opted for brunch at Koko’s and our eyes had as much of a feast as our tummies.
The dishes were beautiful, from the unique Carnitas Benedict served on a tortilla crisp to the whopping French Toast and pancakes smothered in whipped cream and fresh fruit.
For lighter fare, Vista Bakeshop is a must-stop in town. The Guava Coconut Cream Cheese Scone is a standout on the menu, and my iced Americano hit just right.
Why Seabrook?
During our trip, Grandpa gave my 4-year-old son the nickname “Mr. Why” due to his incessant curiosity about our new surroundings. So in the spirit of Mr. Why, here’s a rapid-fire take on why this seaside gem is worth a visit.
Why the Washington coast? Staggering natural beauty, remote but accessible, slow-paced but not sleepy.
Why stay near town? Great for first-timers, spontaneity, and easy ice cream runs.
Why pack layers? Because gray-sky beach days are secretly the best ones.
Why Seabrook? Because even the skeptics leave as converts.
Sea You Soon
We departed with inside jokes, new core memories, a little sand in our shoes, and a lot of gratitude.
Seabrook might feel like a movie set, but Anchored Soul gave us something real: the time and space to be fully cast in each other’s lives.
And yes, we’re already planning the sequel.
Learn more about Seabrook, Washington here!
Jennifer King is the Managing Editor for Seattle Refined. Thanks to Seabrook Hospitality and team for the invitation and accommodations. While a generous portion of our visit was provided without charge, the opinions within are those of the author and the Seattle Refined editorial board.
