Need advice from the best....Florida info

[crazee4mickey]

If you are staying at WDW how long does it take to drive to:

Sea World?
Kennedy Space Center?
Tampa?
St. Petersburg/Clearwater? (I am guessing by wat I see that the beaches here are amazing, am I right? Where would be a good place to stay for a night or two in this area?)

Is there a really nice "swimmable" beach on the Atlantic side that isn't too far from WDW?

Thanks for all of your help!

 

[spiceycat]

sw - depends upon the traffic on I4 or ID (which ever you take) but around 15 minutes.

90 minutes is the time for Tampa - BG. that can vary because of I4.


ocean side that is swimming safe - completely depends this year they have record numbers of rip tides - if any warning are out - do NOT chance it.

my brother use to go swiming daily - lives in St Augustine - but that has stopped. you don't want to fool around with rip tides.

 

[garmich]

If you are staying at WDW how long does it take to drive to:

Sea World?
Kennedy Space Center?
Tampa?
St. Petersburg/Clearwater?

Thanks for all of your help!

You can get directions, mileage and times using Google Maps
http://maps.google.com/

These numbers are from Google maps:

WDW to:
Sea World - 9.2 mi – about 14 mins
Kennedy Space Center - 67.8 mi – about 1 hour 30 mins
Tampa, FL - 68.2 mi – about 1 hour 10 mins
St. Petersburg, FL - 90.8 mi – about 1 hour 34 mins
Clearwater, FL - 87.6 mi – about 1 hour 40 mins

 

[greenclan67]

So is it better to go to the Gulf side to swim? We are trying to decide which way to go, Clearwater area, or New Smyrna, Daytona, or Cocoa Beach. I think they are all on the Atlantic side, except New Smyrna, am I right?

 

[Jason71]

So is it better to go to the Gulf side to swim? We are trying to decide which way to go, Clearwater area, or New Smyrna, Daytona, or Cocoa Beach. I think they are all on the Atlantic side, except New Smyrna, am I right?

New Smyrna is Atlantic (basically a suburb of Daytona), Clearwater is Gulf side. Gulf is definitely better for swimming.

 

[crazee4mickey]

sw - depends upon the traffic on I4 or ID (which ever you take) but around 15 minutes.

90 minutes is the time for Tampa - BG. that can vary because of I4.


ocean side that is swimming safe - completely depends this year they have record numbers of rip tides - if any warning are out - do NOT chance it.

my brother use to go swiming daily - lives in St Augustine - but that has stopped. you don't want to fool around with rip tides.

Call me stupid but being pretty much in the middle of North America we have no oceans around us so I really have no idea....what exactly is a rip tide?

They are wanting to travel end of March first week of April how does that affect the choice of area to swim at?

 

[garmich]

Call me stupid but being pretty much in the middle of North America we have no oceans around us so I really have no idea....what exactly is a rip tide?

A rip tide (or rip current) is a strong current of water that can pull you away from shore. There was a recent incident at Daytona Beach where an autistic boy and his father were swept out 8 miles from shore by a rip tide. They treaded water for 14 hours before being rescued. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26639098/

Here is a website that explains what a riptide is.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/worst_case_scenarios/1289281.html

 

[MorningGlory]

If you are staying at WDW how long does it take to drive to:

Sea World?
Kennedy Space Center?
Tampa?
St. Petersburg/Clearwater? (I am guessing by wat I see that the beaches here are amazing, am I right? Where would be a good place to stay for a night or two in this area?)

Is there a really nice "swimmable" beach on the Atlantic side that isn't too far from WDW?

Thanks for all of your help!

How familiar are you with the roads in the area? We found the best way to Seaworld was through LBV, going up Palm Parkway then turning right onto the Central Florida Parkway. SW was a few hundred yards up on the left hand side. Much quieter than I4 or Int Drive.

Tampa is straight down the I4, with St Petersburg a little further on down the I275. A much better alternate route to St Petersburg tho is going over the Sunshine Skyway bridge, which is easily the most impressive bridge i've ever crossed. Well worth the detour. Simply follow the I4 until you hit the I75, then take that South for around 30 miles. Then onto the I275 North, which takes you onto the bridge and straight into St Petes.

For beaches, we went to St Petes beach on a recommendation from people who stay in the area. It is absolutely beautiful, with crystal clear warm water. I have heard that Pass A Grille and Ft DeSoto beaches a mile South are even better.

Hope that helps