My Mom and her husband will be celebrating 10 years of marriage in Dec. 2007. His criteria includes someplace warm in the U.S. I have heard great things about Destin/ Ft. Walton Beach, but I don't know what it is like there during the winter season. Just FYI, they want to stroll the beach, not swim and they like to go out to eat and see sites historical and sports related. Any ideas? Ideally, I see that they would want to fly to the city/resort and get around with minimal or no use of a car.

December isn't a great beach season in
north fla....or even central fla. you
might want to think south fla....naples;
st. pete; maybe even the keys (though
they are not known for great beachs)

www.lagomar.com in Ft. Lauderdale. Great beach, lots of dining options w/in a short cab ride, water taxi, shopping. But, warm weather is not guaranteed in December. We usually go to West Palm in December/early January. Last year we had daytime highs b/t 55F & 80F. One night temps dipped into the 40's & I wore my leather gloves when we went out for dinner....not as a fashion statement but b/c my hands were cold! So, as long as they realize that in December warm weather is not guaranteed in South Florida then they shd be ok. If they must have warm weather, then maybe Aruba or some Carib Island wld be a better choice to celebrate their 10th Anniversary.

We love the beach in December. The "normal" highs are in the low 60s in North FL, but we have experienced considerably warmer days on the Gulf, as well as temps in the low 50s. The changeable temperatures are part of the charm. BUT...depending on what "someplace warm" means...you might consider Amelia Island/Fernadina Beach. I am not sure the Gulf beaches you mention would fit the rest of the bill (sites to see with minimal driving) although they are beautiful beaches.

Sorry, I should clarify -- of course Amelia Island is not on the Gulf, but the temperatures there are comparable to what we get over here. We have been there in November or early December, I don't remember which, but I do remember that it was nice "walking" weather, not sunbathing weather.

Miami (South Beach) and Key West are great towns without having a car.

Key West has no beaches and no sports (except bed races and the Duval Crawl).

Only South Beach is easy carless or possibly Coconut Grove or parts of Coral Gables.

Lots of history, shopping, art & cultural, and fine dining with both.

Thanks for the responses. My Mom and her husband live in Texas, and when I say "warm", I should say similar to Texas temps. Where they live has highs anywhere from the 50's-70's in December. Neither one of them drink alcohol or go to bars or clubs, so do you think Key West would fit the bill. As far as South Beach, is it the kind of place that you would associate with people having beautiful bodies? My mom and her husband are in their late 40's-early 50's amd while they work out, they are not like Ken and Barbie. I have never been to these beaches so I am not sure what they are like. Barbara is Amelia Island the kind of place for middle agers and families? What is the nearest airport and how far away is it?

I think someone mentioned the Caribbean, but I don't think my mom's husband would fare well outside of the continental US, and I know they would not like the passport requirment effective next year.

ttt

I'm 41 and my husband is 51 and we love South Beach.

Surprisingly, you don't see that many 10s on the beach like you would think. The majority are just like everyone else.

Amelia Island is about 20 miles from Jacksonville, so that would be the closest airport.