Another vacation Learn Me: Florida Beaches

Hi everyone,

  We still haven't locked down our vacation plans for this summer yet, but another potential spot is for a few days on the Florida coast somewhere.  For the Florida members, do you have any recommendations for towns to stay in?  If we decide to do a few days in Florida, we would likely do a day trip to Kennedy Space Center, since we haven't hit that yet in our prior trips to FL.  We are looking for a nice place to spend a few days doing not a lot but sitting on the beach and relaxing.

Thanks

-Mike

You live in Massachusetts?   Head to Maine.  To me Florida is too hot and humid for July and August.  I used to get baked in March during college spring break.

To me Florida is sweet when it’s mid-January and you’re at Chicago’s Midway Airport getting on a Southwest airplane to Tampa.   

Cocoa Beach is nice but not so much fine sand like the gulf side.  Ron Jon.  I toured the Daytona speedway after my wife not liking the pot smokers and 1/2 naked women (it was the week prior to bike week) made us leave.  

This morning in Lake Worth:

The gulf is usually warmer, but the water was 80 deg today. Check for seaweeds, huge problem currently both on the Atlantic and gulf side. It was bad last week, this morning it was Ok, but by 2pm they were becoming a problem. 

What do you guys like to do? Just beach and then stay in for dinner (airbnb)? Or do you like to go out to a restaurant and maybe walk around?

In summer stay north of the MD line.

 For some reason the heat in summer on the gulf coast  doesn't seem as bad as south Fla.

Jersey has some really really nice beaches.

We love Daytona Beach, just was there a few weeks ago.  For $20, you can literally park your car right on the beach.  That's cool because you can have any stuff you bring right there with you, no lugging it. 

We just stayed for a week in New Smyrna Beach Florida and I can recommend it. The beach wasn't at all crowded where we were. All in all it was a good time.

And it's a drive on beach too if you're not staying in the beach front.

In reply to Nick Comstock :

We rented a house on the water in New Smyrna a few times and I loved it. If your set on Florida I would go there.  You’re close enough to Daytona for any attractions you want to visit but without as big a crowd when you want space.  

I'm partial to the Gulf Coast, but that's where I live. Summer is off season here, so lodging rates will be lower. It's hot as boiled berkeley right now, so that's a potential downside. Have you investigated St Augustine? Its Atlantic coast location makes it more accessible to the Space Center and the Fort is really cool. Fun place to wander around on foot.

Nick Comstock said:

We just stayed for a week in New Smyrna Beach Florida and I can recommend it. The beach wasn't at all crowded where we were. All in all it was a good time.

And it's a drive on beach too if you're not staying in the beach front.

Ha,  we just got back from New Smyrna Beach last Saturday.  Got to see the SpaceX launch from the beach, which was cool.

We go to the same condo every few years and like how it's not overly commercial and fairly quiet.

I never stayed there, but a lot of my friends that did touted Mexico Beach on the Gulf coast.  Family oriented, less crowded.  It reminded me of Edisto Beach in SC.  

My family likes Pass-A-Grille on the gulf side.  Quiet public beach there across from Inn on the Beach.

Ironically, I was in Maine when this discussion was posted. I agree, Maine can be better this time of year! It was in the high 40s two nights ago, but an absolutely gorgeous day the next day. I wish I could have stayed longer but I'm home today.

I live and work in Volusia County (Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach), and would recommend New Smyrna Beach also.

You would be about halfway between St Augustine and the Kennedy Space Center.

Another +1 for New Smyrna Beach if you want a relaxing, quiet time.    Plenty of good restaurants, shops and taverns.   The beach is nice----with good fishing in the inlet.   It's close to the Space Center, and also close to Daytona if you want to day-trip.  

Gulf side has wonderful beaches, the Atlantic side has waves.  Plenty of surfing in NSB----- just don't wear anything shiny in the water.  Seriously, rings, necklaces, ear-rings.....those are all lures for sharks.  Take off the shiny stuff, and you'll be fine.  

My only experience with Florida was Tampa. Great beaches. Great views too. Would recommend. It was HOT for a Chicago boy, being June, but every place was air conditioned and the water kept it cool. I’d say that Texas in june was worse. 

Ive also done Wilmington, NC in June. Again hot, but not nearly as bad as FLA, and Wrightsville beach was amazing. That’d be where I head back to if given the choice. 

Another caution on the heat.  A couple years ago we did the area around the Indian River at Sebastian, FL in July.  I think 100 is about as cold as it got, and the sun is relentless.

If you're around Jacksonville, the beach at Ponte Vedra Beach is very nice.  Some fantastic golfing in the area also.