Beaches nearby...

[♥♥LittleSeaRose♥♥]

Hi everyone! I have been looking forward to my family's first trip to Disneyworld! We are staying for four days and three nights in May and then we are hoping to spend one night on one of Florida's best beaches. I have a couple of things I could really use advice on...

1) What are the crowds like in May for Disney and Florida Beaches. Seeing that it's May and kids are in school we're hoping for smaller crowds...

2) What are the best beaches for building sand castles, finding seashells- however clean and sandy, palm trees and clear blue waters, and not overcrowded?

3) Pics are SO welcome... I'd really appreciate some in the April to June vicinity to check out the beaches!

4) I'm looking for something that is not too far from Disney maybe an hour or two away at the most...

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

A first trip. How exciting. We aren't from Florida, we have visited quite a few times. In our families opinion we really like the beaches at Daytona Beach/Ormond Beach. They are only 1-1/2 hours from Disney World. They are nice sand. Big waves. Pretty beaches. The beaches on the Tampa (Gulf) side are nice but the waves are much smaller for the most part. If you are wanting little to no waves then head to the gulf side. If you want the bigger waves head to the Atlantic side. Someone else might have more details on particular beaches on the gulf side.

 

[AJKMOM]

We have been to both,, and I agree with the PP. The sand on the Gulf side is beautiful, like sugar in places. The waves are very calm, no surfing in the Gulf of Mexico.

 

[tinkerbellybutton]

Last summer we stayed at Disney's Vero Beach Resort prior to our stay at WDW. It was a wonderful resort and we loved the location. The beach was clean and the sand was good for castle making. The only downside was that the waves were really huge while we were there, but others reported that the water was much calmer the week before and the week after. Its located about an hour and a half from WDW. I'd highly recommend Disney's Vero Beach to anyone, it was wonderful.

 

[tednvon]

Hi, great ideas so far...here is thread a month ago that sounded very much like your request...enjoy

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2216054

 

[BuckeyeFanDan]

If soft powdery white sand is what you are looking for, then check out Siesta Key, which is next to Sarasota on the Gulf side - about a two hour drive from Disney. It has been featured on the Travel Channel as one of the best beaches in the country. We were there in Jan 2008 and really loved the beach there! There are some shells to be found and you can walk a long way along the beach if you want. It is also a pretty wide beach, so it won't likely be crowded. I think it is a really good beach for a family. Also, since Siesta Key is an island, even if your lodging is not oceanfront, chances are it is only a few minutes walk to the beach. There are shops and restaurants close to the beach also. Do a search on the internet for info and pictures - I'm sure you will like it too!

 

[♥♥LittleSeaRose♥♥]

Does anyone have any photos of FL beaches from April through June? I'd really like suggestions that are family friendly and beautiful!

 

[Beauty & the Best]

Siesta Key Beach or Lido Key Beach in Sarasota are my choices.

Both are white sands and clear blue water. Very family friendly with facilities like bathrooms, snack bar, pool (@ Lido) and lots of hotels nearby.

Here's a link to the Siesta Key COC with some photos and visitor info:
http://www.siestakeychamber.com/aboutsk.php?id_cat=43&PHPSESSID=48311aeaabf2b39cfd66f600d1da1f37

 

[RabFlmom]

Last summer we stayed at Disney's Vero Beach Resort prior to our stay at WDW. It was a wonderful resort and we loved the location. The beach was clean and the sand was good for castle making. The only downside was that the waves were really huge while we were there, but others reported that the water was much calmer the week before and the week after. Its located about an hour and a half from WDW. I'd highly recommend Disney's Vero Beach to anyone, it was wonderful.

Live close to the Disney Resort and love our beaches; but the OP is looking for beautiful sand and clear blue waters so he won't like the East Coast because our sand is coarser, beige to brown, sort of shelly. It's the right kind for sea turtle nesting so very important we don't have the white sugar sand type. Also the Atlantic is more of a gray to beautiful sea green so doesn't fit the Carribbean blue clear image they are looking for.

If you go down to Palm Beach/Miami/Keys where the Gulf stream is closer might get the clearer blue water, but that would be quite a drive for a daytrip.

Gulf side would fit this poster better. Sanibel Island would be a place that comes to mind. Again quite a drive for a day trip. Lots of shells there and beautiful . Calm water unless there is a storm in the Gulf.
Clearwater Beach is nice but have never seen a lot of shells there.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

When it comes to the best beach I would recommend going to Clearwater Beach.