I'm thinking of spending some time in Florida the week of 3/19. It's Spring Break for both my youngest sons. The first few days will be spent at the in-laws. They live in a quiet central FL "adult" community. Then, I want to see NASA and spend a couple days on the beach. I'm currently hoarding points from my primary program (HH) and have enough MR points (40K) and BWGCC points (20k) for 3 nights in modest accomodations. I'm a light sleeper and don't really want to be kept up all night by drunken college students barfing in the hallways. Any recommendations for a peaceful few nights?

The college kids generally prefer the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale area. We do see a few of them here on the Gulf Coast, but in far fewer numbers. I believe it's the same over in Cocoa Beach as well. I've been over there a few times during Spring Break, and it's about as quiet as the Gulf Coast.

If you are a AAA member, you can save more than a few bucks on your tickets to quite a few Orlando attractions (including Disney's), as well as the Kennedy Space Center.

I have been over to the Cape several times. To truly appreciate everything, plan on spending the day there. If you can, take the "Then & Now Tour". That takes you to the area where the earliest launches went up. It also takes you to Pad 34 where the Apollo 1 fire occurred. If you can, sit on the right side of the bus, as the route goes as close to Pad 39A as most people can get.

I have not been to the Astronaut Hall of Fame yet. This used to be a separate attraction, until the franchise holder for the KSC tours brought the previous owner out.

Come to the Gulf Coast. Sarasota in particular is a nice area with several beautiful beaches, and only a small and not too rowdy spring break crowd. If you avoid Siesta Key Village, you'd never even know it's spring break.

St. Pete and Clearwater beaches are nice, too, but can get more crowded at spring break.

Thanks guys. I have considered the Gulf. We took Spring Break in Tampa 4 years back and had a ball. 1 beach day at Clearwater, an evening at the Dali Museum, a day on the Pier in St Pete, an afternoon in Ybor City, all very nice. Other than NASA, I'm not too set on anything this time, although the further north and west we stay, the shorter the ride home.

I certainly appreciate knowing where to avoid.

BV,

Most of the east coast of Fla. from Miami all the way to Daytona Beach will be swarming with spring breakers when you're there. As the other posters suggest, it'll probably be lots less rambunctious on the west coast, and if you don't mind driving a bit further down, look at Naples, Venice, Marco Island. Good locations with lots of beaches, and Hilton, Hampton, and BW properties in the area. Several good shopping and dining areas in the Naples area and the fishing, if you want, is excellent. Naples has a fishing pier, and there are many charter boats or boat rentals for some days on the water.

Have a good trip.

bj-21.

I waited too long to have all the choices I wanted, but I think we did well. I booked a couple nights at a Courtyard on the outskirts of Melbourne. We were able to get to the beach in 15 minutes from there and found it practically deserted. Nice clean sand (ok, littered with dead and dying portuguese men-o-war), water was a little cold but some were swimming. I opted for the heated pool at night. We caught a spring training game about 15 miles to the north (Tigers at the Nationals) that was a perfect day. We ate loads of good food - ah, fresh amberjack at Shells across from the hotel. No spring breakers (or rowdy business people) in sight. Slept like a baby. No time for Cape Canaveral. I guess we'll save that for next year. Traffic was light most places. Didn't hit a slowdown until 40 miles south of ATL where it always seems to back up.

I am so happy your trip worked out. I can't wait to go, I have a trip planned to go to BelAir Beach area. Should be fun, hopefully the weather will be nice. Yay for summer