Florida Beaches-where to go?

[JBurke]

We are planning a summer road trip to Florida from Chicago for hubby, me and 3 kids.
I want to hit WDW for 5 days, but also want to go to the beach.

I have never been to any beaches in Florida. The two I am considering are Destin, FL or Daytona Beach, FL.

Destin is a shorter drive from Chicago, but longer to WDW. Daytona a longer drive from Chicago, but closer to WDW. One is the Gulf, one the Atlantic.

Can anyone give me ideas on which is better, or another option?
Any thoughts on hotels? I would prefer something nice and on the beach.
Thanks for any help!!

 

[parrotbay]

The Beaches of South Walton.... which is between Panama City Beach & Destin on Hwy 30-A. They are very nice & not as crowded. Some of the beaches to look up...

Seaside Beach
Seagrove Beach
Rosemary Beach
Blue Mountain Beach
Allys Beach

We use VRBO.

 

[PrincessTeresa]

You can't beat those sugary white beaches of the Gulf!!

 

[palmtreegirl]

Stay away from Daytona. If you want an east coast beach close to Disney go to New Smyrna Beach, much nicer then Daytona.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

The beaches in Destin are gorgeous. It is part of the Emerald Coast. It will be crowded as a summer destination--but it is pretty over there.

 

[lukenick1]

Im interested tooo

 

[ChristaDeVil]

I like New Smyrna Beach. My FIL has a condo there. It's a little less crowded than some of the others you named. Also, close enough to Daytona that you can drive over and see some of the sights or whatever.

(I'm partial to Orange Beach, AL, but you didn't ask about Alabama beaches!)

 

[Chris2597]

Jupiter Fla. has the prettiest and most diverse beaches in my opinion. Of course you would have to drive further south, but it is worth it. The beaches are gorgeous, the area not overly crowded. The area has beautiful sandy beaches and also a spectacular beach, called Blowing Rocks, with beautiful rock formation where the surf come through. Blowing Rocks really isnt a swimming beach but is beautiful. Jupiter, Juno, and Dubois are great family beaches.

 

[ccgirl]

It's about a 2 hour drive but I LOVE Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota!

 

[lillygator]

It's about a 2 hour drive but I LOVE Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota!

 

[Wishing on a star]

OMG....

NO contest...

Destin area is just gorgeous, clean, more upscale...

Daytona... I would never even consider going there...

PS: the drive from the Emerald Coast on I-10 over to hit I-75 is longer than one would think... And, NOTHING but places like Hardee's...
Leave early, and eat before you hit the road!

 

[Magic Mom]

The Gulf beaches are entirely better than the East coast beaches.

 

[lukenick1]

Any recommendations on what beach is the nicest and comparable to Bahamas in the panhandle???? Any good resorts there??

 

[JBurke]

I like New Smyrna Beach. My FIL has a condo there. It's a little less crowded than some of the others you named. Also, close enough to Daytona that you can drive over and see some of the sights or whatever.

(I'm partial to Orange Beach, AL, but you didn't ask about Alabama beaches!)

Any hotels/resorts you could recommend?

 

[minkydog]

Any beach from Pensacola to Panama City is going to be beautiful. We used to live down there, so we never stayed at hotels. When we were transferred to FT Lauderdale we were soooo disappointed with the brown, ground-up shell sand. We are totally spoiled to clear green water and sugary white sand found in the Gulf of Mexico.

 

[ChristaDeVil]

Any hotels/resorts you could recommend?

His condo is at the "Islander". It's an older complex, but very clean and nice. The pool area and the decks leading out to the beach are really nice.

There's a Holiday Inn there that looked nice, as well.

 

[momof2lilboys]

Can I ask why you don't like Daytonna? I've got a reservation in a hotel there the day after disney, we wanted to take the kids to the beach since they've never been, for a day before we start our drive home. If there is some where better I need to cancel my hotel reservation lol!

 

[bgirldeb]

The Beaches of South Walton.... which is between Panama City Beach & Destin on Hwy 30-A. They are very nice & not as crowded. Some of the beaches to look up...

Seaside Beach
Seagrove Beach
Rosemary Beach
Blue Mountain Beach
Allys Beach

We use VRBO.

 

[auntie]

It's about a 2 hour drive but I LOVE Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota!

We vacation in Anna Maria Island..another barrier island off the gulf coast. BEAUTIFUL beach. Worth the trip.

 

[auntie]

You can't beat those sugary white beaches of the Gulf!!

I agree...we like them much better than the Atlantic East coast beaches.