Best Beach within 1.5 hours of Orlando

[mtseifert]

I am sure this question has been answered but various searches have not solicted what I am looking for.

Here is the deal: wife, 10 yo son, 8 yo daughter and I are all midwesterners. Several years ago, wife and I celebrated our 10th anniversary in Cancun and experienced swimming in the ocean for the first time (we live about 100 yards from a Lake Erie beach but the ocean is, well, a TOTALLY different experience!!!) and we promised to make sure our kids experience it before they reach adulthood!!

Soooo....I am wondering: what beach would you recommend?

I am not looking for shopping, attractions or anything else (except something reasonably close to get a burger for lunch...even that is optional as we can pack a lunch). I ONLY want a clean beach, crystal water, fun but safe waves and one that has at least a semi-friendly family atmosphere. We have earmarked an entire day for this. We plan to venture out in a rental car by about 8:00 a.m. and I am thinking we would like to be back by about 5:00 p.m. and do something else in the evening.

Finally, the day before, we are doing Universal. My son is already a bit suspect about sharks. The Jaws encounter will make him even more suspect (there is no easy way to do Universal AFTER the beach). While I know there is little to be concerned about, any links to sites that debunk shark attacks would be helpful as well.

Thanks,

Mark

 

[girlsma]

We are from Michigan and also wanted our daughter to experience the ocean on our trip to Disney last December. New Smyrna Beach came highly recommended, so we tried it. It was fantastic! Clean silky sand that felt like you were walking on cotton! New Smyrna Beach is located just south of Daytona and it took us about 1.5 hours to get there from Disney.

Now, when we went it was the beginning of December and to us the weather was fairly warm, but still a bit chilly, but my daughter insisted on wearing her bathing suit while others walked down the beach bundled up. But I don't think she felt a thing, cause she had a blast! Also, you can park on the beach.

Here are some website I found:

http://www.cityofnsb.com/

http://www.newsmyrna.com/

I hope this helps and have fun!

 

[hulabird]

I don't want to scare anyone but New Smyrna is where they had 6 shark attacks in one weekend not too long ago. Also, my sister went there in 2002 and she said it was crappy. I went to Cocoa Beach and also thought it was crappy. The water was not crystal it was murky green.

So this year we wanted to find somewhere that had pretty water was clean and had nice sand and LIFEGUARDS (highly important).
My mom and dad have been everywhere in Florida and they told us to look toward the following areas:

Bradenton (2 hours from WDW)
Anna Maria Island area (Coquina Beach, Cortez Beach-free parking-lifeguards-bathrooms-showers-picnic area and concessions on the beach)
Manatee Beach-same as above

St Petersberg/Clearwater/Tampa area (about 1 hour 45 min-2 hours away)
Treasure Island
Clearwater Beach

Also look up these as they are also within about 2 hour drive
Caladesi Island (voted one of the best beaches in the US)
Fort Desoto Beach and Park (Also voted one of the best)
Madeira Beach

The ones I have named have lifeguards and concessions etc...
I am a stickler when it comes to that stuff.

Ok now for some links (I have been researching for weeks)
Florida Beaches
More beach info
FLA Beaches
Tampa Bay Area Beaches Treasure Island Beach

Also, sharks were my concern and I looked all this up last night and found that the Tampa Bay area beaches and the gulf coast beaches right near there, have only had a few shark attacks since 1959-like 3-4 but there were alot more in the east coach beaches and New Smyrna area in particular.

 

[hulabird]

Here is an article about the New Smyrna Beach attacks, I was wrong it was more than six!

New Smyrna Beach Shark Attacks

I know that this is one place I will definitely not venture to!

 

[JohnnyOldBoy]

I still recommend Playalinda Beach at the Canaveral National Seashore, although some have concerns. See the discussion here:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=603220&highlight=+PLAYALINDA

Also I have a couple of pictures online at:

Photobucket

Gulf beaches are very nice but not realistically within 1.5 hours of WDW.