Florida Spring Break Trip with the Family - Please Help!

[Kendall]

Please help....

Wife says we are to tow the 260 Sundancer to South Florida where it might be warm for the kids spring break (4/12-18/14). She has mentioned Fort Myers area with some stays at the nicer resorts like South Seas or the Westin where they have dockage. We would be staying on the 260 at the dock most likely.

My only experience with the 260 and Florida was on the East Coast side when I made a couple of trips to the Bahamas. I do not remember seeing a lot of kid friendly areas.

Is the SW side better for the kids? Not sure my 7 and 10 year olds would care much for the Elbow room in FLL....

I have looked and trailering to the Punta Rassa Boat Launch and leaving the truck and trailer there....any opinions on this Safe or not?

It looks like Fort Myers is around 700 miles from me and the same with Fort Lauderdale. Is the east coast side warmer in April due to the gulf stream?

I have been told the Palm Beach area could be nice for the kids and I have towed/launched at Lake Park Marina before.

Any ideas on heading South from there by boat or North to Fort Pierce area?

Any ideas or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[fwebster]

This isn't what you asked, but you should consider a closer location with kid friendly amusements. I doubt they will be happy with shuffle board and the 80 year old "playmates" they meet on the beach.

Take a look at the Panama City Beach area as an alternative. Real Spring break is over by 4/12, so the throngs of college age hell raisers are gone. What this means to you with a young family is that the crowds are gone, all the restaurants are open and all the employees are trained, and all the amusements are open and the kinks worked out for the tourist season. For a boater, particularly one with kids, we have barrier islands that separate the protected bays from the Gulf. Even on windy days, you can anchor in protected water and walk across to the Gulf to play in the surf, collect shells, etc. Both sides of the island are very much like the keys or Carribbean Islands in teerms of water clarity and beach conditions. The 12 mile long island is part of the Florida State park system so it is a pristine environmentally protected area with no development at all. It is very likely that you will not see anyone else there in mid-April. Most of the transient slips are in Grand Lagoon which is 15 minutes from the ship channel, the Gulf and the island. Our marina in particular is a family friendly place.......no loud parties, no beer joint close by, 24 hour security, a short walk or bike ride....or 5 minute trucck ride from any number of great restaurants, some of which are locals places service the best local seafood.

I know this area is considered by many to be the red-neck Riviera by many in the south, but it isn't that way anymore. Tons and Tons of stuff for the kids and superb shopping, restaurants, etc for adults.

Just an option............

 

[Bucit]

South Seas is nice but a little pricey. Right around the corner you could also stop at Cabbage Key (where Jimmy Buffet supposedly wrote Cheese Burger in Paradise) and also Tween Waters. Nice are down there.

 

[k9medic]

South Seas is nice but a little pricey. Right around the corner you could also stop at Cabbage Key (where Jimmy Buffet supposedly wrote Cheese Burger in Paradise) and also Tween Waters. Nice are down there.

We have always rented a house that is on the water and has a pool. For the $1500-2000/ week you can't beat it. We have also done the Bahamas a time or two.

Our favorite places have been Anna Maria Island, Manasota Key and Sanibel Island. Plenty of things to do for the kids in all of those areas both on and off the water.

Off Cayo Costa State Park

 

[Kendall]

Thanks for the responses guys.

For Frank - What temperature can we expect in April in the Panama City Beach area? I made the mistake of telling the kids last year that Charleston would be warm in April and they are still mad at me.

K9 - Did you rent houses that had docks and take your boat? I think the family wants to try a different place every couple of days. I would love to have some calm water and an island to ourselves to play on.

Bucit - I need to check where Cabbage Key is as I'm hearing many people talk about this place. I assume it is only reachable by boat?

In the Sanibel area is the public landing at Punta Rassa an ok place to leave the tow rig?

Salty Sams said I could use the ramp there for $25 and store the truck and trailer for $10/15 per day at their facility.

Thanks again!

 

[Mike Blake]

Sanibel Island is nice an kid friendly.

 

[Mikemapva]

We have always rented a house that is on the water and has a pool. For the $1500-2000/ week you can't beat it. We have also done the Bahamas a time or two.

Our favorite places have been Anna Maria Island, Manasota Key and Sanibel Island. Plenty of things to do for the kids in all of those areas both on and off the water.

Off Cayo Costa State Park

I'll second the recommendation for Anna Maria Island. It's kid friendly and you're within easy boating distance of a lot of nice areas such as Egmont Key, Longboat/Lido Key, Sarasota and further south towards Casey Key and Venice. Anna Maria has lots of canal homes with docks and a free trolley to take you around the island.

Mike

 

[Bucit]

Yes, Cabbage Key is only accesible by boat. It has a small marina (that you can overnight at) or cottages you can rent. Waters on the ICW should be calm and weather temps will be in the 80's.

Tween Waters has a marina and hotel with pool.

 

[spfortjohn]

You could save a lot of travel time and go to Orange Beach, AL. Ramps are safe and you can cruise to the east to Panama City or west to Biloxi and go to the casinos. Lots of islands and very family friendly places to stay. Ramps are safe to leave your truck and trailer and lots of marinas to overnight if not on the hook.

http://www.gulfshores.com/

We have a house in Orange Beach and love it.

 

[Kendall]

Good info.

Problem I'm having now is finding a boat ramp that allows overnight parking close to Longboat Key. Looks like Fort De Soto is the only one....maybe Kingfish at Holmes Beach...

