What Gulf Coast FL beaches?

[seriously]

Late start to planning a summer beach vacation.  We typically go to Kiawah Island in SC every other summer, but I'm debating switching it up this year and going to FL.  What beaches on the gulf coast do you recommend?  Want something laid back, NOT high rise after high rise lining the beach, (aka not like Myrtle Beach)  Not completely isolated but not super crowded.  Prefer somewhere we can get a cottage or condo etc right on the beach. Does that make sense?
Thanks for any help.

[mrsstreet]

A friend just came back from Rosemary Beach, Florida and raved about it. She said its very family friendly and easy to walk/bike around the town to grab food. We always vacationed in Destin growing up but I believe it's a bit more commercialized than it used to be. It's beautiful though. I've also been to Orange Beach just outside Gulf Shores in Alabama and it was very pretty too. Same white sand beaches you will find in Florida!

[shellfish26]

I love Anna Maria island. Super laid back, and there are very reasonable beach rentals. We stay in a house on a canal that has a pool and fishing dock, but it's just a few blocks from the beach.

[frlcb]

I would do something along 30A (Seaside, Rosemary, Alys, Watercolor, Blue Mountain). We have a house in Destin and love it but it is definitely more commercial than 30A.

[alleinesein]

Apr 3, 2014 12:09:30 GMT -5 shellfish26 said:

I love Anna Maria island. Super laid back, and there are very reasonable beach rentals. We stay in a house on a canal that has a pool and fishing dock, but it's just a few blocks from the beach.

Ditto to the above.  I've stayed just south of Anna Maria island down in Longboat Key and that entire area between the 2 has a ton of vacation rentals, quiet beaches and no high rises.  Its pretty low key but you are still close enough to civilization so that you can head into town for dinner, etc. 

[more adventurous]

We stayed in Pensacola once and I loved it (but I was also 18, so take that with a grain of salt). I have a friend who goes to Port Saint Joe and Cape San Blas and speaks very highly of them as non-crowded areas.

[jchokie79]

We go to Kiawah every year too! We actually weren't planning on going this year because we also wanted to head down to FL but I planned a last minute surprise trip for my hubby's bday and we went down there a couple of weeks ago. Love Kiawah.

Anyway, we're heading down to Destin, FL this year. Never been but will be going toward the end of May so I can give a review when we come back.

So far the pictures and everything I've heard and read about the area sounds wonderful. The water looks amazing down there.

We're renting via VRBO, this is where we're staying.

www.vrbo.com/456135

[Deleted]

Apr 3, 2014 12:36:51 GMT -5 frlcb said:

I would do something along 30A (Seaside, Rosemary, Alys, Watercolor, Blue Mountain). We have a house in Destin and love it but it is definitely more commercial than 30A.

That's where all my neighbors go.

Personally for what they spend on a week I feel like I can take a vacation somewhere in Europe.

[Cicero]

Longboat Key

[AAM2012]

Apr 3, 2014 12:36:51 GMT -5 frlcb said:

I would do something along 30A (Seaside, Rosemary, Alys, Watercolor, Blue Mountain). We have a house in Destin and love it but it is definitely more commercial than 30A.

Yup you could stay in Destin and drive to 30A or splurge and stay in a cottage in Seaside, Rosemary, etc.

[seriously]

Apr 12, 2014 7:16:35 GMT -5 AAM2012 said:

Apr 3, 2014 12:36:51 GMT -5 frlcb said:

I would do something along 30A (Seaside, Rosemary, Alys, Watercolor, Blue Mountain). We have a house in Destin and love it but it is definitely more commercial than 30A.

Yup you could stay in Destin and drive to 30A or splurge and stay in a cottage in Seaside, Rosemary, etc.

Dumb question but what is 30A?

[Deleted]

Apr 12, 2014 16:15:58 GMT -5 seriously said:

Apr 12, 2014 7:16:35 GMT -5 AAM2012 said:

Yup you could stay in Destin and drive to 30A or splurge and stay in a cottage in Seaside, Rosemary, etc.

Dumb question but what is 30A?

It is a road that runs along the coast. 

Seaside is where the Truman Show was filmed. 

[AAM2012]

Apr 12, 2014 16:15:58 GMT -5 seriously said:

Apr 12, 2014 7:16:35 GMT -5 AAM2012 said:

Yup you could stay in Destin and drive to 30A or splurge and stay in a cottage in Seaside, Rosemary, etc.

Dumb question but what is 30A?

It's a road that runs along the coast. Here's a great website that has a list of the beaches and other activities:

30a.com