Best beach?

[Inkmahm]

We're taking 5 family members with us in March to our beloved Animal Kingdom Villas. The day we arrive, the kids want to head to the ocean for the afternoon. Any suggestions for the best beach to go to on the east coast? Drive all the way to Daytona or is there a better beach south of there? The kids just want to swim for a bit in the ocean rather than in a water park!

 

[rinkwide]

Try Cocoa.

 

[OlderMan]

...east to Port Canaveral/Cocoa Beach area.

There is a nice park--Jetty Park--near Port Canaveral. There is a fee for admission, but it's been so long that I don't know what it is now.

Farther south, there are numerous public beaches in the area of Cocoa Beach. Just FYI, some of the smaller beach parking areas have metered parking.

 

[Tigger031266]

I second Cocoa Beach.

There are better beaches on the Gulf side.

 

[Inkmahm]

If we were going for a whole day I'd head to the gulf side but this will be just fror an afternoon. Our plan arrives just after 11 am and after dropping off our luggage at AKV we'll head to the ocean for just a few hours, back in time for dinner at Jikos.

Cocoa Beach is starting to sound like the answer. Thanks!

 

[ilovecoasters]

Try New Smyrna Beach. Take I4-East to 44. Take 44 straight into NSB. The jetty area isn't always the best for swimming. There are usually kids trying to surf and lots of people fishing. Not to mention this is a highly shark populated area. DS8 recently pulled out a 4 ft hammerhead! You could always stay on 44 until it turns into A1A and drive the few more miles to Canaveral National Seashore. The beaches are beautiful and the Intercoastal is on the other side of the road. You can see the turtle nests, a ton of dolphins and sometimes early in the year you can see migrating whales. This is the beach my family goes to. You can also bring a small table top grill. They permit it right on the beach. The only drawback is that there aren't any lifeguards. On a really clear day you can even see the shuttle launch tower. Admission is $3 per person or $35 for a year pass.

 

[Inkmahm]

Try New Smyrna Beach. Take I4-East to 44. Take 44 straight into NSB. The jetty area isn't always the best for swimming. There are usually kids trying to surf and lots of people fishing. Not to mention this is a highly shark populated area. DS8 recently pulled out a 4 ft hammerhead! You could always stay on 44 until it turns into A1A and drive the few more miles to Canaveral National Seashore. The beaches are beautiful and the Intercoastal is on the other side of the road. You can see the turtle nests, a ton of dolphins and sometimes early in the year you can see migrating whales. This is the beach my family goes to. You can also bring a small table top grill. They permit it right on the beach. The only drawback is that there aren't any lifeguards. On a really clear day you can even see the shuttle launch tower. Admission is $3 per person or $35 for a year pass.

Sharks?

Canaveral National Seashore is what you recommend? No sharks there?

 

[ilovecoasters]

Sharks?

Canaveral National Seashore is what you recommend? No sharks there?

Unfortunately there are sharks there too, but the jetty area is known for them. Most of the shark bites happened there this past year. We love the National Seashore. You have 5 parking lots to choose from. We usually park at lot 3. There is a bathroom and a nice ramp to the beach. I think there are showers at lot 1. If you're looking for touristy, go to Daytona. Your family might get a kick out of driving the car on the beach.

 

[Inkmahm]

Unfortunately there are sharks there too, but the jetty area is known for them. Most of the shark bites happened there this past year. We love the National Seashore. You have 5 parking lots to choose from. We usually park at lot 3. There is a bathroom and a nice ramp to the beach. I think there are showers at lot 1. If you're looking for touristy, go to Daytona. Your family might get a kick out of driving the car on the beach.

Unfortunately, I have one niece that is deathly afraid of sharks. Another one told her that the water is too shallow where we'd swim, that the sharks can't get to shore. I think she's happy with that idea for now.

I think the kids really want to just swim, not so sure they'd be impressed by driving a rental car on the beach. Lot 3 is starting to sound good, especially the part about bathrooms being there. Thanks for the info!

 

[Inkmahm]

*bump* Any other suggestions?