Tampa Bay area beaches, & Daytona area

[greenclan67]

We leave next Monday for 2 weeks in FL This is more of a relaxed vacay, as we have done 4 years of parks, parks, parks! We are doing Discovery Cove, and Seaworld for a few days, but that is all!
We are heading down to Tampa area for the day from Orlando, on the 9th (Weds) because my sister and bro in law are flying in for a 5 day vacation, so if the weather is good we are going to do a beach day with them. I have looked at Fort de soto, caladesi island, clearwater, honeymoon island & St.Petes. Which one of these would you choose, and why? We have 2 girls that like to look for shells, they are 11 & 9. We also have to drive back to Orlando that night as well!
Now the next question is, my husband really, really wants to go down to Daytona beach, by this time my niece and her husband and 5 year old daughter will be with us. It will again be a day trip. Any suggestions on what to do at daytona, and where the best beach is. I have no idea, is there a certain pier we should be going to? Any info you can give will be greatly appreciated. I don't want to end up at some scummy part, with 3 kids.
Thanks so much!

 

[bucsfan1029]

You really couldn't go wrong with any of the beaches you listed. Ft. Desoto is often ranked amongst the best beaches in America, so I'd rank that high. Caladesi is also very nice, but you have to take a ferry to get there. While that makes it much more private, it also isn't as convenient and you have to leave by a certain time. The only one I'd stay clear of is Clearwater. Don't get me wrong, I love Clearwater Beach and go there all the time, but this will likely be Spring Break for many of the local high schools and colleges and Clearwater is the most popular beach of them all. It would likely be very crowded during that time. Enjoy!

 

[Seahunt]

Now the next question is, my husband really, really wants to go down to Daytona beach, by this time my niece and her husband and 5 year old daughter will be with us. It will again be a day trip.

I'm not sure which date you're looking at for your day trip to Daytona, but just wanted to warn you that Bike Week runs from March 4 -13th this year. Plus it's the 70th anniversary, so expectations are having between 500,00 - 700,00 visitors over the period.

http://www.daytonachamber.com/daytonabikeweek/

If everyone in your party loves motorcycles it's definitely something you should do at least once in your lifetime. Otherwise you might feel a little overwhelmed

 

[Orlando Vic]

Now the next question is, my husband really, really wants to go down to Daytona beach, by this time my niece and her husband and 5 year old daughter will be with us. It will again be a day trip. Any suggestions on what to do at daytona, and where the best beach is. I have no idea, is there a certain pier we should be going to? Any info you can give will be greatly appreciated. I don't want to end up at some scummy part, with 3 kids.
Thanks so much!

I live about 50 miles from Daytona Beach and never go there. My very opinionated opinion is that is that it is overrated and not the best beach to visit when you have better east coast alternatives. The sand is hard packed and cars drive up and down the beach...all the time. On weekends it resembles a big, sandy parking lot. O.K., some exaggeration here, but some truth also. It is very hard to relax on hard sand with cars whizzing by. Some may disagree, but I stand by my opinion. I would prefer to visit Cocoa Beach or Crescent Beach mid-way between Palm Coast and St. Augustine Beach.

 

[Seahunt]

It is very hard to relax on hard sand with cars whizzing by.

I do understand you don't like DB but wanted to add to others reading that there are many traffic free sections of the beach available in DB, like this one in Wilbur by the Sea (closer to the lighthouse in Ponce Inlet):

http://virtualvolusia.com/Toronita.html

Maps showing where traffic free sections are located:

http://www.volusia.org/beach/bchmapn.htm

http://www.volusia.org/beach/bchmaps.htm

 

[greenclan67]

Thanks everyone, I am weary to begin with about Daytona beach, so that is why I was asking for opinions on the area! We have done Clearwater as well, loved it, it was busy, but not overly! I think my hubby really wanted to go down and see the speedway, I have no interest! He is a little peeved so far that we have never went when Daytona was on! We have left a day or 2 before or came in a week after! I will take all suggestions into consideration!