 

[k9medic]

K9 - Did you rent houses that had docks and take your boat? I think the family wants to try a different place every couple of days. I would love to have some calm water and an island to ourselves to play on.


Thanks again!

Yes we have rented several houses over the years and all of them had docks. The most expensive one was just shy of $1800 but that was for a 4 bedroom house on Manasota Key.

One trip I did a few years ago was to hop down the west coast from Crystal River to Key West staying in hotels along the way.

We stayed a day in each location, but you could easily spend a few days.

Egmont Key is a really nice place with clear water and there is an area south of Anna Marie called Jewfish Key that has great clear water as well.

If you have kids with you be careful going out to Egmont - there is a sand bar area south of Egmont called Passage Key that a lot of people go to. Imagine my surprise when we pulled up there to let the kids have fun only to find out that it's one of the best nudist areas in Florida. :thumbsup:

 

[Mikemapva]

Good info.

Problem I'm having now is finding a boat ramp that allows overnight parking close to Longboat Key. Looks like Fort De Soto is the only one....maybe Kingfish at Holmes Beach...

Looking at the Manatee County Boat Ramp page, it looks like both Kingfish and the Coquina ramps on Anna Maria are listed as open 24 hours, so I would think you could park overnight.

http://www.mymanatee.org/home/government/departments/parks-and-recreation/boat-ramps.html

South of Longboat Key, there is a ramp near Mote Marine on City Island called Ken Thompson and also a huge ramp/parking area in Sarasota called Centennial Park. But I can't tell their situation from the Sarasota County site.
https://www.scgov.net/waterrecreation/Pages/BoatLaunches.aspx

 

[Mikemapva]

Also found this resource that has pictures of the ramps.

https://public.myfwc.com/LE/boatramp/public/CountySearch.aspx

 

[my DOG HOUSE]

I would make a list of all four corners, then check the wx forecast on 4/10 and make a decision. In coastal central FL, the temp will depend mostly on the predominate wind direction for the week. Ideally, you want a breeze that travels across the land with a southerly component. ex. East coast a S-SW-W wind is ideal, on the "other" coast a E-SE-S. Don't forget to check the wx in the Keys, the boat is already hooked up and you are rolling south what is a couple more hours. East central FL to Islamorada is about 4:30. If you do check out http://www.whitegatecourt.com/ amazing water and sunsets, rent the small Vila for about $100 plus the boat on the dock is free with power and water. It is a small slice old FL.

 

[Bucit]

The ramps at Ft. Desoto are nice. It's a hop skip and a jump to Longboat Key or Sarasota. Nice ride on the ICW with very few no wake zones.

 

[Kendall]

The ramps at Ft. Desoto are nice. It's a hop skip and a jump to Longboat Key or Sarasota. Nice ride on the ICW with very few no wake zones.

Bucit - My Garmin Bluechart says approximately 23 nm to Longboat Key Club from Fort Desoto. Is this doable if we arrive at 6:00 pm at Fort Desoto? Maybe there would be a marina a little closer to Fort Desoto for the first night when we arrive? I definitely don't want to do this skinny water in the dark!

Mike - Thanks for the ramp links. It looks like the Coquina ramps allow 24 hour usage...I will call the county. It looks like Coquina might be around 9 nm to Longboat Key Club.

Dog - We will definitely keep our eyes on the weather. I think I may be asking too much of the kids for another 4 hours of drive time but we want to do the keys one day.

 

[Mikemapva]

Bucit - My Garmin Bluechart says approximately 23 nm to Longboat Key Club from Fort Desoto. Is this doable if we arrive at 6:00 pm at Fort Desoto? Maybe there would be a marina a little closer to Fort Desoto for the first night when we arrive? I definitely don't want to do this skinny water in the dark!

Mike - Thanks for the ramp links. It looks like the Coquina ramps allow 24 hour usage...I will call the county. It looks like Coquina might be around 9 nm to Longboat Key Club.

Dog - We will definitely keep our eyes on the weather. I think I may be asking too much of the kids for another 4 hours of drive time but we want to do the keys one day.

You're welcome. It's a pretty short run from Coquina down to Longboat Key Club. One of the long time members here, Hampton (John) stayed there on his old 340 a few years ago and we met up with him for a drink there while we were staying on AMI. The marina is a little ways away from the resort if you're staying there, but I believe they have a shuttle. Both facilities are very nice (my daughter was married at the resort in 2012).

Enjoy the area!

Mike

 

[Kendall]

You're welcome. It's a pretty short run from Coquina down to Longboat Key Club. One of the long time members here, Hampton (John) stayed there on his old 340 a few years ago and we met up with him for a drink there while we were staying on AMI. The marina is a little ways away from the resort if you're staying there, but I believe they have a shuttle. Both facilities are very nice (my daughter was married at the resort in 2012).

Enjoy the area!

Mike

Mike:

I called about leaving the truck and trailer at Coquina overnight and that is a No go. We will try to find a closer marina to Fort Desoto for the first night and then head South to Longboat Key Club for a few days and then maybe all the way to Sanibel if the kids are up to it.

Maybe we could stay on the hook somewhere the first night but I would prefer a marina.

Our kids have never seen clear water...only the tea colored sort in SC....

Thanks Again!

 

[Mikemapva]

Sorry to hear that about Coquina. You might try calling the guys at Keyes Marina and/or Bradenton Beach Marina on the island and see if they have any ideas.

Have a great trip! I'm jealous.

Mike