Atlantic or Gulf Coast Beach?

[FreddyBeach]

Hi all,

We will try to spend a day at the beach while we are in Florida next month. I am leaning toward the Gulf Coast beaches (Clearwater, Treasure Island, Fort de Soto) just because they seem to look so... caribbean in the pictures I've seen (clear blue water, white powder beaches)

Is there something I should know about the Atlantic beaches that might swing my opinion in that direction?

Thanks

Mike in the Maritimes.

 

[CPM]

Here's a picture of my son on Sunny Isles Beach on the East Coast, North Miami area.
As Carribean as it gets!

 

[PavelB]

CPM,
Sunny Isles looks beautiful. Can I ask what hotel you stayed at?
We have to go to the Miami area before our trip to WDW this July.
There will be 10 of us, 4 parents and 6 kids ages 14, 15, 17, 19, 20 and 21.
I have been going crazy the last 2 days looking for a hotel that would be:
1. within 45 minutes of the Miami Beach Convention Center
2. on the beach
3. fitness room
4. tennis - would be nice but not a deal breaker
5. a good size hotel with restaurants and shops
It seem like every hotel I look up is undergoing some kind of renovation or needs renovation - Eden Roc, Marriot South Beach etc.
Has anyone ever been to the Loews in Sunny Isles? The Westin in Hollywood?
The Lago Mar in Ft. Lauderdale? - my sister suggested the Lago Mar but the reviews I have found all seem a little negative.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks in advance.

 

[CPM]

PavelB,

We actually own a condo on the beach there. I just love it.

There is a Trump Sonesta Beach with all the criteria you mentioned above right down the street. Not sure about the tennis part.
http://www.sonesta.com/SunnyIsles/index.cfm?fa=RatesPackages.home&1=1#roomforromance

There is a Meridian
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/lemeridien/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1910

and a Doubletree. http://doubletree.hilton.com/en/dt/...2VCQKIYFCVUUC?ctyhocn=MIAOPDT&ctyhocn=MIAOPDT

I wasn't aware of a Loew's in Sunny Isles, but everything is being renovated and changing hands. I'll have to look it up and see where it is.

The Hollywood Westin Diplomat is beautiful! http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1402

There is also a Ramada Inn Marco Polo on Sunny Isles Beach, it's much older and I'm not sure of the condition.
My friend stayed at the Hollywood Beach Marriott, it was a smaller hotel, but very nice and upated.http://marriott.com/hotels/travel/fllof-hollywood-beach-marriott/

I hope this helps. Let me know if you need any more assistance.

 

[CPM]

I found the Meridian in the background of one of my photos.

The tall white building. The kids were looking at a turtle they found on the beach. That's why the perplexed look. lol

 

[FreddyBeach]

Here's a picture of my son on Sunny Isles Beach on the East Coast, North Miami area.
As Carribean as it gets!

Great Pic... But from the pic, the beach appears more granular and brown... The white sand beaches on the Gulf Coast are drawing me in still... is there anything else that should convince me to come East? What does the Atlantic Coast have that the Gulf Coast doesn't?

Thanks for the input!

Mike in the Maritimes (East Coast!)

 

[CPM]

You're right, it's not as powdery.
I actually live near the beach in Ft. Myers. I'm not a fan out the powder. It gets everywhere and sticks to you. lol It does feel nice on the feet.
Personally, I'm a city girl and I love the fast pace of the East Coast. I hate that the West Coast closes up by 9:00! lol
It's two different worlds.
So, you really have to chose what is best for you.
Plus, are you visiting while at WDW? If so, You have to pick what is closest for you and where you are cpmfortable driving to.

Siesta Key is a beautiful west coast beach, that is a reasonable distance from WDW.

 

[PavelB]

CPM, thank you for the info. I just realized that the Loews is in South Beach - it was the Trump Sonesta that we were looking at.
Do you know anything about the Lago Mar? I know it is a little further from the convention center but I think it would be ok. We only have to go down one day. It looks really nice in the guide.
Thanks again.

