Do you like the Atlantic or gulf side of Florida better?

[Anonymous]

We usually go to the Atlantic side but we are by St Petersburg/Tampa now and I think I like it over here better than the Atlantic side. The sand is white. I think the food and shopping is better on the Atlantic side.

[Anonymous]

Was about to say the exact same. The actual beaches are nicer on the gulf side. Everything else I prefer the Atlantic side.

[Anonymous]

The gulf beaches are vastly better tp me. Wide expanses of sugar sand that on some beaches (Siesta) never gets hot because it's made of quartz and doesn't absorb heat. If you like waves and watching the sunrise you would prefer the east side but if you like small waves, shallow water to wade and swim in, and watching beautiful sunsets, then you would prefer west coast beaches.

Having spent plenty of time on both coasts I can tell you that shopping and restaurants are just as good on both sides.

[Anonymous]

Gulf side 100%

[Anonymous]

Op again. My sons like to fish. Is one side better than the other?

We have gone out twice via boat and done pier fishing and have caught nothing. We have previously been to Captiva and Key Largo and caught 50+ fish. I think we are just having bad luck and storms this week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gulf side 100%

Same! And I grew up in Fl, going only to the Atlantic side. I didn't get to the Gulf side until I was an adult living in DC!

[Anonymous]

Atlantic side for me, but I also really like going down to the Keys, which is not really beachy per se.

[Anonymous]

Prefer the gulf side - Siesta, Lido, Sanibel, St Pete. More low key.

I find the Atlantic side to be 'fake ritzy' and expensive for no reason, especially as you move south. The vibe is odd and sometimes a little too chaotic.

We are mid 30s, AA, no kids. Most of our friends won't even touch FLL and South Beach.

[Anonymous]

Gulf side for me too. I grew up going to Captiva every spring break and I love it there. Atlantic side has worse beaches, more crowded, more expensive

[Anonymous]

Atlantic side. But I scuba dive and there is no contest at all.

[Anonymous]

Gulf

[Anonymous]

Gulf side for family fun

Atlantic side for adult fun

[Anonymous]

Gulf side. My favorite is the panhandle area. We just got back from Rosemary Beach and I really think the beach there rivals some of the Caribbean beaches we've been to. Lovely area.

[Anonymous]

Gulf side without the no-see-ums that ruin our vacations.

[Anonymous]

Gulf for sure. More laid back, more family-friendly, less crowded. Granted I've only been to South Florida (FLL/Miami/Palm Beach areas), so maybe points north are better, but that part of the state just feels like New Jersey with palm trees to me. Busy, lots of rude people, crowded, traffic, overdeveloped...just not relaxing to me.