Daytona & Cocoa vs. Clearwater & Tarpon Springs - Compare and contrast

[crim1978]

Hello fellow Disney Geeks

On our fourthcoming trip WDW in August we are planning a day at the beach / shops.

We were planning on Clearwater and Tarpon Springs but have realised that Daytona and Cocoa are about an hour closer to us and therefore cut out some lost time driving. We are staying in a villa a couple of miles off property.

So, if anyone has visited the two coasts, please pursuade me one way or the other - is the west worth the extra drive or will out beach and shop loving family love the east just as much.

Also if we do plump for Daytona, as big motorsport fans, what added bonuses will we get in that direction?

Holiday coming around rather quickly now - cannot wait!

Thanks in advance - you are all amazing as ever.

Chris

 

[wayneg]

We went to Daytona about 2 years ago in August. Got there quite early(10am?) thinking we would beat the crowds. We parked in the Pay & Display right next to the pier, there was 1 other car in there. Thought great we beat the crowds. Stayed about 4 hours, still no crowds, most shops boarded up, it was like a ghost town, even when we left the car park there was only about 6 cars in it.
The ocean just can't be compared, Daytona was not far different to Blackpool, dirty looking. No idea if it had been churned up for some reason and we hit a bad day but it wasn't very inviting on the other hand Clearwater is crystal clear.
I have no idea if Daytona come alive in the evenings but it was a massive dissapointment for us.

Cocoa, we have visited for a couple of hours, will be again this summer but again only for a couple of hours then moving onto Port Canaveral. The East coast resort are just not in the same league as Clearwater and many others on the West coast.

Only place we have visited on East coast that is well worth a visit is St Augustine http://www.oldcity.com/

 

[juliebro]

We've visited both coasts a number of times, although always in April/May.

There's pros and cons for each, I think.

Cocoa and Daytona are a bit tacky, but we really enjoyed our visit to the race track at Daytona and we both like to sit in the tiki bar at the end of Cocoa Beach pier at happy hour. The sea tends to be colder and there is a surf, but I'd still prefer to swim in it than the sea off Blackpool.

Over in Clearwater, the beaches are whiter, the sea is generally warmer and calmer.

 

[juliebro]

We also like St Augustine!

 

[dixonsontour]

I've done all four over the years.

If you are wanting beach i'd go for cleawater side.

Tarpon springs is very touristy - greek themed village famous for sponges but ok for a stroll. Caldesi island and honeymoon island state park are nearby - stunning beach.

 

[StarWarsJez]

'Go West young man!' as the quote says. Seriously though I've found the east coast around Coco quite grotty.