Help needed

[Sally D]

I know this has been asked before but here we go -

We have only spent one day at Clearwater but we are busy planning next years holiday and fancy 1 week Orlando and 1 week Gulf coast, but have no idea where to stay.

Which area would be the best with 3 daughters age 17, 15 and 12. They all like the beach, but not everyday so need other things to do.
Husband is a golfer so golf courses are a must. Shopping, and are things more expensive on the Gulf coast. Plenty of restaurants to pick from, nothing fancy just ribs, steaks, burger etc. Boat trips, and wildlife, can we really sit on the beach and watch dolphins?

How long to drive from Orlando and would it be best to fly to Tampa or Orlando.

We have looked back through previous posts but so many different places are mentioned we don't know where to begin.

Any suggestions please[msnsmile2]

[mollymolly]

I could be said to be biased [msnwink] ...but I think Rotonda West is an ideal base for a Gulf Coast holiday.

There are several beautiful beaches from 10 - 30 mins away, sailing or fishing on the Gulf, canoeing or fishing in the canals, 5 different golf courses just on the doorstep with many more in the area, parks & play areas, cycling tracks, shopping malls at Port Charlotte, Sarasota and Ellenton Outlet Mall. I actually get all my designer bargains at Marshalls in Charlotte - so I don't agree that shopping is more expensive.

There are many places to visit including Busch Gardens, the Everglades, Sunsplash Waterpark etc ( I'm sure Andrew will come up with a helpful list).You can make your holiday as quiet or as busy as you want. The choice is yours!

As for airports we have guests who like to fly direct to Orlando & drive down (2.5hrs) while others fly into Tampa (1.5hr), Sarasota(1hr) or Fort Myers (1hr). There are lots of options. Have a look on OV as many of the owners put suggestions & information with the details of their homes.

Happy hunting!

Bernadette

[florida4sun]

We lived there for 5 years and spent a lot of weekends in the Rotunda area, lovely!

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Sally D
I know this has been asked before but here we go -

We have only spent one day at Clearwater but we are busy planning next years holiday and fancy 1 week Orlando and 1 week Gulf coast, but have no idea where to stay.

Which area would be the best with 3 daughters age 17, 15 and 12. They all like the beach, but not everyday so need other things to do.
Husband is a golfer so golf courses are a must. Shopping, and are things more expensive on the Gulf coast. Plenty of restaurants to pick from, nothing fancy just ribs, steaks, burger etc. Boat trips, and wildlife, can we really sit on the beach and watch dolphins?

How long to drive from Orlando and would it be best to fly to Tampa or Orlando.

We have looked back through previous posts but so many different places are mentioned we don't know where to begin.

Any suggestions please[msnsmile2]
[/quote]

[andrewmckay5]

Hi Sally,
Take a look at the Gulf area on the forum. There are several threads with lists of things to do.Like Bernadette I am obviously quite biased about the Rotonda area but there are several Orlando owners without a vested interest who talk very highly about the Rotonda area.Equally some prefer Naples etc. A big plus with Rotonda though is the choice of accommodation.

Rotonda is built around 4 golf courses so your husband should be happy and here is some info on the Beaches ( quite a long piece I'm afraid and the psrking costs may be out of date.)
[msnsmile2]

andrew

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

[Pookie]

Hi Sally,

I have to agree with everyone, Rotonda West does offer you the best of both worlds, great beaches, golf courses abound, a large mall in
nearby Port Charlotte.

Also close to Sarasota & Fort Myers both of which should keep you older girls happy.

Lynne

[Ruth]

We have stayed in Rotonda, Cape Haze and Port Charlotte (they are all in the Englewood area). You will find lots of homes on this site in this area, just have a browse and see which ones you like bestNot only can you watch the dolphins from the beach, there is a villa on this site where you can watch them from the balcony[clap][clap]

We have stayed in Rotonda, Hudson and Clearwater (in hotels) [msnsmile2]

[Tonish]

We spent the best week ever on Captiva Island. I simply couldn't recommend it highly enough. I'll see if I can figure out how to put photos on a post to give you a flavour of it.

[Tonish]

OK, I think I've worked out how to put the pictures in, so here goes...

Captiva is a really beautiful island. This picture was taken from the roof of our villa





And this is the villa (most of the rentals look something like this)




This is the roof, where Alison spent most of her time




And there was a great view all round




We had our own palm trees




This is the main street



And this is the signpost to every street on the island.




These next few are the shops














If you're looking for something to do, you can hire a speedboat...




And go to Cabbage Key, where there's a great restaurant which is only accessible by boat




Or find your own deserted island to get a beach all to yourself





For eating out, I would recommend The Bubble House





Where they pride themselves on huge portions, so we had to bring our desserts back to the villa, as we'd just had too much to eat...






Or perhaps you'd prefer this place..





Which looks like this round the back..






It's great in the evenings











Or, during the daytime, nowhere is more than a couple of hundred yards from this type of scene..




Or this, where you can rent a jet-ski, or go paragliding etc...




If you like fast food, you won't find a McDonald's/Burger King or KFC etc; this is all there is...






We went on a guided tour these things...




And all the properties look like this






Honestly, if you've never been, you should go. It's just not like any other part of Florida I've ever been to.

[Sally D]

WOW what fantastic photos, I really must go now.

Thank you all so much for the info, we are busy looking at where to stay, so many lovely places.

We thought about doing this last year, 1 week Orlando and 1 week Gulf Coast, but never did but it will be for sure next time, all the family agree[clap][clap]