No high rises, low key natural area with water access in SW Fla
 

We're driving from the cold upper Midwest to Fla. for a stay in Sanibel and, on our way down to Sanibel, we want to drive along the coast to check out some areas for future winter rentals of a month or two. We really aren't lying on the beach people so aren't necessarily aiming at the idea of long Gulf beaches to walk on. But, we want to be on salt water--bays, backwaters, rivers etc.for fly fishing for hubby (very important), kayaking and boating. We prefer an area with character, more the "old Florida" feel, an abundance of natural areas accessible, not completely isolated from civilization and decent grocery stores. Places we could do some biking around the area on not super busy roads would also be a plus.

Do you have any suggestions for areas we should look into that would meet our needs? I guess we also want to be far enough south where typical weather is comfortable doing activities (not swimming) like boating and kayaking in the winter months, so how far south should we limit our search? While on Sanibel we could also venture out further south for some day trips to check things out, so suggestions for places south of there are also welcome. Thanks much.

Not SW Florida but you are describing Cape San Blas, Indian Pass and St. George Island area on the gulf.

starrs--I suspect these places are a bit too chilly in the winter for what we are looking for. Maybe I am wrong about that though. Thanks.

Anna Maria Island

http://www.annamariaislandchamber.org/

You may want to watch the weather reports for both areas to decide. A LOT of snowbirds would disagree with your conclusion. Snowbirds find the temps in that area as well as coastal GA and SC delightful. Sanibel will probably be warmer but whether the difference is "too chilly" is a personal outlook.

From your description I'm picturing Englewood Beach, south of Venice. A long stretch of island with low rise rentals on the bay side (just a short walk across the road to the beach). Great shelling and super fishing.
Not busy traffic. A handful of nice (not fancy) restaurants. Although admittedly it's a bit of drive for much major attraction stuff. Still places like Gasparilla make for a great day trip. And plenty of biking or boating.

Whether NW Florida is too chilly will depend on what you mean by "winter". It is possible to have chilly, even freezing, temps at any time in the winter months, but more likely in late December through January. By February the weather generally is turning springlike and things are blooming (camellias and azaleas are blooming right now)

High temps this week in NW Florida are high 60s/low 70s. Water is cooler, of course, so I wouldn't want to go swimming. But we saw children/teens/young adults in the water over the weekend (some of them yelling about how cold it was).

Neopatrick--We'll definitely stop in Englewood Beach because it does sound close to what we're looking for.

What is too chilly for winter temps for us? We live in Minneapolis, so we know what real winter is (and that's why we want to escape). We've considered NW Fla. and coastal GA and the Carolinas and, having visited them in the past, like all of these areas. I guess my concern is that we have a pontoon here, and when the temps drop below about 70 I consider it too cool for pleasurable boating. But, as far as walking and biking temps around 70 are perfect in my opinion. I will keep watching the temps in Jan for all of those places though. Thanks to all of you.

The first place I thought of was Cedar Key, but it might be just a bit too far north for comfort. It's very much old FL. Actually, just reading your title and before reading the body of your message, the first thing I thought was Sanibel. Anna Maria is becoming less and less "old FL" IMO. Gulfport is, but you have to enjoy eccentricity. We have friends who stayed in Indialantic on the east coast, and I was quite impressed with that low key area too. Have you considered anything on that side?

My parents, from MA, also thought they might like the Panhandle, but a month there changed their minds. They wanted more warmth than that, and settled in Bonita Beach…which at that time was exactly what you were looking for, but in the interim (25 years), has been discovered.

Hurry hurry. Old FL is rapidly disappearing, at least along the coastal areas.

You can find current water temperatures at www.beachlive.com.

At the moment, they are pretty much the same as the air temperatures, though in Naples the water is warmer than the air. Gotta love Naples!

Another vote for Anna Maria .

The only place further south than Sanibel would be....????

Islamorada would be great.
I love this place. Really feels like Old Florida -
http://www.whitegatecourt.com/

Julies, Starrs is right about Cape San Blas area, it is old time Florida. We stayed 4 winters there but I do believe the temps are not what you are looking for. The majority of the time they were in the 50's some 60's but also some 40's and if you're on the water, or even walking the beach it feels about 10 degrees colder.

I just knew I could find great help on this forum. Thanks much to all.

OO--We're fine with eccentricity and find it refreshing. Are you referring to Gulfport MS? I've never heard of Indiatlantic so will have to look into it further as we haven't thought about the east coast at all since my impression has been that the more wild, loess developed areas were on the Gulf side.

Ackislander--very helpful link

starrs--Thanks much for the White Gate Court info because it sounds exactly like the type of place we'd like to be.

cd--I appreciate you reconfirming what I though would be the case with the Panhandle area. A bit too chilly for us.

So many people have mentioned Anna Maria that I think we'll stop in to explore on our way down to Sanibel. And, who knows? Maybe Sanibel really is exactly what we are looking for. We've got three weeks in a house there over the holidays, so that should give us a pretty good idea.

Thanks again.

On your way down to Sanibel, stop in Port Charlotte, and for the real deal, Pine Island.

Well 'old Florida' by definition no longer exists since it was in the past.

Some people would argue that anywhere in Forida these days is over-developed and I'd be one of them. But I guess it is a question of degrees and perception.

Re weather, I would say there are two lines you can draw from West to East across the peninsula that will help you. One from Daytona Beach and the other through Arcadia.

North of the first you can possibly see snow while south of the second you can expect 70s every day. In between may be 70s but may be 60s.

Personally, I would suggest having a look around the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Area. Temp around 70, fresh and saltwater kayaking, fishing, etc. that should fits your interests.

It's in south Texas and is probably about the same driving time from Minnesota and a lot more like 'old Florida' was in terms of nature.
https://www.google.ca/search?q=lagun...w=1280&bih=687

you should be looking at this stuff on gmaps.

Thanks again.

Yes, I've been using those great photos oh Google maps. It is incredible what I can tell about an area from using them.

We'd never thought about Texas but will definitely look into the area for a future trip. This would also be nice for us because we have family in the Hill Country.

OO mentioned Gulfport, Fl, which is in Pinellas County, home to Clearwater and St. Petersburg. Another community in the same county worth visiting is Safety Harbor, which borders upper Tampa Bay.