Nestled Along The Washington Coast, It Doesn't Get More Charming Than The Unique Planned Community Of Seabrook
By Jessica Wick|Published August 29, 2022
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Jessica Wick
Author
Jessica Wick is a writer and travel enthusiast who loves exploring new places, meeting new people and, of course, beautiful Big Sky Country and every part of Washington State.
While there’s no doubt that Washington’s ocean beaches are beautiful, our coast is known for being a bit more rugged and rural than the more inviting seaside towns in Oregon and Northern California. So when a new beach town called Seabrook popped up seemingly out of nowhere, many Washingtonians — including this one — were a bit skeptical. I admit, as intrigued as I was by the concept of Seabrook, I didn’t initially want to believe the hype. After all, our coastal towns may be unassuming and quiet, but isn’t that part of the appeal? And how could anyone possibly construct an entire village in the middle of nowhere on the Olympic Peninsula and expect it to seem authentic?
But that’s exactly what Seabrook is… vibrant, welcoming, unbelievably charming, and yes, as authentic as it gets. You might feel a bit like you’re on a movie set when you’re strolling through the streets, but with all the chaos happening in the world right now, is that really a bad thing? This town was designed with people’s health and happiness in mind, and it shows.
I admit, Seabrook won me over immediately. I arrived on a Friday evening with my family feeling stressed about life, frazzled by weekend traffic, with a million things on my mind. But the energy in that darling little village is too upbeat to ignore. The employees at the businesses seem genuinely happy to be there and eager to please. The families, couples, and groups on vacation seem to leave their problems behind, if only for a moment. And it wasn’t long before I found myself doing the same. Take one stroll around Washington’s most walkable town, and you’ll feel your jaw relax, your shoulders loosen, and your face will start bearing a permanent smile. Best of all, you’ll be breathing in fresh ocean air the entire time.
Seabrook is located on the Pacific Coast of the Olympic Peninsula in Grays Harbor County.
Despite being a tiny town, it was developed with a foundation of new urbanism design where restaurants, shops, and homes come together, creating a walkable community.
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The town sits perched at the top of a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
The town is perched above the beach, in part because its founders didn't want the beach to be the main attraction. While it's wonderful that Seabrook is steps from the ocean, its founders wanted Seabrook itself to be the main attraction.
Founders Casey and Laura Roloff clearly had the right idea because Seabrook is the kind of place you'd want to visit even without the beach in its backyard. This place is the definition of charming. And even if you arrive feeling the stress and the weight of the outside world, it won't be long before you're relaxing your shoulders, smiling a genuine smile, and making conversation with strangers.
Casey and Laura met in high school, bonding over their love of the beach. After college, they got married and quickly moved to the Oregon Coast. After studying the concept of town making that had clearly made Seaside, Florida so successful, the two designed the community of Bella Beach on the Oregon Coast. They soon set their sights on Washington, where they moved and founded Seabrook in 2004.
Seabrook has more than 450 homes, with 70 more being built this year.
Most of the houses are vacation homes, although the town is seeing more full-time residents each year. The increase in remote work has allowed more young families to move here and raise their children in this little piece of paradise. More amenities, like a full grocery store and better medical facilities, will open soon.
The town was designed to be pedestrian-friendly, so you can park your car and walk around easily when you visit.
There are numerous community parks and gathering spots with games, yoga mats, and sporting equipment. The idea is to bring the community together and encourage conversation.
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Events happen here all year, but nothing beats the weekly outdoor concerts in the summer...
A brick-and-mortar Cookie’s Country Chicken is located in Seattle, but their fried chicken and sides taste especially delicious at the public Growler's Alley Beer Garden by the sea.
While wonderful in many ways, Washington's beach towns don't attract visitors for the food. Seabrook, on the other hand, has truly incredible restaurants like Koko's Restaurant and Tequila Bar.
Koko's serves modern Latin cuisine, and everything is fresh and made from scratch.
The menu has so many classic and unique options, that making a dinner decision here isn't easy. But as long as the fresh guacamole is part of the meal, you'll love it. We couldn't decide what to order at Koko's, so we let our server, who recently moved from Mexico, help us decide. He suggested we add some prawns to our kale salad, and it enhanced our entire meal.
Many people crave seafood when they're by the beach, and you'll find it (and plenty of other elevated pub food) at Rising Tide Tavern.
Rising Tide Tavern, 223 Market St, Pacific Beach, WA 98571, USA
The clam chowder is also quite tasty. But if you're not in the mood for seafood, you can't go wrong with a burger. The team here with local farmers, foragers, and the Quinault Indian Nation to get the best food possible.
Frontager’s Pizza is another favorite, serving classic Italian brick-oven pizza and fresh salads at their brick-and-mortar location and out of their food truck.
Frontager's Pizza Company, 21 Seabrook Ave, Pacific Beach, WA 98571, USA
As you browse for a bottle or two to take with you, you'll recognize some of Washington's top winemakers' names here (they also have wine from all over the world, of course). If you decide to stick around for a glass or two, check out the surprisingly large and diverse food menu.
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Speaking of browsing, shopping is a quintessential pastime in Seabrook, which is something Casey Roloff is proud of. Rather than simply collect a rent check from every possible business, the shops here are carefully selected to create a curated selection.
This place carries all sorts of unique toys, games, activities, and costumes. In true PNW fashion, there's even a section dedicated to Bigfoot.
Renting one of Seabrook’s vacation houses isn’t always budget-friendly, although rates vary by house size and season. But once you realize you’ll have the privilege of a host of amenities, like access to the town fitness center and a concierge to help with any planning needs or grocery delivery services, you’ll realize it’s worth it all… worth the drive, worth the splurge, and worth taking time away from your busy, hectic life, to slow down and live in the moment for awhile.
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