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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

+me too. We went to Seaside, FL (which is right next to rosemary beach) every year when I was growing up. Beautiful beaches w white sand, water is warmer than the Atlantic side and waves are smaller so good for families w little kids. I love a lot of Florida beaches including st Augustine and others on the Atlantic side but the gulf will always be my favorite.

[Anonymous]

Gulf side. St. Pete Beach and where ever Sanibel and Ft. Myer is.....so maybe both?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gulf side. St. Pete Beach and where ever Sanibel and Ft. Myer is.....so maybe both?

Nope they are gulf too

[Anonymous]

Atlantic side all day long. Cannot wait to retire to Boca.

[Anonymous]

Gulf: Nicer beaches
Atlantic: bigger waves for surfing and boarding

Both have good restaurants, depending on where you are

Gulf = sleepier, families, quaint
Atlantic = better shopping, more international

[Anonymous]

Gulf, hands down. Lived in Miami for a while but preferred to get away to the Gulf side, especially Sanibel.

[Anonymous]

gulf side= geriatric midwesterners, Atlantic side= geriatric northeasterners. choose your fighter.

[Anonymous]

Is there much red tide on the gulf side?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there much red tide on the gulf side?

Sometimes. But fewer sharks.

[Anonymous]

Sigh. The Gulf side used to be the best kept secret of Florida.

No more. Since the pandemic, it's been discovered and the entire atmosphere has changed.

There are A LOT more people visiting and A LOT of those people were former East Coast of Florida regulars.

The old rule of thumb was the East Coast of FL was for East Coast people (NY, NJ) and the West Coast was for Midwesterners (IL, OH, MI)

You could go to Gulf beaches even during high season and still find a space where there was 50 feet between you and anyone else. Not anymore. Many beaches are packed like Coney Island and if you don't get there by 8 a.m. you will not get parking - the lots simply are not big enough to handle the new influx of visitors.

[Anonymous]

This reminds me of the time we were on the beach in St. Pete's. Not many people around, but an old guy decided to spread out nearby and proceeded to light up a cigarette. My wife called him out on it, saying "Thanks for smoking, on the beach."

Not missing a beat, he replied, "Anytime, lady, anytime."

That said, I still prefer the Gulf side to the Atlantic side.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there much red tide on the gulf side?

There can be. I live on the Gulf side and last summer was h*ll because of red tide - a couple of summers ago was even worse. But our manatees aren't starving to death on this side, so there's that!

I love the Gulf side (that's why we live here). It feels less frenetic to me - though where I live (St Pete) has gotten so popular that it's not quite as laid back anymore.

On the Atlantic side I love St Augustine. So, take my feelings for what they are - I have a type. (Quaint & charming over bustling and international.)

[Anonymous]

I like both. My main qualm with the gulf side is red tide which we did experience.

[Anonymous]

Gulf side. I ❤️ Sanibel Island.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sigh. The Gulf side used to be the best kept secret of Florida.

No more. Since the pandemic, it's been discovered and the entire atmosphere has changed.

There are A LOT more people visiting and A LOT of those people were former East Coast of Florida regulars.

The old rule of thumb was the East Coast of FL was for East Coast people (NY, NJ) and the West Coast was for Midwesterners (IL, OH, MI)

You could go to Gulf beaches even during high season and still find a space where there was 50 feet between you and anyone else. Not anymore. Many beaches are packed like Coney Island and if you don't get there by 8 a.m. you will not get parking - the lots simply are not big enough to handle the new influx of visitors.

Just going to say this. One of the unexpected impacts of Covid is that so many people have discovered how nice the Gulf beaches are. The crowds have gotten nuts. People would scoff at “The Redneck Riviera” and we’d just smile. I was hoping it was going to thin out when international travel opened up, but no luck so far.