My family just took a quick trip to Venice Beach, FL. It was soooo beautiful. The water was clear and blue and there was hardly anyone there. Just past where the waves break, it was calm and clear. It was a great place to be! (I even tried boogie boarding and skim(?) boarding!) Boy am I sore today!
Do you have any favorite beaches? Share, please! I'm always up for a trip to a new beach.
Erin OcalaMom.com Moderator Mom to Cooper and Elizabeth
Destin and St. Augustine are my favorite beaches. I haven't been to Destin in a while but we go to St. Augustine about once a more or so. If I didn't live in Ocala, I sure would live in St. Augustine!
Ohhh..I love this subject!! I am a beach girl!! I grew up in Sarasota/Siesta Key. Siesta Key beach is just north of Venice Beach. Very beautiful! It was just ranked #3 on the Dr. Beach list. Also, Caledesi Island was just ranked #1!!! It is north of Clearwater, only about an hour and a hald from here!! Clearwater is great too because they have a great playground/walking path, restaurants and shops all w/ in walking distance A few weeks ago we went to Ponce Inlet (south of Daytona). The sand was much nicer than Daytona and its prettier since you dont have all the condos behind you. Its a great place for pics since there are beautiful sand dunes behind instead of the condos I want to check out Destin sometime soon too. We love St Augustine too!!
Is Caledesi Island on the West coast? Do you know of any hotels there? I am planning a "Girls Trip" for my 30th bday and we're heading to the beach. The hotel we normally stay at is sold out for that weekend, so Im looking for somewhere new to go...maybe somewhere that has a nice, cheap, 2 bedroom condo of sorts??? Any suggestions?
Erin OcalaMom.com Moderator Mom to Cooper and Elizabeth
Hi my favorite beach is Naples or Marco Island, Its about 4hrs. but so worth it, were planning a family vacation there,we stay at the Bellasera hotel, they have 1or2 bedroom suites,full kitchens,living room, dinning rooms,you have all the comforts of home, your about 10min from the beach, right off 5th ave, known for cute boutiques,resturants,old fashion ice cream shops,if going with kids,lots to do with them and affordable. We love it there.
Yes, Caledesi is on the west cost..about 20 min north of Clearwater. The actual island itself doesnt have any condos (Its actually a state park) ..you might want to check Honeymoon Island which is right next to it. Caledesi is only accessible by boat..they have a ferry if you do not have one My mom works at a BEAUTIFUL condo on Siesta Key...I am not sure how many nights and what you idea of cheap is, but if you are interest you can PM I would love to help you. I am turning 30 soon too..in July! How nice that you get to have a "Girls Trip" I am planning something for early August down at that condo on Siesta Key. I am so excited!!
Hi Razzer my favorite beach is Naples or Marco Island, Its about 4hrs. but so worth it, were planning a family vacation there,we stay at the Bellasera hotel, they have 1or2 bedroom suites,full kitchens,living room, dinning rooms,you have all the comforts of home, your about 10min from the beach, right off 5th ave, known for cute boutiques,resturants,old fashion ice cream shops,if going with kids,lots to do with them and affordable. We love it there.
Thanks for the info..we are always wanting to check out new places
For a quick trip to the beach you can head west to Crystal River and visit Fort Island Gulf Beach. Just 7 miles south is Homosassa where you can see Manatees, if you keep going south about another hour you reach Tarpon Springs then Dunedin Beach, all beautiful places to visit. Also Anna Maria Island on the Gulf. Have a great time, Mrs Robron.
I adore the beaches, any beach! One of my favorites is the Palm Coast beaches. They are are located between Flagler and St. Augustine so it's an easy trip. There's a park there, trying to remember the name... Washington Oaks, I think... and it's beautiful, leads right to the beach which is scattered with large coquina rocks that you can climb on.
We discovered hermit crabs, starfish, tidepools with little fish... a kid's dream, just gotta be careful on the climbing part. Definitely worth checking out!
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Trish Caldwell, an Ocala native, has been a stay-at-home mom since her daughter, Makily, who has special needs, was born in 2004. Trish has a background in pediatric medical care and she loves working with children.
She and her husband, Allen, are licensed foster parents for babies ranging from newborns to 2 years old.
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A few weeks ago we went to Ponce Inlet (south of Daytona). The sand was much nicer than Daytona and its prettier since you dont have all the condos behind you. Its a great place for pics since there are beautiful sand dunes behind instead of the condos 
my favorite beach is Naples or Marco Island, Its about 4hrs. but so worth it, were planning a family vacation there,we stay at the Bellasera hotel, they have 1or2 bedroom suites,full kitchens,living room, dinning rooms,you have all the comforts of home, your about 10min from the beach, right off 5th ave, known for cute boutiques,resturants,old fashion ice cream shops,if going with kids,lots to do with them and affordable. We love it there.
One of my favorites is the Palm Coast beaches. They are are located between Flagler and St. Augustine so it's an easy trip. There's a park there, trying to remember the name... Washington Oaks, I think... and it's beautiful, leads right to the beach which is scattered with large coquina rocks that you can climb on. 
Trish Caldwell, an Ocala native, has been a stay-at-home mom since her daughter, Makily, who has special needs, was born in 2004. Trish has a background in pediatric medical care and she loves working with children.
She and her husband, Allen, are licensed foster parents for babies ranging from newborns to 2 years old.
Contact her at ocalamom@ocala.com.
More about us and our editor