Gulf Coast Beaches?

[golfgal]

Looking for ideas for gulf coast beaches-any state but not Mexico-for a quick trip at the end of March. It is still somewhat up in the air if we are going or not but DD and I might take a quick beach/golf trip. A friend of hers family may be going to Florida and if they do they are taking her with. If they don't, I am going to take her somewhere. She wants golf and a beach where she can get a tan . I am looking for reasonable lodging on the ocean. I have been to Marco Island and Naples in Florida and would go back there but looking for other ideas too.

San Diego is also an option but it isn't as warm there usually. Phoenix is in the running as well but obviously no beach there but she said a nice pool would be ok too .

 

[tlmdisney]

Anna Marie Island. It is lovely here the beaches are gorgeous. Sarasota is also very nice. There are a ton of golf courses all around here as well.

 

[meliss8599]

Sanibel and Captiva Islands have many condos and resort-like areas right on the beach. So does Fr. Myers Beach which is more moderately priced.

 

[amyren]

Personally I love the Destin area. Sea Side (where they filmed The Truman Show) is adorable, Seagrove is also nice and really close to downtown Destin.

 

[stevenpensacola]

I'm personally fond of Pensacola Beach/Gulf Islands National Seashore.

www.visitpensacolabeach.com

http://www.nps.gov/guis/planyourvisit/fort-pickens.htm

We've got one of most impressive museums in the nation:

http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/

and it's FREE!

If you time your visit to the museum right, you can even watch the Blue Angels Practice:

2011 Blue Angel practice schedule released:
March 16, 22, 23, 29, 30
April 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 22, 26, 27
May 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 31 May 3 and 4 - Special practices in Pensacola celebrating the Centennial of Naval Aviation.
June 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22
July 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 July 9 - Pensacola Beach Air Show
August 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 30, 31
September 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27
October 19, 25, 26
November 1, 2, 8
November 11, 12 - Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show, NAS Pensacola

 

[NotUrsula]

Depending on where you're from, the Panhandle beaches might be a tad chilly for sunbathing in March. Plenty of golf, though.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Depending on where you're from, the Panhandle beaches might be a tad chilly for sunbathing in March. Plenty of golf, though.

That's what I was thinking too.

We love to go to Gulf Shores/Orange Beach here in Alabama. It feels like home to us because we have our favorite places to stay and favorite places to eat, and it's very laid back.

Last year we went to Panama City Beach, FL with my DD's cheer team and I really liked it too. It had been years since I had been because it had a rundown feeling to me, but they have really cleaned it up and built some very nice places down there to eat and shop at.

Pensacola and Destin are both nice places to go to also.

 

[golfgal]

Depending on where you're from, the Panhandle beaches might be a tad chilly for sunbathing in March. Plenty of golf, though.

Define "chilly". We are coming from Minnesota

 

[Art 1]

Checkout the Longboat Key Club near Sarasota. They have a golf course on property. We have stayed there many times, it's wonderful. A few months ago we stayed at the Holliday in on Lido Key, it is a few miles south of Longboat Key. Nice and clean, you can walk to St. Armands Circle from there.

 

[doxdogy]

Years ago I went with a friend and her family to Mexico Beach in the Panhandle. It was a beautiful area. I am including a link below. However, this was over thirty years ago. Hopefully, others on this board may live in the area and give you a better idea of the area. I also have an old friend that now lives in the area and I can always ask her. Unfortunately, the weather in Florida in March is a crap shoot. It can be hot and humid or cold.

http://www.mexicobeach.com/cdc/index.cfm

 

[stevenpensacola]

Depending on where you're from, the Panhandle beaches might be a tad chilly for sunbathing in March. Plenty of golf, though.

You're very correct about being possibly chilly in March. It can be very hit and miss that time of the year here. It all depends on the wind.

Usually around March is when we locals began to get beach fever...yes, people who live near the beach suffer from this affliction also

It can be beautiful at home...10 miles inland...but if there is a breeze at home...it will be howling at the beach, and you'll freeze out there.

Yet vistors, mostly from up north, seem to be better able to tolerate the cold, and many even swim...even though it's still a mite cool for us natives.

The half-tent things are really nice to use at the beach this time of year. If you can stay in the sun, yet out of the wind, it can be really nice. Great time to visit Fort Pickens without sweating.

 

[FINFAN]

go back to Naples...you need to be further south for best odds of the beach days.

 

[tegdig]

Checkout the Longboat Key Club near Sarasota. They have a golf course on property. We have stayed there many times, it's wonderful. A few months ago we stayed at the Holliday in on Lido Key, it is a few miles south of Longboat Key. Nice and clean, you can walk to St. Armands Circle from there.

just got back from the Sarasota area. We usually stay on Siesta Key but were only going to be in the area for a couple of days rather than a week stay that our condo on Siesta requires. We stayed at the Holiday Inn on Lido Beach. It was our first time there. We loved it. Had a beachfront room and it was wonderful. The location is so central to the Sarasota area. We loved being able to walk to St. Armands. That weekend there happened to be an art festival going on so it was really fun. We saw so many dolphins from our room and also while walking on Siesta Key Beach. This is my favorite beach area by far. We also stayed on Sanibel, and while we love being there, the beach does not compare to the beaches of the Sarasota area. Lots of golf in the area.

 

[bgirldeb]

The panhandle beaches are the nicest in FL IMO. The temps range between 46-71 degrees on average in March. There is a new airport, the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport in Panama City. We prefer to stay on 30-A in South Walton.

 

[palavra]

St George Island off the coast of Appalachicola, Florida on the panhandle is a beautiful place to go. There are a few condo rental places on the island, but most people rent a house. Go to VRBO and check out St. George Island. We've rented a house there twice and had a great vacation. The beaches are among the prettiest in the world!

Even though you are coming from Minnesota, the wind from the ocean can make outdoor activities chilly in March. We visited in mid-April on one trip and couldn't swim in the ocean a couple of days because it was too cold and breezy.