Mrs Ironworker has decided that she wants to take her first post Covid vaccine trip to the beach. We had settled on Florida, but since Bidden is down on Georgia, it is being considered also. We have been to beaches in New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina. She does not want to wear a mask or if she has to, not very much. She wants a beachfront hotel, maybe a boardwalk, nice restaurants and maybe shopping. Picture a bunch of people, beach umbrellas and maybe lifeguards. Does anyone know which beaches in Florida or Georgia would fit that description?

Caladesi Island State Park is wonderful white sands, near Clearwater on the Gulf. You have to take a ferry out to it. While on the ferry we saw lots of dolphins.

I haven't experienced enough variety to be an aficionado but we love Daytona. Lots to do in the area and the beach is nice if that's all you want to do. We always stay in an ocean facing room on the beach. Sometimes it's nice just to watch the waves breaking from your balcony.

I prefer the Gulf Shores, AL area over other places on the FL Pan Handle

I really like the spots closer to Ft. Morgan, we have rented houses on the beach several times

We spent our 50th on Sanibel Island. Beachfront condos, good restaurants, more laid back than some other areas.

No masks on any beach in Florida, there are lots of options, Panhandle has sugar sand beaches, lots of seafood to eat, West coast From Tampa south, Longboat Key, Siesta Key by Sarasota all good beaches, Captiva, all the way to Marco Island.

On the East side, Up by JAX you have Amelia Island more upscale, nice beaches, resorts old time FL town, Ponte Vedra south of JAX, Hilton Garden Inn, Ponte Vedra Inn and Club, you can golf, going further south, St Augustine, Daytona, New Symrna, more touristy, sill good beaches and more to do.

Theres a beach for every bathing suit, and some where you don't LOL, ie Playalinda Cocoa Beach will get you near the Cape, so if you play it right you can stand on the beach and watch Musk launch a rocket.

All depends on what type of beach and activity you are looking for... and how far you want to go to get there.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by wreckdiver:
Caladesi Island State Park is wonderful white sands, near Clearwater on the Gulf. You have to take a ferry out to it. While on the ferry we saw lots of dolphins.[/p

Come on, man. Quiet about Caladesi, enough people there already

Destin area is hard to beat for the best beaches, great shopping, and good restaurants. Typical touresty beach shopping, to really nice outlet shops. Fine dining to beachside burgers and seafood. Not sure about budget. Anything from smaller places where you can walk out to the beach, to high rises.

The Sand Pearl on Clearwater Beach. The Longboat Key Club in Sarasota. Marco Island just south of Naples. I’m a native Floridian and these are the places I go when I want a beach vacation on the west coast.

They are in order from most occupied to least (more people, but also more shops, restaurants) in Clearwater, then Longboat (St. Armands), then Marco.

I’d strongly consider Sarasota. Close to everything you could want but feels secluded, and once you’re south of Tampa Bay the water looks like the Caribbean.

ETA, the Omni on Amelia Island (east coast of Florida just north of Jacksonville) is awesome and checks a lot of your boxes, and it’s much closer if you’re driving. Nearby Fernandina is a very picturesque beach town. The west coast beaches are nicer though, IMHO.

We love Destin, Siesta or Longboat Key near Sarasota and Sanibel as others have recommended.

My wife and I are sitting in our VRBO as I type just about a half mile south of Turtle Beach on Siesta Key FL. Love this place and really like the Sarasota area.

We spend winters in Destin. We love the Emerald Coast and all that goes with it.

We love the beach at Cape San Blas. Especially towards the northern end of the cape.

We're off to Sanibel for the third time in a month or so. Love it.

WHat are you looking for besides the beach?

St. Augustine beach is very nice and many really cool historical things to do.

Sanibel/Captiva is very nice and really laid back. South Seas Plantation is very nice.

NW. Florida is very nice too.

Anywhere from PCB west to Gulf Shores. The beaches are pretty much identical in that stretch. Santa Rosa, Grayton, Seaside, Alys, etc. Or Navarre and Destin. Or Perdido, Orange Beach, Gulf Shores.

The Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores is fantastic.

I'm born and raised in Georgia but the beaches don't really compare. St Simon's is a cool town, Amelia Island is lovely, Sea Island is really nice, as well. We typically go to either 30A or Hilton Head.

quote:

The Sand Pearl on Clearwater Beach. The Longboat Key Club in Sarasota. Marco Island just south of Naples. I’m a native Floridian and these are the places I go when I want a beach vacation on the west coast.

I’m from Tampa, these and Panama City( but I have heard it’s all commercialized now)

I like New Smyrna beach because I can drive on it. I have all my beach gear in the truck for the family as well as my fishing gear. It just makes a day at the beach so much easier.

Siesta Key in Sarasota

Spent the month of March on Siesta Key. It was phenomenal the first 2 weeks. Then Spring Break started.