Recommendation for family vacation

[CTLIS56]

Hey guys.  I’ve got an issue and figured I’d go where I’ll get an honest assessment and not get a sugar coated response from a travel agent .

 

We’re thinking of taking a trip down to Florida at the beginnings of April during my daughters spring break.  I grew up going to Boca grande every winter to visit my grandfather, so that region is my comfort zone.  However after speaking with friends who live in the SW west region, they advised visiting a different part of Florida this year due to the lingering effects of the hurricane and the current rebuilding of the area.  Beaches are still closed, swimming could be an issue, etc.  

 

Does anyone have any areas or resorts they really enjoy?  This would be a family trip with maybe a little bit of fishing.  We are looking for something low key, don’t really enjoy crowded, built up areas for vacations.  I’ve got two young kids and my wife.  We’re pretty open to any area on the water as long as it’s family friendly. We’ve  Debated east coast, the keys, further up the west coast…

 

any suggestions or positive experiences would be greatly appreciated!

[saltfisherman]

Check red tide maps for west florida, it’s coming back again. 
 

East side, my wife and I enjoyed Kennedy space center. You could spend two days there easily if you are not in a rush. You can fish the surf. We stayed in Melbourne on the beach. 

[aneary]

I lived in Vero beach, east side of Florida. There’s a Disney hotel in Vero. It’s right in the beach on Hutchinson Island. It’s a beautiful quiet area, lots of fishing on the beach, swimming, there’s the navy seal museum a few miles away. Sebastian and fort pierce inlets close by as well. 

[saltfisherman]

1 hour ago, aneary said:

I lived in Vero beach, east side of Florida. There’s a Disney hotel in Vero. It’s right in the beach on Hutchinson Island. It’s a beautiful quiet area, lots of fishing on the beach, swimming, there’s the navy seal museum a few miles away. Sebastian and fort pierce inlets close by as well. 

To add on a weekend day, believe it was Saturday there is a great little farmers market there and the Jamaican lady sells a good rum cake. Assuming she is still there. Buy a slice or two, it is worth it. 
 

There is also a hotel there of Gloria Esteban, costa d’este, it always looked interesting too. We’ve never stayed there. 
 

You have to stop at Sebastian inlet, great big pier. There is fishing all along it. A fee is involved but not bad and it’s good for the whole day, includes the parking. If memory serves me the fee is good for both sides of the bridge, south and north. 

[saltfisherman]

What my wife and I do is get a place that has a kitchenette to it. Granted we are driving so that helps when it comes to bringing basics; coffee, filters, some groceries so we don’t spend more time hitting a grocery. We also have learned to bring some basic kitchen needs like a sharp knife, can opener, spatula, small measuring cup, small cutting board. So many of these places have lousy knives, and missing other items we find we end up needing. I’ve made a zippered pouch up with the kitchen needs, it goes with us everywhere we travel. Hit a $1.25 store for some of the basics as take alongs with you. 
 

The kitchenette is nice so you don’t spend all your time standing in lines at restaurants. We’ll cook in breakfast and have snacks/sandwiches for lunches, but eat out dinners. 
 

Most of the time we stay on the beach front places so who wants to leave that for hours of the day to find a so so restaurant. 

[Connetquot]

West Florida, gulf area.  Destin, Orange Beach, AL...

[Jim McFeeley]

On 2/1/2023 at 8:51 PM, Connetquot said:

West Florida, gulf area.  Destin, Orange Beach, AL...

Destin is beautiful . Beginning of April isn't always as warm as some want it tho