I'm within 24 hours of booking a $3K trip to FL.
Stop me!
I'm a displaced Southerner and grew up going to the gulf coast of FL. I've now succeeded in getting my husband addicted to it. We desperately need a vacation and are looking for a whole week of beach time. We're in the DC/Baltimore area (inbetween). Is there any east coast beach that would satisfy our desire for soft sand and pretty water?

I feel ridiculous spending $3K on a trip to Florida. I know we could go to the Caribbean or something but husband doesn't want to.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Ft.Lauderdale/Hollywood Beaches.

I live exactly where you do and only go to the gulf! You will not find anywhere on the east coast to be the same (just my opinion). You can get a good flight to Pensacola from here though! And the lodging will cost you more on the coast in my experience.
Sorry!
-Katie

And I have been to the Caribbean as well as all up and down the east coast, but the Gulf is by far the best in my opinion!
-Katie

If you mean close to DC then nothing in Southern florida will do. I feel very fortunate that we live 3 hours away from the prettiest beaches in the country in Destin, et al. Nothing else comes close I'm afraid.

I've heard that the Outer Banks of NC are pretty, but again, not pretty in the white sand/blue green water sense of the panhandle.

Thank you so much. I feel a little better knowing there is someone else who lives in this area and chooses the Gulf too!

I have been to Outer Banks, NC. Don't laugh, but I had to buy beach shoes. The sand/beach hurt my feet!

Yeah, I guess I'm spoiled rotten.

I agree-OBX is no contest to the Gulf. We go to Ft Morgan AL, how about y'all?
-Katie

Well our new favorite place is 30-A.. Grayton, Blue Mountain Beach, etc. It's near Destin. We like to stay on 30-A - the beaches are less crowded and it's quieter, no high-rises, etc. But then for dinner or fun sometimes we go into Destin. We had a fabulous trip there last summer.
In the past we had always stayed in Destin/Sandestin.
I'm from Alabama originally but have actually never been to the AL beaches!!

Ocean City, MD - it's only 3 hours by car. The beaches are not as soft as the west coast of FL but extremely clean and you can stay on the beach all day b/c it never gets too hot. There is so much to do and great nightlife too! To find the good restaurants you have to ask the locals b/c they are not right on the main strip.

Coincidentally, I'm wrapping up some stuff at work right now and we're heading out to Seagrove Beach (along HWY 30A) until Sunday. We usually went to Destin or for really quick trips Orange Beach/Perdido, but Destin is way too crowded at this time of the year.

We haven't stayed at Seagrove Beach so I'm excited. I'll do a little mini trip report when we get back next week!

I am jealous!!! Have a great time!

Stick to the Gulf Coast -- in addition to the panhandle beaches, the beaches in SW Florida have soft white sand -- e.g., Naples, Sanibel, Captiva, Boca Grande, Anna Maria Island, Lido, Longboat Key. The Ritz Carlton in Naples is lux. I think South Seas Island Resort (fka South Seas Plantation) has recovered from the assorted hurricanes that seriously damaged it a few years ago:
http://tinyurl.com/ok7ep

Here's a link to Lido resort: http://www.lidobeachresort.com/

and one to the Colony on Longboat Key:
http://www.colonybeachresort.com/about.html

The Gasparilla Inn in Boca Grande is an venerable place to stay, but I don't know if it has recovered from the hurricanes.

I haven't stayed at any of the above, but I have a friend who spent a week at the Ritz & raved. Other friends have stayed, and enjoyed, South Seas. I used to eat brunch at Lido, but that was 25+ years ago, so any comments would be stale.

SunshineSue- thanks...I'm sure we'll have a great time.

Re: SW Florida beaches. I think the most comparable to the NW Florida panhandle beaches is Anna Maria Island.

If you are going in the summer, the Ritz Naples and Ritz Golf Naples has really good rates (like $129 for the latter). I'd like to stay at the the golf resort because they have a shuttle to the beach resort and it's supposed to have a lot less children. You can find good SW airfare into Ft. Myers or Tampa and that would cut your spending significantly. I don't think that would be $3k. You may want to look into that!

Well I caved.
I'm well on my way to my 3K florida vacation.
I did check out the Ritz deal - it came up as 199/night at the Golf one. With possible credits to be used at spa/restaurant as well.

We really love Ft Morgan. It is much more residential though, so if you like to eat out and such you have to drive to Gulf Shores. We went to Blue Mnt the very first year we went, 20 yrs ago-back when the places were few and far between and there were no little lights dotting the southern horizon at night!
-Katie

Don't forget Delaware (Rehobeth, Dewey Beach) and South Jersey Shore (Stone Harbor, Cape May). Great beaches!

Another vote for Captiva Island. Loved South Seas if you are happy with a big resort. Also recently stayed at Song of the Seas in Sanibel and enjoyed very much.

Where did you decide to go ls2005?

MAH1980
What are you doing still here??? You are supposed to be on your way to Seagrove! Now git!

I left work early to pack the car up. My husband just i.m'd me and he is leaving the office in NOLA right now. We should be on the road by 6!

Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1