Beach side trip-any ideas?

[Dizneydaz]

Hi. My family (me-mom, DD 6 :bday: , and DM 60ish) are going to WDW this Sept. Since my mom isn't the Disney fanatic that I am :confused3 we always do something else besides Disney. This time we are planning on going to either the Gulf Coast or the Atlantic Coast on the first part of our trip. We're arriving in Orlando on the 15th (about 7 p.m.) and checking into POFQ on the 18th.

We not sure if we should be ressies at the beach since most of the sites I've checked have a very strict cancellation policy and we'll be there during Huricane season we don't want to be stick at a hotel/motel during bad weather. What do you think?


Also, any suggestions on places you've stayed would be appreciated. We are looking at Sanibel Island, Treasure Island, Cocoa Beach, Daytona, St. Pete Beach, or ???????? We like the smaller, more cottage like motels. No condos. No highrises.

Thanks.

52 days and counting!

[DeanDoug]

If I remember correctly, the east coast seemed slightly closer than the gulf coast (although I prefer the gulf!)...

We have stayed at the Sheraton Sand Key in Clearwater (gulf) several times... may not be your speed, but we have enjoyed it... nice pool and beach. I have heard great things about Sanibel!

We were in Daytona last year... it's fine... a bit touristy... but nice off the beaten path! We stayed with friends, so I'm sorry that I can't give you a recommendation.

Daytona may be just about the closest east coast beach... only about 1.5 hours or so....

Enjoy :cool1:

[indigoxtreme]

We like the smaller, more cottage like motels. No condos. No highrises.

Thanks.

52 days and counting![/QUOTE]

We like Daytona and if you like the old fashioned cottages go to Cabana Colony Cottages at the site below. http://www.daytonashoreline.com/cottages.cfm

These we built in 1927 and have been kept up great, they have little kitchens etc. My husband and I stayed in one this February. As you walked in the door the living room space with kitchen table. The kitchen was in the area with a micro wave fridge and stove and plates pans etc. The bath room also had a door which went into another bed room which contained a twin bed and dresser with another TV. They are small but great for a few days and very reasonable. They have a nice pool and are on the beach. I think this may be perfect for you and your mom. We were scheduled to stay last sept but due to the hurricane we couldn't get down there and of course they were closed. Money was refunded and this would have been our first stay with them.

Also another smaller hotel type is Sun Viking lodge. It has the main motel area with two floors and a towe building with I thing 10 floors. The
hotel is nice and on the ocean

[MickeyMickey]

Bump!!

[DisneyDotty]

We stayed at Cocoa Beach a couple nights before our WDW trip this past June. Loved the beach--clean, not crowded. Good restaurants nearby, and hit Kennedy Space Center, too. However, we stayed at a high-rise (Doubletree Resort--lovely) right on the beach, so can't help you with what you're looking for re: accommodations. Most towns have a tourism website you might want to check...
Have a great trip!

[FSUGrad97]

I would go to Cocoa, St. Pete, or Sanibel Island before I would go to Daytona. Since there is driving on the beach, I think the sand is like walking on concrete. :crazy2:

As another poster mentioned, the Sheraton Sand Key in Clearwater is beautiful. They have a large beach, and it wasn't crowded at all when I was there a few weeks ago.


:sunny:

[DreadpiratK]

I'd recomend Sanibel, its absolutely beatifull, and not overly developed. We went a few summers ago, and just loved it, even if it did rain the whole time. It's the best place I've ever been for collecting shells, and in Sept it was fairly quiet and relaxed. There are quite a few small hotel/condo type places on Sanibel if you can get one. There are no high-rises or strip motels that I remember on the island.

[GIOny]

we go to cocoa beach :smooth: and I think that is the closest to Disney ::MinnieMo ::MickeyMo , about 45 min to 1 hour, depending upon traffic :moped: . When we go with the kids we stay at a nice place on the beach, but when I went with just me and my husband :love: we stayed at a nicer place, it was almost like a big bed and breakfast, very charming and a wonerful breakfast was included. It was called the Inn at Cocoa Beach, here is the web site: http://www.theinnatcocoabeach.com/Default2.asp by the way, this is also right on the beach. If you decide on Cocoa Beach, try going over by where the ships dock for some fun restaurants (sorry can't think of the name of them right now). :banana:

[Dizneydaz]

Thanks for all the great info! :goodvibes Keep it coming! We haven't fully decided what beach area yet.

