Beaches

[robertsfam5]

Anyone have any recommendations for a beach along the gulf coast that I can take my boys to? We will be staying at the Hyatt at the airport a full day before we check in to our resort. Being from Wyoming, the boys haven't seen the ocean. Thought it would be fun for them. Thanks

 

[JimMIA]

I would go the other direction, for two reasons -- driving time, and real beach. (Incidentally, we just did BOTH this week.)

In Florida, you have two kinds of beaches -- Atlantic coast with broader beaches and real ocean waves, and Gulf coast with a lake-like beach with no waves. Both beaches are very nice, but the Atlantic side is the real ocean beach. To me...Florida Boy.

I would go to Cocoa Beach. Google Maps tells me 49 miles/48 minutes, but I'd plan on an hour. Road is great, no construction or congestion. It IS a toll road, however.

From the airport, you just take FL 528 which is an expressway the entire way to Cape Canaveral. When you get off the expressway, you will be on Florida's legendary A1A. Continue south and just take any street with a president's name east (left) to the ocean. You will find free public parking and free public beach access -- AND pretty uncrowded beaches. If there is no shower there, go another block or two until you find a public bathroom and shower. If you go further south into Cocoa Beach, you will find more congestion and paid parking.

UNLESS...

you go to Ron Jon Surf Shop (just south of FL 520 and A1A -- about 4 1/2 miles from the end of the xway). Park FREE in Ron Jon's parking lot and walk a block to the beach. Ron Jon's itself is well worth a stop for the obligatory classic Florida teeshirt and/or every imaginable kind of beach accessory. (we spent 3 hours shopping there on Tuesday!)

Personally, I would go to Ron Jon for the more built-up, touristy beach atmosphere which is, well...um, unlike Wyoming (one of my favorite states).

The other option -- is to go west from Orlando (I-4 to I-275) to somewhere along St Pete Beach (Gulf coast).

Google Maps says 113 miles/1 hour 55 minutes to Reddington Beach (one of the closest Gulf beaches). But there is a lot of construction in Tampa (I drove this route twice last week), so I'd say a little more time and some significant stress if you're unfamiliar with Tampa.

When you get there (Reddington or anywhere else along the Gulf Coast), you will find a beautiful, tranquil beach with waves measured in inches, not feet. Very beautiful and peaceful.

 

[robertsfam5]

Thanks for the info!

 

[JimMIA]

One caveat to the "free parking" comments above.

We were there on a Tuesday. If you go on a weekend, all bets are off for available free parking.

 

[Woodview]

Hi robertsfam5
You have been given good advice from JimIma.... Take it.

Another Add on to your trip Is

As you enter the start of CoCoa Beach area you will Pass on your Left side

Port Canaveral where the Disney Ships leave for their Trips.

You can drive in and drive around the Port . There is a very good Restaurant

overlooking the river. .

Another Tip.

You might wish to return by another route So....

With your Back to Ron Jons Drive down the road in front of you

This is the Hwy 520 ... This brings you to St. Cloud ( No toll charge )

This is a long way round BUT you do see the Real Florida.

....................

If you Really want to go to the Gulf Then go to Howard Beach

over by Tarpon Springs. ( Via Tampa )

This is a Beach at the end of a man made Causeway

But it would be a long drive there and back .

 

[robertsfam5]

Thank you

 

[staceyrhood]

Jetty park at cape canaveral is nice, and on the gulf side we love Honeymoon Island.

 

[bankr63]

Our favorite Gulf Coast beach is Siesta Key (Sarasota). It is a bit of a hike, a little under 2 hours if traffic is hustling, but it avoids most of the Tampa area traffic (take I-4 and I-75). The beach is the finest white powder sand, almost like talcum powder. Surf is generally nice; enough to frolic in the waves without worrying about heavy undertows.

 

[Ametista]

I prefer the Gulf coast beaches and I'm a California girl (where the "real" waves are). Depending on wind and tides there are waves sometimes on the Gulf coast, although they are nothing like California waves. My kids always have fun there, and we always see a ton of wildlife which is mostly due to how much more clear the water is. As an example, we were there a couple weeks ago and we saw dolphins at Clearwater and Indian Rocks Beaches (3 times total, for over an hour total). At Shell Key and Indian Rocks beaches we saw multiple schools of Devil Rays (smallish mantas, harmless and they don't sting). They literally swim around you as you stand there thigh deep in the water. At Ana Maria Island we saw a nurse shark and at Indian Rocks we also found several starfish. We saw a lot of less exciting fish and creatures but these were the most exciting. Then we spent a day at Casperson Beach (in Venice) and we found over 120 fossilized shark teeth.

I enjoy Cocoa Beach but we always see much more exciting stuff and overall enjoy the clear water and sugar sand much more on the Gulf. It takes us about 1.75 hours to get to Clearwater from Kissimmee and it is always well worth it.