 

[CPM]

CPM, thank you for the info. I just realized that the Loews is in South Beach - it was the Trump Sonesta that we were looking at.
Do you know anything about the Lago Mar? I know it is a little further from the convention center but I think it would be ok. We only have to go down one day. It looks really nice in the guide.
Thanks again.

I've heard mixed reviews. It's quite a bit farther too.

 

[perd]

NO comparison. The gulf coast beaches are better hands down. We always go to the Destin/Seaside/Seagrove/Rosemary Beach area. Beautiful. Went to Cocoa Beach instead once and it's just not the same. Gulf coast: Water blue-green and white sand. Atlantic coast: Brown sand/brown water. We have also been to other Atlantic coast beaches - Daytona, Fort Lauderdale. Gulf coast is much prettier.

 

[Pembo]

We've been to Holmes Beach on the gulf the past two years and just last week we went to St Augustine Beach on the Atlantic. I definitely vote for the gulf. Both are beautiful however I loved seeing sunsets on the gulf and the sand is softer.

 

[CPM]

NO comparison. The gulf coast beaches are better hands down. We always go to the Destin/Seaside/Seagrove/Rosemary Beach area. Beautiful. Went to Cocoa Beach instead once and it's just not the same. Gulf coast: Water blue-green and white sand. Atlantic coast: Brown sand/brown water. We have also been to other Atlantic coast beaches - Daytona, Fort Lauderdale. Gulf coast is much prettier.

Brown water in the Atlantic? Maybe way up north and it's not the water that's brown, it's the sand under it. See my Atlantic pix above. It's always beautiful blue. I spend the enitire summer on it.
it's really just a matter of preference.
I live about 2 miles from Sanibel, where people pay a fortune to go to. To me, it's just eh. But, that's my personal opinion.

 

[*disgal*]

Hi all,

We will try to spend a day at the beach while we are in Florida next month. I am leaning toward the Gulf Coast beaches (Clearwater, Treasure Island, Fort de Soto) just because they seem to look so... caribbean in the pictures I've seen (clear blue water, white powder beaches)

Is there something I should know about the Atlantic beaches that might swing my opinion in that direction?

Thanks

Mike in the Maritimes.

We are doing the same thing in August. We are leaning toward going to Sand Key Beach Park.

I've been to both sides of Florida and to me, the only thing that East coast has over west coast when you are at Disney, is the shorter drive. That's just us though.

 

[*disgal*]

oh, and east coast is also advantageous if you are going to Kennedy Space Center.

 

[mommyseven]

The nicest beaches in Florida are on the Gulf Coast up in the Panhandle (Northwest Florida). The water is blue/green and warm. The sand is fluffy and bright white with a consistency similar to sugar.

Of course I was born and raised on those beaches (Fort Walton/Destin), so I am quite biased. However, I've been to many other beaches and they just weren't the same.

As long as you all have fun wherever you go, I don't think you can make a wrong decision.

 

[Amity 3]

Siesta Key, end of debate.

 

[Aimerskoeh]

I am thinking of going to Daytona Beach for a day while I am the Florida area. Just wondering if anyone has any comments good or bad about it

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I would think the other difference might be in the waves. If I were a boogie board/body surfing kind of person I might go with the Atlantic over the Gulf. The gulf beaches are beautiful but it seemed to me the salinity was higher in the gulf waters. But if you are looking for something that looks different I'd go with the Gulf. Wasn't one of the state beaches south of St. Pete (sorry can't remember the town names to the south) named one of the best beaches to go to? From a sun, sand, surf perspective...not a things to do perspective.

 

[Amity 3]

I am thinking of going to Daytona Beach for a day while I am the Florida area. Just wondering if anyone has any comments good or bad about it

at the main area of Daytona, the parking is bad unless you're staying at one of the resorts. parking on the side streets is monitored by police, if you don't have a resident pass they'll tow you.

they have a nice shopping/dining complex with a johnny rockets, bubba gump, adobe gila's.

the beach at high tide is very narrow, but it has pretty nice surf.

 

[Amity 3]

Wasn't one of the state beaches south of St. Pete (sorry can't remember the town names to the south) named one of the best beaches to go to? From a sun, sand, surf perspective...not a things to do perspective.

fort desoto