Florida vacation?

[Leon m]

Where is a good place to vacation in Florida?
Im looking for something peaceful and quiet
where my kids ,Wife and I can comb beaches
sail and just lay under some palm trees without
a bunch of city/tourist noise.

Whats a good time to go when its not so plasted hot? What side is better Gulf or Atlantic?

Thanks...Leon

[Concordia..41]

You rang?

St. Augustine smile.gif (http://www.staugustinechamber.com/visitor/visitor1.cfm)

I'm afraid we're a bit heavy on the tourist traffic lately, but there's bunches of good to go around.

Beware, the last Forumite that dropped by got issued a heat gun and a scraper - huh Frank ;)

[TomRobb]

Find out where the kids go for Spring Break and don't go there. :rolleyes:

[Donn]

Cape San Blas, on the eastern panhandle coast. Quiet, secluded and peaceful. Rent a gulfside condo. Walk (or drive) miles of empty beaches. Literally tons of shells.

[ 02-19-2003, 08:58 AM: Message edited by: Donn ]

[Gresham CA]

I have to agree with Margo. I love St. Augustine.

[bud]

Generaly, the gulf side is hotter, the water in summer can get close to body temperature. It's less touristy, fewer sandy beaches than the right coast, although it has plenty in certain areas.
I go every winter, last winter to Cedar Key, the year before that Everglade City, this April St. George's Island in the panhandle, near San Blas like Donn said. All definitely out of the way and not loaded up with traffic.
smile.gif

[Leon m]

San BIas is peaking my interest.St Augustine
looks very buitiful...But kinda busy, maybe it
would be a nice day trip.
Thanks!...Leon

[Ariel]

I vote for Gulf Coast--not so crowded except at Spring Break time--even St. George Island and Cape San Blas will be busy then. I lived in Apalachicola for nearly 3 years. Franklin and Gulf counties are pristine. From St. George Island westward to Louisiana are plenty of sandy beaches. Some of the prettiest in the world are located in Panama City, Ft. Walton Beach, Destin, Pensacola, Florida and Gulf Shores, Alabama. Have fun, but don't go during Spring break!

[Leon m]

The gulf coast sounds like the place for me
(but not at spring break).
Thanks Ariel

[ccmanuals]

I think the kind of Florida vacation you just described can only be found in the Keys. I just came back from 2 weeks vacation in Islamorada and I can't say enough about the place. The wife and I went there to escape the crummy winter in Washington DC. Well, to make a long story short probably the best vacation I have ever had. If you are looking for a place to stay I highly recommend the Pines and Palms in Islamorada. Here is there website:
http://www.pinesandpalms.com/

Contact me if you need any more info.

Tom

[Donn]

I'm jealous Tom. I stay at Breezy Palms. Did you happen to dine at Lazy Days or Uncle's? More importantly, didja fish?!?

[ccmanuals]

Ate some meals -- drank some spirits and watched the nightly sunsets at Lorel Li's, Fish Company etc. Hung out at Worlwide Sportsman and Bud and Mary's ---- And yes did I ever fish! A friend of mine brough his custom 60 foot Sportfisherman from Ft Pierce down to Key West to A&B Marine at the end of Front Street. My friend, the captain (his company hires a guy to captain his boat) and myself fished out of Key West for 2 days on this incredible fishing machine.
http://ccmanuals.crosswinds.net/temp/1198.jpg

Breezy Palms was next door to us - really nice place.

[Donn]

I fish out of Bud & Mary's, with Sid Bryant. It's getting near tarpoon time down there. My friend at Key West Island Books says they're starting to move...trying to lure me down there. If it doesn't warm up soon, I may just have to go.

