jhd, just Google Red Tide & you will get lots of info.

Last time we went to WDW we were staying in teh delray beach area ( approx midway b/t FLL & Palm Beach}. We drove up to Orlando mid-week, toured WDW the remainder of the day that we drove there(Wed), stayed over @ The Boardwalk that night(I wld strongly rec staying on the WDW property), did WDW the next day(Thursday), stayed over that night too & then headed back to Delray Beach the next day around noon( Friday). For us, it was the perfect blend of WDW and beach.

A lot of Gulf Side fans I see. Being a condo owner in Cocoa Beach and visiting fequently. I love it. The one difference b/n the coast lines is the Atlantic side is more the surf side. The sunrise is beautiful. There is also Kennedy Space Center and from Orlando it is only at most one hour easy drive. I too enjoy the Gulf. Beaches are whiter and water a little bluer. However, the hometown feel of Cocoa Beach is great. Very friendly.

I live in St Pete and love our beaches but in July and Aug. the Gulf is hot and there are sting rays. I like Daytona but just avoid the 4th of July. When there is a race being run there is no place to stay.

I recently moved to Daytona Beach and I love it here. I visit the Gulf Coast from time to time, however, you can't beat the fun atmosphere in Daytona Beach. There are a lot of activities in Daytona for families. There is the Jackie Robinson Ball Park, several cool shopping areas and restaurants in the Downtown area, and plenty of fun things to do at the Daytona International Speedway. It is less than 2 hours from Orlando.

The Gulf side for us. If you are really serious about shells, then Sanibel and Captiva are shell central. They have some of the best shelling in the world, or at least the US. If your son is young, then the gulf side has a calmer ocean. At Sanibel you can wade way out in calm waters. If you like party boat fishing, you can do very well at the marina south of St. Pete.

If you like shelling, you may also like treasure hunting. On the Atlantic side, around Vero Beach, and north and south of Vero, it is called the Treasure Coast. Many old ships had been sunk off the shores and treasure (coins, gold, artifacts, etc) wind up on shore in the sand. You can rent metal detectors to find them. There are 2 treasure museums in the area that has loads of info. Vero Beach is a beautiful area of Florida, 90 minutes from the Orlando airport. There are beautifully landscaped gated communities that rent out condos throughout the year. Off-season, which includes June and July, can be value priced for rentals. Check out www.seaoakstv803.blogspot.com for one that is by the ocean, with tennis courts and pools. Good rates.

Can't really add anything except another vote for Siesta Key and Sanibel.

Wow is right, red tide takes all the fun out of the beach, but it's not just a west coast phenomenon, we've had serious outbreaks of it here on the east coast too.

If your beach daydreams have soft, white sand and calm, clear, blue water, I'd stick with the Gulf Coast.

We do have some nice beaches on the Atlantic side, Playlinda is my favorite. Natural setting, no high rises. The drive out takes you through a wildlife refuge, with plenty of gators and birds. And one of the Space Shuttle launch pads can be seen from the south end of the beach. But there are hardly any lifeguards, and this part of the coast is known for its undertow and riptides, so most people walk the shore and stay out of the water.