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Every year our family takes a vacation to somewhere we have never been. This April I was thinking of a trip to Siesta Key but have not really gotten any good input about it. Nor have I really found anything on line that really WOWed me. My family and I are looking for a nice beach vacation on the west coast. We have been to Sanibel and Captiva and loved it and would like to find somewhere like it. Any suggestions? We are traveling with twin 6yro's

PM MacPhin, she's a travel genius and I know she loves the West Coast. Oddly enough I think Siesta Key is one of her favorite spots. I believe they usually rent a condo near or on the beach.

Did you research anything we left you in the Siesta Key thread?

Sorry, but if you were not "wowed" by the area, then maybe you really do not want laid back beach relaxation. Perhaps north to the Clearwater area. Much more built up, but still fun nevertheless.

Good luck with your quest.

RIPH, I did and were considering staying at the Suntide Island Beach Club. I also checked out several of the resurants. I'm just putting this out there to see if something else really jumps out at me. The problem I'm having is I don't know what I'm looking for.

~Art

No worries.

Have you checked out Marco Island? It's quite nice there too, as is the Pensacola area.

If you want to stay in the Manatee / Sarasota area though, you might look at Anna Maria Island as a destination too.

Good luck and let us know where you end up.

RIPH wrote:If you want to stay in the Manatee / Sarasota area though, you might look at Anna Maria Island as a destination too.

Ding ding ding!

Or I'm quite partial to Treasure Island.

Both are peaceful / easy. St Pete Beach might be a touch more 'bustling'.

Tiki Bar wrote:

RIPH wrote:If you want to stay in the Manatee / Sarasota area though, you might look at Anna Maria Island as a destination too.

Ding ding ding!

Or I'm quite partial to Treasure Island.

Both are peaceful / easy. St Pete Beach might be a touch more 'bustling'.

A bit more than a touch, perhaps a handful?

We stay at Longboat Key and love the whole area.

Siesta, Anna Marie Island (old Florida feel), Sarasota all within reach. There's a great bike path all up and down Longboat so we get on the bikes and explore that way. St Armand's Square is a wonderful place to shop, people watch and grab some eats and drinks.

Check out VRBO. We have rented many times from owners.

Tiki Bar wrote:

RIPH wrote:If you want to stay in the Manatee / Sarasota area though, you might look at Anna Maria Island as a destination too.

Ding ding ding!

Or I'm quite partial to Treasure Island.

Both are peaceful / easy. St Pete Beach might be a touch more 'bustling'.

I was just looking at some places in Treasure Island and was wondering if that would be a good family friendly place the first week of April. Want to take my kiddies to the beach but also be able to take them to Busch Gardens, etc. Thanks for the idea

PetalMel wrote:

Tiki Bar wrote:

RIPH wrote:If you want to stay in the Manatee / Sarasota area though, you might look at Anna Maria Island as a destination too.

Ding ding ding!

Or I'm quite partial to Treasure Island.

Both are peaceful / easy. St Pete Beach might be a touch more 'bustling'.

I was just looking at some places in Treasure Island and was wondering if that would be a good family friendly place the first week of April. Want to take my kiddies to the beach but also be able to take them to Busch Gardens, etc. Thanks for the idea

We've stayed at the Thunderbird the past few years, and it's great with kids, in my opinion. Always assorted families by the pool, and my kids always end up making friends that they play with. There's a poolside tiki bar for the adults, an ever expansive beach, and Sunday night drum circles just down the beach. There are plenty of shops and restaurants within walking distance, including McDonalds across the street for the easy/familiar. And absolutely breathtaking sunsets.

Note: If time, check out Fort Desoto, just a short drive south. Way cool to go out on the pier and watch manatees swimming around for hours when we were there.

Tiki Bar wrote:

PetalMel wrote:

Tiki Bar wrote:

RIPH wrote:If you want to stay in the Manatee / Sarasota area though, you might look at Anna Maria Island as a destination too.

Ding ding ding!

Or I'm quite partial to Treasure Island.

Both are peaceful / easy. St Pete Beach might be a touch more 'bustling'.

I was just looking at some places in Treasure Island and was wondering if that would be a good family friendly place the first week of April. Want to take my kiddies to the beach but also be able to take them to Busch Gardens, etc. Thanks for the idea

We've stayed at the Thunderbird the past few years, and it's great with kids, in my opinion. Always assorted families by the pool, and my kids always end up making friends that they play with. There's a poolside tiki bar for the adults, an ever expansive beach, and Sunday night drum circles just down the beach. There are plenty of shops and restaurants within walking distance, including McDonalds across the street for the easy/familiar. And absolutely breathtaking sunsets.

Note: If time, check out Fort Desoto, just a short drive south. Way cool to go out on the pier and watch manatees swimming around for hours when we were there.

I looked at the Thunderbird I am also looking at the Inn at Little Harbor in Ruskin. It is not on the Gulf but looks like a nice quiet place that also has manatees around (which is something that always draws me somewhere. I could watch them for hours). I need to decide if I want to be on a happening beach or somewhere quiet and restful....looked also at the Beachcomber in St. Pete Beach. so many choices...