I've gotten some beautiful brochures (more like high end magazines) from some websites-Beaches of Fort Meyers/Sanibel and Forida's Gulf Islands are two of the best. The beaches are just beautiful in them. Has anyone been to St. Pete Beach or Anna Marie Island?

46 days and counting! :hourglass

[cindy21494]

We have never been there, but we are going to Anna Maria Island in two weeks. I can PM you after we get back to let you know how it is. We are staying at the Bungalow Beach Resort. They are beautiful cottages (at least the pictures are beautiful) right on the beach.

We have also stayed at Vero beach on the east coast. We had a great time there. They have organized activities for the kids, and camp fires at night. My DH and DD even went on a turtle watch at night. My DD got to name the turtle that they found on the beach laying her eggs (she named it Princess :p ).

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I'd recomend Sanibel, its absolutely beatifull, and not overly developed. We went a few summers ago, and just loved it, even if it did rain the whole time. It's the best place I've ever been for collecting shells, and in Sept it was fairly quiet and relaxed. There are quite a few small hotel/condo type places on Sanibel if you can get one. There are no high-rises or strip motels that I remember on the island.


How far is Sanibel from WDW? Can it be done on a day trip? Would love to beach comb there!

:flower:

[mistaroo]

We stayed at Disney's Vero Beach resort and it was beautiful! It really is a nice there.

[Dizneydaz]

We have never been there, but we are going to Anna Maria Island in two weeks. I can PM you after we get back to let you know how it is. We are staying at the Bungalow Beach Resort. They are beautiful cottages (at least the pictures are beautiful) right on the beach.

We have also stayed at Vero beach on the east coast. We had a great time there. They have organized activities for the kids, and camp fires at night. My DH and DD even went on a turtle watch at night. My DD got to name the turtle that they found on the beach laying her eggs (she named it Princess :p ).

Cindy, that would be great! I can't wait to hear from you on your return. That is one of the resorts we've been looking at. The pix do look good. We've thought about Vero Beach too!

You're girls look cute!

45 days and counting! :Pinkbounc :Pinkbounc

[cindy21494]

Disneydaz, I'll PM you as soon as we get back and let you know what we thought. :flower: If there is anything in particular you would like me to look into, let me know. We will be there for four days, and just plan on exploring the area and maybe doing a day trip to Sanibel Island. We may go to Busch Gardens too, I'm not sure yet.

Cindy

[Tamie]

My dad lives in Florida (moved there about 2 years ago) anyways, the first time that we went down to visit they took us to Cedar Keys it is on the Gulf coast. It was absolutely beautiful there. They have met a guy down there that does boat tour, his name is Captain Doug. He was fantasic. He has a small boat and usually only takes 1 family out at a time for a couple of hours. Takes you to a couple of the little islands (one you can explore). One of them has thousands of shells. He even stopped on a sand bar so that my daughter could dig up her own sand dollar shells. I was really cool. Although we didnt spend the night, the town is not a very built up one, but had some nice resturants etc, but there are places to stay there including bed and breakfasts.

We also love St. Augustine (east coast), shopping on St. George street, looking at all the old buildings, and climbing the many stair in the lighthouse.

[DreadpiratK]

How far is Sanibel from WDW? Can it be done on a day trip? Would love to beach comb there!

:flower:
As I remember is was about 3+ hours, a little far for a day trip. we were thinking of doing the same thing, but it would be a long day. I just have a hard time justifying paying for another hotel when we're also paying for the condo.

It's worth the trip though, definately. Next year I think we will try and do a week at Sanibel and a week in Orlando, or maybe just a week on Sanibel.... much more relaxing, restfull vacation then Disney.

We did get some amazing ribs on the way back from Sanibel last time, somewhere near Sarasota, wish I could remember the name of the place, seemed like a chain. Kids still talk about that dinner, and how good the ribs were!

