Gulf coast beaches

[sunny guy]

Hi all.

Last year we visited St Petes beach and loved it,reminded us of the carribbean beaches.
This year we plan to drive down the coast another couple of times.
We will have a four year old with us and wonder if someone could recommend another option.
We need somewhere with facilities for eating and drinking close by but still want that wow factor and not too busy. We don't need watersports just somewhere we can park the van nearby and maybe an area that is laid back and has a few shops also within walking distance.Chairs and a brolly for the young one would also be needed.

Thanks

[andrewmckay5]

Around the Rotonda area:

"Beaches
You must drive way off the beaten path to find the beaches of Charlotte County. That keeps them more natural, less trodden.

BLIND PASS (MIDDLE) BEACH
941-316-1172
Route 776
Mid-island on Manasota Key
Facilities: Rest rooms, showers.
Sixty-three acres of lightly developed shoreline attract those drawn more to seclusion than to the sports and activities of Manasota Key's other beaches. Low dunes edge wide salt-and-pepper sands. Next door you'll see one of the island's first buildings, known as Hermitage House. From the parking lot you can follow a nature boardwalk trail into the mangroves.

CHADWICK PARK BEACH
941-475-6606.
2100 N. Beach Rd.
Englewood
34223.
Route 776, south end of Manasota Key at Englewood Beach.

Facilities: Picnic areas, restrooms, showers, volleyball, basketball, food and beach-rental concessions.
Parking: 25C per hour.
Many refer to this simply as Englewood Beach. A popular hangout for the local youth, it is nonetheless a well-maintained and policed area: No alcohol, dogs, glass, surfboards, or motor vehicles are allowed. The beach was widened in 2001 to combat severe erosion. Several resorts, shops, rental shops, and restaurants huddle around the area, which keeps activity levels high.

DON PEDRO ISLAND STATE RECREATION AREA
941-964-0375
Barrier Islands GEOpark
PO Box 1150
Boca Grande
33921
South of Palm Island, accessible only by boat.
Facilities: Picnic area, restrooms, boat docks.
Admission: $2 per boat or family arriving by ferry.
Secluded beach at a 129-acre island getaway. Once separated from Palm Island and Little Gasparilla, Don Pedro Island is now connected to the two to form one long, lightly developed barrier
island. Don Pedro, the most natural component, is toward the southern end.

LIGHTHOUSE BEACH, GASPARILLA ISLAND STATE RECREATION AREA
239-964-0375
Barrier Islands GEOpark
PO Box 1150
Boca Grande
33921.
Along Gulf Blvd
Boca Grande
Gasparilla Island
Facilities: Picnic tables, restrooms.
Parking: $2 per car.
Marked by a historic lighthouse with a museum inside, the park edges the deepwater tarpon grounds of Boca Grande Pass. Its plush,
deep sands encompass 135 acres, although in some parts the beach gets quite narrow. The view of oil tanks tends to intrude upon the feeling of awayness. Swimming is not recommended because of strong currents through the pass. A historic chapel in the same park is under restoration.

MANASOTA BEACH
941-316-1172.
North end of Route 776
Manasota Key
Facilities: Picnic area, restrooms, showers, lifeguard, historical marker, boat ramps.
A lively sunning and shelling venue connected to Venice's Caspersen Beach about 1 1/2 miles to the north. It also has a reputation — but not as pointed as Venice's — for shark's teeth.

PORT CHARLOTTE BEACH PARK
941-627-1628.
4500 Harbor Blvd
Port Charlotte
33952.
At the southeast end of Harbor Blvd.
Facilities: Picnic areas, restrooms, showers, concessions, volleyball, basket-ball, tennis courts, playground, horseshoes, boatramps, fishing pier, swimming and kiddie pools.
Swimming Admission: $2.68 adult, $1.61 ages 3-15 (phone: 941-629-0170)
Parking: 25C per hour.
A highly developed recreational center that sits on Charlotte Harbor along a manmade beach this is a good place to go if you (or the children) like to keep busy at the beach. A boardwalk runs along the beach and connects to the fishing pier. It looks across the way at Punta Gorda and feels more like a beach at a lake than the sea.

STUMP PASS BEACH STATE RECREATION AREA
South end of Gulf Blvd
Englewood Beach on Manasota Key.
Facilities: Rest rooms, nature trail.
Parking: $2 per car.
This uncrowded beach, though eroded in many places, offers lovely, unspoiled seclusion. Traditionally, the 255-acre park has been a magnet for fishermen who cast into Lemon Bay. Follow the 2-mile wooded trail to the south, and you'll find nice areas to spread a towel and dip your toes. The park spreads all the way to Stump Pass in a skinny strip of black-specked sand. It rece

[mfairhurst]

HI A PLACE WE LOVE IS TREASURE ISLAND NOT FAR FROM ST PETES BEACH BUT FAR ENOUGH TO BE DIFFERENT. NEAR JOHN PASS THERE ARE LOTS OF EATING PLACES AND SHOPS ALSO THE BOARD WALK AT JOHNS PASS YOU CAN SEE THE DOLFINS MOST DAYS AND A LOVELY BEACH AS WEEL GOOD LUCK MAureen

[Ruth]

I am with Andrew. The beaches of Charlotte County, Englewood, Boca Grande and Port Charlotte are just perfect:)

[becbecs]

Siesta Key Beach and Longboat Key Beaches at Sarasota are fabulous.
Never come across sand like that at Siesta Key its like powder and it gets everywhere. :D:D:D:D

[Ruth]

The sand at Siesta Key is very high in quartz (I think) and never gets hot to the touch. I loved the sand as we went there in July but the beaches there were much busier than those at Englewood & Cape Haze so overall we prefer those. As one who would never choose to stay in a hotel for more than one night, prefer the more flexible villa rental situation in Charlotte County over Sarasota also.

[marion]

We stop at the beginning of the bridge just before the beach at
Englewood and watched the Dolphins as they are only a few feet away:)

[stabard]

We have rented a villa on the Gulf Coast for part of our trip at New Year and are really looking forward to having more than one day to explore all those gorgeous beaches.

[Kimmyp]

I saw Venice beach on the TV the other day and thought we might take a trip down that way can anyone recommend it? It looked wonderful.

[Clare R]

Venice beach - the beach at the town is nothing very special but head slightly south, round the end of the runway at Venice airport to Caspersen Beach and Venice pier and it is miles and miles of beach.

Clare
http://www.orlandovillas.com/villas/1367.aspx

[Vanessa]

We love the beaches on Gasparilla at the Boca Grande lighthouse. Its such a quaint quiet area-very refreshing and relaxing. Amazing Sunsets too!

[jackie greaves]

Stayed at Marco Island a few years ago. The beaches there were lovely. Other than that we love Treasure Island.