Originally Posted By dshyates "As for the beaches, I lived in Ft. Lauderdale for a year, and the beaches there simply cannot compare (in my opinion) to Southern California's " Thats why I said, "or they go to Daytona and declare all FL beaches suck". Simply exchange Ft. Lauderdale for Daytona. I personally think Daytona and Ft. Lauderdale o be some of the worst beaches in the US. I'd rather go to Myrtle Beach than either of those. But there are many very nice beaches in FL. Although most didn't have their hayday in the 60s. Amelia and Marco Islands are very nice and can easily compare with the nicest California beaches. Albiet with a decidedly tropical flare. And as far as the east coast there is always Palm Beach, which is unarguably one of the nicest beaches on the planet. And South Beach, which is, well, South Beach. If you want the definitive Florida beach experience, I would suggest Henry Flaglar's The Breakers Hotel. Trust me, as far as beach experiences it doesn't suck. <a href="http://www.thebreakers.com/" target="_blank">http://www.thebreakers.com/</a>
Originally Posted By Mr X Agreed dsh...South Beach alone can compare very nicely with the West Coast as far as "cool and trendy" and all that. I also like Clearwater Beach on the gulf coast as well, and Jensen Beach on the treasure coast is great for seclusion. But anyway, you don't get any of that from DisneyWorld, that's for sure. Gotta step out.
Originally Posted By dshyates Since I am guilty of talking up FL beaches and Uni. I want to reiterate my stance that for someones first visit to WDW I suggest staying on prop, not renting a car, and on a trip as short as 8 days, I wouldn't leave prop for the entire stay. On subsequent visits I still think that FL has so much to offer it is a shame not to see some of the highlights. WDW has a very unique feel because you do have enough to do and a convenient transportation system that you can truly get away from the everyday, and that includes driving.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss IMO relaxation comes with familiarity. A DL regular can relax at the 'Land because they been there enough times to know what to expect, and can afford to be choosy about what to see and do. But step outside that box, and go to WDW for the first time? I think that even with some basic similarity between the MK and DL, that there is enough difference to occupy more time than might be imagined. Add to that three more theme parks, the water parks, DtD, all the hotels which are sites within themselves... I just don't think WDW can be seen casually by a first time visitor, at least not if they want to "see it all," and especially if a return trip is not forseeable.
Originally Posted By jonvn Why on earth would I care about a beach in Florida when I have 1200 miles of coastline here already? I'm sure it's great if you're from Ohio, but I'm not, and I really could not care less about Florida beaches.
Originally Posted By dshyates "Why on earth would I care about a beach in Florida when I have 1200 miles of coastline here already?" I live on top of a mountain 1 mile from a ski resort, by your logic, there is no reason to go to Aspen or Jackson Hole. Why on earth would I care to visit St. Moritz, Switzerland when there is a ski resort in my backyard. Or I got a waterfall in my yard, why would I want to visit Yosemite.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Jon, it would depend on what interests an individual. Some people like to go to the beach. Even if they lived on a beach, they would want to see other beaches. Can you imagine going to Hawaii and not visiting the beach? I can't. It's no different than the sitution at hand with the OP of this thread; they might live next door to DL, but that doesn't make a visit to the MK in Florida a dumb thing.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 There are great beaches in both Fla. and CA. But CA also has beautiful mountains and desert. Fla. has no desert, and the highest point in the state is something like 300 feet. Just sayin', for those who like to spend part of their Disney vacation seeing non-Disney things. But I agree that for your first trip to WDW, you might as well just plunge in head first and do it.
Originally Posted By Hans Reinhardt "Why on earth would I care about a beach in Florida when I have 1200 miles of coastline here already?" Because the water in Florida is a lot warmer than in California. The ocean here is downright frigid.
