Best beach or families- FL?

[Mamato2cutekiddos]

Since we are staying off resport and only doing 5 days at the park (out of 12) we want to do a beach day. This vacation really needs to be about relaxation for DH and I which is why we are doing less days at the parks than usual. Our rental home has a private pool/hot tub so there will be plenty of times for us to swim. Having said that- we want to take the kids to the beach for a day while we are there. We live on the left-coast and the Washington/Oregon coast is definitely not for swimming and relaxing!

Our kids really want to swim in the Ocean and we are wondering what the best beach would be. My criteria are:
- Nice sand to play in
- Water to swim/wade in
- No vehicles driving on the beach (I remember this being common when I went to Daytona Beach when I was in college)
- A beach that might rent big umbrellas/tents for shade
- Allowed to bring coolers (food) but also has places to grab a snack if need-be (ice cream huts etc).

Any thoughts?

 

[NinaBella]

Since we are staying off resport and only doing 5 days at the park (out of 12) we want to do a beach day. This vacation really needs to be about relaxation for DH and I which is why we are doing less days at the parks than usual. Our rental home has a private pool/hot tub so there will be plenty of times for us to swim. Having said that- we want to take the kids to the beach for a day while we are there. We live on the left-coast and the Washington/Oregon coast is definitely not for swimming and relaxing!

Our kids really want to swim in the Ocean and we are wondering what the best beach would be. My criteria are:
- Nice sand to play in
- Water to swim/wade in
- No vehicles driving on the beach (I remember this being common when I went to Daytona Beach when I was in college)
- A beach that might rent big umbrellas/tents for shade
- Allowed to bring coolers (food) but also has places to grab a snack if need-be (ice cream huts etc).

Any thoughts?

Take a look athrough the Orlando Hotels and Attractions forum (part of DisBoards) as there are many threads posted every month asking the same question.

I live in Tampa, so we like to go to St. Pete, Clearwater, Treasure Island, etc. I would suggest a one night stay at a hotel. Any hotel or beach near Tradewinds Resort will probably appeal to you as it is rated as the best family hotel. Depending on the time of year (fall/winter) the water island is not out during the weekdays, just weekends. http://www.tradewindsresort.com/ You can buy day passes to the water island and water slides.

If you want a more upscale hotel check out the Don Cesar (Pink Palace) that has been featured on the weather channel. Even though they have a kids club and a great ice cream parlor on their street level, I would not take young kids there, but that is just me. You can buy a day pass here too. https://www.loewshotels.com/don-cesar/

If you like older, redone, more boutique hotels check out Post Card Inn. It is a made-over motel, but my family/kids love staying here. They have a large pool facing the beach, snack shake, tiki bar on the beach, kids sand play area and nice beach. It's about three hotels down from Tradewinds and you can see Don Cesar in the distance. We still walk to Tradewinds from here (on the beach) if we want to rent a jet ski or something. The negative to Post Card Inn is recently they opened up a public beach access next door so it is bringing at lot of non-hotel guests. Postcard Inn will rent their chairs to anyone, not just hotel guests. http://postcardinn.com/

If you like state parks, check out Ft. DeSoto state park. Most locals prefer the "North Beach" in Ft. Desoto for swimming. Take your own food if you go to Ft. DeSoto as a state park, I don't even recall ever seeing a snack bar. http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/05_ft_desoto.htm

 

[sweetmama17]

I love Pinellas County Beaches (biased, I live here). Clearwater Beach always ranks very high for family beaches. It has expansive white sand beach, playground plus other activities on the pier (especially at sunset on the weekends). Walkable shops and restaurants. Love St. Pete Beach too. Do have to disagree with previous poster as we took our 9 month old to the Don Cesar and had a very hospitable staycation.

basically west coast is better sand and no cars. You just don't get the waves of the east coast. West coast can be a little more pricey too....but it's worth it.

 

[MommyMeNDisney]

Cars are no longer allowed on Daytona Beach. For quieter areas, try Ormond Beach or maybe South Daytona.

 

[monorailsilver]

Go down to Stump Pass by Boca Grande. The beach isn't huge, $3/park for the day but you have to get there early. We got there at 8:30 and were able to score one of the last spots available but the water is crystal clear and the shark teeth are abundant! My kids, dh included, would not get out of the water.

My sister went on Saturday and brought home a handful of teeth.

Ok that's a bit farther drive then you want.

I do prefer the Gulf side then the Atlantic any day!

 

[loves to dive]

We lived in Clearwater for a few years and I always found that area perfect for kids and families. On the east coast I like the Amelia Island Plantation, just south of Jacksonville. It's a beautiful resort and the beach is private, they rent umbrellas and cooler are no problem.

 

[pooh4evr]

Clearwater / St Pete beaches are great!

Last summer we did Daytona, beach was very nice, clean wide, water good. but there were still cars.