View Full Version : Best beach?
Hi
Lat couple of years we have gone to Daytona and had a day at the beach and also gone to Tampa beach.
I didn't think Daytona beach was that nice and Tampa was so busy.
Are there any other beaches you could recommend?
steph_goodrum
20-01-2012, 09:16
We like Honeymoon Island as it doesn't take much longer to get to than Tampa but is usually much quiter and has good facilities inlcuding indoor showers. There is a large picnic and play area away from the beach (actually in the middle of the wildilife park and what we like to do , especially if there is a group is to take things for a bbq and use one of the grills to cook luch. Then take a walk around the wildlife park while that goes down and then go on the beach and swim for the afternoon. Last time we were there it was like a bath in the summer. There are also 2 pavilions that sell food, drink and ice creams etc if you dont want to cook and on a firday they have an all you can eat fish fry at around 4 for about $10 a head.
It costs about $8 per car load to get into the park.
Sand Key is nice but doesnt have food places.
We also like Indian rocks but again there isnt much actually on the beach.
Clearwater beach is another that has things fairly centrally located but than can also be really busy and parking a nightmare.
In the other Direction we like Jetty park, Melbourne beach and Cocoa beach.
Sandra M
20-01-2012, 10:30
Absolutely the Gulf coast Beaches, Fort de Soto, Siesta Key, Anna Marie, Bradenton. This first photo is Siesta Key from when my husband was Parasailing, so beautiful and the second is Fort De Soto
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Our favourites are the Gulf beaches near Sarasota - Lido Key & Siesta Key both have public beaches with picnic areas/toilet facilities & restaurants and shops nearby.
Without doubt the Cape Haze peninsular, especially South Beach and Stump Pass.
Or how about a deserted beach accessible by boat.
I will post some photos on my return home this evening.
In the interim this is a link to one of the Florida guides on Don Pedro.
http://www.orlandovillas.com/florida_guide/don-pedro-florida-state-park.aspx
Treasure Island Beach is lovely, hardly anyone on it during the week. The sea is lovely and warm, :D the white sand does not burn your feet when you walk on it.:D
Parking spaces for around $7.00 for the day, or you can pay hourly, there are showers, restrooms, picnic benches.
Here are a few photos of the beaches close to Rotonda West.
1. South Beach, Gasparilla Island
2. The lighthouse towards the end of South Beach
3. Middle Beach.
4. Stump Pass
5. Stump Pass
They are all stunning and offer the visitor a unique glimpse of this stretch of coastline.
Mo Green
20-01-2012, 20:45
Definitely the Cape Haze beaches. We drove over to South Beach, Gasparilla today from Rotonda. Driving over the sea was the colour of a Caribbean sea. We passed 6 nesting Osprey on the way. Stopped for a coffee overlooking the water and saw a Manatee and her baby swim past. The beach was near deserted with beautiful white sands. Too far for a day trip from Orlando but once they have seen it, people keep returning. It is as close to Paradise as it gets.
Two of our favourites are Siesta Key and Venice Beach. At Venice Beach we like to visit Sharky's on The Pier which is right down by the beach and has both indoor and outdoor dining.
Crescent Beach, Siesta Key, Venice Beach all excellent ...we were there yesterday. Where Sharkys is is having some major works done at the moment....
Anna Maria Island has some of the best beach we have visited on either coast in our opinion.
We also really like Lido Beach near Sarasota, Naples, Indian Rocks, Treasure Island, Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Captiva Island and also St Augustine Beach on the Atlantic coast.
jeansusrentals
22-01-2012, 22:28
Holmes Beach - just at Anna Marie Island - FREE parking, good changing facilities, good restaurant for breakfast or brunch and lovely sand. We also went to the Beaches up in the Panhandle last September - and although a very long drive - we stayed for 3 nights - the beaches all along that route are fabulous!
Jean
steph_goodrum
23-01-2012, 05:55
So I'm guessing we weren't actually much help at all to you:) Like most things in Florida, what is "best" to one person won't be best to another, but you've got a few names to check out next time. You are spoilt for choice with staying in the Central Florida region as both the Gulf and Atlantic coast can be reached so easily.
Yeah many thanks everyone- I will be googling all your suggestions and we will def pick one. Holmes beach sounds great.
We personally love Redington Beach, takes about an hour from our villa. My husband loves fishing from the pier and I love the beach and the warm gulf water. Just down the road there is a lovely little shopping area called St.John's pass so I will pop down there for a little retail therapy and then we always have a lovely meal at a restaurant called the Conche, great fish.
Val