<p>We are trying to make plans for a trip with my entire family in early March, D’s spring break. We would like to go somewhere in the southeast, preferably Florida or Georgia, on the coast with easy access to the beach, (or ideally, on the beach), with interesting sites nearby. We’ve been to the usual places: South Beach, the Keys, Captiva island. Can anyone suggest someplace else, perhaps a little off the beaten track? Florida has such a big coastline, there must be some interesting places we haven’t thought of! We like nature, art, architecture, food, and mostly strolling on the beach. Shopping not a requirement, but good food is!</p>
<p>Some of it is hokey touristy, but some is interesting touristy - St Augustine.
Sarasota also has some outside the box things to do.
I always have to put in a plug for the Panhandle - Seaside, Rosemary Beach, Grayton Beach, different from the places you mentioned.</p>
<p>Thanks, cangel, we were just discussing St. Augustine! I was there for a couple of days a few years ago and really liked it. You’re right, it IS hokey, but also very charming and interesting.</p>
<p>We’re very interested in the Panhandle, but don’t know a thing about it. What are your impressions of those places you mentioned?</p>
<p>Sanibel. The Panhandle won’t be warm enough.</p>
<p>My mother lived near Sanibel (just across the Causeway) for years. It’s pretty, you can rent bikes, the food is mostly pretty good. There’s a lot of nature, and the beach is covered in shells, which makes for nice walks.</p>
<p>(Do not go to Sanibel in June/July, when the stingrays are mating/giving birth and are along the shore. They are called stingrays for a reason. I learned this the hard way. That’s the only experience I’ve ever had that was more painful than childbirth.)</p>
<p>Try staying in Pass-a-Grille, at the southern most tip of St. Petersburg Beach, especially if you can get rooms at the Islands End Resort.</p>
<p>This puts you within walking distance of a very nice beach and a cute downtown area with a few restaurants, 45 minutes from the Busch Gardens in Tampa, and there is also the Dali Museum close by (among numerous other attractions).</p>
<p>Look up Seaside and Rosemary Beach on the web. Seaside in particular is an architectural landmark. There are still some unspoiled beach areas adjacent to both places, it is less than 1/2 mile from Seaside to Grayton Beach State Park.
The weather will not be as dependably warm as Sanibel - it is what 3-400 miles further south - but it can be plenty warm to sun on the beach, unless you are going the very first week in March. We go to Gulf Shores at Christmas, which is north of South Walton, and the kids never missed a year of getting inot the Gulf! If you are from far enough north to be unfamiliar with the Panhandle, you will likely think it’s warm - 70s.</p>
<p>The downside of the Panhandle is the possibility of rain that time of year and it is a little hard to get to if you have to fly - you fly into Fort Walton or Panama City. Try this link:
[Grayton</a> Beach and South Walton Florida - sales, rentals, fishing, shops, dining, golf, more](<a href=“http://graytonbeach.com/]Grayton”>http://graytonbeach.com/) l
lovely pictures, talks about the weather, or this one
[url=<a href=“http://www.seasidefl.com/default.asp]Seaside[/url”>http://www.seasidefl.com/default.asp]Seaside[/url</a>]</p>
<p>Be aware if you just search Seaside that there was a hurricane in 05 - Dennis or Charley that scoured the beach. the beach has recovered, but the dune wall will not completely recover for many years, and the county has disallowed the architectural walkover steps, and now the walkovers have more conventional, functional steps - you won’t notice a thing if you don’t see photos of how the steps and dunes used to look, and the beach looks great, back to normal.</p>