My favorite beaches are on the Gulf Coast. I love the white sand beaches better than the beaches on the Atlantic.

Linda

i am in the burbs just north of orlando and would recommend Playalinda beach aka canaveral shores. i have pics on my FB page BTW under Sept 09 or labor day. we go there often because it's a protected area, very natural, no condo's or houses. the bathrooms are primative like campsite types but adequate. it is not a normal tourist stop because there are no restaurants and things close by. my DH likes to surf fish and this beach is quiet and often except for surfers and fishers coming in extra early & leaving when tide comes in around 9-10 am, it's pretty empty. i think it was about $5 to get in. the only thing you need to avoid is trying to get in around shuttle launches as it is soooo close to the launch pad, it is closed days in advance to keep people from getting close.

do you have an idea of where you are staying? i can get you other beach recomendations maybe closer. this is 45 minutes outside orlando down SR 50 just north of Titusville. june is a good time to come down as it's warm but not always 90 yet, just the start of hurricane season (never get anything that early) and rains are just starting up and not everyday guaranteed. ~ liz

Destin
Gulf Shores, Al

Clearwater Beach

East coast beaches and West coast beaches of Florida are very different. Sand is much whiter and less packed on the west coast. East coast has more surf of course and the sand is a different texture. Anna Maria Island/Holmes Beach/ Longboat Key all have nice beaches. None are going to be "private" but during the week, they should not be as busy. There are lots of places to stay that have their own beaches and places to rent. Some people prefer Clearwater area but I think its way to busy and harder to deal with traffic to get to the beach. Anna Maria has two major roads going out to the beach and are direct routes.

Liz, no idea, just beginning to make plans. The beach you mention sounds like what I'm looking for.

Glenda, am hoping to stop and see my great aunt again in AL, so will look into Destin also.

Clearwater Beach is my favorite beach in the US...it's an easy 1-1/2 hour straight drive on US 4 from Orlando.
Beautiful white, white sandy beach on the Gulf.

I was going to tell you Playalinda Beach. I live about 10 minutes from there. We live close to Cocoa Beach also, but like Playalinda the best. The only thing that I would be careful of, is if you go to far, it is a Nudist Beach. Might not want to take the kids.I always tell DH to keep us on the Kid Friendly side.

I spent years on the east coast of FL and if you want waves to ride and to surf, I would say east coast. There are some nice beaches and some are pretty rocky and hard to get in and out of without stubbing a toe or bashing a foot or tripping. We used to go to Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral (lived there for a while) and then eventually Satellite Beach. That's where the rocks were.

The west coast beaches are prettier, IMO. Less wave action unless there are storms off shore, but just lovely and nice to swim at or walk along. Always a gulf breeze, too, so even on hot days, it is lovely in the shade.

When we go, we go about 3 miles south of Clearwater Beach to Indian Rocks Beach, but it's essentially the same beach. However, the CW beach has umbrella rentals all set up for you and more food places handy and more amenities, shopping, etc.

Pine Island here on the West coast of Fl has a very pretty beach, it is close to the Weeki Wachee Mermaid attraction. I live six miles from the beach. I used to live in Cocoa Beach and to be honest I like the West coast more.

Kathy, the white sand beaches and blue-green water of our Emerald Coast can't be beat, IMHO. I live in Panama City Beach, Florida - come visit us!

Please feel free to email me for my phone number if you want to talk further about visiting - I can help with a place to stay, etc. You will LOVE our beautiful, uncrowded beaches, I PROMISE!!!

I too, like Flamey, suggest Indian Rocks Beach on the Gulf. It is 25 miles west of Tampa and has many beach accesses. The nice thing is that it's never crowded w/people & unlike Clearwater Beach-you don't have to walk as far to get to the shoreline. Simply take I-4 west to 275 S. and just follow all signs that say to Indian Rocks Beach/Ulmerton Rd. I live on Ulmerton and frequent IRB very often. If you want even more fun-by just driving south of IRB, for 6 miles-you'll come to Madeira Beach. At John's Pass is a big boardwalk of stores, also jet ski rentals, tour boats, many eateries etc. Also at the Pass is a big, long block of shops-2 stories of them!

