Which is better Atlantic beaches or Gulf?

[New England]

Which is better or prettier as far as the clairity of the water...Atlantic or Gulf? I got stung by a man o war when I was 3 in Florida and am now 40 and still remember the pain....We will be in Orlando in April 09 and want to go to the beach for a day or two....how are the jellies and man o wars then too? Also, which has the least amount of jellies/man o wars....Atlantic or Gulf?

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

Gulf. I love the clear water and white sand beaches. Here's a picture of Clearwater Beach on the Gulf.

 

[New England]

Thanks Whateverlolawants,

It looks beautiful!!! How are the jellies and man o wars in April?

 

[Wishing on a star]

Definitely the Gulf!!!

If you like that photo of Clearwater, that is surpassed by the beaches up on the Panhandle.

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

Thanks Whateverlolawants,

It looks beautiful!!! How are the jellies and man o wars in April?

That picture is actually taken in April of 2007, random. Anyways, I did not see anything other than a manatee. That's what I love about the Gulf, you can see the bottom of the water to avoid stepping on anything yucky.

 

[MattM]

Gulf...hands down...not even debatable...

The best beaches in Florida are in Southwest Florida...Think Englewood south.

 

[Justish]

The Best Beaches are on the Pacific!

Nothing beats a rainy cloudy autumn morning at
Haystack Rock.

43 Degrees outside not counting windchill,
the below freezing water rolling in with the tide,

It's beautiful.

What more could you want in a beach?

^__^

(OP - as long as you aren't going to the gulf coast part
of texas ((no offense texans but that water is GROSS!)) then
I'd say the Gulf because it's just so warm and pretty!)

~Ally

 

[Crystal824]

Another vote for the Gulf, the water is clear and alot calmer than the Atlantic.

 

[Crystal824]

I really can't tell you about the jellies or other creatures hanging out there. I've only been the the Gulf a couple of times and never had any encounters. Then again, I didn't have any encounters during any of my visits to any beach.

 

[Wishing on a star]

About the Jellyies, etc...

I am not an expert.. but if I am thinking correctly, the water in April should still be cool enough. Aren't the Jellies and Sea-lice (jellyfish larvae) only a problem when the water is warmer?

Maybe a quick search on Jellyfish would give you more info.

I have been to the Destin area in April and May, and never have enountered a problem!

 

[spiceycat]

Gulf - also like the panhandle beaches - they are closer to me.

here is a view from my other timeshare
http://www.landmarkpcb.com/amenities.htm

still can't post my pictures.

 

[tidefan]

Gulf - no comparison. I also agree that beaches in the Panhandle (think Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, AL to Destin to Panama City to St George Island) are better...

 

[earthfaries]

I vote for the gulf, for calmer, clearer water. We always stop at the beach on the way to WDW, on the Atlantic side, but it's always so dark and rough, but beautiful...next month we are going to spend a day and drive to Tampa and their area beaches.

​

 

[klj27]

We were on the Atlantic side this past March. (Melbourne) The man o war were everywhere!!! I like the gulf so much better.

 

[jtopicz1]

The Gulf side has very, very fine white sugar-like sand. The Atlantic beaches have far cleaner water.

If you choose to do the Gulf side, I'd recommend the panhandle, or anywhere south of the Skyway. The Tampa (Clearwater) area is simply too congested and way to much traffic. Fort Myers, Naples, and Longboat Key all have excellent beaches.

We run charter fishing boats out of Clearwater and as far as jellyfish go, you shouldn't have to worry to much. We do get them from time to time, but they are mostly small and harmless with no stinging tenticles (they basically look like small, clear blobs of jelly, about the size of a half dollar).

You will have to be careful of stingrays. When you walk, simply shuffle your feet instead of stepping up and down and you'll be fine!

Jim

 

[MattM]

^ I would disagree with you for the most part about the Atlantic waters being more clear/clean. That may become more true when you start getting down to W. Palm Beach, but any further north than that, the waters start to get very murky.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I also disagree about the Atlantic having clearer water!!!

Where there is adequate offshore reef, the Panhandle can be crystal clear!

I wish I had my own photos online ready to post here to prove it.
I have photos that one would swear must have been taken in the Caribbean.

Check out the photo across the top of this page on the Sandestin website:
http://www.sandestin.com/thebeach/tabid/89/Default.aspx

And the photo across the top and background of this webpage:
http://www.destin-fwb.com/

Look at this picture I found that somebody posted, their footprint in that sugar white sand:
http://www.myemeraldcoastphotos.com/mycapture/enlarge.asp?userphoto=0&image=17740872&thispage=1

 

[jtopicz1]

To clarify what I said about the gulf water not being as clear as Atlantic, I was mainly referring to the Gulf Waters of west central FL, as they are closest proximity to Orlando. Of course, due to the reef, the waters of the panhandle are some of the nicest anywhere, and the farther south you get, the more current, so the cleaner the water.

As a person born in Clearwater, FL, when we want to go to the beach, we generally take a weekend and head north or east.

The problem we have in the Tampa/Clearwater area is there is NO reef. It is relatively shallow, sandy bottom, with minimal current. So anytime there is any wind, the water gets stirred up and is a milky color. The lack of current is the same reason we often have lingering red tides, primarily in the summer.

Jim

 

[deej696]

I've lived here my whole life, and I never go to the Atlantic side, unless I am at Disney's Vero Beach resort. When I want to go to the beach, we usually head to Honeymoon/Caladesi Island in the Clearwater area....

 

[WDWBoundAgain]

I really loved the Gulf coast of Florida when I visited. I think my trip was Spring and during that time the jelly fish were horrible. I witnessed several people get stung within a very short time. Some said it was mating season for them but I have no idea if they knew what they were talking about. The beaches on the Atlantic coast close to Daytona area are nasty to me. On the other hand I love the North Carolina beaches.