Florida Beaches-where to go?

[JBurke]

How are the waves on the Gulf side compared to the Atlantic side?

 

[auntie]

Gulf coast, is calmer..and the water is much warmer! More of an aqua/blue color in the warmer months. LOVE IT. Waves are there..but much easier to swim in. You don't get beat up by the waves. We live on Long Island..so I go to the beaches here fairly often. I have gone to Florida East coast Atlantic beaches..and frankly, they weren't that different from here...except if you go further south in Fl.
We started vacationing in Anna Maria about two years ago..and were hooked on the gulf coast. Years ago, we went to Clearwater and the beach there was nice..but if you go just a little further south, it's much more relaxing and has to me at least...a more tropical feel.
It is said of Anna Maria..it's sort of like Key West..without the crowds. Although..I think that's starting to change as well. Its about 40 minutes south of Tampa.

 

[mamamary]

Another vote for the gulf side beaches.

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

Gulf because, well, I LIVE THERE!

 

[perdidobay]

I'd have to agree with everyone who prefers Gulf coast beaches.

To the poster who asked about a beach that compares to the Bahamas.. anywhere from Fort Walton Beach to St Andrews State Park.

 

[Mickey527]

It really depends on what you are looking for in a Beach. Are you hoping to find shells and stuff? Do you want nice white sand and blue water? Do you want to drive onto the beach? I could go on..
Gulf Beaches can't be beat. white sand, soft and cool, and blue water. You can go to beaches that specialize in sharks teeth, or sand dollars, or even shells. You won't find all three at one beach, or at least I haven't run across any.
I always took my boys for a week at the beaches and we drove to different ones. They loved the Naples Beaches for sharks teeth. We went to Sanibel Island for shells, and Siesta Key and Lover's Key we found sand dollars. All the beaches were within an hour or two driving time and since I love to drive I never minded.
On the Ocean side, you will find the sand is coarser and harder to walk on, more rocks, and lots of seaweed in the water. Since we live in CT along the ocean we found these beaches were no different than what we had at home except the water was a little warmer. Oh, and jellyfish, I hate jellyfish and never saw any in the gulf although others may say they are there.
Can you guess which we preferred?

 

[DisneyMim]

We love the Gulf Coast. Captiva Island is beautiful, as is Sanibel. The whole coast is wonderful from Destin, Indian Rocks, St. Pets's, and all in between!! I think you will love any of the beaches that everyone has talked about on this thread. Have a wonderful time!!

 

[DisneyCrazy915]

Another vote for the gulf beaches, but then again I'm biased I'd say Siesta Key for best sand, Sand Key for least crowded, and Clearwater for overall beach experience

 

[Wendy*Darling]

We love Destin! Beautiful beaches and very family-friendly area. We spent a week there with my parents last year. We rented a condo through ResortQuest and it worked out really well. Through resort quest we got coupons for all sorts of attractions, usually one free ticket or one free adult and one free child. We spent a couple of days at Big Kahuna water park and had a free ticket for one person each day (they were handing out coupons in the parking lot for buy one get one free season passes so we got season passes for all but one of us which saved quite a bit!). My Dad and my husband took our boys out deep sea fishing and we had a coupon for one adult and one child free each day (they all went together but could have done separate to all go free).

The kids are begging to go back again this summer.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

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!

I don't think you need to worry.

OP just asked between the two--very different beaches and for something nice to enjoy if given an option--Gulf Coast is it. Though I like the waves, I prefer a more placid place if I were to actually enter the water for a swim.

Daytona will be fine. Big shoreline (I believe compared to my narrow shoreline where I am at in Brevard). My kids enjoy our Atlantic Coast Beach--but I really do not let them go in very far. I let them wade a little further at the gulf coast beach.

Atlantic Coast, you will definitely catch waves.

I'd keep your reservations the same.

 

[Pikester]

I've only ever been to Ft. Meyers on the Gulf side but I have been to Daytona. I say go to a Gulf side beach.

 

[mhsjax]

It depends on what you and your family want. I can't argue that the Gulf is BEAUTIFUL. The white sand and the water is great, but it is pretty flat. My kids can't stand to go to a beach with no real waves, They get bored at Castaway Cay(blasphemy), they like to boggie board. If it were up to me I would go to the gulf. I live on the east coast so that is where we usually go.

