Florida beach in April
Feb 6th, 2002 | 04:12 AM
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Luca:
I think by April, the beach water in the Ft. Lauderdale and Pompano Beach area should be about 75-80. I'd suggest Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL (5 miles north of Ft. L). When you travel to South Florida, the temps never really get low in Jan., Feb. and March anyway, thus the water temp is OK. Most Northerners think the water is warm but Florida people don't swim in them until they are at least 85.
I think by April, the beach water in the Ft. Lauderdale and Pompano Beach area should be about 75-80. I'd suggest Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL (5 miles north of Ft. L). When you travel to South Florida, the temps never really get low in Jan., Feb. and March anyway, thus the water temp is OK. Most Northerners think the water is warm but Florida people don't swim in them until they are at least 85.
Feb 6th, 2002 | 08:24 AM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Ft Lauderdale is a good choice, but you could also look into the Clearwater area on the Gulf side. That area tends to be low key pretty much year around compared to Ft Lauderdale. The water is always warmer on the Gulf side and the beaches are cleaner and nicer. Also, the cost of living (ie: gas, food, restaurants etc.) is lower over there too.
Feb 6th, 2002 | 11:09 AM
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Even I get in the water by the end of April, and it has to be 80 for me to swim. You can pick and choose any of the beaches from Clearwater (my area) on down to Marco Island.
By the last week of April the spring breakers are gone and things have calmed down considerably all along the coast but the Sanibel/Captiva or Sarasota/Longboat/Anna Maria areas will always be quieter than St. Pete/Clearwater. All have beautiful beaches--your choice becomes how quiet you want it (if you want Dead Quiet, head to Gasparilla Island...Boca Grande) and which airport offers best fares for you...Tampa for Sarasota, St Pete, Clearwater, Ft Myers for Sanibel/Captiva or Boca Grande.
Whichever you choose, it's a great time of year to be here.
By the last week of April the spring breakers are gone and things have calmed down considerably all along the coast but the Sanibel/Captiva or Sarasota/Longboat/Anna Maria areas will always be quieter than St. Pete/Clearwater. All have beautiful beaches--your choice becomes how quiet you want it (if you want Dead Quiet, head to Gasparilla Island...Boca Grande) and which airport offers best fares for you...Tampa for Sarasota, St Pete, Clearwater, Ft Myers for Sanibel/Captiva or Boca Grande.
Whichever you choose, it's a great time of year to be here.
Trending Topics
Feb 7th, 2002 | 04:23 AM
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
In the Sarasota area, which includes Venice, Lido, Longboat and Siesta beaches, rates go down last week of April because Easter was so early this year. Most of the visitors in this area stay in condos - look on the CVB's website, www.sarasotafl.org for condo's and rates. And yes, I finally go swimming by the last week of April.
Feb 7th, 2002 | 05:46 AM
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
No offense, Virginia, but I don't believe it is the intent of the forum to have CVBs promote their area on this site. This is a non-professional site for visitors to ask their questions and former tourists or residents to share their experiences.
As a resident your information on good places to eat and stay would be very helpful, providing it applies to all good places to eat and stay, not just those who are members of the CVB. You are walking, and I believe have crossed, a very fine line when you suggest people look at the CVB's website for a list of condos. General info such as the early date of Easter and the drop in rates is most welcome, but some of your replies haven't been totally unbiased (Siesta Key having the whitest sand for instance).
I'm sure you have lots of great info to share, but it should be done in an unofficial capacity and in as unbiased a manner as is possible for any resident of a beautiful area--as yours definitely is.
As a resident your information on good places to eat and stay would be very helpful, providing it applies to all good places to eat and stay, not just those who are members of the CVB. You are walking, and I believe have crossed, a very fine line when you suggest people look at the CVB's website for a list of condos. General info such as the early date of Easter and the drop in rates is most welcome, but some of your replies haven't been totally unbiased (Siesta Key having the whitest sand for instance).
I'm sure you have lots of great info to share, but it should be done in an unofficial capacity and in as unbiased a manner as is possible for any resident of a beautiful area--as yours definitely is.
Feb 7th, 2002 | 06:51 AM
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
It is VERY quiet, Sam, primarily residential, located a bit north of Ft. Myers.
