Romance and the sea just seem to go together. Walking hand-in-hand along a deserted beach. Cuddling together in a hammock as the gentle breeze wafts over you. Sipping a tropical punch as the sun dips low over the water, tinting the turquoise waves with gold and pink. Indulging in a romantic dinner for two at an intimate little seafood restaurant before strolling under the stars back to your own private hideaway.

You don't have to go to Tahiti or Bali for that kind of experience, though. You just have to check into one of the Beachfront Cottages at Seaside, a little town on the Florida Gulf Coast about mid-way between the big cities of Destin and Panama City. While the town has many wonderful places to stay, the Beachfront Cottages are the ones expressly designed with romance in mind. In fact, these white-frame 1-bedroom cottages overlooking the azure Gulf of Mexico were originally called "Honeymoon Cottages"—until someone realized that romance wasn't confined to newlyweds. My husband and I are ten years past the newlywed stage, for example, and we agreed our Beachfront Cottage at Seaside was as romantic as our original honeymoon in Paris nearly 10 years ago.

Part of the romance of Seaside comes from the town itself, carefully planned and built just 20 years ago to reflect the slower pace and style of Southern towns at the turn of the century. There is no thru-traffic here, just guests' and residents' vehicles—and most of those stay put, since once you get here, everything you need is within walking distance. Want the perfect bottle of wine or champagne to sip on your private deck while the sun sets? Fermentations, a wine bar and shop with 50 selections by the glass, is at your disposal. How about sweets to tempt your beloved? The Chocolate Moose sells everything from Gummi Bears to Godiva chocolates. Or do flowers mean romance to you? Then there's Charms, a florist shop right in Seaside. Need a bejeweled bauble to slip inside a seashell as a special gift? Bijou, a fine jewelry story, is ready to help. And as for that romantic dinner for two by the sea, there's Bud and Alley's, an upscale but casual restaurant a few steps from your cottage. We dined here twice during our stay and each time enjoyed a different and delicious seafood pasta with hot, crusty homemade bread.

Of course, romantics will probably be spending a good bit of time alone and that's where Seaside's Beachfront Cottages come in. The two-story cottages have a unique floor plan. The bottom floor is devoted to a spacious bath with a tiled shower big enough for two and a large bedroom that opens onto a private screened porch with a Jacuzzi that's also designed for two. The porch is surrounded by sand dunes and thick beach vegetation but for even more privacy while enjoying the hot tub, just draw the canvas curtains on the porch.

Upstairs you'll find a fully-equipped kitchen and sitting area, all done in refreshing blue and white, and another private porch with a hammock for two. From this upper porch you can relax together and watch the turquoise waters of the Gulf lap at the sugar-white sands of the beach. While these beaches can get crowded in the summer, during the off-season you'll have the place pretty much to yourself for those long romantic walks. After your walk, climb the stairs to the elevated beach pavilion topped with a pelican that's right beside the Beachfront Cottages and enjoy a quiet moment together. Whether you're gazing at the stars or into each other's eyes, it's true that all you need is love—but a cottage by the sea doesn't hurt either.

For more information on Seaside and its Beachfront Cottages, call 888-SEASIDE or go to www.seasidefl.com

by Angela Wibking