julie27514fr

My husband and I (from Europe)will be driving around Florida in August. Our itinerary is pretty much done, except for 2 days on the Gulf Coast (after Ft Myers Beach). We were considering Treasure Island. We are looking for wide, non-crowded sandy beaches, not bordered by high-rise concrete buildings (small 2 to 3 story-hotels are ok)as in Miami. The Gulf coast looked very exotic to me last time, and I'd like to take my husband to a really nice, small, tropical-looking beach town (partying isn't what we're after). What would you recommend? Thanks for you help!! Julie

jlm_mi

Hello Julie - You've gotten two replies on your other post from earlier today. If you're having difficulty finding it, just click your name at the very top of this page.

AAFrequentFlyer

Siesta Key (Sarasota)

http://www.siestakeychamber.com/

letstalk

Welcome to Florida! I live in a beautiful town near Orlando. About the Gulf coast beaches: there is a very commercial touristy strip north of St Pete that goes up through Treasure Island. If you want a more quiet, natural place, look at Naples. Naples is a pretty town with public beaches. It is beautifully landscaped and has many fine restaurants. However, it is further south. hhttp://www.naples-florida.com/

This link takes you to a page from Frommers about coastal islands:
http://www.concierge.com/destination...alIslands.xml/

I would also suggest Sarasota Beach, quiet small beach town not as far south as Naples- and the barrier islands of Lido Key and Siesta Key.

http://www.4sarasota.com/siestakey/

North of I-75 and not as far a drive as the above is the quaint town of Dunedin with natural beaches.
http://www.dunedingov.com/

Have fun and don't forget yoursunblock!

birder

I would definitely recommend Anna Maria Island. Family style lodging, gorgeous white sand beaches, you can run down to St. Armand's Circle easily enough for some serious shopping....

talavera_timbre

Just went to Siesta Key last Saturday (we live 10 min. away). All of the area surrounding Sarasota: Siesta Key, Lido Key, Longboat Key, Anna Maria Island, St. Armand's Circle---I think you will enjoy. Try: www.simplysiestakey.com

gbhost

Naples could be a good pick. We stayed at the Registry resort there. It is a beautiful, full service hotel that is separated from the beach by a huge mangrove nature preserve. If I recall correctly, there is a nearly one mile hike (or golf cart ride) from the hotel to the beach, on a secluded boardwalk surrounded by 200 acres of tropical mangrove.

The beach at the end is quite secluded, although full of hotel guests.

I don't know if you'll find a deserted tropical paradise anywhere in Florida nowadays, so having exclusive rights in a nature preserve might be the next best thing.