One block from the beach and 1 block south of busy Broadway, in an old residential neighborhood that’s now surrounded by bland new hotels and condos, the Gilbert Inn is pretty Queen Anne–style Victorian house with a pretty little yard. It considers itself a “couples retreat”; that means you have to be at least 18 to stay here (or, to put it another, no kids allowed). Built in 1892 by Alexander Gilbert, one of the founding fathers of Seaside, the house retains many of its original interior features, such as walls and ceilings constructed with tongue-and-groove fir planks. The rooms are decorated with comfortable period furnishings but have flat-screen TVs and modern bathrooms. There are 3 rooms on the first floor, in an unobtrusively newer addition; the nicest rooms are the upstairs in the original house, but there is no elevator, so if stairs are an issue, book one of the first-floor rooms. There’s a lovely sun room to enjoy, and a fire pit outside.