Florida Beach Help!

[queenbee]

OK me and red have decided we are going to the beach, probably in June. Grumpy will go because if we aren't home he won't have anyone to fuss at.

Now, here's what I need.

We like Amelia Island, Tybee Island, something similar to those. Not a tourist trap like Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg. Just fishing, sight seeing and swimming. Nothing fancy and maybe a small kitchen for breakfast and lunches.

OK girls, I need cheap accomodations. Give me some places to research on the web. You Brunswick, Ga and Florida girls know all of the hidey spots that are great to visit and not a lot of population.

And don't forget; SEAFOOD, boiled shrimp, fried shrimp, shrimp scampi, shrimp cocktail, shrimp and pasta, shrimp salad, LOBSTER TAIL, CRAB LEGS, YYUUUMMMMM!!!!!!

[2cedarschick]

Bee, sorry I can't help you, cause Mr. Cedar doesn't like the beach, so we have very seldom vacationed at the beach. I have stayed in Sanibel Island at the Beachview Apartments on the west coast, and also stayed at the Tradewinds resort on Anna Maria Island, again on the west coast (Sarasota/Bradenton area). They used to be cheap and both places had kitchenettes and were either on the beach or across the street from the beach.

[maddy]

Go to the Gulf side, prettier! I love the redneck riviera, but I'm biased about the area since my folks are there & I was born there.

[mac]

I agree with Maddy, the gulf side is where I go. Gulf Shores, good restaurants. Lots of stuff close by to go see, great fishing on the piers and back waters. We crab too. You got piers all around, up along Fair hope and out to Dauphin Island.
An you are also close to Pensacola if you want to go see the Naval Air Museum.

[queenbee]

Grumpy hates the drive, that's why I try to get as close as possible when we get to go.

He really enjoyed fishing at Tybee. Me and red could walk fo rmiles on the beach. Other than food and motel and few cheap souvenirs, it was the cheapest vacation we ever had.

Will scope out that side to see what i can find.

[mac]

When are you going? Deb an I are going to Tybee the middle of March.

[queenbee]

The prices are great in March, I checked the web site yesterday and Tybee was at 60 degrees.

We are probably going to try the month of June.
Right in between Wildflower and Sourwood season after soccer is over. The end of May starts our honey season and it goes until November.

[maddy]

We're not making it to FL this Spring, but my parents made me promise to come down this summer.
Tybee & Hilton Head are neat! I don't like swimming in the water there because I can't see the bottom & the sand isn't as pretty. Find me a nice hotel with a pool & I'll be okay wherever!

[cubby]

We lived on the East Coast, but vacationed often on the West Coast. Definitely go to the West Coast!

[queenbee]

I like pools and clear beach water, I don't like ocean water cause it's sticky.
But we only go about every 2-3 years so I can deal with it.

I like the clear water so I can check for critters.

I have never been to Hilton Head or Myrtle Beach.

[bb]

I've lived in the panhandle (Ft Walton Beach) the east coast (Satellite Beach) and with west coast (Pinellas County/greater St. Pete area.) The prettiest beaches over all are the panhandle, although further south on the coast are some great ones, too (Fort DeSoto, Honeymoon Island, etc.) The safest for little kids is the gulf coast because there is little to no undertow and usually is pretty calm and shallow. The Atlantic side can get decent sized waves if you are looking for surfing or just playing in the waves but you have to be careful of undertow. It is a long drive to get to the St. Pete area and then you have to deal with a heavily populated area, too. It's been so many years since I visited the panhandle, I really don't know how it is for vacationing now. When I lived there, Destin was just a sleepy little fising town where mom went to get shrimp right off the shrimp boats! Now it is all bulit up!

[queenbee]

Thanks for the input ya'll and keep it up.

I don't know nothin 'bout Florida cept we don't want to do Disney again, ever.

[cubby]

You most definitely want to stick with the Gulf then!

[bb]

if you go to the gulf side... either take the panhandle or further south... the area they call the "big bend" is what I refer to as the "armpit" of Florida... (sorry if I offend anyone from that area!) The fishing may be good but the beaches are almost non existent and if you get to certain parts, you smell the paper mills. yuck!

[bb]

If you want oysters, the sweetest ones I ever had were small, but sooooooo good! It was in Mobile, AL at a restaraunt that was on a pier.