Where to Relax in South Florida
 

I'm holidaying in Florida from the UK, Easter 2001. Spending 10 days in WDW at the beginning, with 12 days left to unwind. I have always wanted to visit the Keys but believe it to be expensive. My Wife and daughter (8) just want a nice safe beach to relax. Any recommendations so I can do both. <BR>Flying home from Miami.

Just came back from a week and a half in Florida and saw about 10 beaches in south Florida. Of them all, my favorite family-type beaches were Deerfield Beach on the Atlantic side and Bonita Beach on the Gulf side. Peaceful, relaxing, and safe. Stayed at South Seas Resort in Captiva and loved it there, however, I have heard that Sanibel and Captiva in the spring can be less than relaxing with all the traffic. We were there in the off-season and were frustrated with the traffic. Have a great time in Florida, it's my first day back and I wish I were still there!

Plenty of beaches in Florida, but not many in the Keys. In fact, out of the three or four legitimate beaches in Key West at least one is usually always closed because of Red Tide or some other pollution. Key West however is a great place to just kick back for several days, and you should really see it. However, if you're looking forward to beaches, I'd look somewhere else.

What/where is WDW? <BR> <BR>Not sure I'd pick 12 days in Florida for a taste of America, but if that's your only option... you might look at Sanibel Island or Naples/Marco Island (about an hour south of Sanibel). Beaches are very nice in Sanibel, but not much to do there otherwise. You can daytrip to Key West from there, but it takes a powerboat to get there (3 hours or so each way from Ft. Myers). It is a loooong day to do that, but it is possible. <BR> <BR>You might instead think about spending a few nights in the Keys, then the remaining time somewhere else. The drive between Miami and KW is very nice, about 4 hours, but would make a good day or two trip if you wanted to make stops along the way; I hear it is much more charming and more indicative of the "real" keys than KW, which is extremely touristy. Key West isn't known for beaches as the post above notes, however, there is supposed to be excellent snorkeling at Key Largo just south of Miami, where there is a preserve. Miami is about 2-3 hours from Naples and about 4 hours from Key West. <BR> <BR>If you want to see other places, highly recommend Savannah, Georgia for a taste of southern living. not sure where you're coming from to Florida, nor if you want any other ideas. if so, let us know. :-) good luck!

I see now--sorry--you must have meant Walt Disney World. just tell me to M.Y.O.B., but i'm curious--how did you decide to spend that much time in Florida? There's soooo much more to see here!

Hello Jim, <BR>My husband and I live in Hollywood, FL. We are between Ft. Lauderdale (which has nice beaches and has wonderful restaraunts and an outdoor shopping complex on the water) and Miami (also wonderful beaches). Hollywood has many places to relax downtown, and it is safe and clean. <BR>Good luck.

Any beach is a good place to relax. Having said that, South Beach in Miami is pretty trendy and is expensive. The Gulf Coast, i e Sanibel and Capitiva, certainly is beautiful, what with brilliant white beaches and strikingly aqua/blue water. BUT -- it's a tad boring. At least in my opinion. Now the Keys -- that's a good balance between the hipness of South Beach and the sheer beauty of the Gulf Coast. Yes, they have no true beaches in the Keys, but you can rent a boat, go out into the Atlantic, anchor at a buoy, and just relax. Snorkel, swim, sun. Some very beautiful coral reefs, some within 5-6 feet of the surface. Lots of good restaurants and shops in the Keys. It's a fun place. A word of caution though: It can get boisterous in downtown Key West as nightime falls.

The BEST and most peaceful and only 1 1/2 hours from Miami is the beach at Palm Beach proper (the Island). Not crowded at all, right by Worth Avenue for window shopping, if not buying. VERY peaceful, clean, nice people.

This is in response to Leslie's posting on Palm Beach. <BR>I do agree with her that it is a quiet and clean beach.When there is a beach ,(they have alot of problems with storm related erosion) <BR>I have been going down to Palm Beach now for over 40 plus yrs. (my parents live there half the year, and all my grandparents wintered there since the early 40's.) <BR>But the people are NOT as friendly as they use to be. <BR>Much more snobbish these days and have seemed to bring their pushy, rude and "I am entitled " behavior with them. <BR>But Worth Ave. is an experience to view if you enjoy shopping and people watching. <BR>Your daughter (and you) would enjoy the Dreher Park Zoo, which is in West Palm Beach and there is also a Planetarium "next door" to the zoo. <BR>Another thing, the hotels in Palm Beach proper are not cheap. <BR>The Breakers runs about $400/day for an inside room. <BR>There is a hotel, the Heart of Palm. <BR>It runs about $200/day but the one time relatives stayed there, they had terrible experiences. <BR>Hotel was dirty, service was lousy, a never again experience. <BR>My sister and her husband stayed at the Brazilian Court, but not sure it still exists. <BR>I have had friends stay in the St. Augustine area and also on the Panhandle. <BR>Good Luck and have a really fun trip. <BR>Nancy

Nancy, like in every place, there is snobbishness and the "I'm entitled" attitude. Sadly that leads some to treat them the same way in order to "deal" with the situation. The folks over on the beach, for the most part are tourists and therefore not from Palm Beach and friendlier. In general, I treat people as I'm treated. I go there to be alone and at peace, when others are snobbish, I just tell myself that is their problem.