We are a family of 4 adults (grandparents/parents) and 3 young boys..looking for a small hotel/resort for Florida Easter vacation. This year we did Daytona Beach Shores... and were disappointed by the concrete and high rises, as well as the driving allowed on the beach. We had previously stayed in a resort in Pompano that had a lovely beach but was in dire need of renovations...It did have a tiki bar and restaurant so it was comfortable in that respect...and there was shuffle board for the kids...it was nestled between high rises and old smaller resorts, which also were in need of restoration. It seems that many of the smaller places are being gobbled up...Is there ANTHING out there besides those giant hotels?

Lauderdale-By-The-Sea or Hollywood Beach.

www.Sunny.org

sumreknot:

I'd 2nd Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, FL its a 1 mile stretch of beach on a peninsula north of the high rise city of Ft. Lauderdale. All the motels are 3 stories and less and its a very easy walking town with souvenir shops (try Macs Groves on A1A), restaurants and very close by and people actually live here. A Publix grocery store is in a small mall within easy walking distance too. Very highly recommended and the bonus is the beach is very uncrowded at least for the down seasons when I went in early November and May.

The Manta Ray in Hollywood Beach is nice. It is quiet on the beach and is good for kids. It is nothing real fancy but the rooms are large, it is clean and the staff is helpful and friendly. Also the price is right.

One of my favorite Florida get-a-way spots ... LaPlaya Resort in Naples. It's a smaller, more boutique-like resort right on the beach, but very upscale with beautiful grounds I would recommend staying in their beach house.

Anna Maria Island on the gulf coast of Florida, just south of the Tampa area. It's all small hotels and the beaches are stunning. It's really a wonderful family vacation area. I grew up near here and still love going back. You can do some searches on this forum for Anna Maria Island & you'll see people really like it.

www.wbtsea.com
Wright-by-the-Sea in Delray Beach, Florida(North of Ft Lauderdale, South of West Palm Beach.) Excellent beachfront location. Publix nearby. 1, 2 & 3 BR suites. Very basic but clean. Small pool.
Beach is great!

sorry.. I am not sure about the 3BR. They may only have 1 & 2BR @ WBTS.

North of Daytona isn't as bad, check out driftwoodmotel.com

Flagler Beach is another area that has not suffered the attack of the highrises yet, but might be a little TOO "laid back" for some.

flaglerchamber.org

South of Daytona, New Smyrna Beach area . . there are also parts of Volusia County (Daytona) that do not allow driving on the beach, Wilbur-By-The-Sea, for example. Flagler County is also nice, but their beaches are not as wide and flat.

My friends with children love the Vero Beach Disney Resort.

Have stayed several times at High Noon Resort in Lauderdale By the Sea
www.highnoonresort.com
GREAT PLACE, has several different buildings all have a different name.
One is Nautalus one is High Noon and I forgot the other.
They even offer a beach house.
The property has been renovated in the past couple of years and is right next to the pier and a good restaurant Aruba Beach Cafe. Lots of little shops and eats within walking distance. Unfortunately they are building a huge condo building right on the other side of the pier. But other than that as the previous post said, they are short buildings mostly Mom and Pop.

New Smyrna is a nice little town, try this website www.NSBVacations.com

I like Ocean Sands, one of NSB Vacations 5 or 6 properties some are 3 bedrooms and sleep up to 8 I think.

another suggestion....the beach town of
Indialantic (Melbourne)

www.oceanfrontcottages.com

You would need a few of them to fit your group ....or their townhouse... it is very laid back there.
Make sure to eat at Bizarros Pizza on the beach.


If you like the west Coast of Fl try www.silverresorts.com

Bridge Walk

Or
www.AnnaMariaIsland.com

Tropic Isle Inn