[ 03-11-2003, 12:43 PM: Message edited by: Donn ]

[ccmanuals]

Ok. You mentioned Tarpon so I have to relay this story to you. It's an experience I had when I was a youngin and I'll never forget it. It was either in 1959 or 60 and I was about 10/ll years old. Anyhow, our family used to live in Marathon during the winters. My dad pulled his boat down from NY when the snow fell and we returned when NY thawed out. Anyhow, he would take us down to Big Pine Key to the Old Wooden Bridge to fish at night under a full moon for tarpon. At that time the bridge was burned down halfway between Big Pine and No Name Key and we would go out to where the bridge ended to fish. No one lived on Big Pine Key at the time except the deer because the mosquitos were killers. Well I remember fishing one late night off the bridge and we could hear these loud explosions and what sounded like gun fire coming from No Name Key. My dad would tell us to not pay attention to it that it was nothing. Well, later in life I learned two things about all this that I didn't understand at the time becuase I was too young. The first is that the explosions and gunfire were "freedom fighters" on No Name Key training for the Bay of Pigs. The other is that my dad (God Rest His Soul) would hang out in the Bars in Marathon with CIA guys who were planning the whole thing.

Anyhow, we always caught big, strong Tarpon late at night under a full moon off the Old Wooden Bridge at Big Pine (they have since rebuilt the bridge). If you get a chance give it a shot.

tom

[Donn]

Quite a story. I've never landed a tarpon from shore, although I've hooked them. Tackle was too light. I did, however, spend 2 hours chasing a 110# monster around the flats right off Cheeca Lodge. 17# line on a 2/0 Abu Garcia reel and a 6 foot plugging rod. He kept taking all my line, and we kept on chasing him down again. Fortunately he didn't go over the reef.

[Leon m]

ccmanuals
That looks real sweet!I especialy like
the private cottage(Orchid),just the sort
of thing I'm looking for.How are the beaches
in the area?The wife and kids love to beach
comb.
Great tip thanks!
Leon

[Mr. Know It All]

You can camp out on the beach at Flagler Beach State Park. It's just North of Daytona on the Atlantic coast. Great place to watch the sun come up. :cool:
Peace----> Kevin in Ohio

[ccmanuals]

Leon,

We liked the Pines and Palms so much that we have already reserved a room for next year. The nice thing about an "efficiency" is that there is a full kitchen. Eating out can get expensive especially with kids. The nicest beach "that I know of" with relation to Islamorada is Bahia Honda State Park near Marathon. Here is a link to them: http://www.bahiahondapark.com/

If you contact Pines and Palms you will probably talk with Yvette. Just tell her that Tom King told you to call and that I told you that you would get a "special rate".

Tom

[Donn]

Leon..if you go to Islamorada, you can rent a canoe or a kayak, and paddle back into the park, where you'll find dozens of little islands, some of which have lovely little beaches.

[Leon m]

Donn
Sounds perfect...Thanks!

[tealsmith1]

A timely thread for me. The wife and I plan on taking our 2 1/2 year old down in June to see big water for the first time. I can't wait to let him walk on the beach. I was about 27 the first time I saw the ocean. (how's that for a sheltered life) I was competely overwhelmed.

Anyway, we're interested in any ideas for short (inexpensive) sailing experiences. We did the Daniel Webster Clemens in Destin/Ft. Walton a few years ago. We will probably stay between Destin and St. George island area. Also interested in museums as well.

[Dave Hadfield]

From Key West (very crowded, noisy, over-rated) we rented a sailboat for a week and went to the Dry Tortugas. Very interesting place. Fort Jefferson http://www.fortjefferson.com/ is unique.

But what we found most spectacular was Loggerhead Key. We dinghied over there from the fort at Garden Key and snorkelled for a day. It was superb, miraculous, wonderful.... It was like being in a Cousteau film. This is all Park where fishing is strictly controlled or forbidden, and the sheer size and abundance of the fish were astounding. I've snorkelled and dove in many places and this was in a category all by itself. (I found a small cave full of 20lb lobsters. That says it all.)

The Key itself is a castaway isle. It's nothing but a sand beach with a few palms in a sea that is literally hopping with life.

There is no camping on Loggerhead, but I believe there is on Garden Key (no facilities, bring your own water). There is "Fast Cat" service from Key West. I think you could bring a large inflatable and camping gear on board for an extra fee, then set up on Garden Key and range around for a couple of days.

You'd find it unforgettable, though perhaps slightly uncomfortable.