Seaside means the area along the edge of an ocean or sea, especially when thought of as a place to visit for fun and relaxation. When families take a seaside vacation, they're heading to beaches, boardwalks, and coastal towns where the land meets the water.

The word carries a cheerful feeling of leisure and escape. Seaside towns often have special attractions: ice cream shops, fishing piers, lighthouses, and hotels with ocean views. You might build sandcastles at the seaside, search for shells, or watch boats sail past. British families have especially loved seaside holidays for over a century, flocking to towns like Brighton or Blackpool.

While “beach” describes the sandy or rocky shore itself, seaside refers to the whole area and experience of being near the ocean. A seaside cottage isn't necessarily right on the sand, but it's close enough to smell the salt air and hear the waves. The word appears in phrases like seaside resort (a vacation town on the coast) or seaside breeze (that refreshing wind coming off the water).