When I say redneck fun I mean buying goofy t-shirts, going to a water park, riding go carts,drinking beer-not wine!-with dinner-or lunch!

I could be making this up but I think the term came from describing people who work outside-probably blue collar-and actually get sunburned and get a red neck! Again I could have imagined that description!

It is a term of endearment to me...coming from the south.

We love Rosemary Beach and the Watercolor area.

Italbound07 - I love your description of redneck. Even if you are incorrect you make it sound like a term of endearment. The reason I asked in the first place was that I was unsure if it was a positive description or not.
Would Destin be really really busy during last 2 weeks of May? I was thinking we could fly drive and maybe go to Destin during Mon-Fri which may be quieter than a weekend - what do you think? We live in Llandudno, a resort in North Wales which can be really busy at weekends but not so during the week when the children are at school.
When do the schools break for the summer over there?
Thank you to all who have contributed, My appetite for the Florida Gulf is seriously whetted - I wish I did not have to wait until 2007.If anyone wants advice on Greek Islands or Mainland pls. let me know as I have been going there for years.
The weather forecast for today is showers 19C - yuk - give me some sun so I can get a red neck !

italybound is close to what I always heard, but farmers. Protected by cap bill in front, but neck stayed red from the sun. "Dirt farmers" in my neck of the woods (no pun intended). And, yes, not necessarily a negative either. Often, a badge of honor for working hard to earn a living.

The first of your 2 weeks will be less crowded-not UN crowded-just less! It will get busier after Memorial Day-the 28th. I still find that time of May is not as crowded or hot as anytime in June. We are going in august in 2007-when it will be as hot as H-E-double hockey sticks but what can you do?!

The kids get out of school anywhere from the week before Memorial Day to the middle of June.

Have a great time!

Anna
Jeff Foxworthy has made redneck joke popular partly because so many are true. :-) google "you know your a redneck if" and have fun laughing. Here is a sample:
You May Be A Redneck If ...

1. More than one living relative is named after a southern civil war general.

2. Your front porch collapses and more than six dogs are killed.

3. You've ever used lard in bed.

4. Your home has more miles on it than your car.

5. You think that potted meat on a saltine is an hors d'ouerve.

6. There is a stuffed possum anywhere in your house.

7. You consider a six-pack and a bug-zapper high-quality entertainment.

8. Fewer than half of your cars run.

9. Your mother doesn't remove the Marlboro from her lips before telling the State Trooper to kiss her ass.

10. The primary color of your car is "bondo".

Italybound: We'll be there in August '07 too. Got to go when the kids are out of school, right? Hopefully, mid August won't be storm season. This will be our first visit to Destin, staying at Silver Shells. I'm excited already, as we just put down the deposit on the condo and it looks beautiful.

Sherrie-I think you'll love it!

We stay a little farther east in a complex called Emerald Shores. Near the "Destiny" housing developments. There are over 20 of us so we rent 4 or 5 houses and take over the place!

I can't wait to hear what you think of Destin...

I have lived in northwest Florida more than 25 years. For the school year ending in 2007, most Florida schools will end the school year in MID MAY, not the end of May or early June. Our Florida legislature recently passed a law that the school year could not start until mid August, but that doesn't apply to the current school year. Most schools in northwest Florida started around August 1st this year. It will be crowded in Destin, Seaside and other parts of Northwest Florida in late May, but not as crowded as in June or July. August is relatively quiet.

annaellieb, I love Siesta Key. The beach is very soft, and the area rather laid back. I also enjoy staying at Lido Beach in Sarasota (not far from Siesta Key), which may offer more shops and attractions.The beach is different from Siesta, not quite the same soft sand.

You mentioned Ft Myers...Captiva and Sanibel I think you'll like but NOT Ft Myers beach which is tshirt shops, tattoos... I like St Pete, too-lots of fun little seafood restaurants/bars- I really like how the trolley runs up and down the area and you can easily get around without driving. Don't worry- there aren't many places outside the "Ritz" type places where people will dress for dinner. Trust me, FL is very casual!! You picked a good time to visit. How old is your daughter?

Okay, I just read where your daughter is 8. If you go to St Pete, you are close to Busch Gardens which my kids always loved. Shouldn't be too busy at that time either.

I think you should consider Siesta Key (first choice) or Clearwater/St. Petersburg (second choice). Siesta Key is low-key, stunningly gorgeous beaches, easy to get around ... and yet you have fantastic shopping at St. Armand's Circle, you have Sarasota just a few minutes away with tons of attractions (Ringling Museum, Selby Gardens, etc.). It's a great combination of low key and lots of good activities.

Clearwater/St. Pete is bigger and you'll deal with more traffic. But you also have great beaches, and more stuff to do than around Sarasota (Busch Gardens, Tampa Aquarium, etc.).

My favorite place in Florida is Sanibel/Captiva. But a lot of the activities are nature-related: kayaking, visiting the refuge, visiting the conservation foundation, the shell museum, etc. It's by far the easiest to get around but there's less to do than Siesta Key.