[sanibelover]

I would not do Sanibel in one day from Orlando. (It is at least 3 1/2 hours) You really need to stay there to enjoy it. Get up early, go out and look for shells. Go to Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge- take the tram if it's your first time. Rent canoes. If the beach with shops close by and typical beach food is what you are after, Sanibel wouldn't really be your first choice - but if you want relaxing, beautiful, quiet, great little shops, fabulous food etc. then Sanibel is all that....

Cocoa beach is OK but very honky tonk. We didn't enjoy it. It is much closer.

[Pembo]

We spent 2 weeks on Anna Maria Island after our week at WDW in June. It is gorgeous there! I'd go back today if I could. The sand is white and cool, the water was warm and pretty and there was always a breeze on the beach. My boys had a blast flying a kite. It is quiet and there isn't alot to do but we stayed in a condo with a pool so for us the beach and pool was enough.

It took about 2 hours to get there from WDW.

[Zoesmama03]

Don't know if someone has mentioned this but Sarasota area has some nice beaches and nice rentals if you plan on staying there. My dad always goes to Venice beach and there is shops and stuff to look through its fun. Its not that long a drive that you could drive out for the day and continue staying on Disney property. I mean I guess its a 2 hour drive or so but the beaches are quite and less busy its nice. :)

[Zoesmama03]

Here's a link to some rentals in ther area. :) http://www.venice-fla.com/accom.htm

These look like cute cottage:
http://www.bananabayclub.com/the_cottages.asp

[Dizneydaz]

My dad lives in Florida (moved there about 2 years ago) anyways, the first time that we went down to visit they took us to Cedar Keys it is on the Gulf coast. It was absolutely beautiful there. They have met a guy down there that does boat tour, his name is Captain Doug. He was fantasic. He has a small boat and usually only takes 1 family out at a time for a couple of hours. Takes you to a couple of the little islands (one you can explore). One of them has thousands of shells. He even stopped on a sand bar so that my daughter could dig up her own sand dollar shells. I was really cool. Although we didnt spend the night, the town is not a very built up one, but had some nice resturants etc, but there are places to stay there including bed and breakfasts.

We also love St. Augustine (east coast), shopping on St. George street, looking at all the old buildings, and climbing the many stair in the lighthouse.

Thanks Tamie, I'll check into Cedar Keys. It sounds like a great place. :love:

[TDS373X]

I also take a dd 5.5 and a DM 65+ when I go . Mom usually only goes every other year with us. last year we were at both St Pete beach and Sanibel. She loved St Pete Beach!! as did I and we are making plans to go back next year. Mom REALLY enjoyed walking on the beach early in the mornings very peaceful and beautiful she still talks about it. There did seem to be a greater number of folks her age there than the other beaches we'd been too(daytona and cocoa) and she didn't seem to feel as self conscious of being in a bathing suit or shorts. We did a dolphin/shelling cruise one afternoon that was great for all of us. it goes out to a private bird sancutary for you to pick up shells and we saw lots of dolphins. We also drove into Tampa one afternoon to the Aquarium and stopped at St Pete Pier on the way home so dd could feed the pelicans. We went to Sanibel when we went to visit my cousin in Ft Meyers. It was someplace mom had always wanted to go to see what all the fuss was about. Once we got there she was like "what's the big deal?' We we there last May before the hurricanes and from what I understand from my cousin Sanibel took quite a hit from the first one, Charley I think,so it may not be what it once was I'm not sure how quickly they may have rebuilt I know that he is still waiting to have the damage on his house repaired. My vote is St Pete Beach...I have a coworker whose retired parents are devoted to Cedar Key :maleficen

[NotUrsula]

Just so you know, the SW coast of Florida has been having a HORRENDOUS (and very unusual) Red Tide problem this year. There has been RT measured in fish-kill levels all the way from Ft. Myers to Clearwater, and much of it has been there since January. I was just at Honeymoon Island 10 days ago, and though the levels that far north were measuring "very low", and not killing fish, they do make your eyes sting pretty badly if you swim. Check this site for measurements before you make your plans: http://www.floridamarine.org/features/view_article.asp?id=9670

