Florida beach vacation rentals
September 10, 2015 8:19 AM Subscribe
I need advice on planning a family vacation on the Atlantic coast in mid-north Florida.
I am planning a family vacation in January in Florida. It will be my immediately family, which is two adults, and two kids (ages 4 and 1), plus my husband's parents and brother. So 5 adults and two kids. We are going to be spending a few days near my Grandmother and Aunt in Tavares. Our plan is to rent a house or potentially hotel rooms for 2-3 days there. Then we want to spend 3-4 more days on the beach. In laws will be driving to Myrtle Beach, and Georgia, my family will be flying to/from Wisconsin.
I have been looking at mostly beach rentals on the Atlantic side- St. Augustine and a bit south and north from there. I have no experience with this area and I am looking for advice. We want to have direct access to the beach (ideally seeing the water from the house, but not required). We want a calm peaceful vacation. Not into cars on the beach, loud bars or parties. It would be nice to have some interesting things to check out near by- historic sites, kid friendly tourist stuff, etc.
Is St. Augustine where I should be looking?
Specific advice on the beaches near St. Augustine?
Other Atlantic coast suggestions if not St. Augustine? What about Amelia Island, Cocoa Beach?
Specific rental house recommendations?
Tourist recommendations?
I am planning a family vacation in January in Florida. It will be my immediately family, which is two adults, and two kids (ages 4 and 1), plus my husband's parents and brother. So 5 adults and two kids. We are going to be spending a few days near my Grandmother and Aunt in Tavares. Our plan is to rent a house or potentially hotel rooms for 2-3 days there. Then we want to spend 3-4 more days on the beach. In laws will be driving to Myrtle Beach, and Georgia, my family will be flying to/from Wisconsin.
I have been looking at mostly beach rentals on the Atlantic side- St. Augustine and a bit south and north from there. I have no experience with this area and I am looking for advice. We want to have direct access to the beach (ideally seeing the water from the house, but not required). We want a calm peaceful vacation. Not into cars on the beach, loud bars or parties. It would be nice to have some interesting things to check out near by- historic sites, kid friendly tourist stuff, etc.
Is St. Augustine where I should be looking?
Specific advice on the beaches near St. Augustine?
Other Atlantic coast suggestions if not St. Augustine? What about Amelia Island, Cocoa Beach?
Specific rental house recommendations?
Tourist recommendations?
Response by poster: We are not that into lying on the beach- but more for walking and enjoying the sounds of the waves etc. Miami is too far a drive for us- my in laws are driving from SC and we are flying in/out of Orlando or maybe into Orlando out of Jax.
posted by sulaine at 12:34 PM on September 10, 2015
posted by sulaine at 12:34 PM on September 10, 2015
I just went to St. Augustine this year and had a really good time.
Housing--we went through AirBnb and found a place (condo) that sleeps 6 for 125 a night. It is very easy to find one that overlooks the beach but the sand dunes prevent the housing from being right on the beach. There will probably be private access to the beach.
Cars on the beach--this is not something you can prevent. People can obtain a daily pass to drive/park on the beach. The cars must leave before sundown though. The only place we didn't see cars was at the state park at the top of the island. However, the cars were very friendly and driving slowly. No one was racing or doing donuts or anything.
St. Augustine is has very touristy parts and other normal town parts. There is PLENTY to do and eat.
posted by LizBoBiz at 12:53 PM on September 10, 2015
Housing--we went through AirBnb and found a place (condo) that sleeps 6 for 125 a night. It is very easy to find one that overlooks the beach but the sand dunes prevent the housing from being right on the beach. There will probably be private access to the beach.
Cars on the beach--this is not something you can prevent. People can obtain a daily pass to drive/park on the beach. The cars must leave before sundown though. The only place we didn't see cars was at the state park at the top of the island. However, the cars were very friendly and driving slowly. No one was racing or doing donuts or anything.
St. Augustine is has very touristy parts and other normal town parts. There is PLENTY to do and eat.
posted by LizBoBiz at 12:53 PM on September 10, 2015
Cocoa Beach (or Cape Canaveral) is definitely the easiest drive from Orlando. The beaches are great and accessible, no cars. Not many loud parties in January except the snowbirds drinking during happy hour. You'll probably find mostly condos on the beach.
St. Augustine is great and there's lots to see. You could stay on the beach side and it's a short drive to the downtown, which is cramped and usually crowded -- it's a centuries-old city after all. Amelia Island has a neat historic downtown too, but it's a couple of miles from the beach.
There are other little communities like Flagler Beach and Ormond Beach that that might be worth checking out. New Smyrna Beach has a neat little walkable downtown and some nice restaurants.
I'd go to VRBO and/or Homeaway and read some reviews.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:44 PM on September 10, 2015
St. Augustine is great and there's lots to see. You could stay on the beach side and it's a short drive to the downtown, which is cramped and usually crowded -- it's a centuries-old city after all. Amelia Island has a neat historic downtown too, but it's a couple of miles from the beach.
There are other little communities like Flagler Beach and Ormond Beach that that might be worth checking out. New Smyrna Beach has a neat little walkable downtown and some nice restaurants.
I'd go to VRBO and/or Homeaway and read some reviews.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:44 PM on September 10, 2015
Response by poster: I have a bunch of potential places saved on VRBO and AirBnB. I was just hoping for some more advice and recommendations on the best beach area to target.
posted by sulaine at 9:57 AM on September 11, 2015
posted by sulaine at 9:57 AM on September 11, 2015
Nobody has mentioned this yet but I think the treasure coast might be what you are looking for. It tends to be pretty laid back and not has developed as other parts of Florida's Atlantic coast. ALso no cars on the beach.
posted by tman99 at 12:03 PM on September 11, 2015
posted by tman99 at 12:03 PM on September 11, 2015
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posted by Ardea alba at 11:10 AM on September 10, 2015 [1 favorite]