Cocoa,Clearwater or Daytona Beach??

[GoofyJim]

Good Morning,

We are planning a family beach vacation and would like your opinion on which of the three beaches listed above is best for a family??

Also, any recomendations on great hotels would be appreciated!!!

 

[Wonderlandmom]

Clearwater! The Gulf is much prettier IMHO. I am not a fan of Daytona and cars driving on the beach!

We have stayed at the Don Cesar in St Pete. Very nice and not crowded!
http://www.doncesar.com/

 

[DisneyFan06]

Okay, I live in Daytona Beach! I am suggest some great hotels for you right on the beach if so you desire. Or would you like it on the mainland - cheaper?

Daytona is growing rapidly. Before you could drive over the bridge and see the beach. Now when you drive over the bridge you see nothing but large sky rises and hotels. It is sad, IMHO but it happens.

 

[DisneyFan06]

Okay, I live in Daytona Beach! I am suggest some great hotels for you right on the beach if so you desire. Or would you like it on the mainland - cheaper?

Daytona is growing rapidly. Before you could drive over the bridge and see the beach. Now when you drive over the bridge you see nothing but large sky rises and hotels. It is sad, IMHO but it happens.

Here is a website you can visit, if you so choose: http://www.visitdaytona.com/

Another:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g34172-Daytona_Beach_Florida-Hotels.html

 

[golfgal]

We went to Cocoa Beach when we were at Disney. The beach itself isn't anything great, just like the beaches in Minnesota around the lakes. We did like having other things to do like Kennedy Space Center since it rained almost the entire time we were there. I hear the sand on the beaches on the gulf side is much nicer.

 

[THE HAT]

I have been to all three, and this year we did st pete beach as well, at the don caeser. Depends what you want....the gulf has less busy beaches with warmer water but the east side is bigger waves, more beach community. I love Cocoa beach, Daytona was great when we were younger w/o our son. We were there for dh to race. (motorcycle)
We will be spending a few days in Dec at Cocoa beach again before we sail out on our cruise. (RCL not disney)

 

[DisneyDotty]

We really liked Clearwater Beach last year. We stayed at the Hilton right on the beach, and enjoyed all the activities around the Pier. Plus there's a restaurant (sorry--can't remember the name, but someone here will know) nearby with amazing fish sandwiches.
We liked Cocoa Beach too--stayed at the Doubletree right on the beach two years ago. The Space Center is excellent--plan on two days to hit everything.

 

[jajuan]

I have only been to Clearwater. I LOVE IT!!! I have been at least 6 times in the last two years and I live in Dallas. There are so many fun places to eat, shop and hang out. I have only stayed in a hotel once and it was the Marriott Suites Sand Key. It is across the street from the beach but still on the bay. There is also a Sheraton on the beach that looks really nice. I can't wait to go back again in May

 

[Pembo]

I'd pick the gulf side everytime. The sand is white sugar.....heaven.

 

[chyam]

Either Clearwater beach or St. Pete beach are very nice. One poster was talking about the incredible fish sandwiches, I believe the restaurant she was talking about is The Hurricane, quite famous for the grouper sandwiches, that is on Pass A Grille beach which is a little down from St. Pete and in my opinion that whole area is nice, The Don Cesar is a beautiful hotel but check out the Tradewinds resorts on St. Pete also I think they have more activities and are a little more kid friendly (my opinion) as far as this area, you are close enough to Busch Gardens to enjoy a day as well as a beautiful state park (Ft. DeSoto) rated the number 1 beach in the US 2 years ago.

 

[Jpgirl]

Clearwater Beach-just got back last weekend. We always go there-nice family beach. Make sure you take the kids to Post Corner Pizza-best on the island. There's tons for the kids to do. We stayed in a condo-nice 2 bed/2 bath over looking the beach. The Hilton is a good choice to but a bit pricey-but the kids would probably see more kids in the hotel than a condo on the north beach. Have fun!!

 

[eddieras]

i was told new smyrna beach (near daytona) is really nice-- we're heading there in May for a day trip!

 

[Mom2Ashli]

We really liked Clearwater Beach last year. We stayed at the Hilton right on the beach, and enjoyed all the activities around the Pier. Plus there's a restaurant (sorry--can't remember the name, but someone here will know) nearby with amazing fish sandwiches.
We liked Cocoa Beach too--stayed at the Doubletree right on the beach two years ago. The Space Center is excellent--plan on two days to hit everything.

That would be Frenchy's Resturant. Known for their Grouper Sandwiches and the She Crab Soup is out of this world. http://www.frenchysonline.com/

Clearwater, St.Pete has beautiful white sandy beaches.

To me Cocoa and Daytona is a coarse sand but much Bigger Waves.

 

[Steffi]

Of those three choices, I'd vote for Clearwater, especially if your children aren't teens. There is a nice Marriott on Sand Key that has kids' activites and dive-in movies and things like that. You can do other things at Clearwater Beach like a family Pirate Cruise or a dinner cruise, and they have all your usual beach activites, too, like parasailing & jet-skiing.

 

[Blondie]

We've vacationed in Clearwater/Sand Key twice, loved it both times! Nice clean water and soft white sand!

 

[DisneyDotty]

We did the pirate cruise--and loved it! Even my DD12 got into it. And we saw dolphins while on the cruise, and enjoyed libations. Good time!

 

[ChristmasElf]

You can never go wrong with the beaches on the Gulf coast. Siesta Key beach is very nice as well. Love the white sand.

 

[Golf4food]

If you are morning people and prefer sunrises, then stay at New Smyrna Beach (a little south of Daytona - cheaper and still close enough to do Daytona, but less crowded - there is a great B&B in North Smyra called the Riverside that we love).

If you are sunset people, then do the west coast - we did Clearwater for our honeymoon and loved it. Be sure to visit the Tampa Aquarium, it is quite nice.

 

[MrsJackSparrow]

Have to add another vote for St. Pete Beach. We stayed at the Grand Plaza last year on the beach - fantastic!