I also agree with Grazielola that there's taller high rises on Marco Island and it's sometimes a little more difficult to get across the bridge but that can also happen at Sanibel.

My personal feeling is that any of the barrier islands on the gulf coast from Tampa on down are the most spectacular vacation spots around. But then I live on one of them.

Hi, I have enjoyed this postings ,
LN, you live in a wonderful place, !
I do not complain either because I live in front of the Ocean too, I also feel nostalgic about an old Florida that is rapidly changing in many places.
I consider noise one of the big spoilers, in areas like South Beach , noise penatrates walls, and sometimes making it difficult to chat in public places, in the beach some people play music so loud that also spoils the wonderful possibility to comunicate with nature. It is amazing to me that the same people that is so concerned with the enviroment accepts the noise aggresion .
Most communities have noise ordenances that do not care to enforce.
Bromfij I wish that you and your family have a good time in Florida.

Aren't we lucky Graziella!!

I don't live on the gulfside all year as I still have to appear at work sometimes in DC. However, I use my laptop enough to enjoy those beautiful breezy walks with lots of sand dollars! Were'mt you visiting DC recently?

Hi , the matter in fact I was and you all helped me a lot. We had a wonderful time, of course we do not work over there.
I must confess that I found people in DC much more polite and caring than at home. :-(
As a whole I found restaurants more professional than here , better service and also better food
and was delighted to be again in one of my favorite museums, i.e. THe National Gallery. Cheers. G.

Bromfij

Just a comment on the Dezerland as it has been mentioned by others here. One of my friends stayed there last year and didn't having anything good to say about it! We are going to Miami in December and staying at the Holiday Inn South Beach, it has a pool, is on the beach and has free parking. It is very slightly to the north of the main action of SoBe but looks to be within easy walking distance but yet not too close for comfort. Booked it via priceline(uk) for £22 per night!

Thanks for the info on Dezerland - I also read it was favoured by Germans - had enough of them on European beaches!

Can't really be too unbiased on Ft. Myers. It rained both days I was there. However there are very good restaurants, even found a nice TJ Maxx and multiplex - not much else to do in the rain. We did LOOK at the beach. Just wasn't crazy about Ft. Myers Beach - it would probably be fun with much sunshine and being with other people having fun.

I've really grown quite fond of Key West in the three times I have been there. (I used to think that people went there just to say that they had indeed been there.) Restaurants are great - one is Mangia, Mangia, another is a fantastic Cuban restaurant - can't recall the name but cheap and enormous sized servings - you can share an order. It is the most relaxed city I have ever been in. You don't need to dress for anything. Shopping is fun. Best shopping is on Duval Street - the further up the street from the foot of Duval where the cruise ships dock,the better. Sunset is a ritual at Mallory (foot of Duval) - everybody has a drink and cheers the beautiful sunsets.

Since you are from Britain, I don't know if you can use Priceline but last November we got great prices at Miami Beach, Ft. Myers, and Key West. (Under $70 a night for 3 star hotels - Also under $40 for 3 star in Orlando, but that doesn't seem to be in your itinery)

P. S. - the drive from Miami to Key West is quite boring at first. The closer you get to Key West there is more water, much more spectacular. When you get to seven-mile bridge you know you're almost there.