Looking for a Lively Resort, Florida Gulf Coast

[Wrong_Lane]

We have been searching for a place to set up camp with our motorhome for 3 or 4 weeks next spring. Preferred area would be Gulf Coast anywhere from Palm Harbor south to Naples/Fort Myers area. We are two adults, empty nesters so no kids. We are in our 50's.

No offence intended but many of the resorts we research show photos of folks playing shuffle board, pool-exercise, square dancing and knitting. The websites seem to really sell the quiet and sedate aspects of the resorts.

Not really our cup of tea!

Looking for a spot with full hook ups, good Wi-Fi, cable TV a lively pool scene with bar service at the pool, maybe a decent restaurant on site. Walking trails and some decent shopping and dining in the immediate area. Would like to be within a few minutes of the beach or a beach shuttle service.

We aren't looking for a place to nap everyday but rather a place to have a blast and party a bit. Not too crazy, not looking for a biker bar, or a swinger scene and we like to keep our clothes on in public, but definitely looking for a fun spot to visit.

If there is nothing on the gulf coast the Atlantic side is an alternative. I have thought about Key West but it adds an extra day drive each way and we have a limited amount of vacation time.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

[JoeH]

March can be nice or cold.... it's a transition time of the year. There are 4-5 bars in town.. maybe 3 miles from Low Key. On weekends, they all usually have music. Black Dog is our favorite, following that is the Island Hotel. Big Deck and Steamers are right nearby.... all within a block or 2. Make sure you stop at Tony's for clam chowder. During the week, it's pretty dead, weekends liven up.

[Liltippy]

Wrong Lane wrote:
MetalGator

Thanks for the tip. That place looks like just what the doctor ordered.

What time of year were you there? Wondering if it is warm there in March

I have been there in March and be prepared for some cool temps and so rain. If you go to Cedar Key, check out Flyin' Marvin at the airport. Great flight around the key and good information from Marvin.

[buta4]

wbwood wrote:

2hams wrote:
X2 on Sun n Fun in Sarasota. 3 pools, 3 hot tubs, huge dog park. Poolside bar, bar bingo night, Karaoke, pickle ball, tennis, disc golf, line and tap dance lessons, nearby groceries and Amish market, but a bit of a drive to the beach.

Could of left out the tap dancing part...lmao

HEY!! Quit knocking tap dancing! I have become quite an accomplished
tap dancer in my own right when my Depends overflow. :E

[MetalGator]

Wrong Lane wrote:
MetalGator

Thanks for the tip. That place looks like just what the doctor ordered.

What time of year were you there? Wondering if it is warm there in March

I was there in July so it was pretty hot but the evenings were nice by the water. The RV sites have a little deck out by the water. The Tiki hut bar was great. We vistied every evening and I would take my male Papillion with me. They let you bring your dog to the bar! Very nice people there. Not sure if I'm allowed to post a link but they have a website that has a bunch of pictures of the property.

[Wrong_Lane]

MetalGator

Thanks for the tip. That place looks like just what the doctor ordered.

What time of year were you there? Wondering if it is warm there in March

[MetalGator]

Wrong Lane

Check out Low Key resort in Cedar Key Florida. It's a bit north of where you are looking but it a really neat place. It's a motel with 3 or 4 RV sites right on the water. It also has an on site Tiki Bar and its only about a 5 minute drive into Cedar Key. It's 18 and up (no kids). The wife and I love it there and we would go more often but they have a two dog limit and we would have to leave a dog at home.

[Ringer]

Ozlander wrote:

2hams wrote:
X2 on Sun n Fun in Sarasota. 3 pools, 3 hot tubs, huge dog park. Poolside bar, bar bingo night, Karaoke, pickle ball, tennis, disc golf, line and tap dance lessons, nearby groceries and Amish market, but a bit of a drive to the beach.

The Amish have moved to Florida???

Yes...there are Amish Snow Birds. The Sarasota area is a hot spot for the Amish folks who are on "Winter Break". Several winter there every year.

[bret22]

Wrong Lane wrote:
Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

We have found resorts like we describe in other areas. Bailey's in Old Orchard Beach, Maine has a separate adults only (over 21) pool with a bar and restaurant. It wasn't bad but would be a little chilly in March!

We had looked at Fun & Sun online and it does check off a lot of boxes. It seemed to be in the middle of nowhere and removed somewhat from the beach scene but so far, based on the responses leads the pack. I guess we will have to be purposely be on a shopping trip when the dance lessons fire up!

It's funny that what we are looking for is so hard to find. We have visited Lauderdale many times and stayed in hotels or condos and had no problem finding fun spots with bars and even nightclubs on site. Is there really so little demand in the RV community for "not yet dead" resorts that it is almost impossible to find one?

Anyhow, keep the suggestions coming as I am sure that in the RV friendly state of Florida there must be more upscale, fun, beach atmosphere resorts!

Thanks a lot for the review. It helped me a bit to plan our trip this summer.

[Bob_Shaw]

Well, you could go to Disney World. Fort Wilderness has a bar, restaurant(s) a couple of pools, and hot tubs. There's some kiddie entertainment at night, but an easy bus ride will take you to the Wilderness Lodge. And a bus ride will take you to Downtown Disney entertainment area.

[CruzFam]

You need to stop by Myrtle Beach, SC first. Most of the campgrounds are live with events and excitement. We stop often at Myrtle Beach Travel Park...if you want more "adult" atmosphere, go further south Myrtle Beach, all kinds of nice campgrounds! I'm heading there myself late May...Good camping!

[Wrong_Lane]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

We have found resorts like we describe in other areas. Bailey's in Old Orchard Beach, Maine has a separate adults only (over 21) pool with a bar and restaurant. It wasn't bad but would be a little chilly in March!

We had looked at Fun & Sun online and it does check off a lot of boxes. It seemed to be in the middle of nowhere and removed somewhat from the beach scene but so far, based on the responses leads the pack. I guess we will have to be purposely be on a shopping trip when the dance lessons fire up!

It's funny that what we are looking for is so hard to find. We have visited Florida many times and stayed in hotels or condos and had no problem finding fun spots with bars and even nightclubs on site. Is there really so little demand in the RV community for "not yet dead" resorts that it is almost impossible to find one?

Anyhow, keep the suggestions coming as I am sure that in the RV friendly state of Florida there must be more upscale, fun, beach atmosphere resorts!

[Ozlander]

2hams wrote:
X2 on Sun n Fun in Sarasota. 3 pools, 3 hot tubs, huge dog park. Poolside bar, bar bingo night, Karaoke, pickle ball, tennis, disc golf, line and tap dance lessons, nearby groceries and Amish market, but a bit of a drive to the beach.

The Amish have moved to Florida???

[Shot-N-Az]

I've yet to encounter what you're looking for outside of a Cancun resort. I would be very interested in finding one though. Old, not dead.

[wbwood]

2hams wrote:
X2 on Sun n Fun in Sarasota. 3 pools, 3 hot tubs, huge dog park. Poolside bar, bar bingo night, Karaoke, pickle ball, tennis, disc golf, line and tap dance lessons, nearby groceries and Amish market, but a bit of a drive to the beach.

Could of left out the tap dancing part...lmao