Gulf beaches around Sarasota/Bradenton. I love Anna Maria Island in particular. White sand beaches; calm, warm water; not as hectic or touristy as Clearwater Beach. And Sarasota has some fun stuff to do.

Seaside is a cute beach town on the gulf. We love it there. It's where the Truman show was filmed. White sand, relaxing, low key, walk everywhere.

I went to Miami recently and it was not my scene (way too trendy/fashionable, combined with a little seedy). I like Naples pretty well. Used to like Clearwater when I was a kid but haven't been in years. So where do adults go to enjoy the beach but also decent food, maybe some other activities (but not golf). Not tacky but not the yachting set either. I don't think I am much of a Florida person but keep wanting to try. Palm Beach? St Augustine? Back to Naples?

Anonymous wrote:Marco Island, Indian Shores, Longboat Key. I love the east coast.

Those are west coast beaches

We stay on Marco Island and rent a pontoon boat from Rose Marina to spend a day at Keewaydin Island. It is a blast.

Anonymous wrote:That's a tough one for me. And I'm from Florida.

I love -

St. Augustine Beach partly because I love the town of St. Augustine so much! Anastasia State Park (St. Augustine) has gorgeous beaches.
Micklers/Vilano in Ponte Vedra
Fernandina Beach
Clearwater Beach is gorgeous!
Caladesi Island (near Tampa)
Siesta Key
Sanibel

Goodness.....too many to list!

Great list!
I like deserted islands. Bring a cooler and an umbrella, a dayback, a cooler and settle in for a day of serious beachcombing.
Here are some you can visit by boat or ferry without too much trouble:
Caldesi Island (off Clearwater)
Cayo Costa State Park (there's a ferry and several tour companies)
North Captiva (not totally deserted, has a marina, houses and a restaurant)
Little Gasparilla (rent a beach house accessible only by boat)
Keewaydin Island (visit from Naples, a handful of houses to rent)
North end of Anastasia State Park (St. Augustine)
Eggmont Key (via Fort DeSoto/St. Pete area)
Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson (off Key West)

South Beach is also fun, the people watching is a trip and the body surfing is better on the East Coast.

Anonymous wrote:Hey you beach bums, will I be able to swim in st Pete this week or too cold?

A friend of mine has been Facebooking from St Pete, she says it's been 80 degrees.

Water temp is 70 degrees. http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=42099

Beach: Clearwater. The sand is like velvet. The town is kind of gross though. Think Ocean City.

Key Largo

Marco Island. Great beach and great places to stay.

Fort De Soto Beach

It is a county park. Wide beach and big tide pools. Long gradual decline of the water.

Hey you beach bums, will I be able to swim in st Pete this week or too cold?

Manasota Key! (Gulf side, near Englewood.) A lovely beach, not crowded, and the best part is that you can collect sharks' teeth there. Fun for the whole family. I spent many happy Spring Breaks there when visiting my grandparents.