Hi folks -

I am in the very preliminary stages of planning for a possible 4 day trip to Florda for the beginning of December. The only direct flight from our small airport is to Orlando. We could fly with one connection to most other airports in FL, but would prefer the non-stop for this trip do to it's short duration - weather, as you know can be a factor for flights in the northeast in December!
We'd like to spend the time at the beach. We are gulf coast people, but it looks as though the east coast is closer to MCO.
We are looking for a laid back beach town with some good restaurants - not looking for something like Daytona Beach. On the gulf coast we like St. Pete Beach (Pass A Grill section) & Bradenton Beach. Anything like that in the Daytona-Titusville-Melbourne area?
OR, should we just head over to St. Pete.
Thanks!!

Have you considered St. Augustine?

It is full of history, good restaurants, art galleries, shopping outlets, beaches, and more.

December is a particularly good time to come here as the city celebrates the holidays for almost two months, beginning with a spectacular nighttime parade the first Saturday in December. Over 200 people in colonial costumes march up, down and around the historic area with drums, fifes and torches ablaze.

Here is some additional information from a previous post of mine:

This article <http://tinyurl.com/2j8rab> was in Sunday's (12/9/07) Orlando Sentinel. If you are interested, print it out as their links expire rapidly.

For very basic information about the city and surrounding area, go to <http://www.getaway4florida.com/> and <http://www.st.augustine.com/>.

You'll definitely want to see "The Old Fort" (Castillo De San Marcos). A good way to get an overview of the entire historic area is by sightseeing train or trolley <http://www.redtrains.com/> or <http://tinyurl.com/yhb57v> which offer a number of packages with some admissions included and all-day reboarding privileges. You can see a lot in one day this way.

Here <http://tinyurl.com/2ovls3> is a pretty discussion of restaurants.

You have nice beaches here, but you won't encounter many, if any, Floridians there as it is too cold for us.

Give it some thought. It is only a two-hour drive from Orlando.

New Smyrna Beach is only about an hour from Orlando. Nothing at all like Daytona, very laid back beach town. Some really nice restaurants like South Atlantic Grill, Taste of Italy, and Spanish River Grill. The Breakers is a very low-key inexpensive place right on the ocean--great burgers. I have a condo there, so I go out there all the time. The beach is beautiful, quiet, and relaxing. The texture of the sand feels like baby powder. Enjoy your trip!

New Smyrna sounds interesting...can you recommend any lodging? We're not looking for 5*, but something clean and comfy and preferably with a pool (I like sitting on the beach but don't like salt water go figure!).
Of course, temps in early December might be on the cooler side, but it'll be definately warmer than Vermont!

The distance to St. Augustine is further than the drive to St. Pete. Daytona and Clearwater are equidistant to the Orlando airport. Cocoa Beach is the closest beach, but is not a Gulf Coast type destination. If you love St. Pete, you are at no disadvantage to go to St. Pete.

Driftwood Motel in Ormond Beach was a favorite of ours, haven't been there in a few years but sounds like what you're looking for.
'
Flagler Beach is nice, but VERY quiet and laid-back,some of your dining would be a drive to another town.

Hi bm

I wouldn't put all my eggs in the basket yet. You're talking 8 months away. They've cancelled several direct flights this week from Louisville...a couple to Orlando. Which airline?

We prefer to fly to Tampa via Southwest. However, for free tickets, time constraints, etc have on occasion driven to Orlando, rented a car and headed to another place. Once, pre-cruise, Miami was booked for Super Bowl so we stayed in West Palm Beach and visited the Space Center. Fun trip. But for a 4 day only trip, the driving is something to consider.

I meant. we have flown to Orlando...tee hee.

We liked Cocoa Beach for its low-key family style. It's a quick and easy drive from Orlando.

We stayed at the Hilton Cocoa Beach, which needed a facelift four years ago, so I hope they've done that. It is right on the beach, with chairs and umbrellas for rent. Their pool has a nice huge wrap-around wooden deck and it overlooks the beach. We could see a space shuttle launch easily from their beach, and could walk quite a ways up and down the beach from the Hilton.
>-

Mambo, just about every hotel in Cocoa Beach has been completely renovated since then - the hurricanes of 2004 made sure of that!

Renovations by Charley (Ha-Ha).

Its Jet Blue. JetBlue just actually added this flight year-round...was only seasonal before.
I know its 8 months out, but I love to do travel research, so I tend to start a tad early.
Thanks everyone!

I am not generally a naysayer, but these airlines are getting me lately. My DHs last trip was made crazy by American cancelling 3 of his partners' flights.

I had a flight booked to Orlando a few years ago...actually, Sanford. When I went to confirm flights, I found out that the charter airline had folded! THANK YOU for telling us. Luckily, I had 2 free SW tickets and was able to get there, but I was ticked.

Vic

I flew into Orlando this past December and drove to Siesta Key on the Gulf side. It was totally laid back and beautiful. There is a Spanish/Cuban restaurant called the Columbia Restaurant that is AWESOME! I dined there twice I loved it so much. There are a ton of shops around the main circle of town. Then I drove up and down the keys sampling other beaches and other restaurants. It was a couple hour drive from Orlando but well worth it.

In regards to lodging at New Smyrna Beach, there are mainly condos. There is a driving part of the beach (on which they allow cars to drive), and a non-driving part of the beach. I highly recommend the non-driving part, because watching for cars while you are relaxing on the beach is not my idea of fun! My condo, Moontide, is directly on the ocean and has several units listed on VRBO. The one listed below is only $200/night for a 2 bedroom. There are many others as well in the same building (FYI: the A building of Moontide is closer to the ocean than the B building, but both face the ocean and beach). Moontide has a pool on the roof which is heated year-round.

http://www.vrbo.com/25044