If it were me, I'd go for Siesta Key.

Then there's always Anna Maria Island, which is also very low key, and the beaches are so beautiful it hurts. But again, they have a little less to do there than around Siesta, and the closest city (Bradenton) is nowhere near as nice as Sarasota.

It looks like it may be Siesta Key/St.Pete's beach as hubby does not want to drive 7 hours to Destin after being on a plane for 9 hours from the UK. Siesta Key does look fab - is there anywhere you can recommend to stay where we can walk to restaurants at night as we do not want to get the car out each evening.
We are in Florida for 14 nights so we do not want to stay in one place for the whole duration - is there anyone out there who can recommend a tour including 4 diferent areas, landing at Orlando and including Siesta Key.
We don't mind doing a couple of nights in Orlando but that is all as we have been to Disney before.
Is Miami worth a visit?
Thanx to you all for your comments so far.............Anna

I've lived in Florida for 20 years so I've been all over the state. I really like the Siesta Key/Lido Beach/Longboat Key area and rent a Gulf-front house on Longboat Key for one week each year. I don't think you can go wrong with the area because it has a little of everything.

I'm a Siesta Key resident.

If you decide on Siesta Key and your preference is to walk, not drive, then you have 2 choices.

1. The better choice. Stay within walking distance of the Siest Key Village. Few shops, restaurants, nighclubs, all within ~1/2 mile on Ocean Blvd.

Nightclubs - Younger crowd - Gilligan's, Speakeasy, Daquiry Deck
Older crowd - Beach Club, Rhino Room, SKOB.

Fun, casual restaurants - Old Salty Dog, SKOB, Gilligan's, Daquiry Deck, Napolis.

Upper scale restaurants - Maximo's, Blase Cafe, Jo To's, Lobster Pot.


Of course you are only few minutes away from many excellent restauramts/clubs in Sarasota.

2. Stay near the south bridge commercial area. Not as much fun for evenings out, but couple of nightclubs and few restaurants available in the area.


There are no private beaches. That means that you can practically walk the whole length of the island on our soft sand beaches. Wonderful sunsets......and you are allowed to have a drink on the beach as long as it's in a plastic container/cup. Makes a very beautiful sunset/wine evening with your SO.


www.siestakeychamber.com

I think you would enjoy St Pete Beach. Very family friendly. Plenty to do, see, and eat. Plus, the trolley, as mentioned above, will take you from point A to point B without having to drive your car. I visit St Pete almost annually, although have not been for nearly one year now. I've always stayed at the Dolphin Beach Resort, which is right on the beach. It's an older place, but comfortable. I've often run into folks from Europe and Australia while staying there.
Carol

How far is St. Petes from Siesta Key as we fancy both places so thought we could have a few days in each place but seems a bit silly if they are really close by. St. Petes seems like fun and Siesta seems like a 'kick back and relax' resort.
We fancy doing three resorts over 14 days (4 days apiece) followed by the last 2 days in Orlando where Ellie wants to go to Universal and Animal Kingdom.
Me? I just want to lie on a lovely sunny beach and read my book but I will have to get off my backside and do child friendly things which is why I thought maybe St. Petes or Clearwater to start with, followed by Siesta Key maybe Sanibel and then to Orlando.
Is this realistic or am I expecting too much? Will this involve many hours of driving? Kevin doesn't mind driving but I don't want to spend a lot of time in the car although we do not mind travelling at night to make the most of the days.
This thread has been invaluable to me in planning my holiday - just wish I was over there with you guys now !!

You didn't tell us where you are flying into?

If I were you and really wanted to see all 4 places, then do an open jaw ticket.

UK-RSW (Ft.Myers)
MCO (Orlando) -UK

also, are the 14 days on the ground or that includes flying?

Come into Ft.Myers, rent a car and you're within 1/2 an hour to Sanibel/Captiva. Do few days there, drive to Sarasota (Siesta Key), about an 1.5 hour drive, no biggie. Enjoy few days here and then drive to St.Pete/Clearwater, also only about 1.5 hours drive. Finally when you ready to go to Orlando, it's another 1.5-2 hours drivem, depending on the traffic. After you're done, drop off the car at Orlando airport and fly home from there.

Car rentals are very cheap in Florida, even when you pickup/dropoff are at different airports, competition is tough for the agencies. I doubt very much they even have different location drop off charges, and if they do, it will be something minimal.

Open jaw ticket should not cost that much more and it will save you the return drive only to get back to your original airport.

Have fun planning, and while Siesta Key beaches are exactly what you want, the village is not exactly sleepy. If I'm in town, watch out!!! :-D

Hi Frequent flyer - I am searching for a flight as we speak. Will go with cheapest, which from the UK is probably Orlando or Miami.
If I cannot secure car hire for a reasonable amount in UK, what cost for a medium size car (bearing in mind we will have luggage and an 8yr old)in Florida. Is May a busy time for tourism?
Thanx for the advice on trip, exactly what I wanted - we will be on Florida soil for 14 nights - can't wait !
Siesta Key sounds rocking !!!!!!!