A Holi-day in Seaside

As the holidays roll around, the quaint beach town of Seaside transforms itself into a Christmas wonderland decorated with glittering lights and holiday decor. In the center of Seaside's amphitheater stands a tall Christmas tree wrapped in white lights and topped with a brightly shining star.

The Seaside Post Office, the town's most iconic building, is dressed in garland and ornaments of all different sizes. A family of vacationers pose by the 30-year-old building to snap a photo.

It is December 1, but the Florida weather calls for tanning and a dip in the ocean. Locals and vacationers wearing bathing suits and flip flops in contrast with the town's holiday atmosphere.

Finding a parking spot is more difficult than usual due to local restaurants using the main parking area for outside dining.

Our first stop this sunny Tuesday is coffee from Amavida Coffee Roasters, a Spanish inspired cafe that serves one of the best organic and Fair Trade coffees in Florida.

Painted with notes of sea blue and touches of gold, the modern styled coffee shop includes a large gallery of colorful abstract art that stands out against its white walls.

Despite the weather being in the low seventies, a hot latte made proudly with Amavida's Fair Trade coffee beans sounds heavenly. The barista's latte art of a simple, elegant flower is a delightful surprise.

A warm chocolate/almond croissant pairs perfectly with our warm cups of coffee.

We spend the next couple of hours wandering around Seaside's central square, browsing the shops, art galleries, and clothing boutiques. Each store mandates wearing a mask upon entering the place of business, and everyone complies.

Sundog Books, an adorable family-owned bookstore, is the perfect place to discover new authors and find hidden gems. The shop is small, but the shelves are overflowing with books of all different genres.

Due to Covid, the bookstore allows a max occupancy of 14 people and uses arrows to assist with social distancing inside the shop.

The upstairs of Sundog Books is a funky and colorful music shop called Central Square Records. The place gives off a retro vibe with vintage posters of iconic musicians plastered on the walls, rows of Vinyl, and eclectic trinkets and gifts.

A few feet away is Seaside's old-world, gourmet grocery store that serves delicious Southern lunch specials and homemade desserts, including a super moist seven-layer carrot cake.

With shelves that reach the ceiling, the store is jam-packed with local and international specialty products. A large assortment of wine takes up one whole wall.

A group of ladies walk out of the store, each holding one of Modica Market's famous 32 oz Mimosas made with freshly squeezed orange juice and lots of champagne.

Walking down Airstream Row -- a line of vintage Airstreams turned into small food trucks -- our stomachs begin to growl. I scan the names of the Airstream eateries -- Barefoot BBQ, Frost Bites, Wild Bill's Beach Dogs, Crepes du Soleil, The Meltdown, and a new addition, Mr. Gyro Hero.

"I dream of Meltdown's grilled cheese sandwiches," says Blake, a vacationer from Birmingham. "The taste reminds me of the beach and Seaside."

No one seems to be following the six feet apart rule as we wait in line to order our lunch -- two of Meltdown's All-American Grilled Cheeses and a side of Tomato Soup. The hot, melty cheese stretches as we pull apart our sandwiches made with two thick pieces of perfectly toasted Texas Toast.

Stepping away from the town's center, we aimlessly roam up and down the narrow, brick-paved streets admiring the charming architecture of Seaside's cottages. We search for the beach homes' names written on signs on each cottages' white picket fence. "Taste & Sea," "Fish Tales," and "It's Happy Hour" are just a few.

The last stop of our "home tour" is the adorable yellow and cream cottage made famous by The Truman Show, starring Jim Carrey, that was filmed in Seaside. Homeowners Don and Vicky Gaetz kept the bright green front door and house address number, 36, from the movie. Located on 31 Natchez Street, the Truman House remains a must-see for tourists and a proud symbol for locals.

Around five in the afternoon, the temperature drops a few degrees, and the sun begins its slow descent in the sky. A telltale sign it is time for happy hour.

A lovely spot to watch the sunset while sipping on a bubbly frose' or ice-cold beer is Bud & Alley's Rooftop Bar. Overlooking the beautiful Gulf of Mexico, the casual yet upscale beachfront eatery offers delicious Southern classics and a spectacular viewpoint of Seaside's beautiful white sand beach.

We sit at one of the high-top tables and take off our masks. I grab my phone to capture the picturesque moment of the sun setting behind the Seaside Tower -- a tall, white pinnacle-shaped pavilion designed by architect David Coleman.

Groups of families and friends gather in spots scattered across the beach. A few couples walk the shoreline of Florida's Emerald Coast, and a beach bonfire is blazing in the distance.

As recommended by our server, we order the $40 crab cakes for dinner. Made up of mostly lump crab meat and seasoned to perfection, the crab cakes are worth the price.

Night falls as we take our last stroll through the town's square admiring the twinkling Christmas lights strung on storefronts and wrapped around the amphitheater's palm trees.

A large, triple scoop ice cream sculpture topped with a massive dollop of whipped cream stops us in our tracks. A sign above reads, "Heavenly Shortcakes & Ice Cream." Although my belly is full, my inner child screams for ice cream!

Our facemasks are no match for the small store's sweet aroma smelling of freshly baked brownies. A cheerful employee greets us and takes us through the vast menu of Blue Bell ice creams, locally-made gelato flavors, and gourmet cookies and shortcakes.

A tub of creamy white gelato ladened with chunks of peanut butter cups stands out from the rest. My Heavenly order -- two scoops of Reese's and cream gelato in a waffle cone drizzled with hot fudge. A spoonful of delicious gelato was the perfect way to end our day at Seaside.