Fave Florida Getaway?

[megumic]

I'm trying to plan a trip for me and my mom to Florida for about 4-5 nights in May. Only requirement: beachfront.

What are some of your favorite places to visit and favorite hotel/resorts to stay at in Florida??? There are so many that I am at a complete loss of how to narrow this one down! Any advice or recommendations would be great! Thanks!

 

[anitabee]

first off, we JUST got back from florida. i've been there seemingly, a gazillion times.

love it!

one of my favorite places on earth is key west. the weather is almost perfectly guaranteed to be warm. i love the cuban influence down there. there are some great cuban restaurants. the beaches are heavenly. the vibe is eclectic and artistic and completely different than the rest of florida. it sorta reminds me of the french quarter in new orleans. it's pretty expensive, however.

miami beach is also exciting and warm and hip. the beaches themselves are amazing. drawback: expensive! good place to people watch. lots of showy money people. good nightlife.

just came back from vero beach. if you simply want a very laid-back, quiet vacation in a gorgeous setting, vero beach may be your place. it's on the atlantic coast - central-south'ish. my favorite thing about vero beach was the actual beach. very blue-aqua with some waves. nice sand. note: it's not a big resort town and therefore not much nightlife. there are some great restaurants. the best we found was waldo's: really interesting with good prices, beachfront, and attached to a crazy-cool hotel made of driftwood many years back by some eclectic founding father of the town.

st. pete beach/treasure island: hugely touristy. the beaches are great. fine, white sand with aqua/blue waters. tons to do. you've got busch gardens closeby in tampa which is fabulous! it's one of my favorite amusement parks but with a zoo/wildlife component.

naples: SUPER EXPENSIVE. a very elite, snobbish, conservative town where everyone puts on a show of wealth. spent the night there and wasn't very impressed. the beaches, however, were fantastic.

fort myers: a great place for a vacation. tons to do with good beaches and it's far south enough for (almost) guaranteed year-round tropical weather. beautiful foliage, ie massive coconut palm lined streets. a very tropical vibe. highly recommended.

i'm familiar with other places particularly in the keys so if you have any more questions, i'd be more than happy to help!

 

[vc10um]

I went on a vacation Memorial Day weekend a few years ago to Siesta Key with a girlfriend of mine and we had a BLAST. It wasn't very expensive at all to stay there and the restaurants were average priced and pretty good quality. The beach there is GORGEOUS and they have a Drum Circle that's really neat to watch.

 

[iLander]

Well, my favorite FL places are quiet beaches and small islands, the less people the better!

On the east coast, I like Key Biscayne, which is a small island off the coast of Miami. I stayed in what was the Sonesta Beach Resort at the time, but it's since changed names. Sorry, don't know what it's called now, but if you look at Key Biscayne at on Google maps, there seems to be a couple of resorts on the island (use search nearby function). Development is restricted, so less dense/busy but right near everything Miami has to offer. You'll need to rent a car.

On the west coast, I like Captiva or Sanibel, they are 2 islands off the coast of Ft Myers. Captiva is really small, but you can drive over to Sanibel for restaurants, groceries, etc. The Tween Waters Inn has some adorable cottages (http://www.tween-waters.com/gallery.php) that are right on the beach. It's truly a unique experience.

If you can't get a room there, try the Westwind Inn on Sanibel. It's family-owned, very clean and the rooms have little kitchenettes, which are great. http://www.westwindinn.com/ Try to get a room in the Driftwood building, it's the most secluded gulf front.

If you want something funky and retro (but completely clean and mind-numbing relaxation) try Duggars cottages; http://www.sanibelislandvacations.com/condo_duggers.php They are private condos, but they rent out by the week.

I have found some amazing sea shells in the early mornings on Sanibel Island (google these; lightning whelk, tulip shell, horse conch) and the shopping is really great too. All small, interesting little shops, there's no high rises or fast food (plenty of restaurants/bars) and most of the island is a national wildlife refuge (which you can drive/bike through and see gators in the evening). Rent a bike for transportation, that's how most people get around. You can rent a car if you like, the island-wide speed limit is 35.

