Hoping to get your recommendations; which beach would you stay at
* New Smyrna Beach
* Vero Beach
* Panama City Beach
* Clearwater Beach
My husband has to spend a month in Florida in February 2013. The company will provide accommodation and a car for his use and he has been given permission to bring his family (if we pay for our airfares). He will be on base Monday to Friday so I will have the kids (4yrs - 6urs old)
I have read tourism websites about various areas but it's hard to know what they are really like (clean beaches, windy, crime etc).
We are happy to be within 2hrs drive from Legoland, Disneyland and to have a break from 6mths of snow packed winter in Colorado!.
Thanks!
Thanks ladies; your feedback was really helpful. We are booked to stay at Clearwater in Mid January. Now I'm really looking forward to our visit!
I work in Clearwater every week and live only 15 minutes away. My city listed for myself is not my real city. I want to be anonymous on here. It's beautiful down there. The Hilton on the beach is a very nice place to stay. They have a great playground for the kids at Pier 60.
I am from Bradenton, Fl. So, I am partial to Anna Maria Island. It's beautiful, within reach of Sarasota, Fl. St. Armand's Circle, and Siesta Key. It's an hour from Tampa/ Clearwater, Fl. It's also a two hour drive to Orlando,Fl. Home of Disneyland.
Clearwater Beach is also really quite pretty. Lots of places to stay.
Enjoy your time there!
I lived in St. Augustine, FL for awhile...it's about half an hour from New Smyrna. In my opinion, New Smyrna is kind of trashy. St. Augustine is beautiful plus it has tons of family activities in the town like a Ripley's believe it or not museum. It's the oldest city in America so there are lots of interactive historical exhibits. There's also an alligator zoo type thing with an albino alligator.
I'm kinda partial to clearwater beach:) maybe cause I live here! Clearwater is also about 2 hrs from Disney World. The best beach around here is Caladesi island you have to take a ferry boat there and we always see dolphins. It's a gorgeous beach! Heck talking about it I think I'm going today!
I have only been to Panama City Beach, and we had a wonderful time! We went to Shell Island, Gulf World Marine Park (My 3 year old LOVED that), and lots of other places. We felt very safe, and we never saw anything gross or unclean. Shell Island is great, because they have all kinds of swim with dolphin excursions.
I would NOT call Panama City Beach close to Disney World, though.
ETA: We went in July, and it was not spring breakish, at all. The beaches weren't very busy, either. The family we visited did say that it gets crazy during spring break, though.
Clearwater is very nice and about an hour to Legoland and another half hour farther to Disney. It is also next to Tampa where there is also lots to do (museums, etc.).
I wouldn't do Panama City...
Heck, even the marines/navy tend to avoid panama city beach. It seems to be made up of equal parts idiots and jellyfish. (Panama is the huuuuuuuuge spring break from outta state area, and February is midwinter break.) Don't get me wrong... the beach does have it's quieter times, but it's a 'party beach'.
The Hilton in Clearwater was nice and large, but seemed to be on the crowded part of the beach where parking was a nightmare.
We did drive to Disney in an hour and a half. We spent a week in Tampa. Is there a way you could change hotels midway through?