I'm with Sharon - Indian Rocks Beach is so nice. We went to Keegan's (one of Guy's visits on Diners, Drive-In and Dives) for the best seafood, then just walked across the street to the beach.

I'm also a big fan of Caladesi Island as it's so quiet there. You can only get there by boat, but there's a ferry that'll take you over from Dunedin's Honeymoon Island.

Clearwater Beach is much more touristy.

My 2 cents...
Barbara

Oooh, Caladesi is so pretty but it's been years since I was there. I tend to agree with Glenda and KayJones that the panhandle beaches are the best. The sand is so white up there. Also because of all the trees and natural landscaping, it reminds me of what all the beaches were probably like many years ago. So the panhandle gets my vote!

Indian Rocks Beach is nice, but there isn't much parking and they DO tow cars away. My sister lives there but they rarely go to the beach since the Intercoastal is their backyard. Love John's Pass and Madiera, but you want something less crowded and that's anything but quiet. Clearwater beach is a tourist trap. They charge a lot just to park. There are good restaurants around (like Frenchy's).

Sanibel and Anna Maria islands on the Gulf coast are nice. Shelling is good at Sanibel and Anna Maria used to be my favorite vacation spot.

It sounds like you are going to have a great summer, Kathleen!

We'll be in central Fla in March, and thanks for the info on IRB. Might take a ride there.

Of course I am bias, BUT our parking is ALL free, right on the water - very nice! I can't say enough good things about our area. Come and go for a cruise on our pristine waters, watch dolfins, find shells on the beaches, eat some good seafood at Sharkey's or Hooters (both on the water) and RELAX!

Go kiteboarding, parasailing, surfing, charter a fishing boat and be guaranteed to catch a big game fish! We have one nice shopping complex, and if you need more shopping, Panama City is 5 miles away, across the beautiful Hathway bridge.

Although it is illegal to touch or disturb the wild dolfins, we have a marine park called Gulf World, where you can actually swim with and touch the dolfins. We have a zoo with over 400 exotic animals. We have some of the best golfing in the USA.

Check out the site below and see what you think.

Here is a link that might be useful: Panama City Beach vacation planning site

I agree about Panama City Beach. Son and family have lived there for years, and we just love the beaches there, and also
in Destin and Pensacola. The white sand never feels hot on
your feet. Also, many, many things to do and see....and YUMMY seafood, too. You can take a short boat trip to Shell
Island, and find all kinds of shells. The newest mall is
just fantastic there, too!!!!!

DDs in-laws like Sanibel Island

Did Sanibel recover from the Hurricane damage
of a few years ago? Hope so - it was a beautiful place.

Thanks for all the info, I saved it and will go through and look up everything when I'm off.

Mexico Beach, Florida is nice! Outside of Panama City a ways, toward Applachicola

Parking in Indian Rocks Beach- there is some free parking, it's right across the street from Keegan's (great food!) and it is a row of parking- about 15 - 20 cars can go there and if you get there early enough, like around 10 AM or so, you can stay all day. And one block north is a car park area where you pay to park and it has nice restrooms and I think a shower for getting the sand and salt off. It's across from Guppies Restaurant, which also has good food, but I like Keegan's better. This is at 16th and 17th streets on Gulf Blvd. The beach house we go to is between those 2 streets, that's how I know this for sure. And there are other areas that have free parking, too, you just have to learn what to look for.

We have walked to Caladesi Island, we parked at the northern most park south of the "island" and walked about 2 miles up, I would guess. The part that made it an island before got filled in with sand some years ago. That's the place where the rogue seagull stole Woody's big, fresh london broil sandwich right out of his hand! It was a riot. Oh, you can usually find sand dollars up there, too.

I was looking at little "motels" on the website Kayjones posted. They're cute and right on the beach. Anyone ever stay in something like that? No prices posted, though...you have to call.

A family member manages Ocean Terrace - her website lists the size, location (beach front or not) and the prices. Call her - she is a really congenial lady. Her name is Sharla - tell her Jodie said to call.

Here is a link that might be useful: Ocean Terrace condos

Which ones are you referring to Kathsgrdn?