Vacationing in Florida (Family oriented)

[Jackelope]

I plan on going to Florida for vacation this year.

Where would be a good place to checkout (besides the obvious stuff.. Orlando/Daytona/etc.)

The trip will include my family: me / wife / 3 kids (Ages: 3 / 9 / 10)

Looking for somewhere to go to the beach (other than Myrtle Beach - where we always end up)

I figure we will spend MOST of the time ON the beach, so 'ocean front' is a must, but other activities would be nice

 

[JCell]

kennedy space center is ballin

 

[Scott]

Cocoa Beach is cheaper than Daytona and is a little more family friendly, but there is overall less to do. Port Canaveral is a very short (5-10 minute) drive, and Kennedy Space Center is close as well. The attractions in Orlando are about an hour or so away by car, which may or may not be much to you depending on your average commute.

About what time do you plan on coming down here? Also, would you be flying or driving down?

 

[BillTheCat]

I've lived most of my life in or near Tampa, and it's actually a pretty decent family destination. Not as many things to do as Orlando, but then almost no place outside NY/LA has as much to do as Orlando.

If you want beachfront in Tampa, Clearwater Beach was been rated as having some of the world's best sand by some egghead oceanography profesor at the University of Maryland. I really dig the vibe on Longboat Key and Anna Maria Island in Sarasota, personally.

Things to do:

Busch Gardens, Tampa
Adventure Island (huge water park), Tampa
Florida Aquarium, Tampa
Salvador Dali Museum, Clearwater
Mote Marine Aquarium and Bishop Planetarium, Bradenton
Museum of Science and Industry, Tampa (kids love all the hands-on stuff there)

And depending on when you're here, there's MLB Spring training throughout the area, the Florida State Fair is in the same County as Tampa, as well as the Plant City Strawberry Festival and Hillsborough County Fair. And the Rays play just South of Clearwater, in St. Petersburg. Consistently among the cheapest places to see a regular season MLB game. Lightning Hockey in Tampa, if you dig Hockey.

Just be aware , though, that if you stay on the Gulf Coast of FL, the waves will be smaller than on the Atlantic Coast. Depending on how small the kids are, that may be a plus or a minus.

Down South of here, Marco Island and Naples have fantastic beaches, but I don't know what hotel prices are like down there. Real estate in general is much higher down there, so I would expect higher hotel rates. The drawback to Naples/Marco is that there's not a whole lot to do right in that area for families with kids. The upside is that Miami is 90 minutes east and Tampa is 90-120 minutes North, so you have 2 metro areas in driving distance.

On the other hand, if you stay in Clearwater, you're already in a major metro area with plenty to do, and Kissimmee (Disney) is less than 90 minutes East if you want to go there.

You can often save a few bucks on airfare by flying into St. Petersburg if possible, too. If you're flying in, that is.

 

[tviera]

West Coast beaches are much nicer and kid friendly compared to East Coast beaches. The water seems cleaner and the sand is finer.

 

[Alejo_NIN]

you've gots to come to miami mang!!!(just kidding, stay away!)

 

[Jackelope]

^ thanks for the info!

I will be driving in, plan on coming sometime around mid June for a week. I've driven to Tampa once before, but didnt stay. I just drove there to pick up a protege I bought

I'll check out the areas listed for hotel rates and discuss with wife

thanks again!

 

[BOOSTR]

Fort Desoto is a nicer beach than anything on the East coast. Sarasota has nice beaches also. As does SW Florida. Having lived on both coast, I concur that West Coast is best coast when it comes to beaches. Fishing is better too!

 

[STRICK-]

Tampa FTW....Ive lived in pinellas and tampa for a long time....lol. There is alot ot do, just as bill stated earlier. Its got nice beaches, plenty of family oriented things to do, as well as a nice night life setting for drinks and some good food.


There are a lot of mazdas too!!! (cool)

 

[Jackelope]

yep, leaning towards Clearwater

 

[coyfish]

West Coast beaches are much nicer and kid friendly compared to East Coast beaches. The water seems cleaner and the sand is finer.

I agree. I remember going to sanabel island when I was younger (south of tampa near ft. myers.) and I had a good time. Variety of shops, laid back atmosphere, and nice sand / beach. Plenty of options but you may want to look into that.

As for east coast beaches frankly Cocoa / Daytona are decent but there are better.

 

[u812many73]

yep, leaning towards Clearwater

Good choice. East coast beaches from central FL up are nothing compared to the west coast. Daytona is cool because you can drive on the beach, but the beach itself isn't that great. Not to mention there isn't much to do in the Cocoa Beach area besides kennedy space center.

 

[Jackelope]

anyone have any experience with specific places to stay in Clearwater?

leaning toward finding a nice condo for the week (last week or 2 of June)

 

[STRICK-]

condos on clearwater are alot of $$$$$$. I have family that rents out condos in sand key. Your best bet would be a hotel ON the beach or go inland 10-15 minutes and cut cost in half. I couldnt really recommend one hotel over the other. What are some key things youd like at your convenience, maybe thatll help get you some suggestions.

 

[Jackelope]

right now i'm looking @ a 'kid suite' @ Sirata Beach Resort

seems to have everything i need.

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

noooooooooooooooooooes! everyone hide!

 

[EvilJen]

right now i'm looking @ a 'kid suite' @ Sirata Beach Resort

seems to have everything i need.

Just make sure it's the newer part of the Sirata. The older part isn't so nice. And the Sirata is on St. Petersburg Beach. If you're ever bored, take a drive up Gulf Blvd. It's fun to cruise up and down that strip and it'll take you all the way up to Clearwater Beach.

 

[Jackelope]

noooooooooooooooooooes! everyone hide!

you cant hide from me (no)

Just make sure it's the newer part of the Sirata. The older part isn't so nice. And the Sirata is on St. Petersburg Beach. If you're ever bored, take a drive up Gulf Blvd. It's fun to cruise up and down that strip and it'll take you all the way up to Clearwater Beach.

(attention) (yippy)

i'll keep that in mind.

 

[tcrawford97]

when will you be here. My wife and I stayed on Vilano Beach for an anniversary before and that is really nice on the east coast. Its just north of St Augustine Inlet. There is a lot of fun things to do there as well, like touring the fort, ripleys, fountain of youth, scenic tours, a lot of neat historical stuff. The beach where our resort was had some of the cleanest sand and you could still drive on it for free (daytona charges). should definitely check it out before ruling the east coast out.

 

[Jackelope]

i'll keep that one in mind, haven't set anything in stone yet