Capturing that perfect moment on your beach vacation seems to be easier than ever nowadays. With the advancement of camera technology in phones and other portable devices, most everyone has a high-quality picture snapper in their pockets at any moment of the day.

It’s not a surprise then, that we’ve seen quite an increase in photos submitted to our Seabrook Photo Challenge. The competition for the top 12 photos to be featured on the Seabrook 2013 Calendar was bigger than ever with over 550 pictures submitted throughout the year! 

You did the fun part – snapping great photos while vacationing at Seabrook and the Washington coast, and we were left with the tough task of picking the 12 best. The stakes were high as each photographer of the winning pictures receives a $100 gift card to the Mill 109 Restaurant & Pub, while the cover picture winner gets a free beach cruiser bike – a well-known trademark of Seabrook’s lifestyle.

Without further ado, we are proud to present to you the 2012 Seabrook Photo Challenge Winners!

The Cover Page

(Photo by Betsy B.)

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Rob Paylor is the new face in town here at Seabrook and also the newest addition to the Mill 109 Restaurant and Pub!  Joining us here at the beach as the Mill 109’s General Manager, Rob has already begun making a real impact at Seabrook. Chances are, the next time you walk into the restaurant, Rob’s smiling face will be there to greet you!

As the epitome of a “people person,” Rob is the kind of guy who will know your usual order before you realize that you’ve become a regular!  He has a talent for relationship-building a long and well-honed career managing local favorites such as Galway Bay in Ocean Shores and The 8^th Street Ale House in Hoquiam. Rob understands that there is always an element of celebration that goes along with dining out and is not only excited to be a part of those celebrations, but creates unique personal touches for his customers to really make it a night to remember!

This Grays Harbor native studied at the Western Culinary Institute (now Le Cordon Bleu College) in Portland. While he had the opportunity to live anywhere, he and his wife Sara (and two children Robbie and Audrey) decided to make their home in Aloha, WA where Rob’s great grandfather worked as a “shingle weaver” back in 1915.  In fact, he’ll joke with you that in four generations and in 96 years, the Paylor family has only made it about one mile from where they started!

Nonetheless, because of Rob’s local community connections and the relationships he’s created in Grays Harbor County, the Mill 109 will be enjoying  many more events and musical talents on a regular basis!  He’s getting the word about what’s happening through the Mill 109 Restaurant & Pub’s Website, as well Mill 109’s Facebook page. Look out for many creative ideas and events at Seabrook’s favorite restaurant and pub.

Rob is already working hard on a brand new fall menu and rumor has it that by October you’ll be able to enjoy the fruits of their labor!  In the meantime, try the Mill 109 Beach Burger or Fish Tacos with one of Alameda Brewing’s craft beers (likely one of the Mill 109’s best kept secrets) which are on tap right now!

Rob has watched Seabrook grow quite a bit over the past eight years and is excited to be a part of its future.  Stop by the Mill 109 Restaurant and Pub and meet the newest addition to the team!

Whether you’re here for the day or for the week, one of the most common questions asked at Seabrook is: “What should we do while we’re here?”

Seabrook’s best activities are always changing, but we recently sat down and put together the following list of our summertime favorites to share with you. We hope your favorite Seabrook summertime activity is on the list, but if it’s not, we want to know what it is!

Just post a comment below and tell us what we missed and what you enjoy doing at Seabrook the most!

Each suggestion will be entered to win a $50 Gift Card to Seabrook’s Mill 109 Restaurant and Pub!

Winners will be announced here on the Seabrook Blog, on Thursday, July 21.

1. Take a group photo on “The Big Stump”

This stump has become famous among Seabrook residents and guests as a landmark here in town. The notch scars in its trunk giving it the designation as a “Springboard Stump” were created by loggers who carved out a place to rest the springboards in order to cut the tree. We believe the tree was cut in the late 1800’s when logging was prevalent here on the Washington Coast.

2. Discover Gelato at Lil’s Pantry

Gelato finds its roots in the frozen desserts served in ancient Rome and Egypt. It was originally made from ice and snow brought down from mountaintops and preserved below ground. In the 1500’s, gelato as we know it appeared during banquets at the Medici court in Florence, Italy. Today, this famed Italian treat has made its way to the Washington Coast where you can try one of Lil’s Pantry’s three rotating flavors any day of the week!

3. Enjoy S’mores in Crescent Park

After a day of surf and sand, who can resist a hot gooey s’more at twilight around one of Crescent Park’s coveted fire pits? Not us! There are also many firepits across the different neighborhoods at Seabrook where s’mores are a popular activity. We found this new take on the traditional childhood classic in Seattle Magazine last summer and fell in love! Hopefully you’ll enjoy it as much as we did!

4. Fly A Kite On The Beach

Did you know that there are tons of different kites to enjoy? Whether you prefer the classic Diamond Kite, the sophisticated Dopero Kite, the variety of two-line Sport Kites, or even the exhilarating Power Kite which is used for kite boarding or kite surfing, there is a type of kite for everyone! With miles of sandy beach, Seabrook is the perfect place to fly your favorite type of kite!

5. Experience an Ocean-view Massage at Blue Spa

If relaxation is your desire, Seabrook’s newest business, Blue Spa, is your destination. Book a massage in the brand new ocean-view studio while the sound of the ocean soothes your body and mind. Choose from shiatsu, deep tissue, hot stone, Swedish massage, or a couples massage. You can even have a massage at the house you’re staying at while at Seabrook. Check out the Blue Spa webpage for a list of services.

6. Have a Beer on the Mill 109 Patio

One of life’s simple pleasures (for those 21 and over) is to enjoy some Pacific Northwest sunshine with a great beer and a great view. Here at Seabrook, one of the best places for these things to converge is the patio of the Mill 109 Restaurant and Pub. We’ve included today’s list of Beers on Tap, but the list is always changing, so check out the Mill 109 website and make sure to follow the Mill 109 on Facebook & Twitter:

• Manny’s Pale Ale
• Alaskan Amber
• Alaskan IPA
• Deschutes Black Butte Porter
• Deschutes Twilight Summer Ale
• Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale

7. Go Horseback Riding on the Beach

If you love horses and the beach, why not try horseback riding on the beach? Each summer, Seabrook offers numerous opportunities to do just that! This exhilarating experience is certainly one you won’t want to miss! Give our cottage rentals office a call for details and to schedule a ride for your next visit (360-276-0265). In the meantime, check out our Top 5 Favorite Horse Facts!

8. Paint a Keepsake at Colours Pottery Painting Studio

Let your creative side have a little fun and paint a keepsake mug, platter, or a sculpture to take home with you! Seabrook’s pottery painting studio offers a Girls Night every Friday night and Camp Colours for kids every Saturday! Check out the Seabrook Events Calendar for details!

9. Stop by for Yappy Hour at the Salty Dog

The almost monthly event called Yappy Hour at The Salty Dog is one to most certainly attend. Whether you have a canine friend to bring or not, come visit this beloved business to peruse the selection of creative doggie merchandise while socializing with both people and dogs. Each Yappy Hour is posted on the Seabrook Events Calendar and features both adult and child-friendly beverages.

10. Rent a Beach Cruiser and Ride Around Town

For many people, Seabrook is synonymous with bike riding. As one of the earliest activities available to homeowners and guests in our town, we have a whole collection of classic beach cruiser bicycles (as well as a few mountain bikes) for you to enjoy while you’re here. Check out the Seabrook What’s With The Bikes webpage for more details!