I just checked out the Thunderbird website last night. Nice looking place I like the old school motel look like the places my family vacationed in the 70's and 80's when I was a kid. It looks like there is also a board walk out front. That's one big Beach too. I think I would need a rest just walking out to the water.

PetalMel wrote:

Tiki Bar wrote:

PetalMel wrote:

Tiki Bar wrote:

RIPH wrote:If you want to stay in the Manatee / Sarasota area though, you might look at Anna Maria Island as a destination too.

Ding ding ding!

Or I'm quite partial to Treasure Island.

Both are peaceful / easy. St Pete Beach might be a touch more 'bustling'.

I was just looking at some places in Treasure Island and was wondering if that would be a good family friendly place the first week of April. Want to take my kiddies to the beach but also be able to take them to Busch Gardens, etc. Thanks for the idea

We've stayed at the Thunderbird the past few years, and it's great with kids, in my opinion. Always assorted families by the pool, and my kids always end up making friends that they play with. There's a poolside tiki bar for the adults, an ever expansive beach, and Sunday night drum circles just down the beach. There are plenty of shops and restaurants within walking distance, including McDonalds across the street for the easy/familiar. And absolutely breathtaking sunsets.

Note: If time, check out Fort Desoto, just a short drive south. Way cool to go out on the pier and watch manatees swimming around for hours when we were there.

I looked at the Thunderbird I am also looking at the Inn at Little Harbor in Ruskin. It is not on the Gulf but looks like a nice quiet place that also has manatees around (which is something that always draws me somewhere. I could watch them for hours). I need to decide if I want to be on a happening beach or somewhere quiet and restful....looked also at the Beachcomber in St. Pete Beach. so many choices...

It's a quiet and restful beach, that's just happening enough.

RAGTOPMAN wrote:I just checked out the Thunderbird website last night. Nice looking place I like the old school motel look like the places my family vacationed in the 70's and 80's when I was a kid. It looks like there is also a board walk out front. That's one big Beach too. I think I would need a rest just walking out to the water.

I prefer the Thunderbird with my kids, for just a bit more entertainment for them. But when I'm with just adults, I prefer the Island Inn, just a block or two down on Treasure Island. The beach is much narrower, and you can listen to the ebb and flow of the waves from your balcony, the back patio tables and tiki bar, and the pool. It's a very short walk to toes in the water, and a short walk to Caddy's on the Beach, a great spot for a bite and a beer by the sea.

You can walk the boardwalk up to the Bilmar / Sloppy Joes / Thunderbird area from there.

I have never found anywhere that beats Anna Maria Island (for me).... and we have been searching for 25 years!

Stay towards the north end. Either Anna Maria itself or the north part of Holmes Beach.

We love 'Palm Beach Villas' or have rented in many locations. Walk along the beach to breakfast or for sunset at the Sandbar or the Beach House (both have good music). The free trolley bus makes getting around very easy and connects to other buses for Longboat Key, St Armands Circle or into Bradenton.

Only a month to go and I will have my feet in that sand again

http://www.amisland.com

We have been going to St Petes for over twenty years and we love Beachcombers. Beach bar has two live bands every day, also has a sports bar, beach and sunsets are to die for. Stay back from the beach if you have young children as it gets noisy at the weekend. Rooms could do with an update but I have recommended this place to a friend of mine who is cabin crew for British Airways and they only stay in five star hotels and they loved it with their eight year old son. If you decide to go let me know as I have the managers email.

David

My wife and I spent a few days in Siesta Key a couple of years ago and LOVED it!

he came from london wrote:We have been going to St Petes for over twenty years and we love Beachcombers. Beach bar has two live bands every day, also has a sports bar, beach and sunsets are to die for. Stay back from the beach if you have young children as it gets noisy at the weekend. Rooms could do with an update but I have recommended this place to a friend of mine who is cabin crew for British Airways and they only stay in five star hotels and they loved it with their eight year old son. If you decide to go let me know as I have the managers email.

David

thanks for the vote. I think that is where we will end up although I'm still toying around with ideas. We will be there with keets who are 7 and 9 so I'm a tad bit worried about it being the week before Easter and everyone off on break. I don't want the beach area to be too rowdy that it is distracting to the kiddos; however I'm more afraid of regretting not being on the beach in case this is our only chance out of snowsville for a few more years.....

We did it booked the Thunderbird for our trip this April. I liked the old school motel look and having a bar and resurant on the property. I also liked that there were so many resurant and bars within walking distance.

Just got back from the Thunderbird. Had a great time Treasure Island is a nice area. Did the Drum Circle my kids loved it. Very Tame. We hit john's Pass a few times very nice and did the Pirate ship. It was great saw Dolphins. The Hotel was ok for the money, bed sucked but great area. Nice tikki Bar good music most of the day at the pool. I don't know what they put in the pool but it tuned my silver necklace black in about 3 hours my wife was like what the hell it that on your neck. There is a Sloppy Joe's on the Island that was cool and two places I will definitely recommend if any reads this follow up "The Salted Rim" and "Sea Hags" both had great food and great music