Exploring Our Own Backyard - Seabrook on a Budget
SEABROOK is special. In a way that leaves you in awe as you drive in to the whimsical community along Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula. Tucked in nature and resting along the ocean, Seabrook was founded in 2004 by Casey and Laura Roloff. This charming little town has so many unique touches that have you feeling like you’re on a movie set. A tree lined trek off the 101 feels like a road to nowhere. Once you hit the sign for Seabrook, that road begins to widen and reveal a miraculous sight. Families venturing down to the water, through the elderly trees bordering the beach. The street lamps are designed to be lower than your average street lamp, which tricks the human eye to feel as though you are in a quaint setting and encourages drivers to slow down while navigating through town. Being an incredibly dog-friendly community, you will likely cross paths with several pup pals. If you bring your furry bff there is a dog park located along the walking paths of homes, and a lengthy stretch of beach for them to frolic and live their best lives, but come prepared with towels!
Getting in some good quality family time away from work, the laundry, the mountain high dishes, and the self expectation that we can’t sit down because there’s too much to get accomplished, is crucial. Especially around the holidays when it’s become less relaxing and joyful and more chaotic and taxing. One of the most challenging parts, for many, is how to financially plan for a family getaway while also budgeting for gifts or additional holiday travel. But it can be done if you choose your destination wisely. A quiet place to rest your weary self, while also getting outdoors for fresh, rejuvenating air, and a place where there are ample free or low cost activities for the whole family…. welcome to Seabrook!
Just a couple of hours from Seattle, our family escaped to Seabrook for a long weekend, including Brutus, our 5 year old lab. We stayed in a section of Seabrook called “Beach Camp” which houses several quaint cabins similar to tiny homes. The cabin we stayed in, Seastar Gazer, has a ladder access loft with twin beds for the kids, a kitchen supplied with appliances and basic necessities, a washing machine, and a small fenced back yard complete with a hot tub!
Beach Camp is conveniently located near a community dog park and close to the beautiful Farm District where you can walk along the farm property, spot some chickens, horses, and most likely the roaming group of ducks that make their way around.
A brief walk in to town will take you to shops, restaurants, a wine bar, and Buck’s Northwest rentals where you can rent bikes, sign up for lessons or adventures!
Seabrook is a fantastic destination for when you just need to get away! There are year round seasonal activities and can accommodate various groups, whether you’re looking for a girls weekend, guys weekends, family vacation or extended family reunion getaway.
MAKE IT A BUDGET FRIENDLY GETAWAY!
Take advantage of the vast array of free or low cost activities in Seabrook!
Hot cocoa on the beach to watch a sunrise or sunset
Indoor swimming pool
Fireside hang time! S’mores, cocoa, blankets and lots of laughs!
Build a Gnome House and walk the forest to see other gnome houses scattered about
Take a scenic drive around the Olympic Peninsula
Beachcombing
Watch the stormy waves on the beach
Rent cruiser bikes from Buck’s Northwest or bring your own bikes and go for a ride around town or at the beach
Pick up some sweet treats from Sweet Life Ice Cream & Candy Shop and have a movie night in
Take advantage of your rental property’s kitchen - Bring your own fixins for a taco bar or build your own pizza night and enjoy making dinner together
Let your pup run on the beach and play in the sand
Choose a rental property that has a hot tub so you can warm up after some play time on the beach!
Bring a couple canvases and paints and use Seabrook’s beautiful scenery as inspiration for a painting
Day Trip
There is a lot to do and see in Seabrook and along the way. Only 2.5 hours from Seattle, you can visit Seabrook as a day trip.
Off Season
Best rates can usually be found during Seabrook's off-peak season - search for dates in January, the last week in February, and the first two weeks in March.
House-pool
You can rent one of the larger houses and split the cost with another family / friends. Many of the houses can sleep 10+ guests.
