Seabrook is a vibrant beach town located on the Washington coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It has been thoughtfully designed — founded on new urbanism and woven seamlessly into nature — over the last 19 years as a sustainable haven for full-time residents, short-term vacation rentals, and day-trippers. The town features 475 homes of all sizes in eight micro-neighborhoods, numerous merchants and restaurants, 18 parks, a Town Hall, Montessori School, community pea patch, hundreds of acres of mountain bike and hiking trails, central amphitheater, sports courts, indoor pool, firepits, and miles of wide-open beach.
Just under three hours from Seattle, Seabrook provides the perfect launch pad to visit Olympic National Park, Lake Quinault, and some of the most beautiful beaches on the Washington coast. The town hosts events throughout the year, ranging from an outdoor summer concert series and oceanfront yoga sessions, to fall festivals and holiday celebrations. Seabrook’s concierge can assist guests with everything from in-home grocery and chef services, to specialized outings and experiences, and everything in between.
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Spending Three Days in Seabrook
Story and photos by Michael Weldon
Our stay at the Sip N Sea in Seabrook Washington was an amazing experience for our family. The vacation rental is a beautiful shingled 2-story house with two wrap-around decks. The house has an open floor plan with large windows to bring in tons of natural light. The first-floor deck has a gas grill right off the kitchen and four lounge chairs on the street side looking out at Seabrook Ave. The upper deck gives a view right down to the ocean where you can relax and watch the waves crash on the beach in the distance.
Upon entry, you walk into an open kitchen and dining area adjacent to the living room. It is a great space for hanging out with your family over a good meal, playing games, or cuddling up by the fireplace in the living room with a book or a family movie night.
As soon as we got settled in, it was right to the hot tub for the kids. The private hot tub is a few steps off of the first-floor deck — nestled between the house and some flowering native bushes — giving you a private escape from the neighbors. It is a great way to spend quiet evenings with your loved ones. We took full advantage of it after walks down to the beach which in the winter can be a little cold.
The Sip N Sea has three bedrooms, two with ensuites and the 3rd with bunk beds. The bunk beds were perfect for our older boys and overall had more than enough space for our family of five. Grandma was able to enjoy her own bedroom as well with a king-size bed!
Shops and Restaurants
The house is two blocks away from all the shops and restaurants. We took full advantage of Vista Bakery, located right around the corner. The Cruffons were a delicious pastry that pairs well with the coffee. I would also suggest the fig and bacon croissants! Those were my absolute favorites.
Other stores include a book shop, clothing stores, a general market, a sweet shop, and a toy store sure to have anything you may have forgotten to bring along with you on your trip to Seabrook.
From the front door, you can walk straight down to the beach along Seabrook Ave. There are very well-maintained trails and a series of steps leading down to the beach. It is a short 5-minute walk from the front steps of the Sip and Sea which is very convenient because the weather windows in the winter are unpredictable.
In addition to soaking in the hot tub at the house, the community pool allows your little swimmers to splash away inside which can be a nice break from the weather. It is a large pool with plenty of room for multiple families as well as a large hot tub. The pool is a short two-block walk from the Sip and Sea.
Overall the Sip N Sea has by far been my favorite house I’ve stayed in at Seabrook. The location is close to all the community trails, shops, pool, and the beach. We will definitely be looking to reserve it for our next trip to Seabrook.
Day 1
We arrived a little later than expected at the Sip N Sea and evening had come. But even at night, the town of Seabrook shines! String lights hung everywhere make your arrival feel warm and magical. So we spent the first night playing games, doing puzzles, and a little hot tub time as well. We made a nice meal and ate at the farm-style table before reading books and going to bed.
Day 2
We started off with a trip to the pool. The pool opens at 9 a.m. for everyone after the adult lap swim at 8 a.m. The kids could swim all day if it were up to them, especially with it being warm as bathwater. But we had other plans for the day. The sun was shining and we wanted to explore a bit and see all that Seabrook has to offer.
After the pool, we walked back to our house and got changed and ready for the day. Our first stop for the day was Vista Bakery. We were told to try the Cruffons from a nice gentleman outside the shop and they did not disappoint. From there, we crossed the street over to the sweet shop. Once the boys got their load of sweets we were off and walking down to Laurel Ave to check out the other shops. We ended up in the toy shop where Miles found some cool magnetic beads and Mason scored some cool magnetic rocks. The shop is amazing, with tons of different toys of all types.
Since Ocean Shores is a quick 20-minute drive south we decided to go down there for a bit. Any time we go to the ocean the kids always want to go to the arcade.
We returned to Seabrook and walked some of the trails and explored the forests. Then took the trail down to the beach in hopes of catching a nice sunset. But the weather had other plans, so we returned to the house to start making dinner and soak in the hot tub.
Day 3
Sadly, all fun has to come to an end at some point and today was the day. But with checkout being at 11 a.m. it gave us plenty of time to do a few more things before we left. Chelsea, Mason, and I walked some more trails that morning. We walked down to the giant stump that has been turned into a sort of treehouse. Mason was in awe of how big the stump was. We continued walking down the trail and stumbled upon a gnome forest. A section of the woods just off the trail with no underbrush and a place where kids have painted miniature gnomes and spread them throughout the trees. A perfect example of the fun and unexpected things you can stumble upon exploring Seabrook. We explored all the hidden treasures there for a bit and then returned to the Sip N Sea.
We got back just in time to head over to the pool to get one last swim in. We swam for nearly two hours. The pool was nice and warm, so even the baby loved splashing around in the water.
When we finished with the pool it was time to pack up and head out. But we didn’t leave Seabrook, we went and had lunch at Koko’s — a quaint Mexican restaurant right off Seabrook Ave. offering Mexican-style breakfasts as well as unique lunch and dinner options. They also have a wide variety of Tequilas to try but we stuck with Mimosas as it was only lunchtime.
