hugglynn

Hi
We've plans to travel to Jacksonville in early June. Of the beaches in the area, which would be the best for an active couple to stay--we'll probably rent a condo: Atlantic, Neptune, Jacksonville or Pointe Vedra Beach......recommendations? Also, my understanding Amelia Island is a little more laid back/secluded--which is not necessarily a good thing to us???

Also, my SO wants to do a day trip to Savannah. I'm thinking Savannah might be worth more than a day trip....any thoughts here???

Thanks.

earlxx

If you are counting on soft, white sand there is nothing like that in Jacksonville area. Hard sand is very unpleasant for sensitive feet. We were very dissapointed in a number of Florida's beaches. We still are looking, and hope to find somewhere in Florida, beaches with crystal clear water and soft, white sand

massteacher

Hugglynn, the beaches of the Florida panhandle presumably meet the requirements for soft, white sand. The weather can be a bit cooler, as it is further north (and west). There are many lovely towns in the area with one of the newer ones being Rosemary Beach.
We were in Jacksonville recently and had a tour of Ponte Vedra. It seemed absolutely delightful and reminded me of Sanibel and Captiva. Real estate is quite high, but I am not sure of the rentals. I would contact the area Chamber of Commerce for more information.

Scarlett

I think Ponte Vedra is beautiful but if you are not staying at one of the resorts where you can play tennis/golf, then you only have the beach to run on or use. Which makes it as or more laid back than Amelia Island.
Atlantic/Neptune/Jax Beach are all nice, some have great areas with nice homes but overall, Jax Beach is cheesy to me and there still is not that much to do ..
We drove to Savannah from Jax, took 3 hours, I think, maybe a little less, it is definitely worth at least 2 nights there.

GoTravel

I love Ponte Vedra Beach!

earl, is there any location you have been happy with?

hugglynn

Well now that I am looking into the area a little more, Amelia Island/Fernandina might be ok for us--national park, hiking, horseback riding, walking/running on the beach and looking at the homes, a little shopping in Fernandina....this is what we like to do in the daytime in between drinking wine on our balcony ...except we can then venture out to Jacksonsville, St. Augustine and possibly Savannah as side trips??

So, those of you who said Ponte Vedra, where is the better place to stay between PV and Amelia Island??

Scarlett

If it were my choice to make, Amelia Island would be it.
As you say, horseback riding, Fernandina is lovely, beaches, etc. just drive across the little bridge and you are at Little Talbot and Big Talbot Islands , trails beaches picnic..then there is Kingsley Plantation, beautiful! then drive about 45 min at the most and you are in downtown Jax. Plenty of good restaurants, clubs etc.
I recommend Bistro Aix, BBs and Crush for nights on the town in Jax.
In PV I recommend the Aqua Grill at Sawgrass for lunch out in the deck overlooking the water.
We take pup to a beach at the end of PV, just a town beach, but dogs are allowed, on leash, and we just walk for miles, it is all state park ( Guana (sp?) State Park - so the birds are happy, the place is very clean and pretty.
You are almost in St Augustine by then , down A1A and have lunch there or dinner and stroll through the back streets.
There! I feel like I planned an excellent holiday LOL

Colorado17

Amelia Island is amazing, iv'e been there 3 times...all during the Bausch and Lomb Tennis championships. I highly recommend it..great for families. Earl--check out Pensacola for those "white" beaches...I lived there for 7 months. the town of pensacola left something to be desired....but the beaches were amazing

earlxx

Thank you Colorado for your suggestion on "white beaches" of Pensacola. We are looking for a place to have a family reunion in the end of April. I will do research and present this idea to my family.

benj

Beaches on the Gulf seem to be more the white sand style. I have lived in Jax & still have family there. The beach is not the tropical isle type. It is hard packed down at the water but is not as hard when you get away from the waterline.Still not the fluffy white stuff. Ponte Vedra would be my choice in the ones you mentioned. We used to go there when escaping the crowds at the Jax beaches. I did hear that they redid the Jax boardwalk. I would love to see it since I remember it from my kiddie days.

My suggestion is Destin area or Siesta Key. I have been to Destin & the water & beach is nice. It's also popular so might be crowded. I haven't been to Siesta Key but have heard great things about their beach. I think they were featured on a travel show about best beaches. If we ever go to FL without visiting the relatives as a reason then Siesta Key will be my pick.

Tandoori_Girl

Scarlett, Guana Beach? Doesn't *guana* mean poo-poo? I hope the Pup isn't the reason for this

Clearwater also has gorgeous sand but unfortunately there aren't any great places to stay. We loved Clearwater Beach Hotel but it has gone downhill. Siesta has nice sand and so does Panama City Beach.

With beach renourishment, it's either lose your sand or lose your buildings. You never know anymore where the sand has come from on many beaches in Florida.

hugglynn

Agreed, as you can tell from my past posts, we love gulf FL and Siesta Key in particular, but just using up some FF miles this summer to visit a different area.

We have condos in mind on Amelia....now, a second question, is there any preference on "where" to stay in Amelia (location wise)...some of the condos I've looked are closer to Fernandina and they specifically mention that....we can obviously run, walk or drive there, too, so is the distance anything we should make note of when reserving?

OO

TG, Guana as in Iguana. The other is guanO. LOL Sir Pup would never do that anyway.

earlxx...the entire Panhandle has gorgeous white sand beaches and very clear water, IMHO, the prettiest of the FL beaches.

TG...did you know Hyatt is building on Clearwater Beach? I believe they start construction this year, with scheduled completion in '07. Every unit will be build and sold as a condo, but run as a hotel.

Scarlett

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide...uana_river.htm

LOL, GaunA is the State Park, guano is bird poo..or bat..whatever, it is not what Pup does either ((&))

But it is miles of nice beaches where I have gotten quite a nice seashell collection as well as some surprisingly rare beach glass..have you noticed? there is no beach glass anymore...sigh.

Tandoori_Girl

OO, are they revamping the Clwr. Beach Hotel? I love that area, the sand is so pretty there. I'm not even a sand nut but when I went there a year ago I really noticed how great the sand was. And Carlowell is very cool too, back there.

So is that it? They're doing that condo-spa addition to the CBH? Or no?