Best Florida Gulf Coast Beach?

[tink's girls]

Hello fellow dissers! My family and I are planning a trip to the gulf coast of florida next summer. We are looking into Tampa, Fort Myers, and Sanibel Island for starters. Then I thought - I bet the smart folks on the Dis boards would have great suggestions! We are looking for a family friendly place with lots to do. We want to be on the beach and on the gulf side of Florida. Although it would be nice, we don't want to go down as far as the Keys. We would like to go to Busch Gardens in Tampa and shelling at Sanibel, but are open to staying anywhere in between. Your advice and opinions would be very much appreciated!

 

[ugadog99]

Well, my favorite beach is a little far away from the area you mentioned. However, you asked for the best, so I'll throw my choice in: Siesta Key. The best beach ever!!

 

[Pembo]

Anna Maria Island - very quiet and very beautiful

 

[Disneylover79]

I live about 5 mins from the Ft. Myers beach but if you can afford it I would suggest Captiva or Sanibel

 

[karenos]

Anna Maria Island - very quiet and very beautiful

I agree! Very relaxing and a great beach for after a trip to WDW.

karenos

 

[Magic Mom]

My answer is always Caldesi.

 

[cabanafrau]

I'm definitely not enough of an expert to definitively answer your question, but I can tell you Captiva and Sanibel are wonderful.

 

[okeydokey]

Destin, Navarre, Santa Rosa, the Panhandle Beaches are just beautiful.

 

[jacksmom]

We just got back from a stay at Clearwater beach! It was really nice! We also took a trip to Caladessi! That was GREAT! Can't wait to go back!

 

[Wall-E1]

Venice Beach - the shark tooth capitol of the world. For some reason, this beach is full of shark's teeth. The kids love it. Venice is just south of Sarasota.

 

[amyren]

Destin, Navarre, Santa Rosa, the Panhandle Beaches are just beautiful.

totally agree. Seagrove is our standard beach. It's just a few miles from Destin. Totally Beautiful.

 

[NookOfTheNorth]

We did a week at Anna Maria Island at the end of June and we loved it! The water was absolutely amazing. (In fact, my husband and I are planning to return in the summer of 2012) We didn't do a ton of stuff because my girls weren't feeling well, but I know on the Trip Advisor forum there is a list of things to do on Anna Maria Island. There is the free trolley (well, bus actually)
that runs on the island.


That being said, we love Siesta Key too. We tend to visit that beach every spring. And, I don't know if the reason we loved Anna Maria Island so much is because we went there when it was swimming weather whereas we have only been to Siesta Key when it was too cold to swim.

 

[bgirldeb]

Destin, Navarre, Santa Rosa, the Panhandle Beaches are just beautiful.

totally agree. Seagrove is our standard beach. It's just a few miles from Destin. Totally Beautiful.

My thoughts exactly!

 

[3Minnies2Mickeys]

Siesta Key wins hands down if you want to stay close enough to visit Tampa and Busch Gardens. It is a beautiful white sand beach. However, Clearwater Beach is also very nice and it has many activities within walking distance of the beach itself. Have fun!

Wendi

 

[Wishing on a star]

The Destin area!!!
Can't beat that white sand and clear, almost caribbean, water!
From Pompano Joe's (check out their website), eastward thru Sandestin....Seaside... (check out their websites too) incredibly gorgeous beach.

I hear that Siesta might almost compare to this area.

We have also recently considered going to Captiva.
Captiva seems to be much more of a laid back, out of the way, subtropical vibe.

If you want shells, then it would have to be Captiva.
The beauty of Destin is the acres of clean clear soft white sand.

For now, Sandestin is winning out, and is the first choice on our RCI exchange requests. We would love to see a new area, but we know how we love this area on the Panhandle. The MUCH longer trip down to Captiva weighs in there too.

 

[MizTink]

http://www.drbeach.org/DetailedList.htm
(siesta is #2 beach in usa)
i live in sarasota so of course i will recommend siesta or lido beach. beautiful and within driving distance of the places you mentioned wanting to see. anna maria is nice too.
venice beach is good for a short visit but i wouldn't plan the whole stay there. the shark teeth are the only attraction, the beach itself kinda sucks! it is fun to just go, maybe for the morning, to collect teeth but the sand isn't even nice.

 

[lillygator]

Well, my favorite beach is a little far away from the area you mentioned. However, you asked for the best, so I'll throw my choice in: Siesta Key. The best beach ever!!

http://www.drbeach.org/DetailedList.htm
(siesta is #2 beach in usa)
i live in sarasota so of course i will recommend siesta or lido beach. beautiful and within driving distance of the places you mentioned wanting to see. anna maria is nice too.
venice beach is good for a short visit but i wouldn't plan the whole stay there. the shark teeth are the only attraction, the beach itself kinda sucks! it is fun to just go, maybe for the morning, to collect teeth but the sand isn't even nice.

 

[acmmommymouse]

Siesta Key is the answer to your question! If I am not staying there, I am on Sanibel Island or WDW!
If you stay at Siesta Key, you will be basically be in the middle of the things you want to do...easy trip to Sanibel, easy trip to Tampa.
As far as the beach itself, nothing will compare to the sand of Siesta Key.
if you stay there, or at the very least visit there, I guarantee you will be back!

 

[golfgal]

Hello fellow dissers! My family and I are planning a trip to the gulf coast of florida next summer. We are looking into Tampa, Fort Myers, and Sanibel Island for starters. Then I thought - I bet the smart folks on the Dis boards would have great suggestions! We are looking for a family friendly place with lots to do. We want to be on the beach and on the gulf side of Florida. Although it would be nice, we don't want to go down as far as the Keys. We would like to go to Busch Gardens in Tampa and shelling at Sanibel, but are open to staying anywhere in between. Your advice and opinions would be very much appreciated!

The beaches in Fort Myers/Marco Island area are big but they are crushed shells and not all that great for walking-you can't go barefoot on them anyway. If you want to collect shells, they are great beaches.

 

[redzinner]

With all the beaches mentioned from Tampa to Ft Myers it is a drive to get to any major attraction like Busch Gardens.
Anna Maria is quiet but really 'out' off of 64.
Bradenton Beach has some nice areas but tends to be a hang-out for rowdies in the evening.
Siesta is beautiful but very crowded in the summer. Unless you stay on the beach it's tough to find a parking space at the pavilion.
Venice beach is nice and I don't know why the previous poster dissed it. There is more to Venice Beach than sharks teeth, especially if you go down to the pier and Sharky's Restaurant. Venice Main Street has lots of little souvenir, ice cream, and specialty shops too.
Longboat Key is our favorite in that strip of beaches. Again you must stay on the beach since there is no parking.

Don't know anything about the panhandle or clearwater area beaches.