Which beaches to go to?

[themepark]

Cocoa Beach on the Atlantic side is the closest beach to Orlando. In May, we drove from Cocoa Beach to RPR in a little less than an hour. It was neat seeing the cruise ships in port while we were at the beach too. We enjoyed Cocoa Beach, but I prefer the Gulf side. Drive a little longer and enjoy the white sands and crystal clear waters of the gulf beaches. We have visited several beaches from Clearwater to Sarasota and all are very beautiful and it's a much more relaxing, laid back environment than say Daytona. I don't really understand what's so attractive about cruising in a line of vehicles up and down the beach at Daytona.

 

[Motherfletcher]

My favorite is Lover's Key south of Fort Myers.

 

[sweetheart2576]

Anyone who vacations near st pete often or lives there, does red tide happen every august. We are goingto st. pete beach for 3 nights in august 18-21, but I would not be able to stay there if this is occurring at the time. Is there any website that keeps you up to date on the condition of the beaches in that area?

 

[goofy!]

Sweetheart2576,

This is the website I was looking at:

Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute
http://www.floridamarine.org/features/default.asp?id=1018

They have a Red Tide update page and lots of links. Also, if you do a google search on +"red tide"+Florida, you will get lots of hits!

Florida Residents:
I am also interested if red tide is common in the later summer months on the gulf coast. Or did we just have the very unlucky experience of being in the wrong place at the wrong time?

Thanks!

-Goofy

 

[texteach]

We will be staying on Anna Maria Island at Bradenton Beach. Does anyone know anything about the area? We will be there Aug. 1-5. We are staying at the Via Roma. Any information would be great.

 

[Ishy]

My DH grew up in Sarasota - We live near the Atlantic Ocean in NJ and have been to daytona - I liked Daytona it was nice - but if you really want quiet family there are wonderful resorts and beaches for that gulf side. DH grew up a block off the WHITE sandy beaches (whitest in the world) of Siesta Key. Quiet little town center, lots of medium to $$$$ hotels and condos. St. Armands key is nice - a little busier, more shopping, closer to downtown, and Long Boat Key is $$$$ - country club type places tennis, golf - plenty of places to rent a boat and waterski in glass like inlets.

kk - so where are we staying this summer? Just north of Maderia beach <between st. pete and clearwater beaches> I never heard of the "Redtide" and will ask my DH when I get home tonight - After a week in orlando I just want to relax beach, pool, hottub side in a condo - this is my first stay in a vacation condo and I hope I dont regret it. I understand there is a great boardwalk at st. johns pass and a trolly that runs down to ft desoto and other beachy type things...

Happy Vacations...