Florida - aqua water - white sand?

[mrsboz]

My husband would like to go to Florida down the gulf coast where the water is aqua and the sand is white. Does anyone know of a place where we can go that sounds like this? We would love to go to a place where we can stay in a hotel and walk everywhere and hopefully stay right on the beach. Anyone have any ideas? Thank you.

 

[librarymom2007]

Destin looks like this!! It is gorgeous. Next time I want to stay in Seaside. It's just as beautiful if not more so and you can rent a cottage by the beach and walk to this little town square.

 

[Alesia]

Fort Walton is just across the bay from Destin. The beaches are much less crowded, but there's less nightlife, too. We stay at the Royal Plaza Beach Resort, which is right on the beach and within walking distance to quite a few places.

 

[havaneselover]

Naples is amazing but very expensive. Same with Marco Island.

 

[okeydokey]

Destin and further west on the Florida Panhandle. The more east you stay, the more gray and less green the water looks.

 

[FINFAN]

Naples is amazing but very expensive. Same with Marco Island.

+1... but worth it! Same with Sanibel/Captiva...but if you are willing to stay a few blocks inland from the beach you can find some very nice hotels.

Siesta Key is also very nice and the beach itself is quite large. The Lido Beach Resort is right on the beach in Lido Key and it can be reasonably priced

 

[monorailsilver]

I want to add the the Naples, marco, sanibel, ft. Myers area....the water isn't blue, Aqua blue. Yes we see some blues n it but it's not carribean blue.

My sister lives in ft. Myers and I can't remember if it was last year or the year before but she went out to sanibel a few weeks prior to our visit and said the water wasn't great, aka pretty. When we went and drove over the causeway you could see the blue/green hue and then she came with us another day that trip and was amazed at how much Better the water looked.

But that being said, I love the gulf coast of FL. It's more laid back then the Atlantic beaches. I liked it when I was 18 and I like it now that I am 43.

I am headed to costa caya or whatever it is called in about 10 days which is the island north of captiva so I am curious to see if there is any change in water color. We are only going for the day as we are renting a boat. But I think the water will be a little different because it will be getting less of a run off from lake okeechobee.

 

[Planogirl]

You can find that in many places along the Gulf. Even Panama City has amazing beaches but it's a bit carnival-like.

 

[JustCor]

Without a doubt, Siesta Key. It's white, baby powder fine sands and some of the clearest waters I've seen. I love visiting there.

 

[havaneselover]

I want to add the the Naples, marco, sanibel, ft. Myers area....the water isn't blue, Aqua blue. Yes we see some blues n it but it's not carribean blue.

My sister lives in ft. Myers and I can't remember if it was last year or the year before but she went out to sanibel a few weeks prior to our visit and said the water wasn't great, aka pretty. When we went and drove over the causeway you could see the blue/green hue and then she came with us another day that trip and was amazed at how much Better the water looked.

But that being said, I love the gulf coast of FL. It's more laid back then the Atlantic beaches. I liked it when I was 18 and I like it now that I am 43.

I am headed to costa caya or whatever it is called in about 10 days which is the island north of captiva so I am curious to see if there is any change in water color. We are only going for the day as we are renting a boat. But I think the water will be a little different because it will be getting less of a run off from lake okeechobee.

My parents have had a house in Naples since the late 80s. I'd describe the water as aqua. YMMV.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I remember Destin and Fort Walton Beach both having white sand. I believe (it has been a long time but if memory serves me correctly) Pensacola had white sand.

 

[Pinfeathers & Golly Fluff]

Another vote for Siesta Key!! We love it there! Check out the Siesta Dunes condos on Midnight Pass. Smack in the middle of Crescent Beach and a short Johnny's Cab ride away from downtown.

 

[The Princess]

Marco Island is wonderful!

 

[dprincessmom]

Destin, FWB, Okaloosa Island - all beautiful. If you have flexible dates - book after Labor Day - prices and crowds will drop and it will still be warm enough to enjoy (room rates as much as 60% less)

 

[Kies99]

Destin and the area's east and west of it are not called The Emerald Coast for nothing! On a good day when the surf isn't churned up from storms, the water is a beautiful, Emerald green. Beaches are nice white sand.

 

[FLCyndi]

San Destin, Destin. Great beaches, great shopping, great eating.

 

[Hummingbird]

We love Siesta Key too. But our favorite is Anna Maria Island.

 

[WeLuvTink!]

Without a doubt, Siesta Key. It's white, baby powder fine sands and some of the clearest waters I've seen. I love visiting there.

DITTO! Siesta Key without a doubt.

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

Siesta Key

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Panama City Beach (see my avatar) is like that as long as the water isn't churned up (but that's true anywhere on the Gulf).

Another option is Alabama - Orange Beach/Gulf Shores.