taterbug

We want to plan a last minute trip to FL. We are 60, enjoy wildlife, some hiking and good food. Our main want is a beautiful beach with soft sand. We would enjoy a quaint town. A HUGE plus if the area is Spring Break free. We can come anytime from March until May. We would prefer to come sooner than later incase covid restrictions come in play.

Thank you for your suggestions
taterbug

Macross

Playalinda National Seashore is perfect imo. Great trails, birds, beach soft sand. Just know everything is wide open here and very few places have spaced dining. A new bbq place opened today and people were in line waiting to be seated till they ran out of food at five. It was packed as I drove by twice today. No thank you. We also like Vilano beach and you can take a ferry into St Augustine or it is a short drive. Airb&bs but bike week is coming and demand will be high from St Augustine down to Brevard county.

taterbug

Thank you, I’ll check these out.

cdnyul

It has been over two decades since we have been to Florida, but I remembered Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge having some nice hiking trails.
You pass through it on the way to Playalinda.

In the Kissimmee area this place is or will be worth a visit if it re-opens.
https://floridahikes.com/reedycreek

On the Gulf side Caladesi Island State Park is a great way to spend half or a even a full day..

I would hit the back roads for "quaint"
https://www.florida-backroads-travel...oad-trips.html

Macross

Canaveral National seashore, sorry, we just have Playalinda as the final destination. It is the best beach.

gmoney

Might I suggest Amelia Island. We love the little town of Fernandina beach (definitely quaint) lots of little shops and restaurants great for strolling. There is Fort Clinch state park with tons of hiking, nature and a cool Civil War era fort as well as uncrowded beautiful beaches. Oh and definitely NOT a spring break destination.

taterbug

Thank you for the suggestions!

susanb2885

If you are still planning, The Gulf Coast is where to find soft, sugar sand! Madeira Beach is in between the busier beaches in St Pete and Clearwater. St. Pete downtown has tons of great restaurants and brew pubs. Pinellas County has dozens of beautiful parks (Boca Ciega Millenial, Weedon Island, and Fort DeSoto for nature and hiking.

Fra_Diavolo

Dear pandaaze --

Would you please stop reviving old threads to add your own bit of nothing? Very tiresome.