OT- beach vacation in Florida

[renae3]

Hi everyone. We are thinking about doing a beach vacation in Florida this April, and then maybe doing a daytrip to Disney. Anyone have any good areas to go in Florida, beautiful beaches, kid friendly, and lots to do. We are a family of 5 and our kids are 10, 7, and 4. Sometimes staying in a hotel is hard, so we may need larger accommodations Thanks any ideas and suggestions are greatly appreciated!!

 

[tzolkin]

I will be watching this thread.

I am trying to plan a FL (non-Disney trip also in April). Right now we are planning to do 3-4 days in St. Augustine (including beach), 3-4 days at Discovery Cove/Sea World/Aquatica (something we've never done) and then a week on the Gulf Coast (visiting family, Busch Gardens, beaches).

We were looking into Siesta Key, but I'm not sure if it's worth the price for 2 nights. We may just do a day trip to see the beach since my brother only lives a little over an hour away.


I have been going crazy and wasting way too much time looking at Condo/House rentals in both areas (St. Augustine & gulf coast/Tampa area) and if you're staying for a week you can get something nice that is also budget friendly. Our issue is that most places don't rent for anything less than a week during that time of year and those that do have a significantly higher price per night. (3-4 nights costs about the same as a full week)

 

[blessedby3]

I would look at the Gulf side beaches. They are so pretty. My dd just honeymooned in Naples this past July.

 

[scard192]

I would look at the Gulf side beaches. They are so pretty. My dd just honeymooned in Naples this past July.

Gulf beaches are SO pretty - Marco Island/Naples/Ft Myers Beach.

 

[Elleshoodat]

Hi everyone. We are thinking about doing a beach vacation in Florida this April, and then maybe doing a daytrip to Disney. Anyone have any good areas to go in Florida, beautiful beaches, kid friendly, and lots to do. We are a family of 5 and our kids are 10, 7, and 4. Sometimes staying in a hotel is hard, so we may need larger accommodations Thanks any ideas and suggestions are greatly appreciated!!

We live near Anna Maria Island, which is about two hours from Disney World and absolutely beautiful. Siesta Key, which another poster mentioned, is lovely but not as quaint as AMI. There are also gorgeous beaches north of Tampa Bay, including St. Pete Beach. All of them have condos and rental homes as well as hotels.

DH and I took many day trips to WDW before DS was born, and it isn't a bad drive. (Naples, however, is a bit longer. We used to live there, and it's a four-hour trip to WDW.)

Have fun!

 

[LoriKutchey]

you cant go wrong with siesta, longboat or anna maria island. all our close to one another

 

[tlenzendorf]

Oops, missed the day trip to Disney part.

 

[musicluvr40]

We love Treasure Island. We stayed at the Sunset Vistas - was actually recommended on this board years ago. It's right on the Gulf. Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, washer/dryer, full kitchen. We prefer Treasure Island because it is family friendly - wonderful shopping, dining, and a beautiful beach. Sleeps six.

 

[TnTWalter]

here's a blog from when we went to AMI in 2009
http://waltersvisitami.blogspot.com/2009/06/day-1-june-6-2009.html

I have also been to Siesta for a day. Stunning and St Pete for girls trip. Also lovely.

You can't go wrong with gulf beaches.

Trish

 

[gracie1]

Has anyone ever stayed in Deerfield Beach? I am looking at going there, a friend has a place but I know nothing about it.
I know it's between Ft Lauderdale and Miami.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Our favorite beach is HoneyMoon Island on the gulf side. It is kid friendly. You can rent beach equipement such as chairs, umbrella, beach toys. The bathhouse is so so clean. There is a cafe to get a bit to eat. There are more shells than there is sand on the beach. You can walk for miles picking up interesting shells & sea glass.

http://www.floridastateparks.org/honeymoonisland/default.cfm


It is a state park and there is also lots of walking paths.

 

[3pletprincesses]

we stayed at Madeira Beach (Madeira Vista) this past August and liked the place. the beach is beautiful and very quiet. It's about 90 minutes from Disney and 30 minutes from Tampa. We are 2 adults and 6 yo triplets and an infant. If you check their site, you can find out what units are better for you in a way of accommodation and Jack the super is very kind and easy to deal with. Some units are sat-sat and others are any day check in check out. All units have beach view and it's right on the beach. We are thinking about buying a unit there when it become available. They also have videos on youtube for every unit so that everyone see what they are renting aheadof time. The girls had pleasure to see dolphins go by them while htey were swimming 2days and I saw some 5 day out of 7 early in the morning from our room.

 

[cindermomma]

I will be watching this thread.

I am trying to plan a FL (non-Disney trip also in April). Right now we are planning to do 3-4 days in St. Augustine (including beach), 3-4 days at Discovery Cove/Sea World/Aquatica (something we've never done) and then a week on the Gulf Coast (visiting family, Busch Gardens, beaches).

We were looking into Siesta Key, but I'm not sure if it's worth the price for 2 nights. We may just do a day trip to see the beach since my brother only lives a little over an hour away.


I have been going crazy and wasting way too much time looking at Condo/House rentals in both areas (St. Augustine & gulf coast/Tampa area) and if you're staying for a week you can get something nice that is also budget friendly. Our issue is that most places don't rent for anything less than a week during that time of year and those that do have a significantly higher price per night. (3-4 nights costs about the same as a full week)

We are also looking to do a beach day....hopefully to St. Augustine too! Hoping to get some info here too! Thanks OP for posting!

