kathy

We plan to head to Fl in May, with our 5 kids. We love history, state parks and lots of beaches. (Waves would be great too). We are considering any place along the gulf-coast. I guess great sand and good day-trips are top priority. I would sure appreciate some help. It all sounds so great that I'm having trouble narrowing down the choices.
Not important-theme parks, mini-golf or souvenir stands.

Dan

Hi Kathy,
Try Bahia Honda State park in the keys.
The beaches are stunning and the park offers a lot of great things to do(kayaking, camping, snorkeling, bike riding). You have 3 state parks including Key West not more than a 1 hour drive from you. Check with the Bahia Honda park office because they have some beach cabana's that would accomodate your family.

xxx

I enjoyed Clearwater Beach and the nearby area.

susan

I hate to be responsible for saying anything bad about my favorite vacation location - the keys, Key West specifically - but if it's a great beach you want, you should eliminate the keys altogether. All the beaches there are man-made and most are very small...nothing like you'd find in the panhandle of Florida. Bahia Honda DOES have a great reputation, though. I'd also eliminate the Destin, Fort Walton areas because they've gotten VERY touristy even though the beaches are wonderful. Ditto the Clearwater Beach area...very touristy. I hope someone else will provide you with the perfect place, because I'm having a hard time coming up with it.

Teresa

Ok, I'm going to tell you about a secret place in Florida-- a beautiful beach where you are guaranteed to see Dolphins every day! Cape San Blas Florida-- It's in the panhandle of florida and newar the St. Joe State Park-- People have discovered St. George Island and st. Park but this is about 45minutes west and it is beautiful. IF you like quiet and nature then that's where you want to go!

susan

I remember St. George(s) Island from years ago, but at that time there was no place to stay on the island. It was, however, the beach closest to my early memories of beaches in the northeast (connecticut). Lots of sea life - which unfortunately isn't present in the panhandle area. This sounds like a good secret!

Harriett

Check out Amelia Island, about a 30-minute drive from Jacksonville airport -- all sorts of accommodation (from Ritz Carlton to beach house rentals) -- fun restaurants, lovely beaches, and interesting history and state parks nearby, probably only an hour from St Augustine (great history but way too many tourists). Another two-hour day trip would be Savannah . . . Amelia Island Plantation offers a range of accommodation, from ocean-front hotel rooms to larger villas. Have fun . . .

J T Kirk

I second Amelia Island. The Gulf Coast does offer some great, wide, white sand beachs BUT if you want history, check out the east coast of No Fla. Just above Amelia Island (which, by the way, has a very nice beach -- just not as white as the Gulf Coast) is Fernendina. There's a great old fort there -- Fort Clinch. It's on the beach, and it is a great place for kids. Also, south of Amelia Island (about a two hour drive) is St Augustine. Yes, there is a tourist trap element to St August, but there's a heck of a lot of history there. Plus, it's just a cool little, old-Florida type of place. I think you'll have a lot of fun in North fla. the Keys are fun, but they're not big on beachs. You need a boat down there. Have fun.

L

Well, you have a choice about the so-called trap, don't you? Tourism is what Florida does - to the tune of billions and biiions a year. However is it a trap? Not anymore than a West Va. (tourism is their #1 industry now) or Las Vegas, or Washington, DC. Or a hundred other places that attract people like yourself. Perhaps it's an attitude thing.

Larry

Come on, L, lighten up. I'm sure you understand "Tourist trap" is a generic term most of us use to describe a destination that is almost completely commercialized, places where you can't walk out of your hotel room without spending $. Taking your example, where I went in West Virginia the only $ we spent was on the room and meals, the scenery and hiking was free. Definately NOT a tourist trap. Compare that with, say, Orlando, a town that you absolutely MUST spend $ to do anything. Also, don't assume that tourist-trap is a completely negative stereotype. Just depends on what you want. Some of my favorite "tourist traps" that I have had a great time at: Holiday Isle (Islamorada in the Keys), Wildwood NJ, and of course Orlando. And you are right about Kathy having a choice about "the trap"- I'm guessing that's why they posted the question, so they could make an informed choice!

L

Thanks for the explanation of trap - I've never quite looked at it that way before. Lets see, if it's free, no trap. Not free (read money), trap. Holy smokes, it's been all traps for me. Of course, you have to spend money in Orlando - otherwise no Orlando. And I'm sure the Mountaineers would have liked to give you a white water ride - but whoa, that would have been money, and thus a trap. Frankly, I don't see what money has to do with it, except just perhaps Kathy just didn't want to spend much on her kids, and wanted instead to be somewhere they couldn't bug her about a t-shirts, goofy golf and rides. Sounds just like my parents.

Larry

Now I realize how ignorant I've been, thinking there was such a thing as a tourist trap! Now I realize that the Everglades National Park vistor's center and South-of-the-Border on 95 are directly comparable, because they both sell t-shirts.

J T Kirk

I'd just let it go, Larry. I have no idea where L is coming from. But it's not worth the trouble or time to debate it.

Lori

Teresa, you recommended Cape San Blas, and I've looked up a little information on the area. It's really strange, but the sites I've found that offer rentals mention the great fishing, scalloping (is that a verb?) and wildlife, but none of them mention swimming. Do you swim there or are the beaches unsuitable for some reason?

J T Kirk

Lori, I don't have specific knowledge of Cape San Blas. But you can swim off Cape St George which is just east of San Blas. Also, there's a great hotel in Apalachicola called the Gibson Inn. It's really old (it's been renovated), but each room is it's unique shape. Unfortunately, it's inland so you'd have to drive to the beach.

Jeannie

Yes, you can swim at Cape San Blas. And, you can scallop in nearby St. Joe Bay. (Down here, we use "scallop" as a verb, as in "Do you need a saltwater fishing license to go "scalloping?"

Owen O'Neill

Although there are probably still no hotels/motels on St. George's Island, there are condo units availabel for rental. Some relatives of mine who ares spread throughout the Gulf Coast area rented one for a 4 day Thanksgiving weekend last year due to the quite nature of the island and its central (for them) location. They loved it and plan to go back.

Lily

I know I've said this before, so if you are an old timer here you'll be bored but I really like Longboat Key. I go there 3 - 4 times a year to visit customers and it never seems to be busy! Nice beaches and some very pretty vacation rentals. I stay at the Longboat Key Hilton which is a 20 minute (max) drive from Sarasota/Bradeton airport. The Hilton there is on the beach with a nice pool. On several stays they have upgraded me to a suite which was nice. The room rate has always been under $150.00 per night. Good luck in your search to avoid tourists!

lily

Sorry - In my last sentence I meant good luck anywhere you try to avoid tourists not in Longboat Key! Actually it's one of the few places I never see many!

Gene

Sanibel Island - wildlife sanctuary - no
hirises - daytrips a plenty - pure white sand - rolling waves- great sunsets.