How far?

[sharon-o]

I'm just doing our itinery plan and would love to include a trip to clearwater beach.
We are staying kissemmee area.
Would you plan this into your trip or do you feel its just too far?
We are staying for 3 weeks, and we would love to see the coast how long would the drive be?
Many Thanx sharon x

 

[terrynewpack]

It is only a couple of hours to Clearwater and we have been a few times. Every time we go we wonder why we bothered. To be honest there is not a lot there.

Terry

 

[gilld]

I agree, we thought it was a very tacky area.

 

[Miffy2003]

We spent a week in Clearwater in 2002 and I agree there aren't lots of attractions there, but the beach is wonderful and well worth spending a day or two at IMO. Talcum powder sand and a gently shelving beach (useful if you have small children). We found it a nice place to chill out, but I guess it depends on whether or not you are happy to make the 2 hour drive - what about booking a cheap hotel for the night on something like Priceline and making a "proper" trip of it?

A closer coastal area from Kissimmee is the Cocoa Beach / Daytona Beach area, haven't been there myself so can't tell you what it's like. It's just over an hour's drive though

 

[Miffy2003]

Sorry - just noticed your countdown and wanted to add that the sea when you go will be like a wonderfully warm bath - it is bliss on a hot day!

 

[sharon-o]

Thanx for the replies.
It is purely the beach the reason for the visit so maybe cocoa would be as good?
Any help ?Agghhhhhhh

 

[juliebro]

Cocoa Beach
For: Nearer to Orlando than the West Coast beaches, Surf
Against: Pretty tacky, cool(er) sea

Clearwater Beach
For: Warm, calm sea, less tacky
Against: Further to drive

Just my opinion.

Julie

ps We are going to try Daytona Beach next time.

 

[vernon]

While I can understand the allure of the beach, even if it's not something that's high on my agenda, I'm not sure you're going to feel it's worth the effort for just a day trip.
It's a good couple of hours there and more importantly it's a good couple of hours back again. At that time of year it's going to be BLOODY HOT, which means if you stay in the sun for more than a couple of hours you're likely to be a little pink, tired and dehydrated. Whoever drives back is going to feel the return journey. If you do REALLY want to go, I would suggest looking into booking a hotel on the beach for one night(keeping your existing accommodation), it's going to cost you about $70 I'd guess. That way you can pack just an overnight bag, enjoy your day at the beach, have the use of a hotel to shower freshen up and drive back the following day nice and clean but more importantly fully awake.

IMHO the problem with going to a public beach in Florida in the summer is if you want to escape the BLISTERING heat, it's hard to do. If you book a hotel (with a pool) you at least have the option of scurrying back to the hotel if it's simply unbearable, cooling off a little and returning to the beach/pool later when you feel a little better. At that time of year the Atlantic coast is a little cooler both air temp and sea temp, therefore may be a better choice. I would agree Cocoa is a little tacky, but I think that;s a fair comment on Clearwater as well. Nicer areas would be Captiva, Anna Maria Island and Naples on the Gulf side. On the Atlantic side I REALLY like the DVC resort at Vero Beach, Disney do a great job of making this a really top class hotel, other options could be St Augustine to the north of Florida.

I'm not a beach person and would much rather spend the day at Typhoon Lagoon splashing around in the surf there and swimming with sharks :O LOL

 

[Latte Lover]

We have had day trips to both Cocoa on the Atlantic side and Anna Maria Island on the gulf coast and although we enjoyed both trips, we preferred the Gulf coast. The sand is white and soft and the sea (in summer) was really warm. As Vernon says, it is very hot on the beach in summer, but you can cool down by having a lovely meal in one of the restaurants (air-conditioned) overlooking the sea. Last holiday, our day-trip to Anna Maria was my DH's favourite day of the whole holiday. We will definately be going back this summer.

 

[Tron[ADS]]

We too have had day trips to either coast in the past, and we much prefered Clearwater to Cocoa. Cocoa has Ron Jon's 24 hour surf shop, and thats about all I can remember, apart from the cold-ish sea, and the wind which meant we had to hire a wind break type thing.
The thing that sticks most in my mind about Cocoa was the drive there...we went through what I would describe as "bug corridoor", where there were thick trees either side of the road, and millions of flying bugs. The car looked a right mess when we got back !

 

[heatherbelle]

If you are going for 3 weeks, then you should go. I would go to the Gulf coast. We actually spent a whole day driving from Orlando, to St Pete's, had a late breakfast with the pelicans there. Then carried on driving down the coast road towards sarasota. It was great, the beaches are fantastic. We did have a the roof down on the car the whole way.

I will be going to the beach again on our next visit. There is more to Florida than the theme parks, it depends what you enjoy. The roads were clear and hardly any traffic. I would go mid week rather than weekends.

Enjoy.........

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Visited both coasts over the years although it is a while since we last did.

Certainly the beaches on the west coast particularly Clearwater are nicer than the likes of Cocoa.
The sand is whiter and the beaches wider and cleaner.
However, deciding whether it is worth a visit is difficult to advise, do not think it took us 2 hours last time to CW but that was some time ago, additionally don't remember it being 'tacky' either.

Would certainly rate it the best beach we have visited.