I am a Florida native & can't even answer this question completely-what Florida beach towns, besides Key West and St. Augustine, are good walking towns. I am not talking about beach walking. We want to be able to walk all around, from beach to dinner to accommodations to sidewalks or paths through neighborhoods & nature. So no highways/overpasses. St.Aug & Key West are perfect for this; are there more? Thanks!

Pensacola Beach is a great walking town. Unfortunately it got pretty wiped out in Hurricane Ivan. Maybe consider it for next year!

Too small and too quiet for most people but Flagler Beach is for me!
www.flaglerbeach.net

www.seasidefl.com

To tracy2cents-no such thing as too quiet for us. We are a young-ish couple but like the quiet simple places...walking, bikeriding, drinks on a deck. Will look at Flagler. Does it match the walk-able category? Thank you!!!!

ssgomezz: Why not try the west coast.
There is Siesta Key some of the whitest sand in Florida, St. Armands Circle and 1/2 block to the beach. Down the coast about 20 miles is the sleepy town of Venice. Great beach small dunes shark tooth capitral of the world. Find shark teeth on the beach. Manasota key just a little way futher down the coast. Check it out if you wan to walk the beach and walk to dinner.

You can stay on Lido Beach off Sarasota and never drive. St. Armands Circle has all the restaurants and shopping you need within waking distance.

Flagler is definitely a walk/bike town...and close to St. Augustine for a day trip or two.

I suggest Treasure Island Florida. It is known for its 1950's atomic era architecture. Known for smaller motel/hotels and not giant condos. Within walking distance to lots of restaurants and just a short drive to Tampa. Wouldn't even THINK of going to any other beach in florida.

I too vote for Lido Key in Sarasota, there are plenty of motels/hotels either right on the beach or across from, easy walk to St. Armands Circle where you can get coffee, bagels, ice cream or full breakfast lunch dinner and nice shopping, the southern end has a nature/bird preserve and only like a mile from the beach is City Island with a great inexpensive waterfront restaurant, Mote Marine Aquarium, and another nature walk, and if you do want to go by taxi or car, downtown Sarasota is only like 2 miles away.

i enjoy the town of delray beach
on the atlantic side in between ft. lau and w palm
the town has a vibrant downtown with shops, restaurants, accommadations and culture
ck it out we love it

Tho come to mind....Marco Island and Sanibel/Captiva Island.Great walking and biking places!

Definitely consider Lauderdale-by the-Sea...we love it there and it is very walkable, anything you need close by, but also a quiet little town.

Delray Beach is great. Nice beach with bars/restraunts right there (live music). Downtown Delray wakes up at night with tons of every kind of restraunt, bar, Hugh Jorgan's (pronounced Huge Organ's )piano bar, some shopping. Busch's seafood is awesome and there is an old gas station converted to an open air bar/restraunt called Elroy's that has different local bands playing.

Everyone-thanks! I am still researching, now with the west coast of fla on the top of my list. We live on the east, so the gulf is kind of a novelty & there were more suggestions from you all for w. coast places. It is terrific to be a tourist in my own state & worry only about destination & not airfare & car rental. Will post our choice & how it goes, of course!



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If you have never been to Amelia Island and the town Fernandina Beach, I highly recommend it. It has a fantastic historic downtown, beautiful beaches and is really not like the rest of the Atlantic coast. Of course, I am biased - I grew up there!

Check out Palm Beach Island. There are tons of restaurants and shops and since it's summer you could problably find better rates than in season.

Okay-really narrowed down now, one east coast destination, one west coast destination. Amelia Island or Siesta Key? Good walking area is our main desire-again, not just walkable beach, but walkable town. Thanks to all for continued input!

BTW, the west coast location is Siesta Key instead of Lido only because of availability for accommodations. I believe they are close enough to be almost the same??

Lido is within walking distance to St. Armands Circle. I'd stay there. Things are a bit spread out in the Sarasota area so this might be your most walkable area. Or Longboat. Some biking would be good there, too.