Nearest Beaches

[Madangel32]

I need some help! We will be going to WDW in June and would like to have a couple of non-disney days. Since we are driving, we thought it would be nice to visit a florida beach. Does anyone know what the nearest beach is to WDW.

We are staying at POR. Hopefully someone can help!

Thanks!

 

[AJKMOM]

Cocoa Beach on the Atlantic Ocean is the closest, but not the nicest. Daytona Beach is a little further away, but we think it is nicer and more family oriented. We usually go there for a beach day.

 

[floridafam]

We like Vero Beach. If you want a huge beach, we like Sand Key(aka Clearwater Beach). It seems like about the same time to either.

If you go to beachsand.com you will see a picture of the beach at the hotel we stay at when we are in the area. We were also married there

There is a GREAT!!!!! public park right next to the hotel-you enter the park about 50 feet before the hotel entrance.

It is a wonderful area and the park is great. All you have to do is put quarters in the parking meter and enjoy your day.

Is there a particular side of Florida you prefer?

 

[jeffreyml]

We usually head down to Maderia Beach/Clearwater area. The water is much calmer/ warmer in the Gulf than the Atlantic. This is a great place to go shelling and fishing.

It is about 1-1 1/2 hrs SW of Disney down I-4. There are numerous shopping areas and attractions.

One we like to frequent is John's Pass

 

[Madangel32]

I don't really have a preference on which part of florida. I have only been to Fort Lauderdale and Miami beaches. I have never been to a beach close to Orlando.

Thanks for the responses. Any and all information is helpful.

THANKS!!!

 

[christi]

Can anyone tell me what the beach at St Petes is like? After our holiday at WDW we are going there for a week.

 

[floridafam]

Christi,

I haven't actually been to St. Pete Beach but you can get a really good picture of it on the Don Cesar Resort website.

I think it is doncesar.com

The beaches over there would be pretty similar to the ones at Clearwater Beach which I describe in my post above. I think I even have a website listed on there that has a picture of the beach at the hotel we stay at.

They seem to be bigger than the beaches on the East Coast of Florida and calmer at times, too.

Have fun.

 

[calgarygary]

We spent a day at Treasure Island on the Gulf Coast. It's a little further drive than going to the Atlantic Beaches but sunset on the water - what can I say, it's worth the added time.

Gary

 

[old lost boy]

I spent most of my summers in Florida as a kid and I'd say there is no choice. It has to be Clearwater-St. Pete. The west coast is much more family oriented, the water and beaches are nicer and the drive is about the same.

 

[christi]

Thanks for the info, I'd had a look at the pictures and am Very impressed!! I can't wait to go, I think a week on the beach will be a fanatastic way to relax after WDW! I'm staying at Tradewinds Grand Island, does anyone know it?
Thanks

 

[NotUrsula]

If you have a sand preference and are going to that area, be selective. Clearwater Beach has very fine-grained "white-sugar" sand, but Treasure Island and Madiera have beaches with much larger-grained sand. If you want shelling, Cocoa is relatively decent, but the best shells are down near Ft. Myers on the Gulf side. Beach access is usually not much of a problem anywhere on either coast; away from Miami, Florida is good about preserving public access. Canaveral Natl. Seashore is very impressive and has good waves for surfing, but there is no lodging; that is daytrip only. (Note: Playalinda Beach, part of the natl. park, is isolated and magnificent, but it is also a nude beach. Stay clear of it if you don't want an eyeful.)

The big chain hotels don't have that much presence on Central FL beaches, and where they do, they don't usually have the prime locations. IME, the best beach places to stay, especially if you are there for a shorter visit, are members of a group called "Superior Small Lodgings." This is not a company, it is quality assurance membership organization for small hotels. I've never been disappointed with an SSL property.

I can recommend a book called, "Florida Beaches" from Foghorn Outdoors; it is the best detailed guide available. We mark off beaches in our copy as we visit them! It's not great on hotels, but it is very good with the beaches themselves, which is the point, after all. Besides that, it is very entertaining reading, lots of little sidebars with local color articles. Here is the Amazon listing: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...25202/sr=11-1/ref=sr_11_1/002-6167544-5147263

 

[Emilysmome]

Anyone visited Destin? We are thinking about it as it is on the way home.

Any opinions? We've done Clearwater once and had a BLAST at Shell Island. It's a MUST for anyone who loves to get seashells. Just bring LOTS of sunscreen! I believe the boat that took us there was the Shell Island shuttle.

TIA!

Christine

 

[megnsamsgrace]

It was nice as my kids had never seen the ocean. It was about an hour drive and pretty nice. But not worth it IMHO, the waves were high for young kids (it wasnt a bad day either) and we just didnt enjoy it that much. This time we are doing the gulf coast, going to Venice Beach (family has a house on the water). Its a further drive but hopefully a bit nicer. Destin is gorgeous (for the above poster). We were going to do a full 2 weeks there but changed our minds and doing Disney! I havent been there but seen it with lots of internet research and it looks just BEAUTIFUL!! HTH, Steph

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

The Gulf coast is much prettier and nicer IMHO ! We love staying at the Don Cesar at St Pete, pure luxury and gorgeous beach. Destin is very nice also. Can't go wrong on the Gulf.

 

[sue Z]

Melbourne Fl had some great beaches too