 

[paintnolish]

We haven't been to Daytona in a few years, but it was fine for a day or two. I think it is a little run down in some areas (the town) and can't imagine being there during a busy time. It was just fine for playing in the ocean and building sand castles in the off season.

 

[smidgy]

we were only once at the beach, St. Augustine Beach, for one night. It was nice. we drove onto it (4 wheel drive), and there was a little bar/restaurant right on the beach.

or, why don't you try renting DVD points for Disney's Vero Beach?

 

[dbriggsq]

Another vote for the Gulf beaches - anywhere from Venice to Anna Maria Island.

I can think of nowhere I would like to be than at the Sandbar restaurant at the north of Anna Maria, at sunset, sipping a cold beer and enjoying a lovely meal.

 

[lukenick1]

Wasn't there a shark attack in Destin a few years back???? Thats what scares me about Florida waters...... Or any ocean waters......

 

[duranfan]

Yeah, as a Vero Beach resident I was wondering why only a few mentioned the VB resort. If you want a beautiful private beach is a small sea side town its great but be aware this is a VERY wealth town and things are expensive. Homes in the area of the VB resort go up to $20 million plus. But the resort is wonderful and as long as you're not looking for big city night life its great. We also have the intercoastal river. This is a VERY natural beach enviroment. Its called the Treasure Coast area because of all the ships that sank. Occassionally people find Spanish coins/ect. on or near Disney property. Theres NO tall building allowed in the VB area, Vero long ago realized they did not want to become the next Ft. Lauderdale and banned tall building after the only set of 13 story twin condos were constructed in the 1970s (not near Disney property).

Daytona, ok Daytona has its cheezy side and check the online chamber news to make sure its not bike week or something crazy thats not family oriented. However, I like the beach to walk on. Theres stuff to do, rent bikes, golf carts ect. It can be VERY inexpensive though I would stay at one of the better hotels the local hotels can be major dives. So really read reviews online. Daytona is the total opposite of Vero, its touristy and gimicky.

Ft. Myers/Sanibel famous for shelling and great beaches but its a LONG way from Disney.
I havent been to Destin since the boom but isnt that called the Red Neck Riveria. While things look good on tv, it looks VERY crowded with high rises to me. Like a tourist trap.
There is a difference remember east coast is the ocean, you have more an island feel at the beach I think due to sea breezes, you may have waves depending on the season/weather. I don't think theres any true best beach it depends what you want.
I think Clearwater is also suppose to be pretty nice but again its a bigger place with a lot of traffic.

FAR AS SAFETY, never swim if there are rip tide warnings. People ignore them when they happen and either drown or near drown. Sharks usually aren't to big a problem. Again, guarded beaches like the ones at Vero have updates throughout the day on what to watch out for and flags showing the levels of safety of being in the ocean. Be sure not to wear jewelry/metallics as that attracts sharks if they're around.

 

[MIGrandma]

Sad to see negative about Daytona Beach. DH and I Daytona!

We spend 3-4 nights there every time we go to Florida, it's one of our favorite places to go. We always stay at an oceanfront (make sure it's oceanfront and not just oceanview - big difference!) hotel (Desert Inn, it used to be kind of run-down but has been renovated, also Comfort Inn and The Cove, which is condos). Love having the balcony door open to hear the sound of the waves in the ocean. Love walking (and driving!!, not many beaches you can actually drive on!) on the beach and there is a lot to do there entertainment wise, or you can just walk the beach and hang out at the pool and relax. Quite a few good restaurants too (we love Crabby Joe's, which is built out over the water, and Barnacle's, and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. which is in the Oceanwalk area). We enjoy driving out to the lighthouse, and walking out onto the fishing piers too. If you're at all into NASCAR you can take a tour of the Daytona race track too.

 

[Jane-in-PA]

Definitely the panhandle Gulf (Emerald Coast) beaches!!

http://www.destin-fwb.com/

 

[samshane]

We lived in Pensacola for 3yrs and Destin was one of our favorite RV vacation spots. I can't judge Daytona as I have never been there - but Destin was beautiful and we loved it there.