2 days of downtime-beaches?

[joeswife1109]

We are staying August 10-19. We only bought 6 days of park tickets and picked 2 days to explore Florida...

We have decided we want to do Siesta Key on the Gulf for one day. We have heard that the beaches down there are beautiful. (We have a rental car as my husband is driving down from PA.) The second day we are trying to pick another beach to go to. We are looking at somewhere on the East Coast of Florida within 2 hours that has restrooms at the beach. Preferably somewhere that has a boardwalk or an amusement area to take the kids to at night.

We were thinking Daytona Beach but not exactly sure where to go there. Any and all help is appreciated!

 

[RabFlmom]

We are staying August 10-19. We only bought 6 days of park tickets and picked 2 days to explore Florida...

We have decided we want to do Siesta Key on the Gulf for one day. We have heard that the beaches down there are beautiful. (We have a rental car as my husband is driving down from PA.) The second day we are trying to pick another beach to go to. We are looking at somewhere on the East Coast of Florida within 2 hours that has restrooms at the beach. Preferably somewhere that has a boardwalk or an amusement area to take the kids to at night.

We were thinking Daytona Beach but not exactly sure where to go there. Any and all help is appreciated!

I think Daytona Beach is the only boardwalk with rides and games for kids. For your day at the beach, though choose a section of the beach where cars are not allowed on the beach.
Daytona Beach has a charge to use their beaches by car anyway, not sure if you have to pay if walking onto the beach.

Don't know how old your kids are but usually when our family from up North stay at Disney in June and come over for the day, they sleep a little later than on park days and get to the East Coast a little before noon. We eat lunch somewhere and we head to the beach. We are usually still there until almost dark because the kids don't want to leave. The kids are 4-10-14. By the time we change, go out to eat dinner, and hit a surf shop or 2 it is nealy midnight so they get back to hotel after 1AM sometimes.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

How about New Smyrna Beach. It does not have a board walk but it is a nice beach.

 

[LovesTimone]

I was born and raised in Fl. I would stay with the Gulf coast beaches, the water and beaches are better, in my opinion. Siesta Key is BEAUTIFUL. If I remember right St Armand's circle is close by, they have some really cool places to eat and shop. The Columbia Restaurant is there along with Hemmingway's, 2 favorites of ours. Check it out, sometimes they have concert in the circle. Clearwater beach is another great area and really not that far from WDW, There is a really great park right across the bridge from Clearwater, Sand Key Park, Great beach and really family oriented. Also in the Clearwater area, you can do a pirate ship cruise around the bay, also Dolphin watching. Fort Desoto Park is really our top 3 to go to, You could explore the fort, they rent bikes, and canoes. There is lots of picnic tables and they have a really nice bath house with showers, to clean up, and any number of great on the water dinning place's.

Have a great time.

 

[joeswife1109]

I was born and raised in Fl. I would stay with the Gulf coast beaches, the water and beaches are better, in my opinion. Siesta Key is BEAUTIFUL. If I remember right St Armand's circle is close by, they have some really cool places to eat and shop. The Columbia Restaurant is there along with Hemmingway's, 2 favorites of ours. Check it out, sometimes they have concert in the circle. Clearwater beach is another great area and really not that far from WDW, There is a really great park right across the bridge from Clearwater, Sand Key Park, Great beach and really family oriented. Also in the Clearwater area, you can do a pirate ship cruise around the bay, also Dolphin watching. Fort Desoto Park is really our top 3 to go to, You could explore the fort, they rent bikes, and canoes. There is lots of picnic tables and they have a really nice bath house with showers, to clean up, and any number of great on the water dinning place's.

Have a great time.

Sand Key looks gorgeous! Could you recommend a place to maybe eat dinner near Sand Key? I have a 2 1/2 year old and 12 year old so something kid friendly would be great.

Thanks so much!

 

[4kids4karen]

Checkout Tradewinds Resort in St. Pete beach. It is very kid friendly and relaxing. There are cheap hotels nearby, or more expensive if you want to stay at the Don Cesar (Pink Palace). We are local to Tampa and frequent a hotel two properties over from Tradewinds. We also usually visit John Pass Boardwalk when we are there. Not really any rides or amusement park, but plenty of beach and pools! Tradewinds has a beach island water park, jet skis, paddle boards, paddle boats, a pirate show, and much more.