We have been to Orlando, Clearwater Beach, St Augustine, Ft Lauderdale, Miami, the Keys, and a small town on gulf coast, Venice...most beautiful beach is hands down, Ft Lauderdale...we have stayed in that area 3 times...also, AirTran is cheap from Baltimore since there are 5 of us!

We visit 1-2 times per year, usually Orlando (work related meetings & leisure) and Miami(cruise & sightseeing) We traveled to the northern Florida coast and ended up buying land there- will eventually retire in the long off future. Have also been to Saint Augustine and am looking forward to exploring the gulf coast.

I have been to the Orlando area before and don't like the crowds. Love South FL, especially the Ft. Lauderdale, Miami and Keys area. You can be sure if you go this far south you'll have milder weather if you travel to FL in winter. By the way, November is the ultimate month to visit FL, less humidity and rain, absolutely sunny and beautiful this time of year.

simpsonc510..........

your post sounds just like something i could have posted myself! been going to SPB since '74....first with little ones in tow and now just the two of us. have a favorite beach resort and can't help but wonder if it's the same as yours (smile).

planning a visit from 15 april to 1 may....

skipped last year for maui but look forward to returning.

anything new on SPB and the surrounding areas we should know about? any new/revived restaurants in the area?

email if you wish.
[email protected]

Oh, periodically just to check the scene, the next time in May. Lovely place to visit, and maybe to live in, but that is doubtful given all the other choices. We almost decided to try FL, but reconsidered, and we can always visit whenever we want, just enjoying the good without putting up with the bad, which is just limited to one or two actually. For the most part, a neat scene.

We go to Sanibel or Captiva every year. Am trying to part with it to go to Anna Maria Island this year. Have also been to Daytona and Coco Beach, and will always go to west coast, someday plan on spending winters there.

TTT

I fly from BWI to Jax every other month. My family is down there and Im a native Floridian. I enjoy Destin/Clearwater Beaches the best for a lil beach vacation from time to time. I enjoy North and Central Florida alot.

How ab

Love Sanibel & Captiva Islands!

Janny, are you ok-- did you pass out in mid-sentence or something?

We go to Florida every year, either the beaches on west or east coast (in-laws winter there) or Orlando or Longboat Key. Anywhere to get that autumn or early spring warmth and dryness.

Janny, you ok?

I'm ok emd. I was interrupted by the phone (got kicked off), and never got to finish my post. Sorry!!

We have been going 2x a year lately, Disney in winter and Marco in the summer. We have children 15 and 9 and although I have read plenty about nothing for kids to do in Marco, I would have to disagree. We stay at the Radisson(2 bdrm suite) and we have a GREAT time. Maybe it is the fact that it a resort hotel,(as Hilton and Marriott) has many things to keep us entertained IE- waverunners, parasailing,boating, etc..It is also 1/2 hr. flight to Key West, from Marco airport. I guess if you are renting a house it could be relately quiet, but it all depends on what you make of it.
Marco also has some very good restuarants, our favorite- Cafe DeMarco.

I also go to Sanibel and Captiva every year. I want to see Amelia Island, but I just can't seem to tear myself away from Sanibel because I love it so much!

I grew up in Panama City so it's my favorite although now that I have kids I prefer Destin / Ft. Walton area. We visited Sanibel for a change but the "noseeums" ate us alive. Any of the Keys along the chain are good choices too. Jax Beach to St. Augustine is a nice stretch as well. Truthfully, is there any bad place to be in Florida?

Every Alabamian I know goes to Florida every year. Since it's within driving distance (and THE prettiest beach, IMO) everyone goes to Destin/Seaside/Seagrove in the panhandle.

Once a year to Sarasota area beaches (Lido, Longboat, Siesta, Bradenton, Holmes, or Anna Maria Island) as the inlaws are in Sarasota and my parents are up the road in Arcadia.

Once a year to another part of the state. With kids in tow the second trip has always been kid friendly- Orlando, Sanibel, Captiva, Panama City, St. Pete, Ft. Myers, or Ft. Lauderdale. Now that they are nearly on their own I look forward to more adult locales- Naples, West Palm, South Beach, the Keys.

I have many fond memories of Miami in the 60s as my great aunt had a little resort there and we drove through the night from Ohio to stay with her each spring.

I like the gulfside beaches better than the Atlantic shore beaches.

If I don't do a "big" beach trip (St. Lucia, Hawaii, Nice, etc.) then it's the simple life on the beautiful (nearly) empty beaches between Apalachicola and Cape San Blas. And always, many meals at the Indian Pass Raw Bar.

I missed one year during a seriously broke college time and hope to never do it again!
My family went to Navarre Beach ever year - same week, same house.
My friends and I have gone to Pensacola for the past 5-6 years.
Grayton one year with an ex and family.
Seacrest with my family last year.
We've never ventured past the panhandle other than a couple of day trips to Clearwater from my grandparents, but this year we are going to Indian Shores. Hopefully we will have a few more years with my 93 year old Grandfather (who lives in Tampa) to venture to other parts near him.