The closest beach to Orlando, in drive-time, is usually Daytona, especially if you take 417. (I find that we tend to get caught in traffic going to Cocoa.) If you stick to the south end of Daytona Beach Shores, or Ormond Beach at the north end of the Island, it will be much calmer than Daytona proper. You could also try slightly further south, at New Smyrna Beach, but that is mostly condos. For the sort of Mom & Pop accomodations you want, I suggest you try places that are members of "Superior Small Lodgings", http://www.superiorsmalllodgings.com/

One caveat re: Daytona. The water is turning out to be a tad more dangerous than normal there this year. There have been at least two shark bites reported in the area, and there have been over 1000 rip-current rescues there this summer as well. (The theory is that the hurricanes flattened out the beach a bit, upping the number of rip currents.) It doesn't mean don't go there, it just means that you should be sure to educate yourself about what to do if you encounter a rip current, and circumstances under which it is best to stay out of the water.
http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/
http://www.floridamarine.org/features/view_article.asp?id=12849

[k_k_100]

:cheer2: Siesta Key!!!!! :cheer2: It is our absolute FAVORITE! The beach is great for kids. The sunsets are second to none - it is the only place where I've scheduled my entire day around a sunset :cloud9: It is laid back & beachy. The sand.... :love: :love: :love: powdered sugar is the most accurate description I can think of.

We spend a week there every year before we go to Disney for 4 nights. We fly into Sarasota - It's also easy to fly into Tampa or Ft. Meyers (both about 1 hr. drive) then fly home from Orlando. Sarasota also has beautiful beaches - we used to go to Longboat Key - before we discovered Siesta :sunny:


http://www.siestakeychamber.com/lessweek.htm

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/k_k_100/a33d6156.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/k_k_100/5768efd6.jpg

[Dizneydaz]

:cheer2: Siesta Key!!!!! :cheer2: It is our absolute FAVORITE! The beach is great for kids. The sunsets are second to none - it is the only place where I've scheduled my entire day around a sunset :cloud9: It is laid back & beachy. The sand.... :love: :love: :love: powdered sugar is the most accurate description I can think of.

We spend a week there every year before we go to Disney for 4 nights. We fly into Sarasota - It's also easy to fly into Tampa or Ft. Meyers (both about 1 hr. drive) then fly home from Orlando. Sarasota also has beautiful beaches - we used to go to Longboat Key - before we discovered Siesta :sunny:


http://www.siestakeychamber.com/lessweek.htm


Siesta Key looks great! Where have you stayed?

43 days and counting! :Pinkbounc

[k_k_100]

We have always stayed in places that have 3+ br - there are 9 of us. We have finally settled down in a condo @ Siesta Breakers. We have also stayed @ Crescent Arms & Siesta Sands (on Point of Rocks) Siesta Sands http://www.floridarent.com/siestasands.htm might rent for less then a week (off season)- We really loved it there. It is at the very end of the beach & has a somewhat secluded feel. It is only about 6 stories high. The units are privately owned but managed by a small main office.

You will find a lot of "condo's" on the beach - they wouldn't work for you since most of them have at least a 1-week min. During the season most of them have 2-weeks - 1-month minimum. The only thing you won't find are the large hotel chains - eg. Holiday Inn, Hilton, etc. The "high rises" are all private luxury condos - and are not really that high.

There really are a lot of "Mom & Pop" type places. Most of them are cute bungalo's. Check out the web sites. I would try to stay away from the Turtle Beach area - it just isn't the same as Crescent Beach.

Go ENJOY!!! & have a drink at the Daiquiri Deck for me :drinking1

[Dizneydaz]

We have always stayed in places that have 3+ br - there are 9 of us. We have finally settled down in a condo @ Siesta Breakers. We have also stayed @ Crescent Arms & Siesta Sands (on Point of Rocks) Siesta Sands http://www.floridarent.com/siestasands.htm

There really are a lot of "Mom & Pop" type places. Most of them are cute bungalo's. Check out the web sites. I would try to stay away from the Turtle Beach area - it just isn't the same as Crescent Beach.

Go ENJOY!!! & have a drink at the Daiquiri Deck for me :drinking1

Thanks and cheers! :drinking1

41 days and counting!