All of these suggestions are quiet, sweet places with nature on the beach. Wading birds, ibis, osprey, they usually out number people. May should be a good time, too, not many vacationers and the hotels I've picked are on quiet areas. You can always drive to the mainland if you want, it's only 3 miles across the bridge. I prefer it to the Keys, because they really do charge a lot for food and groceries down there.

I know a lot of places in Florida, so feel free to ask any questions.

 

[dani13]

We love Miami Beach- TONS of things to do, yet the beaches are awesome and its just great there. I have been there at least 8-10 times now. Never gets old. Exciting, fun, great restaurants, bars, etc, and excellent weather.
We are going down next week to Coral Gables for a few days, which is very close to Miami Beach. We are staying at the famous Biltmore Hotel: http://www.biltmorehotel.com/ which is supposed to be FAB. I cant wait!!!!! I will come back and write a review when we return

 

[dragonfly411]

Megumic - I live in FL and I have to recommend St. Augustine/ Crescent Beach. It is the oldest city in the United States. There are many waterfront condos that rent by the week. My family and I stay at Tradewinds but it's a bit farther from the city of St. Augustine, so you might find closer locations. Some off the top of my head are Colony Reef, The Beach Club, and Summerhouse. The old city of St. Augustine offers historical sites like the old Fort, the original city gates, many old buildings, a museum of original houses, Ghost Tours, historical carriage ride tours, and tons of shopping. There is great food throughout. Some of my favorites are Scarlett O'Hara's, The White Lion, O.C. White's, The Conch House, Osteen's, or in Crescent there are Salt Water Cowboys (amazing) and The Oasis (which has breakfast as well). There are also many restaurants at some of the bed and breakfast houses. You can also visit Ripley's Believe it or not and the Light House museum, as well as The Alligator Farm. Just past Crescent is Marineland which is still open to the public. For great seashell hunting, go to Rock Beach, which is just across the Matansas Bridge in Crescent Beach. Also right there is Historical Fort Matansas.

The city is beautiful, refreshing, and relaxed. To me it is a must see location.

 

[dani13]

I just had an idea! Why dont you go to Palm Beach and stay at The Breakers? http://www.thebreakers.com/
Its pricey, but friggin' awesome, and great for a girls' getaway!!! Right on the beach, and the service and amenities are amazing!!! Its just a beautiful hotel!! You are very close to Ft Lauderdale and Miami Beach, so you can take day trips to those places if interested in doing something like that. I highly recommend!!!

 

[steph72276]

Marco Island is our family favorite. We go there at least once a year and love it. We stay at the Marriott beach resort and it is located right on the beach.

 

[stepcutgirl]

Native Floridian here. I live in South East Florida....one town south of Vero, Anita. I have to second dragonfly's suggestion of St. Augustine. It's got so much history, great food and a very active night life. I've spent a couple New Year's there and we love it!

 

[kagordo4]

I'm a Floridian also, I loooove Sarasota and St. Armand's Circle (in Sarasota). It's like an hour South of Tampa/ St. Pete and some amazing beaches.

 

[megumic]

Ahhh thank you all for such great tips and ideas! We're still toying around with dates and locations, but sadly have decided that Key West and Key Biscayne (two top contenders) were out of our recession vacation plan, even though it's where I'd like to go

But, Sarasota is on the short list! Any resort reccs?

I was recently to Sanibel and adore it -- but with my hubby, not my mom!

Looking into Ft. Myers and St. Augustine now.

Thanks again for everyone's responses -- keep 'em coming!

 

[iLander]

Well, Ft Myers beach is the redneck riviera, so DON'T go there, it's nothing like Sanibel. There are so many bottle caps and cigarette butts on the beach, it's horrible. In Ft Myers, there's the Sanibel Harbour resort, that's pretty. There's also a new residence inn right near Sanibel, but for Ft Myers proper, why bother? There's no beach. . .

If you're considering Sarasota, then you're right next to Siesta Key and Anna Maria Island (drive through Anna Maria, kind of run down, no decent hotels).

We stayed in the Hilton in St Augustine Beach, a little hotel that was across the street from the beach (everything full), and that was nice. It's pretty easy to drive around St Augustine, so any of the beach just south of it are fine. But there are sections that are REALLY eroded. The houses are on sand cliffs about 10 feet above the water.