Travel Tip: Plan to go early to eat out at the restaurants. There is limited space and long wait times are likely.
From there we walked down to the beach for one last time before heading home. The sun was out and Miles even dipped his toes in the water! This was a short trip but packed with exciting adventures. Seabrook has everything you need with all the adventures you can find; it’s even great for just relaxing and staying cozy inside a cute comfortable house.
Seabrook Outdoor Activities
Razor Clam Digging
Winter in Washington State provides one of the most unique and popular activities you’ll find – razor clam digging! People come from across the state and country for the opportunity to harvest fresh clams right off the beach. First time clam digging? Buck’s Northwest, located in the heart of Seabrook, offers guided digs at Mocrocks and Copalis beach. They also offer all you’ll need to get started on your own or with a guide.
Glass Float Finding
A little-known but favorite PNW winter beach activity is searching for — and finding — Japanese glass fishing floats. The earliest evidence of glass floats being used by fishermen comes from Norway in 1844, and today most of those remaining in the ocean are stuck in a circular pattern of ocean currents in the North Pacific. The high season for finding glass floats on the Washington Coast (based on tides and weather patterns) is December – May.
They are considered a collector’s item, and it’s estimated that most float on the water for 7-10 years before washing ashore. Brave explorers (locals and visitors alike) will watch the tide patterns and take to the beach after high tide, even if that means the middle of the night. The most success is often found after a storm has churned up the Pacific Ocean. Safety is a must, so guests should dress warmly with good footwear and wear a headlamp or carry bright flashlights or lanterns after dark. It’s important to check the beach safety flags and any weather recommendations before venturing out.
Surfing, SUP, Kayaking, Biking
Surfing is a year-round sport on the northern Washington Coast. Outdoor enthusiasts will find it doesn’t always need to be warm and sunny to catch great waves. (UPDATE 3/10/2024 Buck’s has closed permanently)Buck’s NW offers rentals of surf gear, lessons, and guided surfing. Buck’s also offers guided SUP and Kayak tours through the Copalis and Humptulips Rivers and the legendary Ghost Forest. Additional adventures include fishing, hiking, and biking options (mountain, beach, and in-town) on your own or with a guide.
Mushroom Foraging
Seabrook has partnered with local Pacific Northwest foraging experts to provide mushroom foraging trips every Saturday through the fall harvest. The two-hour experience provides a fun and educational orientation on mushroom foraging complete with hikes through the beautiful forests of Seabrook in search of several varieties of mushrooms including fresh golden-brown chanterelles. These guided sessions will return in the fall of 2022 – timing based on the mushroom season.
Seabrook as a Basecamp
One of the coolest things about Seabrook is its unique location which provides access to some of the most coveted destinations on the Washington coast. Visitors can spend their days exploring the great northwest, and come home to a number of restaurants and bars to choose from, set up food delivery from the concierge, or cook for themselves in a fully appointed kitchen. Fire pits are readily available and an outdoor summer concert series runs every Friday, May through September. Here are a few highlights for day trips:
Fishing
Wintertime on the coast brings terrific steelhead fishing. Seabrook is just a short drive away from popular river fishing sites for steelhead fishing December through March including:
- Wynoochee River (1-hour drive)
- Lower Quinault River (1-hour, 20-minute drive)
- Hoh River (2-hour drive)
- Queets River (1-hour, 45-minute drive)
Seabrook’s concierge services can help guests plan a guided fishing trip with Washington State Fishing Guides. For guests visiting outside the winter months, Washington State Fishing Guides host other guided trips year-round. There are also deep-sea fishing charter options out of Westport which is about an hour away, and shore fishing right on the beach at Seabrook.
Hiking
Seabrook has several of its own hikes ranging from easy to advanced. Below are a selection for great day trips:
- Olympic National Park
- The Hoh River Trail (located in the temperate Hoh Rain Forest) receives over 12 feet of rain per year, mostly during the months between October and April.
- The Enchanted Valley (via East Fork Quinault River at Graves Creek Trailhead) is a primitive, old-growth forest high above the Quinault River Valley.
- Ozette Triangle Loop Trail combines the beauty of a forest hike and the openness of the rugged beachscape.
- Marymere Falls: Along the shores of Lake Crescent, this trail takes you through the old-growth forest to Marymere Falls themselves – 90 feet high plummeting from Falls Creek above.
Beaches + Lakes
- Lake Quinault
- Rialto Beach
- Ruby Beach
- Roosevelt Beach
- Kalaloch Beach Root Tree
Seabrook Dining and Retail
Seabrook’s town center boasts several restaurants, bars, and retail options:
- FOOD AND BEVERAGE: Rising Tide Tavern, Front Street Market, Frontager’s Pizza, Growler’s Alley Beer Garden, Koko’s Restaurant & Tequila Bar, Vista Bakeshop, The Stowaway Wine Bar, The Sweet Life. In the spring and summer, additional food trucks arrive including an outpost of Seattle’s favorite Cookie’s Country Chicken.
- ACTIVITIES: Buck’s Northwest, Spa Elizabeth.
- APPAREL: Magnolias Clothing Boutique, Red Cedar Surf Co., Seabrook Kids, Tides by Seabrook.
- SPECIALTY SHOPS: Brooklets Toys, Joie Des Livres: The Joy of Books, SeaWorthy Home, Spa Elizabeth Boutique, The Salty Dog. Just a note, a new candle shop is opening in April that provides shoppers the opportunity to create their own signature scent, choose the vessel size and style, and pour themselves.
- And finally, there will be a new 11,000 square-foot grocery and 1980’s style arcade that will be completed on-site by the end of 2022.