 

[mrsklamc]

Our favorite beach is HoneyMoon Island on the gulf side. It is kid friendly. You can rent beach equipement such as chairs, umbrella, beach toys. The bathhouse is so so clean. There is a cafe to get a bit to eat. There are more shells than there is sand on the beach. You can walk for miles picking up interesting shells & sea glass.

http://www.floridastateparks.org/honeymoonisland/default.cfm


It is a state park and there is also lots of walking paths.

Does that make it uncomfortable to walk on, play in the sand, etc?

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Does that make it uncomfortable to walk on, play in the sand, etc?

I don't know because we always wear crocs when we are at the beach to avoid stepping on something and getting a nasty cut or infection.

 

[budbeerlady]

After our last Disney cruise we drove over toward Tampa. We visited the Florida Aquarium in Tampa, Lowery Park Zoo, Lettuce Lake park and then spent some time in Clearwater Beach. We plan to hit Clearwater Beach again at Christmas.

The Clearwater Beach Marine Aquarium to see Winter, Pier 60 with the Buskers, fishing off the pier. And we want to spend a day at Honeymoon Island. Plenty to do in the area!

 

[NotUrsula]

I will be watching this thread.

I am trying to plan a FL (non-Disney trip also in April). Right now we are planning to do 3-4 days in St. Augustine (including beach), 3-4 days at Discovery Cove/Sea World/Aquatica (something we've never done) and then a week on the Gulf Coast (visiting family, Busch Gardens, beaches).

We were looking into Siesta Key, but I'm not sure if it's worth the price for 2 nights. We may just do a day trip to see the beach since my brother only lives a little over an hour away.


I have been going crazy and wasting way too much time looking at Condo/House rentals in both areas (St. Augustine & gulf coast/Tampa area) and if you're staying for a week you can get something nice that is also budget friendly. Our issue is that most places don't rent for anything less than a week during that time of year and those that do have a significantly higher price per night. (3-4 nights costs about the same as a full week)

If you want to rent by the night at a Florida beach destination, look at the website for Superior Small Lodging; they have plenty of old-style Mom and Pop places that have large rooms and decent nightly rates from about March to October. Many of them cater to long-term snowbird rentals in the winter.

http://www.superiorsmalllodging.com/

 

[caribear]

I really enjoy the Gulf beaches....Siesta Key is by far my favorite although I have also enjoyed Ana Maria Island. Siesta Key has the softest white sand and the clearest blue waters in Florida. The surf is low to moderate....and great for young children. I put my beach chair in the shallow water...grab a book...and hours can pass before I realize how long I have been sitting there. You can also go down to Venice and look for shark's teeth for the day. Ana Maria Island has a lot of condo rentals (south side) or cottages (north side)....and a free trolley that goes up and down the "island."

I do not care for the Atlantic beaches....water is cloudy and rough for most of the year....and sand is course. If your kids are older and like to surf or boogie board and are not afraid of the waves(and are very good swimmers)....then this might be for you. My DD10 went in the water with a boogie board (decent swimmer)....and after 1 big wave knocked her over....she did not go in the water again. We were at the beach for 4 days...and the kids went in the water the 1st day...and then were in the pool for the remaining days. My DS5 (not a good swimmer) did not venture near the water without DH or I...water was too rough for him....he could not even play in the shallows. We have relatives and friends that have condos on the beach in St. Augustine and Fernandina Beach....and can stay for free whenever we would like...yet we choose to spend the money and stay on the Gulf side.

I think you should try both....one trip Atlantic and one trip Gulf...and then you will know where you prefer to stay.

 

[mermaidwannabe]

We've been to Clearwater (actually Belleair Beach which is right by) twice and Cape Canaveral once. My DH and I love the white sand/clear water of the gulf, and it truly felt like paradise! However (and you prob won't have to worry about this being in April), the last time we went, there were many baby sting rays in the water so you had to do this "shuffle" when you walked in. This understandably freaked my daughters out, so the next beach vacation, we went to the Atlantic. It doesn't look as nice IMO, but that's where they want to go this year because they spent a lot more time in the water playing in the waves that the Gulf just didn't have. Even in shallow areas, my kids could ride the boogie boards, and my oldest tried surfing (3 girls now 15, 13 and 10). We found great places to stay all three times by using VRBO.com, but they were for week rentals. I have seen 3 day minimums on some of the places though. We almost did a split stay last year, half our time at the Gulf and half at the Atlantic, but it seemed to be too much unpacking for us, but it's only a 4 hour drive I think? Best of luck in your decision...based on ages of your kids and time of year, I would probably go the the Gulf.

 

[mhsjax]

My kids prefer the Atlantic, good thing because that is where we live. They can't stand the beaches on a cruise because there is no surfing or boogie boarding, they find it a 100% snooze fest. If your kids are small or don't swim well, or waves freak them out, go to the gulf coast. I love the gulf, but I am not a kid that loves to do these things.

One thing to be aware of, in April some areas, especially the panhandle are crowded with spring breakers. I have a very good friend that lives over in the panhandle and she hates March through April more than anything because of all the spring breakers, so I would definitely check this out before you decide.