Rental Dining
The best part about having a vacation rental at Seabrook is that you have a full-sized kitchen. Stock up on groceries before you leave and you can eat in. They have so many great restaurants that you may be tempted to eat out every night, but you can save some $ by supplementing the restaurant experience with traditional at home cooking.
Affordable Shopping
The shops have reasonable, unique gifts, and you are contributing to the growing and thriving Seabrook economy.
Memories Matter Most
Our favorite moments of our Seabrook escape were enjoying the gorgeous winter sunsets, walking around the “neighborhood” in the evening, and looking at the lights, playing many competitive games of Uno and Battleship, listening to the girls have giggle fests late in the evening, and watching our oldest daughter, who’s freshly 16, drive our truck along the beach shore, tracing donuts in the sand, while the waves ripped and roared. The grin on her face and happy dance she did while she hopped out of the tall truck will be a forever imprinted memory.
I wanted to support one of my favorite local businesses, Stowaway Wine Bar, so I dropped in and purchased a bottle of wine for Scott and I to enjoy while the our family snuggled in for a late evening movie. Our cabin had a smart TV which allowed us to log in to Netflix and Disney+. Gone are the days of trying to find something on a hotel TV guide.
Even though the winter weather was in full swing, there were still plenty of pockets of clear weather to walk around town, stop by the shops, pick up some heavenly cookies and espresso from Vista Bakery, and shop at The Salty Dog for a toy for Brutus and collar for our new puppy, Blue, who joined our family the day we got home!
Watching the warm glow of the setting sun paint over the smiling faces of our girls brought such joy to my heart. These small drops of sweet moments are what I hold on to most and help bring me back to the good in life when all else feels heavy and tiresome.
rental homes along the Farm District
PLAN and pack FOR A BUDGET FRIENDLY ESCAPE to seabrook
Plan your meals and grocery shop prior to your trip - We did a taco night, pizza night, pancakes, eggs, bacon, muffins, fruit, beef jerky, salad, snacks, hot cocoa/cider, marshmallows, and drinks. Treat it like camping, where you prep your food prior to the trip for ease of packing and preparing. I was able to get it all in to a large storage tote. Seabrook has a small market called Front Street Market which can help you fill some gaps. They have a great array of items, including: salsa, eggs, milk, butter, snacks, and breads. *** be sure to check with your rental property if they will provide coffee ***
Check out current events and seasonal activities on the Seabrook site so you can plan your days. Encourage your family to “choose their own adventure” and participate in planning some fun free/low cost activities.
Dining out is one of the highlights of a vacation, but if you’re looking to keep a tighter watch on your vacation spending, consider choosing a special dinner location for just one of the nights on your trip. Maybe have dessert already planned back at your rental property when you return. Oreos and hot cocoa with whip? Yum!
Pack jackets, weather appropriate footwear, hats, and gloves should you choose to hike or walk the beach during the fall/winter season
Don’t forget swim suits!
DITCH THE PLANE
Seabrook is only 2.5 hours from Seattle and roughly 3 hours from Portland. So, if you’re a Pacific Northwesterner, you can skip checking your bags and dealing with airport chaos and travel in the comfort of your own vehicle!
SAFE RENTALS
Seabrook has implemented a contactless mobile check-in process for a safe and easy arrival! Cleaning and sanitizing protocols have been increased to a multi-step process in order to keep guests feeling comfortable, confident, and safe.
HOMES FOR ALL
From quaint cabins for 2, large multi-family or beach front houses, and many dog friendly rentals, there’s a property for everyone and any budget!
WORK AWAY
Consider packing up your laptop and work docs and giving yourself an atmospheric break from your work from home environment. Could be just the inspirational you need!
Experience Seabrook WA on a Budget
Seabrook graciously hosted my family in the Seastar Gazer cabin in exchange for my honest review and opinion. The review and opinions expressed in the article are my own.
Photos are my own, in combination with Gray Mountain Photography and are not to be copied or used without permission.