My fiance & I decided to take a break from our wedding plans (and boy do we need it!). I was wondering where along South Florida would anyone suggest we go? I'm searching around for a nice & clean beach near great restaurants (tasty brunches, deelish seafood, sushi! steak!) with a nice, but inexpensive hotel or B&B ($50 anyone? ha) We've been to Lake Worth in Palm Beach (boring, sorry! - but the Mango Inn B&B was wonderful!) and we've been to south beach but didn't quite appreciate seeing bums hanging around the beach...an eye sore, ya know? Perhaps some place in between the two locations? We love flea marketing and things of that sort and we love a good party (house, reggae, spanish, techno, what-have-you's - but nothing seedy).

Any suggestions?

Stay home.

You've described Valencia Beach to a 'tee'. Broad, white sand beaches, and there's an on-the-beach flea market every Sunday morning from dawn until 10:30 (some people go after a long night of partying, some make it their way to wake up). The Valencia House is good for Sunday brunch; fresh stone crabs (all you can eat for $12.95) and yes, there's sushi (we get plenty of Japanese honeymooners for some reason). The place to stay if you're on a budget is The Plumeria, a B&B with class, plus an ocean view -- $75 a night off season (now) which includes breakfast.

If you are considering Valencia Beach, everyone hangs out at the Driftwood, on A1A. I think its technically in Turtle Beach but you can't miss it. They have a dj five nights a week and Wednesday is reggae night. The house band on Friday and Saturday nights is awesome with a great mix of styles. No cover or minumum and the drinks are very, very powerful. The Plumeria Inn is extememly hip and Rachael gives a 15% discount to registered Democrats.

Gee if your wedding plans have you that stressed out maybe you should scale back and have a less stressful wedding. If it's your parents that are causing the problem, sit down with them and tell them it's YOUR day, not theirs and your memories and you would like to do it your way. Be assertive! Don't be wimpy!

As for spots, I go to Ft. Lauderdale. There is a great flea market north of their in Pompano.

Sounds like Key West to me except for our man-made beaches!

Hot Dogger & Ellen - thanks for the info! Where is Valencia beach located, exactly? I couldn't find it on the map... (nor Turtle Beach)

Does the Plumeria have a website or email address?

It sounds perfect!!!! =)

Gina - Actually, we were in the wedding party for a friend & it was just way too hectic. Some people just don't have much organizational skills (heh) so we really busted our hineys to help them out. Figure a lil vacationing will rejuvenate us =)

Ron - I would LOVE to visit they Keys, I'm thinkin that will be our next trip. I have no idea why we've only been focusing on Florida lately...LOL

Another vote for Valencia Beach! We went after the Valencia House was written up in Travel & Leisure as one of their ten best "undiscovered" destinations in 1998. We've since stayed several times at both the Plumeria and the Frangipani Inn. The Frangipani is now our favorite; it is right in the dunes. The chocolate criossants are to die for. Ask for the suite with the two-person jacuzzi, which is $85 May-August.

I personally will NOT go anywhere near Valencia Beach precisely because of the town's fascist anti-panhandling ordinance. It is the strictest in the state and has survived court challenges only cause Jeb has packed the courts.

Turtle Beach is much more student-friendly. The Driftwood rocks, especially this time of year when the tourists leave.

We stopped in at the Driftwood one night and Don Henley was there jamming with the house band for about two hours. Another restaurant that's even cheaper and better than the Valencia is the Dare to be Great, but they don't take credit cards.

Hello NeedaBreak,

I understand your need for a break very much. When I planned my wedding I felt the same way. I would also recommend the Valencia. I found the Dare to be Great overrated. And Martha, when I was there on Christmas I payed with my Mastercard...

Greta

Dear NeedaBreak,

I can understand that you need a break as all that planning can be really stressful. It felt the same when I planned my wedding.
I also would like to recommend the Valencia. The Andalucia, a small B&B is nice and cheap, as well. But Martha, I thought the Dare to be Great was overrated. And I paid with my Mastercard when I was there on Christmas. Did they change their policies?

Greta

Martha, the house bands at the Driftwood have a long history, both collectively and as individuals. The most famous of the Driftwood's house bands was the Allman Joys, a couple of high school kids who went on to become the Allman Brothers Band.

Seth, Valencia Beach's vagrancy laws are no stricter than any other than that of any other beach town, and with a three-person police force its kind of hard to characterize VB as a 'fascist state.'

Greta: they take credit cards only during the high season, i.e. when you were there at Christmas. In order to keep costs down in the off-season, they stop taking credit cards.

Hello,

thanks Martha for filling me in. Since I only travel in peak season I`ll be ok next time.

To Hotdogger: I always travel with my husband, but the next time I`ll be on my own. Do you think I`m still safe at Valencia Beach? How were your observations? I didn`t care too much the last times because my hubby was always there. Should I skip Valencia and go to Turtle Beach instead? How about the Driftwood. Is it ok for a girl to go alone in the evenings?

Greta

NeedaBreak, the Driftwood has a techno DJ on Thursdays, which is also 2-1 night for all drinks. The place really gets going about 11.

Thanks so much to everyone for their input! I couldn't find any information on Valencia Beach through the web, could you please post the mailing or web addresses and contact info for the B&B's suggested as well as the driftwood, etc. ? Thanks!!!

I'm with Ron. Between Valencia Beach and Key West, Key West is the better choice.

Basically, Valencia Beach has one great club while Key West has dozens. Valencia Beach has maybe three or four good B&Bs and one very overpriced hotel. Key West has loads of B&Bs. Both have good food though Key West is way overpriced.

I've been to Valencia Beach dozens of times and I think it's a super getaway. The beaches are the best on the east coast and snorkeling out to the wrecks is a trip. It also has surf, which Key West lacks.

But for overall variety, I like Key West better because of the variety. You'll like both places.

NeedaBreak, Valencia Beach is probably Florida's best kept secret. It's between Hobe Sound and Tequesta, squeezed between the ocean and the intracoastal waterway. It has maybe 300 people, a number of whom are rather wealthy, which is why VB gets little publicity. There are seven B&Bs that I can think of, including the Plumeria, Frangipani, Andalucia and Hibiscus, plus the very chic but not very expensive Valencia Inn. Some of the B&B's are grandfathered in under the state's coastal management law and are in the dunes between A1A and the ocean. There are no high rises, no condos. The Driftwood is everything it is cracked up to be. I once was there when Madonna sat in on a session (and took requests!) If you want tourist trappings, by all means go to Key West or whereever. But if you want a truly great time, there's no place like Valencia Beach.

if you are wanting a place to get it on with your hunny go to Valencia Beach. they have many great areas to have realive yourself. to spice up your love life try dong it in public. it is legal it is freedom of expression. give me a call ( first post that you are interested) if you want a third party.
craig