Had to cancel cruise...help me plan a different trip

[Nicnicnic.nic]

I wouldn’t recommend Key West as a vacation spot with little kids. There really isn’t much of a beach there it’s mostly bars, shops and hotels, depending on the time of year some festivals are definitely not kid friendly either. Some of the water sports/activities have age restrictions too.

Some of the other keys are better suited for families. Hawks Cay is a favorite spot for many Floridians on a long weekend getaway and has an all inclusive resort type feel but it’s pricey.

Is there another beach area in Florida you would recommend? I'd like to go snorkeling with my older kid and then we could add a couple days at Legoland which the kids would really like.

 

[DCL58]

Has anyone been on a key west vacation?

We love key west. Book a house with a private pool and then book excursions for days on the water. So many great restaurants and bars and the sunsets are some of the prettiest we have ever seen.

We vacation on 30A every summer. We love to stay at watercolor, but seaside and rosemary are also very lovely. Gorgeous white sand beaches, great restaurants and you get around on bikes or golf carts.

We don’t like to vacation at pigeon forge. Feels so cheap and touristy. Just not our thing. Certainly wouldn’t be a good substitute for a Disney cruise for us.

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

We love key west. Book a house with a private pool and then book excursions for days on the water. So many great restaurants and bars and the sunsets are some of the prettiest we have ever seen.

We vacation on 30A every summer. We love to stay at watercolor, but seaside and rosemary are also very lovely. Gorgeous white sand beaches, great restaurants and you get around on bikes or golf carts.

We don’t like to vacation at pigeon forge. Feels so cheap and touristy. Just not our thing. Certainly wouldn’t be a good substitute for a Disney cruise for us.

I just looked up 30a....I have much googling to do now thank you.

 

[DCL58]

I just looked up 30a....I have much googling to do now thank you.

Google the Watercolor Beach club. It is one of our family’s favorite places. We stay at Watercolor for access to the beach club.

 

[princesscinderella]

Is there another beach area in Florida you would recommend? I'd like to go snorkeling with my older kid and then we could add a couple days at Legoland which the kids would really like.

If you want an east coast Atlantic beach in South Florida, Hollywood is one of the best as it has a nice couple mile long pedestrian/bicycle boardwalk lined with restaurants. Ft. Lauderdale has unfortunately suffered a lot of erosion so the beach front stretch is not as wide. South beach is nice but much more overpriced. It would require a 3 hour drive to get to Lego land from south Florida. Daytona and St. Augustine also have beautiful beaches and I believe you can still drive your vehicle right on the beach. The waves do get a little more rough the higher up you go in the state starting around Vero beach area. They are also a bit more natural with more chance of no-seeums which will bite and give you itching welts.

On the west coast St. Petersburg area beaches are nice along the gulf of Mexico and it would put you a lot closer to Lego Land and nearby Tampa has a lot of fun things to offer too, including Busch Gardens.

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

If you want an east coast Atlantic beach in South Florida, Hollywood is one of the best as it has a nice couple mile long pedestrian/bicycle boardwalk lined with restaurants. Ft. Lauderdale has unfortunately suffered a lot of erosion so the beach front stretch is not as wide. South beach is nice but much more overpriced. It would require a 3 hour drive to get to Lego land from south Florida. Daytona and St. Augustine also have beautiful beaches and I believe you can still drive your vehicle right on the beach. The waves do get a little more rough the higher up you go in the state starting around Vero beach area. They are also a bit more natural with more chance of no-seeums which will bite and give you itching welts.

On the west coast St. Petersburg area beaches are nice along the gulf of Mexico and it would put you a lot closer to Lego Land and nearby Tampa has a lot of fun things to offer too, including Busch Gardens.

Any recs for where to stay for st Petersburg?

 

[princesscinderella]

Any recs for where to stay for st Petersburg?

I don’t have any we usually stay in downtown Tampa area.

 

[hardcorestitch]

We love key west. Book a house with a private pool and then book excursions for days on the water. So many great restaurants and bars and the sunsets are some of the prettiest we have ever seen.

We vacation on 30A every summer. We love to stay at watercolor, but seaside and rosemary are also very lovely. Gorgeous white sand beaches, great restaurants and you get around on bikes or golf carts.

We don’t like to vacation at pigeon forge. Feels so cheap and touristy. Just not our thing. Certainly wouldn’t be a good substitute for a Disney cruise for us.

It kind of depends on how you shake it… perhaps if you want to make it less touristy, try scouting for local places you won’t find in your own area…even if it’s a regional chain.

 

[Travel60]

Has anyone been on a key west vacation?

Just returned from a Keys vacation. Two days Key Largo, two days Marathon, three days Key West. It was great but we were two older adults. Not sure it's would have been "special" for kids. Pool and beach, not much else for that age group Hotel/resort prices almost make Disney look cheap. Stayed at a very pricey hotel in Key Largo that should be bull-dozed. If you are driving, it is also a VERY long drive.

 

[DCL58]

It kind of depends on how you shake it… perhaps if you want to make it less touristy, try scouting for local places you won’t find in your own area…even if it’s a regional chain.

I have been there a couple of times - kids wanted to go to Dollywood. Just not a place I would choose to take a nice vacation too. Just not the vibe we generally like. I am sure lots of people love it - just not us.

 

[Travel60]

I had to cancel a cruise we had booked for spring break 2027.

Any ideas on what we should do instead? We have to stay in the US (nothing too remote, we need to be close to a hospital just in case for our son) and I prefer to drive. Anything that's a 12hr drive or less from VA is good with us. We really like the all included feel of a cruise where I don't have to worry about money during vacation. Plus at that time we will have a 7yo and 4yo and they have to like it too. And we want to keep it under 4 grand and I don't want to go anywhere cold.

I saw there's a new all inclusive resort opening in Florida but it doesn't seem very fun for young kids...we like to do activities. And it's on a river...I've always been freaked out swimming in rivers or lakes. I prefer ocean or pools.

Anyway...what should we do?

Have you considered Hilton Head Island or Amelia Island?

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

Have you considered Hilton Head Island or Amelia Island?

So.. actually lol we are going to Disney's Hilton head resort for the first time for a couple days this spring break before we visit family

If we like it a lot (I think we will) it's definitely a consideration

I don't know anything about Amelia island...time to Google