Help me find a beach!

[Khanji]

We're doing 7 days in WDW. We leave in just 2 days. (Jealous?)

DH & DD have never seen the ocean, and we can't go to Florida without a day at the beach, even if it means one less day with Mickey.

But where to go? I've heard Daytona, St. Pete's, Tampa, Cocoa Beach...

I don't want a long drive, and I'd like it to be family-friendly. It doesn't have to be all la-dee-da, we're simple folks.

I'd appreciate your suggestions!

 

[maryrego]

We usually go to Daytona
its 45min-1hr away and has alot of touristy things to do.
Also theres a Bubba Gump Shrimp Co there very yummy

 

[Hootch]

want to head to the Atlantic side. The drive is shorter. Daytona would be a good choice.

I personally think the Gulf Coast has better beaches. We often go to Anna Maria Island which is the first island south of the Tampa/St Pete harbor, but it's probably a 30 minute longer drive. Siesta Key is another 20-30 minutes.

 

[ChristaDeVil]

I love Daytona, but my favorite in that area is New Smyrna Beach. Smaller area...very quaint. Love it!

 

[Tikihula]

Cocoa Beach is probably the closest - due east about an hour's drive as the crow flies, and it's a pretty straight shot. Do a Google search for Cocoa Beach and you'll find a link to the local chamber of commerce with information on things to do. I think there's a pier there but I don't know if there's any entertainment like there is at the one in Daytona Beach.
Hopefully the hurricanes will all have left the area by then so the surf will be calm.
Have a great trip!

 

[tegdig]

Siesta Key, just south of Sarasota without a doubt. The sand is so soft and white, nothing else like it. It has won contests as the whitest, finest sand in the world. There is Siesta Key beach on the north end and then on the south end there is Turtle beach. We always find a lot of sea shells at Turtle beach. It will take you twice as long to get there as it would to get to the Atlantic side, but it is definately a day trip. All along that area from Siesta Key north around Sarasota are Lido Key, Bradenton Beach, Anna Maria, it is a beautiful drive. My favorite place (besides Disney) is Siesta Key.

 

[jdvm]

I agree that you should head toward the Gulf (West coast of Florida) Our favorites are Anna Maria, Longboat Key and Siesta Key.

John

 

[CDNCA]

The Gulf has wonderful beaches. Clearwater just past Tampa has a wonderful beach, pier, kids play area, shops, mini golf, restaurants...

 

[duckybelle]

I am from St. Pete, and it, Clearwater, and Tampa are awesome! I am PERSONALLY staying away from the other side of Florida beaches. My son was sucked up in a current there, and we barely got him out!!!!!!! I know it can happen anywhere, but I prefer the GULF!!!!

 

[Hootch]

Siesta Key, just south of Sarasota without a doubt. The sand is so soft and white, nothing else like it. It has won contests as the whitest, finest sand in the world. There is Siesta Key beach on the north end and then on the south end there is Turtle beach. We always find a lot of sea shells at Turtle beach. It will take you twice as long to get there as it would to get to the Atlantic side, but it is definately a day trip. All along that area from Siesta Key north around Sarasota are Lido Key, Bradenton Beach, Anna Maria, it is a beautiful drive. My favorite place (besides Disney) is Siesta Key.

had to unexpectedly go to The Sarasota/Bradenton area last Spring on Easter weekend. On the way down we were calling hotels trying to find a room. We ended up staying on Siesta Key at the edge of the village. It was really nice. Just a short walk to restaurants and shops. Small and not too crowded.

 

[bdoyledimou]

I have been to both Daytona/Coco Bech side as well as Clearwater, and my family prefers teh Clearwater side..

You get some surf/waves but nothing to big, the beach is clean and not that crowded, and its so pretty there.

The Eastern side i find the swells are good if you are a surfer.. but the current/waves are quite large and with all the hotels right on the beach it can get crowded...

 

[Feralpeg]

The surf on the Gulf side is much calmer than on the Atlantic side. There are constant reports of people having to be rescued from riptides on the Atlantic side. There have been close to 20 people receive shark bites in the New Smyrna area this year. If you are looking for a family friendly beach, I'd definitely look at the Gulf side beaches first.

 

[bobby523]

My personal choice it Clearwater Beach close to Tampa/St. Pete. Cocoa is the closest beach to WDW but is not pleasant. Clearwater has white sand and is very cool on your feet

The drive is abou 1 1/2 hours from WDW. It is a pretty straight shot over there too.

 

[billwendy]

We are driving up from the florida keys to WDW - is Sanibel really the best for shells? Do they charge you by the hour to go to the beach there? Where else would you see along that route? any cheap places to stay along the way that you would recommend?

thanks so much!!! Wendy

 

[stba2006]

My personal choice it Clearwater Beach close to Tampa/St. Pete. Cocoa is the closest beach to WDW but is not pleasant. Clearwater has white sand and is very cool on your feet

The drive is abou 1 1/2 hours from WDW. It is a pretty straight shot over there too.

I totally agree. The beaches at Clearwater are beautiful, and there are quite a few different smaller things to do. We went there last year and my bf drove. We didn't get lost once

 

[Tink-aholic]

We are driving up from the florida keys to WDW - is Sanibel really the best for shells? Do they charge you by the hour to go to the beach there? Where else would you see along that route? any cheap places to stay along the way that you would recommend?

thanks so much!!! Wendy

Sanibel charges you to get on the island, but not by the hour. Beware that it will easily be three hours of extra driving. Nothing on Sanibel is cheap -- from restaurants to hotels.

 

[tinkerbell34]

I haven't been to Sanibel in a number of years but my marine biology teacher in highschool sent us down there to collect sea shells so I unless things have changed considerably I would say it is a great place to collect sea shells.

I live close by to the Siesta key area (and use to live there as a child) and the beach is very beautiful. The sand is 99 percent crushed quartz and it is rated the 3rd most beautiful beach in the US. You don't have to pay to get onto the the beach either.

 

[Twitterpated Dad]

The surf on the Gulf side is much calmer than on the Atlantic side. There are constant reports of people having to be rescued from riptides on the Atlantic side. There have been close to 20 people receive shark bites in the New Smyrna area this year. If you are looking for a family friendly beach, I'd definitely look at the Gulf side beaches first.

 

[tinkerbell34]

The surf on the Gulf side is much calmer than on the Atlantic side. There are constant reports of people having to be rescued from riptides on the Atlantic side.

There can be rip tides on the Gulf side also but not nearly as common as on the Atlantic side as the above poster said. I just wanted to add that if you get stuck in a rip tide don't panic and swim parallel to the shore until you get out of it. I have been stuck in two rip tides....one on the gulf side and one on the Atlantic side. I'm glad my mother instilled that rule in me. I just thought I would share.

 

[peanuttrip]

20 plus years ago lived on the gulf side on longboat key. been to the alantic side many many time and it could never compare to the gulf side. both have the pluses but white sand great shelling on the gulf side takes the prise