Good beach town a few hours drive from Orlando?

[Scrapfriend]

I am trying to plan a trip to WDW this August. I would like to include a trip to the beach, perferably a small town with a good beach, quiet and peaceful. Anyone able to recommend one? My husband liked it when we stayed at Mexico Beach FL 10 years ago, but that is nearly 6 hours away! (by car) Thanks!

 

[tinkandpan]

There are certainly plenty of beaches to explore- depending on what you are looking for. There are larger scale resort areas like vero beach, palm beach area, jupiter beach... you could go up north to ponte vedra area. For a very small beachy type town, the New Smyrna beach area is really nice and super close to orlando (only about 40 minute drive). If you say a little more what you are looking for.... the west coast has amazing beaches, but you are going to add on significant travel time.

 

[katerkat]

My grandfather lives in Melbourne, so we usually drive over to Melbourne Shores, about an hour from Disney. There's some decent public beaches and stores right at the end of the causeway.

 

[ChristaDeVil]

For a very small beachy type town, the New Smyrna beach area is really nice and super close to orlando (only about 40 minute drive). If you say a little more what you are looking for.... the west coast has amazing beaches, but you are going to add on significant travel time.

I have to second New Smyrna. I stayed there two years ago (not for Disney, for a bike rally in Daytona) and LOVED it. My FIL has a condo there, and we would be staying there for our Disney trip, but it's booked when we wanted to go. The beaches are clean and pretty, and the whole town is quaint and fun. I can't remember the name of the property that we stayed at, but I can ask the FIL. It had a fabulous pool and patio area, even though it was an older property.

 

[Scrapfriend]

Thanks! I will check these out. I was leaning toward the gulf coast, as my husband had really enjoyed that on a previous trip. (that did not include WDW) See, he wants the beach, I want to do Disney also, so I need to find a nice place to help talk him into this!

 

[MinnieMe2DW]

Clearwater is supposed to be lovely too !! I've never been, but i'm looking into beaches too. It's about 1 hr 20 min from Disney, or so I hear. I'll have to look into New Smyrna...

 

[Scrapfriend]

I just found the Gulf Islands, they look beautiful! Anyone have any recommendations there? It is less than 2 hours from WDW.

 

[Ariel8676]

What about St. Petersburg Beach..very nice and about 1hr 20 minutes away. We always stay at the Tradewinds resort.

 

[wilderness01]

We like Clearwater but felt the beach was sort of hard on your feet due to the shells. We liked St. Pete's beach but not the town as it felt seedy. So I guess I would pick Clearwater over St. Pete's and make sure you have sandals on to walk the beach. Have fun.

 

[momtwo4]

We love Sarasota-Siesta Key

 

[fun2bmomof3]

I second Siesta key. We usually go to clearwater,and we love it. But last summer went to siesta key and it is now our favorite.

 

[dmomom]

My husband and I did a similar trip years ago. We were happy with Clearwater, but thrilled with Caladesi Island. It was like an island paradise - blue water, white sand, no crowds and gorgeous shells (I'm a shell fanatic). We took a ferry over, which was a pleasant ride in itself.

I have also been to Siesta Key and enjoyed it, but my vote is for Clearwater with a side trip to Caladesi.

Have fun!

(tried to post the web address but was unable - it is Caladesi Island State Park in Dunedin, FL)

 

[Scrapfriend]

Thank you so much, especially about Caladesi Island, that sounds like something my family would love!

 

[ampc3]

Check out Anna Maria Island... very nice outside of the clear water area also alittle more towards sarasta..

 

[stines]

I've heard great things about Siesta Keys too - about how far of a drive would that be from Disney?

Amy