Planning a trip, summer 2002 with family to do the Orlando and then beach thing from Ireland. Getting put off the keys as we have beautiful beaches at home but no sun! don't think we would like man made beaches. I've seen 'Destin' mentioned as a good beach area but cannot find it on any of my maps! Any other advice for a beach/watersports based family holiday within a 4-5 hour drive of Miami very welcome ( kids are 14,13 & 10).
Hotel, Resort or estate, the right place is more important than the budget, this is a trip we'll only do once !. Thanks in advance

Linda: Destin is in the panhandle of Florida - it is east of Pensacola and Ft. Walton Beach. It is too far a drive from Miami.

Look on the Gulf side of your map, up toward the north end of Florida. Destin is there, along with places like Fort Walton Beach and a number of beach towns along old US 98, and county road 30-A. I think it might be more than 4 or 5 hours from Miami, but it is a beautiful beach area, and there are many rental options, including beach houses, planned communities, and condos in complexes both big and small.

Others might disagree, but I still recommend Seaside as a unique beach experience. This is a planned town started in the 80's, of many very high quality, privately owned vacation houses available for rent, chiefly through the Seaside Realty Company. The idea was to create a seaside town where you could put your car away and relax and enjoy a small town with all the vacation amenities. Over the years it has became fabulously successful and spawned many imitators, leading some to characterize it now as too crowded, over-developed and expensive. I was there last year and yes, the commercial area is more crowded that ever, but the beach remains beautiful and the amenities, ie, rental properties, pools, croquet field, programs, restaurants, etc. are really topnotch. My young teens loved it as a place they could meet other kids and function independently, and we loved the relaxing atmosphere and the space and comfort of the house while enjoying the resort town living of no cars.

Just to let you know how far, it is basically a 12 hour drive, maybe more for some drivers.

If you are going to be in Miami, I would suggest the Naples, Marco Island or Captiva Island area. It is much closer to Miami than Destin.
These are also on the Gulf Coast of Florida, probably about 3-5 hours from Miami

Just back from Destin -- I live in Tampa. That is one long drive, folks. Using the interstates, it took me nearly 7 hours to get to "downtown" Destin. On the way back, ran into heavy rain which made the return trip EIGHT hours. Sheesh. I can't imagine driving there from Miami.