I need a beach =)

[MzDiz]

This isn't really about Orlando, but there was no "other parts of Florida" forum. :teeth:

Can anyone recommend a beach? My husband has never been to the ocean, and since we're going all this way anyway, he'd like to see one.

Anyone know somewhere nice and not too crowded?

Thanks! :sunny:

[caa1000]

This isn't really about Orlando, but there was no "other parts of Florida" forum. :teeth:

Can anyone recommend a beach? My husband has never been to the ocean, and since we're going all this way anyway, he'd like to see one.

Anyone know somewhere nice and not too crowded?

Thanks! :sunny:

Some has suggested the New Smyrna Beach area between Cocoa Beach (Space Coast) and Daytona Beach. I tell you the truth! Never seen Florida Beaches, since I came to Orlando from Puerto Rico, which is fully surrounded by beaches!

[kilee]

Most people prefer the gulf side- the beaches are just generally nicer. If you only want to go for a day visit then places like Clearwater or St. Pete's Beach. If you want to make more of a 2-3 day trip-- Sannibel Island is supposed to be incredible.

[kapica3]

Travel Channel recently had a special on the top 10 beaches and I think there was one mentioned about 2 hours away from WDW Here is the link to their review of Siesta Key http://travel.discovery.com/convergence/beachweek/siesta.html (http://) They are said to have sand the consistance of baby powder.

Or try siestakey.com (http://) Also, I hear that Sanibel and Captiva are very beautiful and they have everything from big hotels to beach cottages to rent.

Both these places are on the Gulf side and not actually "Ocean". but quite beautiful none the less.

Good luck in your quest for a great beach. :cool2:

[Rocket-Man]

Two words...

SIESTA KEY

[JohnnySharp2]

The beaches on the west coast are much nicer and can recommend Clearwater and St.Petes, they are further away from Central Florida but it's worth it.

[Ted and Holly]

I agree. Siesta Key is as close to paradise as you can get. I like Siesta Beach (?), rather than Turtle Beach.

Ted

[spiceycat]

but if he insists on the ocean side - Coca Beach

the beaches are brown....

I like my gulf beaches nice and white sand!!!! :rolleyes:

oh until you get to Ft Lauderdale there is not a nice beach on the Atlantic side in Florida - my opinion....

but the ocean can be beautiful - pretty scarey at times.... :eek: :boat: :sail:

[jeff968]

we have friends who have a house in West palm and have visited them during some of our orlando trips. the water there is beautiful, clear, blue green and the beaches are great. It is about 3 hour drive.

[Sylvester McBean]

we like all of the Clearwater/St. Pete beaches, but SK is as good as it gets on the gulf side. and it's easier to get to, you don't have to drive through Tampa and negotiate the causeways. it's anywhere from 1:45 to 2 hours from WDW.

[AWW]

Ditto- SIESTA KEY (located in Sarasota, by the way). White sugar sand and very calm waters.

AWW

[cruiseonmagic]

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[spiceycat]

you pictures show 'brown sand'

go look at the gulf coast - that is 'white sand'..... :goodvibes

[Sylvester McBean]

The other posts are right though...if you want to see white sand and calm water you can go to the gulf coast--or you can go just down the road and see Lake Michigan :rotfl2:

wow, you are so right, the gulf coast is exactly like lake michigan. :rolleyes2

[hiimfiffy]

siesta key! i live in sarasota where it is and the beach is gorgeous :)

[kilee]

I live on Lake Erie and I'm thinking it's a lot like Lake Michigan. It is nothing like the gulf coast-- which is part of the ocean. It's just much prettier and nicer to visit usually than the Atlantic side.

[riu girl]

We spent two weeks in Siesta Key over Christmas.
This is THE beach to see.

I have been to about a dozen Caribbean beaches and Siesta Key is comparable, if not better then most/all that I have experienced in the Caribbean.

We love it so much I have booked two weeks for Christmas 2006.
AMAZING powder white sand. Siesta Key public beach is the widest beach I have ever been on.

On the other hand Christmas 2004 we spent in Daytona. Dark brown sand, not fine at all, very rough cold , dark water. Can't compare the two at all.

About 30 minutes south of Siesta Key you can also see Carpensen Beach (where you can collect sharks teeth on the beach). Simply breath taking. Amazing sand dunes all over the place to view (but not climb). Incredible area.
The beach itself is lovely but a ton of shells etc, so not a fince white sand like you would find in Siesta Key, but amazing in its own sense.

[Ted and Holly]

We spent two weeks in Siesta Key over Christmas.
This is THE beach to see.

I have been to about a dozen Caribbean beaches and Siesta Key is comparable, if not better then most/all that I have experienced in the Caribbean.

We love it so much I have booked two weeks for Christmas 2006.
AMAZING powder white sand. Siesta Key public beach is the widest beach I have ever been on.

On the other hand Christmas 2004 we spent in Daytona. Dark brown sand, not fine at all, very rough cold , dark water. Can't compare the two at all.

