Amelia Island Plantation, Florida is great for families. Gated resort community just outside Jacksonville, FL. Beautiful, rambling bike trails, you can rent your own golf cart to get around and there is free shuttle service throughtout the resort all day and evening. Lots of accomodations to choose from. There is the Inn, and loads of condos many of which sit on the beach. No houses on the beach though, those all on interior. Take a look at www.AIPFL.com As long as you book thru AIPFL you will have access to all the pools, etc. There is a kids camp and daily activities for the different age groups. Resort also featuers a great spa and shops. You can also venture into Fernadina Beach for local restaurants. We alternate between Amelia Island Plantation and Kiawah Island (outside Charleston) each year for our summer vacation.

I'm looking for similar things - except we dont have children with us -

I've read some great things about the RamSea Condos on North Redington Beach, FL (near Tampa) right on the water with balcony and kitchen amenities -

Check on TA for more info..

If anyone has stayed there recently - I'd like some TA input.

From the description of your requirements, Amelia Island fits perfectly. Plus, in late May & early June there is a great chamber music festival. Other activities are plentiful for both adults and kids and the choice of accomocations runs the full gamut--not just the Amelia Island Plantation or Ritz resorts. The local restaurants are plentiful and some really good ones from expensive upscale to hole in the wall dives with great food and atmosphere. Its really a hard to beat place, especially for families.

I would look into the Longboat Key Club. It offers a kids club and lots to do for the adults. It is rated #1 on tripadvisor for Longboat Key.

There are many condos and houses for rent on Longboat Key, and summer rates should attractive. You'd love exploring nearby St. Armand's Circle (shops, restaurants, etc.). There are also a number of kid-friendly activities (Mote aquarium, GWiz science museum, etc.).

After reading your email, I thought of beachriver@gmail.com which has a extraordinary location on a barrier island in Melbourne Beach that is ideal for young families, but without the high costs of Hilton Head. This property has the beach on one side and the Indian River on the other, just 3 minute walk apart!.

You can hear the ocean and see the sunset on the riverfront with dolphins feeding and playing. A soft sand beach with great shelling. Bike paths for 20 miles. "Little Tikes" playground and equipment for the little ones, too.The old town of Melbourne and Vero Beach are quaint with plenty of activities and things going on, but not crowded. Hope this helps.

Barring a hurricane, any place in Florida in June will have warm weather.

Amelia Island then you can go to St. Augustine for those quaint shops, good restaurants and some history thrown in. Not sure about the shelling. The only really good places in Florida for shelling at the west coast near Sanibel & Captiva Islands.

Sanibel Island has condos that will meet your needs and about $2500 for a week. You might be able to walk to everything, but you can bike to it. Its a very family island, voted one of the top ten family resorts in the US. It isn't like Hilton Head. The development is far less structured, but 65% of the island is conservation land and building heights are restricted to 45 feet so no highrises, and no stop lights. No music festivals. Just beach and wildlife and water activities. No franchaises. there is live jazz - very good quality - at Ellington's at the Sanibel Inn. Best shelling beach in North America. A few condos take 8 but most 6 and your can easily get 2 condos [2 bed/2 bath] for $1200-$1500/week each for a very nice one. There should be more than enough for trips on Captiva Cruises to the out islands, bike rentals, kayak rentals and such.

Beach houses are available on Captiva by the week, but the prices are pretty high. I usually stay bayside on Captiva.

To take a look at things see www.sanibel-captiva.org and www.scvrma.org for places to rent. I'd suggest Sundial [but rent thru an agency or owner and not the resort] as it has everything. Just be clear what amenities are available with owner/agency rentals. Casa Ybel has a great location, but is very pricey. South Seas Resort on Captiva has 2 and 3 bedroom Beach Villas but you'll need to go thru the resort in order to be sure you have access to everything.

Anna Maria ISland is another option. Also Marco Island and Longboat Key and Siesta Key.

One word of caution, the Gulf coast is subject to red tides, usually much later in the summer, but it is something you should know. It can happen everywhere, but is more common there.