 

[Orlando Vic]

Thanks everyone, I am weary to begin with about Daytona beach, so that is why I was asking for opinions on the area! We have done Clearwater as well, loved it, it was busy, but not overly! I think my hubby really wanted to go down and see the speedway, I have no interest! He is a little peeved so far that we have never went when Daytona was on! We have left a day or 2 before or came in a week after! I will take all suggestions into consideration!

If you have 2 days, why not do this?
Visit the Speedway and then drive another 45 minutes north via I-95. Exit at SR 206 and drive to Crescent Beach where you can spend the night at Beachers Lodge http://www.beacherslodge.com/index.cfm
Ask for an oceanfront unit on an uppper (3 or 4) floor. Here is a map of the area: http://www.beacherslodge.com/images/content/mapofstaugustine.pdf
Crescent Beach is much, much smaller with soft sand and, in many ways, the opposite of Daytona or New Smyrna Beaches (cars, traffic, congestion, etc.)

 

[earthfaries]

I would skip Daytona personally. There are so many better and more beautiful beaches to go to!

Pass a Grille in Tampa is nice, as it Honeymoon.

My personal fave though is near Sarasota, which is around 2 hours from Disney. We do there about once a week for a day trip to the Venice beach, to find shells and shark teeth. Siesta Key is also gorgeous, 99% white sand, and the water is clear and blue and gentle. Just gorgeous, and worth the extra hour drive from Tampa

*Beaches in Tampa from Orlando are about 1 hr 45 min to 2 hours also, as you have to leave the interstate to get to them. That's another reason I like Sarasota, straight highway at 70 mph

Here are some pics from our trip last Wed. and Thurs. (we did an over nighter so we could visit 3 restaurants featured on the Man vs Food show on Travel Channel)

Venice Beach

Caspersen Beach (near Venice. Smaller, more natural, no high rises or condos)

You can see people collecting sharks teeth

You can see how calm the water is, how beautiful.

What ever beach you choose, esp. on the East coast, I'm sure you'll have a super time!

Have fun!



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[jmpellet]

We loved Clearwater Beach and specifically the Holiday Inn and Suites. The beach was very nice, we saw dolphins not 10 feet from us. Just a great place.

 

[greenclan67]

You guys are being so awesomely helpful! Earthfarie I was just reading about your moving to Florida, I so wish from cold Canada we could do that! It is just so much harder from Canada!

 

[Seahunt]

I think my hubby really wanted to go down and see the speedway, I have no interest!

Just tell him that the speedway will be way too congested with these motorcycle events that are being held there in connection with Bikeweek:

Daytona Supercross By Honda
March 5, 2011

Ricky Carmichael Daytona Amateur Supercross Championship
March 6 - 7, 2011

XDL Championship Series
March 9, 2011

AMA Pro Flat Track
March 10 - 11, 2011

Daytona 200
March 12, 2011

 

[greenclan67]

Seahunt, thank you, thank you, that might just work, being that we have 2 girls and he isn't into bikes!!!!LOL Doesn't stop us from going the 2nd week though, we are there til the 18th,, maybe I can streeeeeeeeeeeeeeetch the truth!

 

[cv499]

I have not been to daytona in a few years. I would not go there for the beaches, especially near bike week. I did however have a great time at the speedway. There is a nice museum and we got to ride around the track. There is also a dog racing track next to the speedway, that was pretty cool too.

 

[mdsd8700]

We visited Daytona for the first time in November of last year, so we missed all of the crowds without a doubt however the weather was in the 80s everyday so we were able to enjoy the beach each day and do lots of activites outside. With that being said in our opinion we didn't see the draw for Daytona, the beach or the area around it. My BIL and his family have been there many times and love it, we don't see the need to ever return. Yes the kids enjoyed themselves as did we but overall there are much better beaches and places to visit. Of course I am sure you will find people who just can't wait to go back, but for us once was enough. Good luck with your decision and enjoy your trip.