Originally Posted By dshyates Actually the highest point in FL is 36'. And Everest is the states highest mountain. Space used to be. And I am in no way saying anything neg. about California. It has some of the most varied geography in America. It is stunning. But that doesn't mean FL sucks. FL without a doubt has things to offer California doesn't. CA has Yosemite, FL has the Everglades. CA you can dive the kelp beds, FL you can dive colorful tropical reefs. CA you can find beaches with rocky outcroppings and sea lions. In FL you can find a tropical oasis. For some reason, in CA, I have yet to find a suitable grass hut/thatched roofed, Tiki Torch Resort. And I also have yet to find anything in CA that compares in funky charm to Key West.
Originally Posted By Mr X **And Everest is the states highest mountain. Space used to be.** lol. That's an interesting little factoid. Anywho, about the beach, I can sort of understand left coasters not wanting to bother (Cali beaches are awesome), but aside from that I wouldn't think you'd skip the beach in Florida just because you happen to live near one (or a lake, or whatever). Heck, I live on an island (a really big one), but I still love going to the beach in Florida. Plus pelicans are cool. Don't see them all over the place.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 Florida is nice, don't get me wrong. But it's nowhere near as topographically diverse as California. Also, within an hour or so of DL you have cultural treasures like the Getty (I guess, both Getty's - didn't Malibu re-open?), LACMA, the natural history and science museums, the Norton Simon, the Huntington, even funky little oddities like the Museum of Jurassic History (assuming it's still there) - that central Fla. can't touch. The behemoth that is LA, for all its flaws, is huge and, like NY, sort of has a little of EVERYTHING. Everybody came there from all over the world, and they all brought their stuff (food, culture, etc.) with them. I couldn't imagine spending a week in SoCal and not seeing some of the other amazing things that are there.
Originally Posted By jonvn "by your logic, there is no reason to go to Aspen or Jackson Hole" Do they have something you can't get locally? Is there something about a beach in Florida that can not be easily achieved where I live? "Or I got a waterfall in my yard, why would I want to visit Yosemite." Is your waterfall 1200 feet tall? "Can you imagine going to Hawaii and not visiting the beach? " Yes. I've been to Hawaii twice. One time, i went to the beach. It was the beach. "The ocean here is downright frigid." Doesn't bother me. I grew up going to the beach with colder waters.
Originally Posted By dshyates Its just that the good beaches in FL are so incredibly different than the good beaches in CA. And there are crappy beaches in both states. But it just erks me when people say "I went to Daytona, WOW, FL beaches suck". I could just as easily say, "I went to Long Beach, WOW, CA beaches suck".
Originally Posted By dshyates "Do they have something you can't get locally? Is there something about a beach in Florida that can not be easily achieved where I live?" Yes, thats the point. The FL beaches are vastly different than CA beaches. Heck, Palm Beach is drastically different than Ft. Lauderdale 45 miles away.
Originally Posted By jonvn I never said Florida sucks. I just don't have an interest in seeing it. We have pelicans here, too. "The behemoth that is LA, for all its flaws" LA isn't the entire state. Really, it's but one part.
Originally Posted By jonvn "The FL beaches are vastly different than CA beaches" How is it so different?
Originally Posted By dshyates "Is there something about a beach in Florida that can not be easily achieved where I live?" Crystal clear, placid, 85 degree water filled with colorful tropical fish. You can't do that anywhere in CA. But go ahead, I know, you have no intrest in snorkling. But tell me, when your boy is 11, you wouldn't want to go to this place: <a href="http://www.cheeca.com/" target="_blank">http://www.cheeca.com/</a> get the Family Package that includes a snorkling trip and you wouldn't enjoy it. This place runs about the same as Disney.
Originally Posted By jonvn I don't like placid water. I like rough surf and body surfing. The water, once you get around Newport Beach starts getting warmer. We have a home there, and if we want to do something like that, we go there. As to snorkeling, I think I'd rather go scuba diving, and do it off the Monterey Peninsula. I'm sure this resort in Florida is nice. I don't have an ounce of interest in visiting it, though.
