christmas on north captiva island--too cold 2 swim? (Miami, West Palm Beach: moving, beach)

[suz1023]

we'd like to spend a week there over the holidays but want it to be warm enough for the little kids to swim and play outside all day.
what do you think?

[nhkev]

The area has had 85 degree days for the past week , don't know if it'll stay that way until Christmas. Gulf water temps have been around 73 degrees . Warm enough to dip in if you get hot or to stroll along the beach with your feet in the water. Kids don't seem to mind cold water. If you had temps stay up in the 80's for another couple week it will warm the water up a few more degrees. but it can drop a few degrees just as quick if a cold front moves in.

[SWFL_Native]

It's never too cold to swim in FL for Northerners. Even if it hits 50's the water will be fine (gulf) and probably you'll have heated pools.

[hiknapster]

Right. Locals will often consider it too cold, especially ones that have been there awhile. Northerners think it's wonderful no matter what!

[Samiamnh]

Ha ha.....try my beach at the lake in NH.........65 degrees in june and we jump right in.Wifey insists on 88 degrees for the Florida pool which is a little warm for me.

[DennisDaMenace]

I suppose that depends on where you are from. We can always spot the tourists from the locals when the temps dip under 7o degrees. Ya'll are usually in shorts and flip flops and the locals have their winter wear on.

[luvtobewarm]

Originally Posted by DennisDaMenace

I suppose that depends on where you are from. We can always spot the tourists from the locals when the temps dip under 7o degrees. Ya'll are usually in shorts and flip flops and the locals have their winter wear on.

So true! And we laugh at you guys A couple of years ago, we were in Miami in March. They had a cool spell - temps dropped down to high 50's in the evening. We (straight from WI and below freezing temps) put on long sleeve shirts over our t-shirts. The guy riding the elevator with us was wearing a winter jacket, hat pulled down over his ears, gloves and complaining about how terrible it was that he had to go out in such cold weather. We had fun laughing at each other!

I am waiting for the day when I will no longer consider 60 degrees "warm"!!!

[Coastal state of mind]

Last week, we were in both West Palm Beach and Saint Pete Beach. Water temps at both were still a little chilly. We went in waist high, however, there were surfers in wet suits and kiddies playing in the water.

To your question, water temps are probably a bit warmer further south.

[nhkev]

Originally Posted by Coastal state of mind

Last week, we were in both West Palm Beach and Saint Pete Beach. Water temps at both were still a little chilly. We went in waist high, however, there were surfers in wet suits and kiddies playing in the water.

To your question, water temps are probably a bit warmer further south.

Water temps yesterday were 75 in the Gulf waters off Ft myers cold front is moving in though shallow water heats up quick but loses temps quick

[jwjustin]

My wife and I were on the Sanibel Causeway last week and it wasn't bad at all. We also kayaked on the North Spreader, but had to leave on Tuesday 12/10 to get back to Iowa and shovel snow!! Yuck....