Easiest beach to get to from Sanford airport?

[aimcat]

My husband will be arriving in at Sanford airport a day and a half before our other family arrives in Orlando and before our villa check in. So we dont wear out the disney area because we will be here a week in addition to our 2 extra days we are wanting to know the easiest beach to get to from Sanford airport because we may go there and spend 2 nights before coming back to disney to meet family and begin that end of our trip. Daytona, Ormond, Cocoa, Clearwater area?
Also im up for any other recommendations to spend our 2 days close to Disney as well....

 

[WDWisTheBest]

My husband will be arriving in at Sanford airport a day and a half before our other family arrives in Orlando and before our villa check in. So we dont wear out the disney area because we will be here a week in addition to our 2 extra days we are wanting to know the easiest beach to get to from Sanford airport because we may go there and spend 2 nights before coming back to disney to meet family and begin that end of our trip. Daytona, Ormond, Cocoa, Clearwater area?
Also im up for any other recommendations to spend our 2 days close to Disney as well....

Suggestion: 1. Ormond Beach/Daytona Beach area
2. Cocoa Beach
3. West coast of Florida including Clearwater Beach.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

What about a visit to the Bahamas? Celebration Cruise line offers 2-night cruises every other day to Grand Bahama Island from the Port of Palm Beach. For about the price of 2 nights in a hotel, you could cruise over, spend one day there at Lucaya Beach and then cruise back the second night including cabin, meals, shows and transportation. Passport not required but proof of citizenship is. Just a thought for something completely different!

www.bahamascelebration.com

BobK/Orlando

 

[aimcat]

yeah would love that we love cruises but our flight arrives on the night of may 19th around 10pm and our check in for our house near disney is may 21....

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

yeah would love that we love cruises but our flight arrives on the night of may 19th around 10pm and our check in for our house near disney is may 21....

Awww, too bad. The closest beach is New Smyrna Beach which is a more civilized type of beach. Daytona Beach is definitely much livelier with a lot more activities, shops and restaurants.

BobK/Orlando

 

[aimcat]

We go to Cocoa beach a lot when we are waiting on cruises. Kind of thought of that one but not much to do except sit on the beach. Whats in new smyrna? is it worth to drive the hour out of sanford to these beaches? i mean we go to the beach a lot. I was just afraid if we stay in orlando area for over a week that we may get burnt out....

 

[keishashadow]

Awww, too bad. The closest beach is New Smyrna Beach which is a more civilized type of beach. Daytona Beach is definitely much livelier with a lot more activities, shops and restaurants.

BobK/Orlando

we've steered clear of it, not sure if it's rep as shark bite capital of the world is valid, but i don't want to find out.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-shark-bite-new-smyrna-beach-20110423,0,7889632.story

 

[NotUrsula]

Re: the sharks ... The sharks are around Ponce Inlet. Stay well away from there and avoid being in the water anywhere at dusk, and the rest of New Smyrna is fine. (It doesn't have a whole lot of lodging that rents by the night, however. Smyrna is mostly condo.)

The Ponce Inlet's currents provide some of the best surfing waves in Florida, so it is a mecca for surfers. Unfortunately, they also provide a nice murky flow of warm water that nourishes fish, so the inlet is a prime feeding ground for sharks, too. Sharks and surfers do not mix well in a feeding ground, thus New Smyrna's undeserved reputation for having sharks with a taste for humans.

However, if New Smyrna isn't your cup of tea, know that Daytona gets quieter the farther south you go. It's pretty quiet down in the far reaches of Daytona Beach Shores.