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help me plan beach vacation

hismineandours's picture

Submitted by hismineandours on Tue, 12/31/2013 - 12:52pm

I am from the Midwest and this is the time of the year that I start planning my beach vaca for summer. We've done panama city and surrounding areas, all up and down the outer banks and are looking for somewhere new. Any recommendations? Currently looking at Gulf Shores, Siesta Key, and Clearwater area.

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hismineandours's picture

Submitted by hismineandours on Tue, 12/31/2013 - 6:09pm

There are 5 of us. I am afraid of what the airfare for 5 would be and also we wouldn't likely fit into one room so for us this becomes cost prohibitive. We've found it much more affordable to drive to the beach, rent a house, spread out andr elax.

DarkStar's picture

Submitted by DarkStar on Tue, 12/31/2013 - 3:14pm

Hello fellow Midwesterner!!!! **waving**

I've had some friends that just LOVE Key West.

I went to an all-inclusive resort in the Mayan Riviera area, about 45 miles from Cancun. It was BEAUTIFUL. We were on the gulf side so the ocean wasn't all wavy and choppy....crystal blue and warm. It's close to this adorable little boutique-type town called Playa del Carmen.

I liked Ft Lauderdale, too, the boardwalk is really nice and clean. South Beach is a trip if you feel like getting a little crazy!

Sunflower1's picture

Submitted by Sunflower1 on Tue, 12/31/2013 - 3:35pm

Midwesterner here too! Sanibel island in Florida is beautiful. FDH and I are headed to a resort twenty minutes south of cancun in 7 weeks to get married, I can let you know how that goes when we get back.

savemysanity's picture

Submitted by savemysanity on Tue, 12/31/2013 - 3:38pm

The Outer Banks of NC has the most BEAUTIFUL, un-crowded beaches with a small-town feel. Amazing restaurants, slow pace, and probably at a cheaper price than you'd find anywhere else. AND you could visit ME! lol!

hismineandours's picture

Submitted by hismineandours on Tue, 12/31/2013 - 6:07pm

We've been to the outer banks many times. I love it there. My family not as much. Seems my 3 teens would like more to do- they really enjoy Panama City- my dh is a sissy and finds the outer banks beaches too chilly as well. So I am looking for warm waters, plenty of activities, but I like a little peace and quiet too

LostinSpaceandTime's picture

Submitted by LostinSpaceandTime on Wed, 01/01/2014 - 1:11am

Wow I would love to have a local to give me some tips on places to stay in the Outer Banks! I am planning a trip for mid May after my college Graduation. My Mom and I are going for ladies only trip. She is 74 and wanted to meet some people in the area on our trip. Maybe we can visit with you then! I have read some of your blogs and it is like we have the same DH! Really this site saved me when I first found it. Who knew it was so common for SD's to hate whatever woman their Dad remarried? We could be Mother Teresa and it wouldn't matter.
But it still hurts anyway.
Message me if you care to share any travel info!

floridianmama's picture

Submitted by floridianmama on Tue, 12/31/2013 - 4:36pm

If you've never been to the Florida Keys its a must do!!! Key West for nightlife or Key Largo for a family vacay. Its awesome no shoes no shirt no problems really. There's a nice place I believe in Marathon key to swim with the dolphins as well. If your kids are smaller there's a place that does a a platform that they lower so the Dolphins can come up to them in the water. Really if you're looking at FL do the keys! Take it from a Floridian!

tryingmom's picture

Submitted by tryingmom on Tue, 12/31/2013 - 4:45pm

I'm from New England and love the beaches of Maine and Massachusetts. North of Cape Cod the water is cold, but it isn't as HOT as Florida in the summer. One of my favorite beach vacations was Martha's Vineyard.

floridianmama's picture

Submitted by floridianmama on Tue, 12/31/2013 - 4:47pm

Additionally there are really nice resorts all up and down the keys as well as cozy cabins right on the beach which I have much preferred. The crazy thing is the resorts that put you stories up are much more expensive than the cabins right on the beach. You have more amenities at a resort but its more romantic in a cabin and late at night the kids can be in the room watching TV or whatever and you can be out of the hammock with your hubby 20 feet away next to the doc and in front of the beach.

arjuna79's picture

Submitted by arjuna79 on Tue, 12/31/2013 - 4:50pm

The Gulf side is so much calmer than what we've got going over here on the Atlantic side… most midwesterners I know go Gulf side or Keys. I'm a Native New Englander and prefer being right on the big Atlantic, even if it does mean living in Palm Beach County, the "Sixth Borough of NYC" It does get hot down here, but you can't beat that big wind. And we're built to stay cool. So come on down!

B22S22's picture

Submitted by B22S22 on Wed, 01/01/2014 - 7:04am

Hey HMO- I'm another midwesterner...

Look at sandbridgerealty.com. You can look at beach homes by # of bedrooms, price, etc.

Sandbridge is a community just south of Virginia Beach and they have all sorts of beach homes you can rent. I've stayed there twice and it was great! Lots of things to do in Va Beach like the aquarium, and just south of Sandbridge is a really neat nature preserve you can explore.

What I liked most is that it is (or at least used to be) a fairly restricted area so the beaches didn't become crowded with day-beach-goers.

Stupidlyoptimistic's picture

Submitted by Stupidlyoptimistic on Wed, 01/01/2014 - 3:18pm

Fort Myers Beach is great. Clearwater is nice, too. Clearwater has more activities, but Fort Myers Beach is less crowded and really pretty.