Best beaches?

[mshanson3121]

Our son desperately wants to go to a beach while we're gone, so we figure on one of the days at the end of our trip we'll hit a beach. We may either do a beach in Orlando/Florida area, or on our drive home. So what are the best beaches in Florida, Carolinas (etc).... We'll be travelling over 4th of July weekend on our way home, so we want a beach that will be young-child/family friendly, not a drunken party.

 

[DisneyFive]

I looked into this a couple of years back and it seems the general consensus is Clearwater. I'm sure there are other great beaches, but Clearwater was the most recommended on this site by those staying at WDW.

If you are willing to drive further away, there may be better options.

Dan

 

[AllThingsMickey4]

If you are looking for somewhere in the Carolinas we love the Hilton head or Charleston/Folly Beach area in SC. Myrtle Beach is advertised as a family destination, but growing up in SC I have seen it go downhill pretty fast. Not to say some people don't enjoy it, it's just not as family friendly as it used to be.

 

[SplashMo]

Clearwater is really nice. Our hotel had a private beach. I am not sure how much that added to the enjoyment. However white sand and blue water. The gulf side is more like Mexico if that either makes sense and/or is not too obvious. The Atlantic side beaches are much different... Key west is nice as well... I have done a day trip to KeyWest from Miami.

 

[goopysolelady]

Our favorite is Cocoa Beach; about an hours drive from Orlando.

 

[superrach]

I recommend Cocoa Beach too! While you're there, maybe your beach trip could correlate with seeing a Disney Cruise ship in port? Fun to watch them sail away too. Great spot is at either restaurants called Grills or Fishlips!

 

[hunan6]

Hilton Head Island SC. Especially family friendly, not much of a club scene, no high rises, gorgeous uncrowded beaches (relative to other big resorts at least).

 

[mshanson3121]

Anything even further, maybe North Carolina/Virginia? I love the sounds of Hilton Head Island though. We've looked at Cocoa Beach, that whole area sounds great, with tonnes of things to do.

 

[MouseMum]

We stayed at Treasure Island last year. Beautiful!

 

[mshanson3121]

We stayed at Treasure Island last year. Beautiful!

Where is that?

 

[MouseMum]

It's a little more south than Clearwater. But not by far. It's just south of Madeira beach and a place called John's Pass, a really cool Boardwalk area with shops, restaurants, parasailing, boating, etc. We spent 4 days so we had time to browse around leisurely as well as spend time on the beach. By the way, we stayed at a nice spot called Sunset Vistas. You can book their "hotel rooms" on Expedia or "condos" from people who own there. (Same rooms though) I used VRBO.com. The beach was nice and quiet, so if that's what you want, I'd highly recommend it. I'm sure Madeira beach is similar for accommodations. But there so many to choose from anyway! We're going back again this summer for a few days before Disney. We'll probably book SV again.

 

[heidijanesmith]

We loved St. Pete Beach. It's farther away than Clearwater, but super lovely and family friendly.

 

[larryz]

Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Close by but not overdeveloped.

Website
Map