[erinwestpoet]

Please post your favorite gulfside beaches in FL. We live in Orlando and are looking to vacation there. We have a 2-year-old and an almost-4-year-old. Looking for a beautiful NOT CROWDED beach and some kind of quaint town or other source of activities/discoveries with kids when not in the water. THANKS!

 

[lily7]

Siesta Key is very family oriented beach with wonderful sand. We love it there!

 

[BetsyS]

When we go, we stay with my inlaws.

But, our favorite day use beach is Blue Mountain Beach. There are lots of houses to rent in the area, and it is close to Grayton State Park, Seaside, and Watercolor. http://www.beachesofsouthwalton.com/

We also like Mexico Beach, which is on the other side of Panama City. http://www.mexicobeach.com/cdc/

We like quiet beaches (we love the southern Outer Banks, if that tells you anything), and these aren't *the* quietest, but they certainly aren't the middle of Panama City, either. They are nice, and well, who doesn't love the gulf?

 

[CrunchyMomto3]

I grew up in Venice, FL. GREAT little town with a nice downtown, nice sidewalks, great beaches. We are heading down for a beach vacation May 7-11. LOVE it down in Venice. It's also the sharks tooth captial of the world. My 3 young kids love to go down and look for fossils/teeth. It's a great time.

http://www.venice-fla.com/

 

[GutInstinct]

Siesta or Lido Key in Sarasota are both great! There is so much to do with little ones here.

 

[philomom]

Old Grayton is the bomb. It also has a bike path to the state park and the trendy Seaside, Watercolor areas. We stayed there 8 or 9 years in a row before we moved to the Nw.

http://www.rivardnet.com/

 

[slinginhipmama]

I love Fort Desoto in St.Pete!

 

[1hautemama]

Growing up in New Orlens we often vacationed in Destin, FL, which is along the panhandle. But as I got older I preferred the beaches in Pensacola, white sand, so pretty; and absent are those obnoxious high rise condos and hotels. The town is quaint and mellow, downtown has some great restaurants and cafes and pretty parks.

 

[tryingforbaby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1hautemama Growing up in New Orlens we often vacationed in Destin, FL, which is along the panhandle. But as I got older I preferred the beaches in Pensacola, white sand, so pretty; and absent are those obnoxious high rise condos and hotels. The town is quaint and mellow, downtown has some great restaurants and cafes and pretty parks.

I agree. Hubbynand I vacationed at Pensacola Beach 2 years ago we loved it so much we moved here! I like watching the millitary airplanes and helpcopters as we are digging up shells. So fun.

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