It's about 7 miles long with the quiet little village of Boca Grande (pronounced "grand") at the southern end. There must be some huge homes between the village and the causeway on the northern end, but they are all tucked back behind walls, trees and shrubs for total privacy. The duPont family founded Boca Grande and that type name, Astor, Vanderbilt, are still there in the winter. It's a Bush family retreat as well.
If you want to stay directly on the beach you must rent either a condo (low rises) or private home as there are no beachfront hotels. The Gasparilla Inn in Boca Grande sits inland a bit, is old and exclusive, a la the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, MA for instance, though more exclusive. We have not stayed there as we've only gone down on day trips, but it is quite expensive. They have cottages as well as the main inn, but I believe all their cottages are away from the beach as well.
The village has some nice shops and a few small restaurants. This is not, however, a hotbed of nighttime activity! There are bike trails up and down the island and the town has so little traffic that renting a bike and riding around town is a safe and enjoyable activity.
The area has been known as the Tarpon fishing capitol of the world. My husband has been invited down to try his hand at it. Don't know if there is a "season", but assume so. He went around July. Most all are small boats that fish right near the shore--all catch and release. He caught one his guide estimated to be about 130 lbs, and by the time he got it to the boat he was wishing his line would break, anything, and that that fish would be gone!
gt; They are quite the fighters evidently. Actually...he did spend the night there, I'd forgotten that, but in a small motel type place near the docks.
There are a couple of beach areas on the south side of the island whcih are public. The beach is pretty and water prettier; nice white sand as you find all along the mid to southern Gulf coast area, but it's a narrow beach--looks as if it's suffered the toll from erosion. Still just fine for lying out and long walks, but not the expanse you'd find at Clearwater, for instance.
Hope this helps. I believe they enjoy being a well kept secret!
It's about 7 miles long with the quiet little village of Boca Grande (pronounced "grand") at the southern end. There must be some huge homes between the village and the causeway on the northern end, but they are all tucked back behind walls, trees and shrubs for total privacy. The duPont family founded Boca Grande and that type name, Astor, Vanderbilt, are still there in the winter. It's a Bush family retreat as well.
If you want to stay directly on the beach you must rent either a condo (low rises) or private home as there are no beachfront hotels. The Gasparilla Inn in Boca Grande sits inland a bit, is old and exclusive, a la the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, MA for instance, though more exclusive. We have not stayed there as we've only gone down on day trips, but it is quite expensive. They have cottages as well as the main inn, but I believe all their cottages are away from the beach as well.
The village has some nice shops and a few small restaurants. This is not, however, a hotbed of nighttime activity! There are bike trails up and down the island and the town has so little traffic that renting a bike and riding around town is a safe and enjoyable activity.
The area has been known as the Tarpon fishing capitol of the world. My husband has been invited down to try his hand at it. Don't know if there is a "season", but assume so. He went around July. Most all are small boats that fish right near the shore--all catch and release. He caught one his guide estimated to be about 130 lbs, and by the time he got it to the boat he was wishing his line would break, anything, and that that fish would be gone!
gt; They are quite the fighters evidently. Actually...he did spend the night there, I'd forgotten that, but in a small motel type place near the docks.There are a couple of beach areas on the south side of the island whcih are public. The beach is pretty and water prettier; nice white sand as you find all along the mid to southern Gulf coast area, but it's a narrow beach--looks as if it's suffered the toll from erosion. Still just fine for lying out and long walks, but not the expanse you'd find at Clearwater, for instance.
Hope this helps. I believe they enjoy being a well kept secret!
Feb 7th, 2002 | 08:02 AM
#12
Guest
Posts: n/a
Luca:
I can't tell you anything about condos. You can search the web for Fort Lauderdale and then click the chamber of commerce. They may have a number listed on that website. There are so many properties going from Lauderdale-by-the-Sea to Pompano Beach, FL. I have walked from LBTS to Pompano.
I can't tell you anything about condos. You can search the web for Fort Lauderdale and then click the chamber of commerce. They may have a number listed on that website. There are so many properties going from Lauderdale-by-the-Sea to Pompano Beach, FL. I have walked from LBTS to Pompano.
