Back To The Beach

Back to the beach: Life is simply more pleasurable in Seaside Florida town

What is it about the beach that makes everything more pleasurable? Here, I read more; food tastes better; dreams are more vivid; going barefoot was invented at the beach! Come to think of it, to borrow a phrase from Coke . . . everything goes better with beach.

I knew this when I was a kid combing the beach on Bolivar peninsula every summer. There, regardless of what the weather was like, every morning felt like Christmas. Instead of running to a tree, my siblings and I made a beeline to the beach. It was sheer bliss.

Taking a long walk on the beach the other day, I stupidly asked a fellow beachcomber for the time. “Beach time,” she smiled. “Exactly,” I answered, “Thank you.”

But, if Bolivar was bliss, I would find nirvana along the Florida panhandle later . . . in Seaside, Florida.

I came here 18 years ago and been hooked ever since. I’ll try to explain why, but as it goes with the beach, words and photographs fall short. I love this.

I could say the draw is the white sand and green-blue water; the sunsets; the birding; the turtles and behind all this, the people who run Seaside’s small businesses. (Modica Market, Sundog Books, the Seaside Farmers Market to mention a few). Folks, who not only make this southern community feel like one, they’re friends.

Best of all, present time rules here. I think that’s what people mean when they say beach mode. Taking a long walk on the beach the other day, I stupidly asked a fellow beachcomber for the time. “Beach time,” she smiled. “Exactly,” I answered, “Thank you.”

Whether at Seaside or on other beaches, I’ve felt connected to the Gulf of Mexico for as long as I can remember. John Fitzgerald Kennedy understood this perfectly: "We have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch it, we are going back from whence we came."

Seaside Farmers Market

Everyone feels good at a Farmers Market, but put a Farmers Market along the Florida panhandle, and you’ve got heaven.

Tabletops are full to the gills. There’s produce straight from the garden tumbling out of baskets; rows of relishes and jams you’ve never heard of; pastries; popsicles; hot sauces that’ll take your mouth on a thrill ride; breads lined up like bowling balls and a variety of dog treats . . . all natural of course . . . to mention a few. And that’s just what’s on the tables.

You’ll find visiting with the people who work behind them just as pleasurable. These folks are connected to their work like no others. You won’t find braggadocio or arrogance here . . . only kind, humble and conscientious caretakers who bring their labor of love to the table for lucky us to enjoy.

I've grown to love every one of em’, but I have to admit, I got a favorite. Paul Johnson, originally from Dothan, Alabama, has a smile bigger than Texas and a neighborly nature to go with. Paul and his wife, Marsha, don’t grow the produce themselves. They select produce from a variety of farmers. They represent the buyers at the farm so to speak, and, in turn, present the farm to the buyers.

Paul puts it this way, “We’re your arm to the farm.” Thus, their name, Paul’s Pick of the Crop. Let me tell you folks, they are! The mate’rs as Mama used to say, the mate’rs alone are worth going for. These will take your mouth on a sweet ride.

I promise you’ll leave with your basket and your heart . . . both full.

Editor’s Note: Seaside will be featured in “10 Towns that Changed America.” The program will run on PBS stations in early 2016.

What is it about the beach that makes everything more pleasurable?

Photo by Katie Oxford

What is it about the beach that makes everything more pleasurable?

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Dude Perfect teams up with Omni Dallas hotel for new tricked-out suite

Dude Perfect Suite, Omni PGA Frisco Resort

Photo courtesy of Omni PGA Frisco Resort

The Omni PGA Frisco Resort now has a Dude Perfect-branded suite.

Dude Perfect fans now have their shot to live like the sports-comedy group sensation: The Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa has partnered with Frisco-based Dude Perfect to debut a themed hotel suite packed with sports games, branded décor, and interactive activities overlooking the Fields Ranch golf course.

According to a release, the new Dude Perfect Suite is now open at the resort and available for bookings, but only for a limited time.

Located on the third floor, the suite includes a balcony overlooking the 10th hole at Fields Ranch East and is designed to accommodate six to eight guests. The setup, designed for families, includes one king bed, four twin bunk beds, and a pull-out sofa, with separate spaces geared toward both kids and adults.

Omni PGA Frisco Resort, Dude Perfect Suite So much fun in one room.Photo courtesy of Omni PGA Frisco Resort

The room leans heavily into the Dude Perfect "brand" - yes, there are spots for trick-shots. Sporty features include:

AstroTurf accents in the living room and bunk bedroom
A PlayStation gaming setup with leather gaming chairs
Mini basketball hoops and magnetic dart boards
Sports challenge games and soft-launch toys inspired by Dude Perfect stunts
A flexible game table for family activities
Sneaker-themed wallpaper in the bunk room
Selfie backdrops and oversized wall graphics
Dude Perfect-branded décor including throw pillows, towels, water bottles, and logo installations
In-room merchandise available for purchase, including hats, books, games, and water bottles

“This partnership gave us the opportunity to create an experience that feels larger than life for kids without compromising the level of comfort and quality parents expect from Omni PGA Frisco Resort,” say Jeff Smith, vice president and managing director at Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa, in the release. ”Collaborating with Dude Perfect, a brand that shares our roots in sports and community, allows us to reimagine the family getaway in a bold and memorable way.”

Omni PGA Frisco Resort, Dude Perfect Suite The suite has Astroturf, bunk beds, and overlooks the Fields Ranch golf course.Photo courtesy of Omni PGA Frisco Resort

Dude Perfect, founded in 2009 by five college friends (Tyler Toney, Cory Cotton, Coby Cotton, Garrett Hilbert, and Cody Jones) who built a following through trick-shot videos and sports content, has grown into one of the largest sports entertainment brands in the world. Their YouTube channel has become the biggest sports account on YouTube, with 62 million subscribers, and the group has garnered more than 18 billion views across platforms, with featured celebrities and athletes like Steph Curry, Serena Williams, Luka Doncic, Caitlin Clark, and CeeDee Lamb.

They've since expanded into a diversified media company encompassing video content, popular simulcasts for professional sports (like the NFL on Amazon), a best-selling toy in Walmart, and live tours. They also recently helped develop a construction-themed theme park in Grapevine.

"Partnering with Omni gives us the opportunity to bring the Dude Perfect version of sports, play, and competition for families to enjoy in the real world," says Andrew Yaffe, CEO of Dude Perfect. "Omni shares our belief that the best entertainment is interactive, epic, and built for families. Together, we’re creating something that brings the Dude Perfect experience to fans in a new way."

The Dude Perfect Suite package is available through December 2027 and includes breakfast and a resort credit for registered guests. The shot to live like a Dude won't come cheap for most folks: According to the website, rates start around $1,200 per night.

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