Hey guys, my girlfriend wants to take a trip in January and we've thought about Florida for a getaway. Where would you recommend we stay at? We are looking for some peace and quiet and not really looking for touristy places like Kissimmee or Orlando. It would be nice to check out Universal Studios though again. So, what's your recommendations?

Thanx

 

Siesta Key. Laid back, everything within walking, good eating, blah blah.

Not so laid back? Key West

 

Agree ^^^ Siesta Key is small and quiet but nice. My favorite place to go evey year is Key West. Nothing better than riding scooters around the island.. There are some really cool things to do there too. Peppers of Key West (bring your own beer hot sauce bar) Rickeys Blue Heaven, Sunset Festival, Fury Key West, Sloppy Joes, Ricks, Red Garter Saloon just to name a few... Google them.

 

sanibel island is real nice, but it will be too cold to go in the water prob. They are known for the mass amounts of cool shells that wash up that you can walk along the shore and pick up. It really depends what your looking for. I really like sea world, nice quieter park, good attractions, and the best is the free beer at the hospitality house. Key west is nice, but there is really only night life.

 

Anna Marie Island. I've been going there about a dozen times a year since I was born. Beautiful place, quiet, great all around vacation destination.

 

What about St. Augustine? Very nice Place to visit. Its not as bad as O-town in being touristy. You have Daytona maybe 30min Drive South. Just my 2cents. Good luck on finding somewhere......Alot of places to choose from......

 

not jacksonville! lol i agree, some where in the keys but not key west!

 

2nd Sanibel/Captiva.

 

Thanks guys, if any of you ever come to Chicago, hit me up! Why not Key Est DCsLS1?

 

probably because you didn't want touristy. It is a big party place though.

 

Yes, Key West is a tourist trap daytime. Party town at night. If you want that, it is absolutely the place to go.

If you want laid back, Siesta Key

 

del boca vista!!!! lol.

 

You mean to tell me there isn't one place available in all of Del Boca Vista?

 

We stayed in San Destin (Not regular Destin!)a few times during the off season, we like the Hilton there, if you like the yuppie area type thing with bmw's, jags, benz, nice shopping @ Destin Commons too, maybe this is your place, lots of nice dining too, laid back during the winter only the snow birds.

 

id say to hell with florida and go to CABO its beautiful.

 

anything you want to know about the keys or key west....just ask.

<-----i live here

in a way i agree with not staying ON key west...but mostly due to cost. hotels tend to be $$ on the island. but at the same time, the bed & breakfasts are all over and are BY FAR the best way to go if you want cozy and laid back. and alot of times the prices are comparable with hotels like holiday inn and days inn...but MUCH nicer.

there are plenty of things to do in KW during the day.
tons of watersports...jetskis, kayaks, parasailing, snorkeling, diving, fishing etc..
you also have some neat tours of old town and all the historic parts of the island. there are some neat museums to hit, like the wrecker's museum, shipwreck museum, hemingway house or walk through the cemetary. and things like the KW Aquarium and butterfly farm. there's also a state park with an old civil war era fort right on key west (fort zachary taylor).

if you have the money and the weather is nice i suggest taking the ferry out to the dry tortugas. its an island group 70 miles from key west, with a BIG civil war fort on it. lots of history and a pretty cool area to walk around. also has a nice beach and some cool snorkeling close to shore.

you can also travel up the keys 30 miles and visit some small out of the way things like the nature trails in big pine key with key deer, and a freshwater sinkhole (bluehole), and those are all free. its a nice place to pick up a picnic lunch at the grocery store and go have lunch in nature.
little farther up to bahia honda state park at mile 35 and visit a pretty nice beach, picnic areas and a pretty view from the top of the old bridge.

if you go up to mile 47 or so in marathon you can walk on the old 7mile Bridge. a 2.1mi walk gets you out to the small island of Pigeon Key which is a national historic site. if you visit the gift shop before going out you can pay a few bucks to get a tour of the buildings and museum. or you can just walk around the island for free (if anyone gives you a hard time...ignore them, its free to walk the island).

a few miles farther in marathon and you have the Turtle Hospital where they've been rehabilitating injured seaturtles for years. its a couple hours to take the tour, but well worth it as i'm told.

there are dozens of restaruants and a couple nice beaches (for the keys) in marathon.
if for some reason you plan to stay in marathon let me know...that's actually the island i live on. i'll buy ya a beer.

 

A buddy of mine, we call his In law's place Del Boca Vista. LOL...

"so, you're going over to Del Boca Vista this weekend?"

 

+1 for sanibel

 

Hmm, thanx guys! The snorkeling sounds like a cool thing to check out. We'll look into that. Please keep the advice coming!

 

I have a condo in siesta Key if you are interested 1 bedroom 1 bath. pool, and grill handy. There are only 8 units and it is quiet. If you give me the dates I can see if it is rented, if not I can give you the ls1tech discount. That is a good time to go- the season prices don't usually take effect up there till the last week in Jan. that means double the price.