Things to do within 2 hours of disney resorts -affordable

[IndigoLove]

Looking for ideas on what to do for 4 adults and one teen in August. We are looking for day trip ideas for non park days. Any good main street type shopping districts? We'd also like to find a good fishing spot and a beach to visit. Another idea would be to find some sort of boat tour or fishing expedition. Any companies I should look into?

 

[plb626]

Head to Daytona Beach! You can take a tour of the Daytona Racetrack. Then Drive on the Beach, one of the few places that they still let you drive on the beach and park. There are some shops along A1A along with minigolf. Go out on the pier. I've seen a lot of people fish off it.

The drive is about 1 hour 15 minutes depending on traffic.

 

[shalom]

Any good main street type shopping districts?

Not sure what a "main street type shopping district" is. There's always Downtown Disney. If you want to get away from Disney, there's Orlando's Old Town:

http://www.old-town.com/

Or Park Avenue in Winter Park:

http://www.parkave-winterpark.com/html/about_us.html

Cocoa Beach has the closest beaches, I believe. Here are some reviews:

http://www.beachhunter.net/cocoa-beach/

Gulf beaches are a bit further away but a lot of people like them better, I think because of the white quartz sand. Atlantic beaches are closer but have higher waves and more riptides. Clearwater Beach is the gulf beach I most hear recommended:

http://www.beachhunter.net/clearwaterbeach.htm

 

[LadyBeBop]

Our family loves Tarpon Springs FL.

It's slightly under two hours from WDW on the Gulf of Mexico, just north of Clearwater. It has the largest Greek population per capita of any American city. As such, it has a number of Greek shops and restaurants. And the baklavas in their bakeries...

 

[IndigoLove]

These are some great ideas and places to look into!

 

[mickeyluvsjess]

I am not sure of your exact circumstances but on the NE coast of FL there is a beautifull town called Saint Augustine.I is about and hour and a half away from Disney but IMHO it is one of the most beautifull towns around!! They have a beach, a historic district and outlet mall and we ALWAYS stop on our drive down to disney. Try to look it up online it is worth the time. But if that is too far to travel I agree with the PP that Daytona is the best and easiest Beach to travel to.

 

[teamaaron]

I am not sure of your exact circumstances but on the NE coast of FL there is a beautifull town called Saint Augustine.I is about and hour and a half away from Disney but IMHO it is one of the most beautifull towns around!! They have a beach, a historic district and outlet mall and we ALWAYS stop on our drive down to disney. Try to look it up online it is worth the time. But if that is too far to travel I agree with the PP that Daytona is the best and easiest Beach to travel to.

Keep them coming guys. St. Augustine is a beautiful beach from waht I hear. It'll be awesome. More suggestions so that Disney does not take all of my money.

 

[ksass]

There is a state park just north of clearwater beach called Honeymoon Island. It costs like $7 per car load. it is an undeveloped (as in not touristy) park area that is really a huge sandbar created by a hurricane many years ago. there is about 3 miles of pure shell beach on the northern tip and a white sand beach to swim. The water is only about waist deep for about 100 yards out. We were able to see dolphins swimming and jumping and collected BAGS of sea shells! Google Honeymoon Island FL for more info....great place!!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I always mean to go tour Winter Park. It's suppose to have a great downtown area with shops, park, resturants...

Also do a search for events. Things like craft fairs etc. I did one once in Celebration that was outstanding!

 

[arthur06]

Siesta Key!!!

Great Beach, gulf side, beach shopping. Then follow with dinner at Yoders!!!

 

[Danibelle]

I am not sure of your exact circumstances but on the NE coast of FL there is a beautifull town called Saint Augustine.I is about and hour and a half away from Disney but IMHO it is one of the most beautifull towns around!! They have a beach, a historic district and outlet mall and we ALWAYS stop on our drive down to disney. Try to look it up online it is worth the time. But if that is too far to travel I agree with the PP that Daytona is the best and easiest Beach to travel to.

On Mapquest, it is about a 2 hr. drive. It's a great place to visit but seems pretty far from WDW. I would pick a closer place like Clearwater/St. Pete or even Cocoa Beach.

 

[dtum]

There is a state park just north of clearwater beach called Honeymoon Island. It costs like $7 per car load. it is an undeveloped (as in not touristy) park area that is really a huge sandbar created by a hurricane many years ago. there is about 3 miles of pure shell beach on the northern tip and a white sand beach to swim. The water is only about waist deep for about 100 yards out. We were able to see dolphins swimming and jumping and collected BAGS of sea shells! Google Honeymoon Island FL for more info....great place!!

We were going to go to Clearwater, but this place sounds great. Was it easy to get to? How much further from Clearwater was it? We were thinking 2 hours to Clearwater.