Which is better Atlantic beaches or Gulf?

[Princess_Christina26]

Living in Clearwater I am somewhat biased lol but I like the Gulf Coast way better then the Atlantic. If you want nice beaches Ft Desoto or Caladesi are my favorite (Caladesi was named the #1 beach this year) I have never had a problem with man o war or jelly fish.

 

[Miniefan]

I live in Pensacola, Florida which is: on the gulf, in the panhandle and we have some of the most gorgeous beaches in the world. We have sugar white sand and crystal clear emerald green waters, however this year we have had tons of jellies. Every time I have been to the beach this year, on the gulf side, there has been tons of jellyfish. I have never seen a man o war ever at our beaches and I'm almost 30 but we do have sea nettles and moon jellies. I had never seen the moon jellies until this year but it was right after the hurricane hit Texas a few weeks back and I think maybe that might have had something to do with seeing these new guys.

Kim

 

[New England]

WOW thanks so much for all of the information!! You guys are fabulous!!!! Unfortunately, we will probably only be doing a day trip since the focus will be on Disney and we will only be in FL for 8 nights. Although I would love to go to the panhandle we just can't keep the kids out of school and us out of work for too long....politics ya know!!

After looking on line and reading your responses, I am considering Honeymoon Beach (I think that's the name) I like the fact we can shower there too and then maybe head out for dinner somewhere near Clearwater. I don't want to have to drive terribly far to get to the beach since it's only for a day. Is that a good choice or could I do better? My boys will be 8 and 6 and all four of us LOVE the beach.

 

[TI double GGER]

I'd also vote for the gulf side but it will take @ 2hours as opposed to only 1 hour for the atlantic side. Might want to consider that since it's only a day trip. We were at Cocoa beach on Monday and the jellyfish were really bad. Just in the small area where we set up several people were stung, including me! Hurts like the dickens! If you should ever get stung the lifeguards have meds. Or you can do what we used to do in Hawaii and just pee on it, works like magic!

 

[NaplesRI]

Popping in with another vote for the Gulf side. We stayed on both coasts of Fl before we bought our retirement home and absolutely without doubt felt the Gulf side won hands down!
Hope you have fun wherever you go!

 

[madge]

I'd also vote for the gulf side but it will take @ 2hours as opposed to only 1 hour for the atlantic side. Might want to consider that since it's only a day trip. We were at Cocoa beach on Monday and the jellyfish were really bad. Just in the small area where we set up several people were stung, including me! Hurts like the dickens! If you should ever get stung the lifeguards have meds. Or you can do what we used to do in Hawaii and just pee on it, works like magic!

are the jellyfish still a problem? we're looking at a beach day-trip at the end of the month ... I've been hearing from friends this summer how bad the jellyfish have been up & down the coast. (Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, Daytona, etc)

with the recent tropical storms, will things be stirred up on the Gulf side?

 

[jdvm]

We much prefer the West Coast of Florida. Anna Maria, Longboat Key and Siesta Key are our favorites.

John

 

[duckybelle]

GULF= FUN! I took my son and family to the other side for a try, as I am from St. Pete and bias, and he got sucked up in a current, and I could NOT get him! It took my dh to get him, and he even said he lost him once, and took everything he had to get back! (Thankd GOD for Navy men )

 

[Orlando Florida]

Cleawater and St. Pete is great.
The gulf waters are much calmer as well.