ScoutTN Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 If you have a favorite beach on the Gulf of Mexico, where is it and why do you love it? Where do you stay, condo, house, high rise? When do you go? We are at Cape San Blas, FL for the week and it is nice, but not my favorite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 This year was our third visit to Laguna Beach Christian Retreat. Late Sep is the best time to go, not just because the weather is great but also because all the youth groups have vacated the retreat center. It's just quieter, less crowded. We've visited the attractions in PCB and Destin before so this year we just hung out at the beach and pool. The one drawback is you have to pack your linens and everything; they only provide tp in the cabins. Well, they have some cookware/dinnerware and a coffee pot too. But the price is right--they have a homeschool discount too!--and we've found it worth the extra trouble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidlit Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Destin, FL is my favorite, but we also really enjoy Dauphin Island, AL. Fall is the perfect time to go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaillardia Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Naples, FL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Destin's gorgeous. Perdido key has the great beach of Pensacola but no crowds. Treasure Island (Between Clearwater & St Pete Beach), is huge, wide, uncrowded, and safer than Clearwater or St Pete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 St Pete Beach has been great when we've been there. We've stayed at the Tradewinds and Grand Plaza - both are nice. The Tradewinds is a step up from the Grand Plaza, but you pay for it (in resort fees too, not just room fees). The beach is rarely crowded and it's nice and long for walking + wide to be a true "beach." It's also not far (by car) to get to Ft Desoto County Park and its truly wonderful totally unspoiled beach. Ft Desoto also has a terrific campground if you're in to camping - we loved it there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 We go to Navarre, which is a tiny barrier island between Pensacola and Fort Walton. It's gorgeous. We go to visit my grandparents, usually in early October. We rent a house or a condo. If it weren't for my grandparents, we would probably go a little more east to Santa Rosa, Rosemary, or maybe St. George's. The whole Emerald Coast area is absolutely amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mbelle Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Almost anywhere on 30A is just beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommyof4ks Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 I agree, the 30A communities are cute, and the beach is beautiful! You can rent houses or carriage houses there, and some of the communities have kids clubs too. I know Water Color does, but some others might as well. The people that live there are so kind, and traffic stops for pedestrians. :) It is not very touristy there, but it is pricey. If you go there stop in Rosemary at the ice cream shop, yummy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celticmom Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 I love Dauphin Island, AL. We generally day trip but my father used to live there and I am familiar with the area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandra Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Sanibel & Captiva Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieZ Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 St George Island, Fl. Been coming here for 17 years, and are here right now. It's just as wonderful as ever. Love, love. Love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiguirre Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 We've stayed at the Blue Lupine resort in Santa Rosa a few times. You can find apartments for weekly rental at a good price in the off season. It's very quiet and peaceful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Dauphin Island. All the kids claim it as their favorite vacation ever. Make sure to have bikes. There are no chains (restaurant, hotel...) on the island whatsoever. No real grocery store. We have stayed in the one hotel. It is old but just fine. Also stayed in a condo. Very, very nice. Plenty of houses to rent. Anyplace on the island is really good because you can be anywhere by bicycle in a few minutes. To a great degree, it is like stepping back in time. Lots of nature. Beautiful goat oak trees. Shell mounds. Big birding area. Then, they also have a beach! Clearwater is another favorite. It is farther south and warmer during off seasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RitaG Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 I live near Sarasota and Seista Key is one of our favorite beaches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto10blessings Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Anna Maria island, fl We stay in a housd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidlit Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 I've blogged about our Dauphin Island adventures here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Here I'll add Sandestin, but I have a few favorite spots both east and west. I single out Sandestin because it has beautiful (not crowded with partying crowds) beaches, affordable accommodations and great restaurants in the vicinity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Our favorites are St George Island and Siesta Key. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ByGrace3 Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Siesta Key and Sanibel island. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FriedClams Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 St George is beautiful and less commercial. We love Perdido, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mbelle Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 I think that Panama City also has beautiful water, but it is not as upscale as other areas, but it is cheaper and sometimes we go there. Destin is more crowded than 30A and still has some partying, but it is still nice. 30A area is very nice, with good restaurants and less crowded. All those areas have gorgeous water and beaches. St. George takes longer to get to (assuming you don't live near there). St. George is very nice and less commercial. The water, though still green, is not as clear, nor the beaches as white. It does have more shells and you will see more dolphins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaillardia Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Watch out for water advisories on Gulf beaches in Florida. Public beaches have been closed off and on due to high bacteria levels. We went to Padre Island National Seashore in Texas and camped. I was very saddened to see so much trash washed up on the high tide shoreline. The Keys will always have my heart. The Keys' Gulf side is made up of bays, calm, clear, warm water but not very beach-like. At least you can see the sharks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaillardia Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 I used to live on the Mississippi gulf coast. I never went in that water but I did go to Pensacola before. This recent story was pretty freaky: http://www.wlox.com/story/26502808/mother-says-3-year-old-caught-bacterial-infection-from-biloxi-beach Yes, that is nasty. Please take notice if you're headed to the beach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloridaLisa Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 I'm an Atlantic Coast girl, but my favorite Gulf beach is Sanibel Island in the fall. Dauphin Island might be a close second. Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted October 2, 2014 Author Share Posted October 2, 2014 I grew up going to Naples (both sets of grandparents had homes there when it was small and not crowded) and to the East coast. We went to Stone Harbor, NJ and Hatteras mostly. My kids have never been to the Atlantic so we might do that in the next few years sometime. I like Hilton Head in the off season. I love Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard in the summer. Dh has never been up there. I would like to go to Charleston with dh and no kids, maybe for an anniversary trip. I love the Gulf because it is warm, the sand is nice and the waves are small. Great for families with littles. Relaxing. This year we are in a fairly remote area - 30 minutes to town, no cell phone reception and only 1 or 2 decent restaurants. It is beautiful and not at all crowded, but those descriptors apply to 30A in the offseason too. I think we are headed back there for the next beach trip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Marmalade Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 I think that Panama City also has beautiful water, but it is not as upscale as other areas, but it is cheaper and sometimes we go there. Destin is more crowded than 30A and still has some partying, but it is still nice. 30A area is very nice, with good restaurants and less crowded. All those areas have gorgeous water and beaches. St. George takes longer to get to (assuming you don't live near there). St. George is very nice and less commercial. The water, though still green, is not as clear, nor the beaches as white. It does have more shells and you will see more dolphins. Do you have any recommendations for Panama City as far as places to stay? We're headed there in June for dance, and I am completely clueless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mbelle Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Splash is a nice place for families. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 We loved Caspersen in Venice when we lived in FL. The town itself isn't very kid friendly though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doodlebug Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Anna Maria is lovely. It's an island, which is a plus population-wise, but with grocery stores in easy driving distance. It isn't commercialized and has a handful of nice little local restaurants, interesting shops, etc. Fall is a lovely time to go, excepting the occasional hurricane. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kroe1 Posted October 2, 2014 Share Posted October 2, 2014 Starting with Anna Marie and any other islands/peninsulas south, i.e. Longboat Key, Lido Key, Siesta Key, Venice, Englewood, Port Charlotte, Naples. Each has its own uniqueness and specialties for different family interests. For example, Anna Marie is great for wading in the bay, Longboat is quiet and reserved good for watching manatee, Siesta has the nightlife, Port Charlotte and Sarasota is great for fishing. From Bradenton all the way south to Naples is awesome. Siesta Key has own Best Beach in America by Newsweek several times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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