Planning west coast Florida vacation. Suggestions? Comments?

Check the red tide status before you make a decision. You do not want to visit or stay near a beach with high concentrations of red tide. Presently the higher levels are in Lee county but that will change by May. Plenty of nice beaches though , pass-a-grill , indian rocks , maderia , sarasota , bradenton and venice which are north and less likely to be red tide affected .