Thanks, MomDDTRavel...I have been looking into temps as part of my deciding factors! Perhaps Laguna Beach is better off next summer?

Anyways, from everything I've read, it seems the best place to fly into for Amelia Island is Jacksonville (JAX).

Beach - Laguna is lovely, Newport Beach is great... there are nice homes for rent and a few that are dog friendly - having said that - you cannot, I repeat cannot count on the weather for April. It could be lovely...or freezing.

You mention that your baby is "laid back" and you aren't worried about the travel. If I'm calculating correctly, if he's going to be 9 months old in April he is now an infant of less than 2 months. You'll be surprised how babies change in just a few months. By then he'll be much more mobile. I'd go for the shorter trip.

My family has loved Siesta Key Florida. (near Sarasota) You won't find many house rentals there but there are plenty of condos for rent. The beach is one of the nicest in Florida.

Mom: What is "freezing" in Laguna Beach? Just wondering as we're from the Boston area ;)

Kathy: You make a good point about the age my baby will be then, but we are all about teaching him to travel early. We have a trip to the Caribbean planned for Dec. Thank you for the FL suggestion, I will look into it!

LOL - okay..well not really "freezing" LOL but not lay on the beach weather... the pacific will be VERY cold at that time of year (it is hardly warm here in the ocean -if it hits 70 degrees it is warm - the water temp).

It can be rainy, and over cast as well.. I would come here in August or September or even October is lovely usually...

Beachgirl re: teaching kids to travel...

We started with our guys within weeks of being born, and 12 years later wouldn't have changed a thing. Your comment about going to the Carribbean, reminded me that we got to St. Lucia with our oldest at 9 mos, and naively did not have his birth certificate...it took a friend back home at the courthouse, and a FedEx truck popping out of the jungle 4 days later just like a commmercial to get us back home intact. Our guys have been all over the planet. They have a tremendous appreciation for history, are confidant and open minded to other cultures and people, curious to learn more, and I had one of their social studies teachers corner me and say "how do I get adopted....?"
Sure, we've had our missed planes, sat on runways, etc. But we've also zipped down trails in The Alps, through the trees in Honduras, marvelled at The Pantheon, The Tetons, etc.

You will not reget it one bit.

I would definitely do Florida mostly because of no time change. At nine months, your baby's routine will be pretty settled which means in California, someone is going to be getting up with the child every morning around 4 amish.

chewy: Thanks for that, I really enjoyed reading your post about travel with your kids. People have been saying to us ever since he was born (well, really since I was pregnant) that our traveling days are over, but I won't believe it :)

kellie: Excellent point about the time change...

I love the californians idea of freezing - come to the eastcoast if yo really want to know what that means! I was in Huntington Beach this summer and they were talking about the "humidity" - ha. I was in L.A. in April and it was sunny and 70's just beautiful. I suggest Laguna - it is magnificant.

glm - I know :-) We are big babies...having said that many people come to Southern California expecting it to be "tropical" and it simply is not :-)

I'd try the Florida Keys. I often go there with my wife, two young children (James 4 and Thomas 2) and our dog Harry. We used to have trouble finding holiday homes that were children friendly and that would let you take a dog with you. We then found this web site http://www.Directholidaybookings.co.uk
If you check it out you can do advanced searches and look for places that are children friendly and allow dogs.

The Keys in April are beautiful and it will not be too hot or too busy. We once made the mistake of going there in August when James was a baby and it was a disaster!

Good luck.

Holidayboy: Thanks for the tips and the website, I will definitely check out the Keys!

Sanibel Island would be a nice location in April.

I would LOVE to go to Sanibel Island...someday :-)

You may enjoy Cape San Blas, FL. It is regularly on the "Best Beaches" list and was also ranked the #1 pet friendly beach in the USA last year!

It's in the FL Panhandle about 50 miles SE of Panama City and couldn't be more different from Panama City. It's Old Florida...no commercialism, white sand beaches, no traffic lights and a great family friendly beach (no wild parties etc., even during spring break).

Our kids (and dogs) have loved it since we discovered it 6 years ago! Great place to relax and spend great family time!

Whereever you select I hope you have a great trip!

I agree with Sanibel/Captiva... very family friendly!!!

I will check out Sanibel and Captiva, and Wendy, thanks for your suggestion! It sounds great, and I've never heard of it, so I will check it out!

Destin is absolutely gorgeous (in the Panhandle not far from Seaside) you will not find a prettier beach in Florida in my opinion. Pet friendly - not sure of that. Would have to say no, most Fla. beaches are not pet friendly.
Cape San Blas is very nice (about 2 hrs. E. of Destin) however, there is very, very little to do there. It is dog friendly, but it is a "finger" off of Florida (not an island) 26 miles long and I know of one small gas staion/tourist shop.Closest grocery store is about 40 minutes ago - it is extremely remote. Can take nice long walks, but if you have bad weather (which you shouldn't in April) you will be going out of your mind for something to do! Hope that helps in some way, enjoy FLA.!

If you are looking for a place where you can relax on the beach and to be able to explore a small town, the should look into St.Augustine Lodging (http://augustine.com/vacation/accomm...ndex.php?id=55). St. Augustine has some great beaches that have plenty of condos, hotels and motels all along it, and http://www.augustine.com has all the information you could want on the nations oldest city.
If you would rather be withing walking distance to historic downtown, you should look into the St.Augustine Bed and Breakfasts (http://augustine.com/vacation/accomm...ndex.php?id=52) that are all in the downtown area. It's still just a 5 minute drive to get to the beaches as well. No matter where you stay in St.Augustine, beach or downtown

Thanks for the additional places in FL to look at...I will check them out!