About 30 minutes south of Siesta Key you can also see Carpensen Beach (where you can collect sharks teeth on the beach). Simply breath taking. Amazing sand dunes all over the place to view (but not climb). Incredible area.
The beach itself is lovely but a ton of shells etc, so not a fince white sand like you would find in Siesta Key, but amazing in its own sense.

That is Casperson Beach in the Venice area. I have heard, however, that due to beach restoration, shark teeth are harder to come by.

Still a beautiful, rustic beach.

Ted

[tarheelmjfan]

Clearwater can be hard to predict. At times, you can walk into the water up to your shoulders & easily see your feet. There's also times when it's not as clear. Mostly, when there's a storm out the ocean somewhere. Naturally, it seems it's always worse, when we take out of town guests with us. :rolleyes: The farther south you go, your chances are better for consistently clear water. Personally, I think Clearwater's Beach is much better than the others. It's a huge beach with soft, white sand. I've never seen another one as wide. It's more crowded on most days than Siesta Key though. Fort Desoto also has a good beach, & you can have it pretty much to yourself most days. Whether you would prefer the Gulf or Atlantic, really depends on what you're looking for. If your main objective is to play in the waves, go to a beach on the Atlantic. On the other hand, if you prefer beautiful beaches & clearer water, the Gulf is the place to go. Enjoy your trip!

[cruiseonmagic]

you pictures show 'brown sand'

go look at the gulf coast - that is 'white sand'..... :goodvibes
You know what...its not worth it.

[AdriansMom]

how far is Siesta Key from WDW. Does anyone know how to get there from WDW?

[riu girl]

I think it took us about 2 hours (from Siesta Key to Disney). From Disney you take the I-4 towards Tampa. Well before reaching Tampa you take the I-75 south . You take the Clark Rd exit off of the I-75 (exit 72 maybe? but not positive). Then you take Clark Rd west for about 5 miles to get to Siesta Key. At the end of Clark rd. (which changes names at somepoint) you go right (north) for about a mile and then you will be at the beach.

It was a very simple drive. We were in Siesta Key and went to spend Christmas night at Saratoga Springs. We used mapquest directions and it was very straight forward. Just go to mapquest and enter your starting and finishing points and it will tell you approx. how long it should take plus the mileage. Siesta keys zip code is 34242.

[Sylvester McBean]

riu girl nailed it. I think the exit number is 205. you'll pass the sarasota exits first. the siesta key exit has a large sign that says siesta key. stay on that road, you'll go over a drawbridge over the ICH. the road dead-ends at midnight pass. parking is free and the lot is big. there is a snack bar, an ice cream shop, and a little surf shop at the beach. the village of siesta key is to your left as you exit the parking lot. great little local dining choices and shopping. the daiquiri deck is a favorite of ours to eat. enjoy the sunset....

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/GTDigger/DSC02436Medium.jpg

[palmtreegirl]

If you want to limit travel time Cocoa Beach is very close by, only 45 minutes from Orlando. It's a great beach, Ron Jon Surf Shop, the Space centers close by and if they're in port you can even see one of the Disney cruise ships just down the street at Port Canaveral.

We really like Cocoa Beach.:teeth:

[Scottish-Helen]

I'm so glad we chose the right beach by the sounds of things. I have only ever stayed in Orlando but on our next trip we have 4 nights pre WDW at... Siesta Key!! :cool1:

[MaeB]

If you want to limit travel time Cocoa Beach is very close by, only 45 minutes from Orlando. It's a great beach, Ron Jon Surf Shop, the Space centers close by and if they're in port you can even see one of the Disney cruise ships just down the street at Port Canaveral.

We really like Cocoa Beach.:teeth:

Is it a busy beach? I'm going in May and want to try and avoid huge crowds....should we go there or somewhere else?

[JohnnySharp2]

Is it a busy beach? I'm going in May and want to try and avoid huge crowds....should we go there or somewhere else?

No it's fairly quiet. To be honest the beaches on the West coast are much nicer, other than the Ron Jon store there is nothing worth going to Cocoa for, and now there is one in Orlando there is no need at all.

Clearwater and St.Pete's beaches are much nicer, pure white sand, further away from Orlando but worth it in my opinion.

[MzDiz]

Can anyone suggest a hotel in Siesta Key?

[Caylin]

I like Cocoa Beach. It's fun to watch the cruise ships come in. My favorite though is DelRay Beach. It's absolutely beautiful and has a great downtown area with nice dining and shopping. The beach is clean and wonderful.
Another nice beach is the state park in St. Augustine. I can't remember the name :guilty: but it has the nicest, cleanest campground I've ever stayed in. It was so clean that I wasn't worried that I had forgotten my shower flipflops. The beach was nice and not at all commercial.
Can you tell I really love the beach? :blush:

[riu girl]

Can anyone suggest a hotel in Siesta Key?


I would suggest getting in touch with the chamber of commerce in Siesta Key. They have a good web site. From the web site you can view info. on numerous hotels as well as you can order a Siesta Key guide (that lists most of the hotels) as well as a really nice free map.