Help me plan a beach trip after Disney/Universal

[dez1978]

In may we are taking a trip to Orlando. Haven't decided if it will be a coule of days at Universal or Disney yet. But then we want to go to the beach for 3-4 days. Looking for an hour or so drive from Orlando, so not Miami or anywhere too far south. So 1, which beach would you recommend? 2 families, with a total of 4 boys ages 8-13. I thought they might enjoy Kennedy Space center at that age, so maybe the cocoa beach area? 2, any great Hilton properties you'd reccomend (we have a ton of points) and 3, should I just plan round trip flights from MCO or fly into MCO and home from a different airport? We''d be flying SW (also points lol)

 

[mjkacmom]

If you wanted to go to KSC, that would put you at cocoa beach. Orlando is the airport you’d fly into to go there, about an hours drive.

 

[sam_gordon]

Can't help you on Hilton properties, but if you want to go to KSC, then Coco Beach is right there. However, if you're interested in the Gulf side, you can go to St Pete/Clearwater. There's Busch Gardens in Tampa (along with other activities).

Obviously if you go West Coast, Tampa or St Pete can be departure airports. East Coast you can use Melbourne or Daytona. I'll take Tampa, Melbourne, or Daytona over MCO if available (and cost similar). Daytona & Melbourne are about an hour from Coco Beach, so about the same as getting back to MCO.

 

[kdonnel]

I know you said not too far south but I love the DoubleTree Resort & Spa in Sunny Isles Beach.

They have lots of 2 and 3 bedroom options that we have rented when vacationing with another family. The beach is also great. There is a sandbar that makes it possible to walk a long way out into the ocean and another sandbar that breaks the waves so they are small and manageable.

The downside is it is about three and a half hours from WDW.

Worth it in my opinion!

 

[JimMIA]

I would definitely consider St. Augustine Beach. It's two hours from WDW, all expressway, and there are three Hilton properties at the north end of the beach. From the north end of SA Beach, it's just a short drive into St. Augustine itself.

St Augustine is the oldest continuously-inhabited city in the US -- founded by the Spanish in 1565, 55 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth.

The three Hilton properties are a Hampton Inn and an Embassy Suites, both right on the ocean, and a Hilton Garden Inn directly across the street from the beach.

We stayed at the Hampton a few months ago and liked it. There's an excellent (and VERY popular) seafood restaurant right across the street, and of course Hampton has free breakfast. The Embassy Suites looks very nice, and other DIS members have stayed there and liked it.

LOTS to do in St. Augustine, including a pirate museum, the original Spanish fort, a Ripley's museum, tours -- tons of stuff.

I'm sure the boys would love Kennedy Space Center, and you could easily visit that on the way to St. Augustine.

Returning home, you just take I-95 to I-4 to 417 to MCO. (also 2 hours)

 

[JimMIA]

If any of you are NASCAR fans, another good stop on the way to St. Augustine would be the Daytona International Speedway. It is right off I-95, roughly 30 seconds from the exit. They have a tour, museum, etc. I haven't ever done the tour, but maybe someone who has can give some input.

https://www.daytonainternationalspe...Pd5vuqHQsccA5VZSdgLm_kNFZd8FRyC8aAguEEALw_wcB

 

[HeatherC]

I second St Augustine…beautiful beaches and lots to do.

 

[HopperFan]

In may we are taking a trip to Orlando. Haven't decided if it will be a coule of days at Universal or Disney yet. But then we want to go to the beach for 3-4 days. Looking for an hour or so drive from Orlando, so not Miami or anywhere too far south. So 1, which beach would you recommend? 2 families, with a total of 4 boys ages 8-13. I thought they might enjoy Kennedy Space center at that age, so maybe the cocoa beach area? 2, any great Hilton properties you'd reccomend (we have a ton of points) and 3, should I just plan round trip flights from MCO or fly into MCO and home from a different airport? We''d be flying SW (also points lol)

Agree with St. Augustine.

I had mentioned St. Augustine to my son's doctor when he said they were delaying their Disney trip for now. I gave him a big packet of info. He took his two sons (10-14-ish) for spring break. They loved it and plan to go back.

The Pirate museum is top notch, and all us adults loved it. There is so much to do and it's very much a foodie town with lots of good eats. Fun tourism stuff, historical architecture is unique, lots of shops, art galleries, museums, the train tours around town are great with on/off to visit different sites. And there are often festivals in a field north of historic district.

We've have a place there for 5 years now after decades of visiting, and we still haven't even scratched the surface.

The Embassy Suites on the ocean is only a few years old and very nice. It would be my first choice, especially since you have lots of points.

 

[hsmamato2]

I think Cocoa Beach area sounds good for your kids ages,nice beaches, other stuff to see and do locally, I saw a decent looking Hilton right on Cocoa Beach you could use points for

 

[mikehn]

For central FL, I'd drive to the gulf beaches before the atlantic beaches.

 

[MIGrandma]

We love the Cocoa Beach area. We will be there January 2nd, just for one night before heading to Miami for a cruise. We are staying at Homewood Suites, right by Port Canaveral. Stayed there 3 years ago before our Oasis of the Seas cruise, very nice hotel. Love the Florida Seafood Bar & Grill, Rusty’s too. Great beaches!