I'm from the Sarasota Venice area and you will love Siesta beach, a long shallow beautiful sand beach. There's lots to do with the kids in the Sarasota area - Jungle Gardens, water parks, Busch Gardens, etc. The weather will be quite warm in April and the Keys, while expensive, will be even hotter. You will love SW Florida.

Jeanie,

I've stayed at Old Saltworks Cabins on Cape San Blas several times and loved it. The Panhandle may be further north than you want, although I've found it pretty warm in mid April.

Nedra W

On the panhandle check out Seagrove Beach. Along the west coast of florida Sanibel was always wonderful but I dont know what state it will be in after the hurricane this fall.

Careful! I'm from So. California and went to Tampa last year. I thought I'd have a wonderful beach vacation with kids, warm gulf water. How disappointing to find that the Tampa (not far north from Sarasota and Sanibel) sand and surf was full of broken shells. Not fun to walk on, play in the surf, and bodyboarding is out of the question.

Try Anna Maria Island.
That's where I live. :)

{{!gwi}}

Thanks to all so far - I really, really appreciate the help from each of you. Anyone else's thoughts would also be very much appreciated. Jeanie

Hi! We love the Ft Myers Beach area. Years ago we rented a condo on the beach, it was a 2 br, with a hideaway couch and it also had roll away beds, plus everything needed to cook with and all the linens, all you needed were groceries, if you wanted to! It's close to Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Great shelling and Ding Darling Nature or Wildlife Preserve~ Have a great time whatever you decide! Can't wait to go back!

Another thing to think about is local "attractions".

On the gulf coast you can stay at the beaches in Clearwater, St. Petersburg and then head inland an hour to Busch Gardens, 2 hours (+/-) to Orlando which has Disney, Sea World Etc.

Oh, and I LOVE looking for sharks teeth in Venice, I could do it all week!

jerri