What Beach do you Suggest?

[Tigger&Belle]

We will be in Orlando this April for a few days and want to follow that with a few days at the beach. We want to be somewhere on the ocean in the Daytona Beach to Fort Pierce area. We don't want to be too far north because of water temperatures, but if we go too far south we would then have that much longer of a drive when we head home to Maryland.

There are 6 of us so a suite type hotel that isn't too expensive would be good. We'd like a place with a nice pool, but if the hotel is on the beach we could pass on a nice pool (but some pool would be nice). I looked into the Ron Jon resort (I forgot the exact name), but they are sold out when we'd be there in early April.

A nice beach is the most important thing, though. If there is a boardwalk area (I have kids from 4-16yo) the older kids would like that a lot.

Thanks, T&B

 

[Snoopymom]

Hi T&B

I posted this to someone else a while back so please forgive me for pasting it in here. Hope it helps, let me know if you have any questons.

Daytona is an easy straight shot from Orlando, and it's nice if you don't mind seeing the cars on the beach (which in my opinion just seems wrong unless you are into the whole history of Daytona racing on the beach thing, LOL) They do strictly enforce the speed and the beach is so wide that they're not actually near where you would be playing in the sand and swimming.

I've never been in April...it may be during SpringBreak and kind of crazy?

We've stayed at a place called The Beach Comer Inn a few times.
http://www.beachcomerinn.com. It's definitely not a luxury kind of place, but we love it because it is clean, cheap and casual... I don't have to worry about my ds trecking through the lobby in his wet and sandy bathing suit, the people running it are so friendly, the pool is nice, always open with a poolside bar and stairs down to the beach, there's plenty of parking and it's close to everything. The breakfast bar is terrible, but all of the rooms have refrigerators, so you can keep snacks and drinks in your room. They also have rooms with kitchenettes for I think about $10-$15 more a night.

There's a boardwalk area with a parking garage next to the Adam's Mark (a huge resort you can't miss), where there's a movie theater, some shops and a Bubba Gumps. The pier reminds me of something out of the 50's with a sky ride out over it. There's also Go-Kart rides, one of those sky jumping/spinning rides and some fun quaint/tacky arcades.

There's a lighthouse at Ponce's inlet, which I think is the tallest in Florida? There's a restaurant on the water near the lighthouse called Down the Hatch which is pretty good with a gorgeous view. Last time we were there, we saw the most incredible sunset complete with sailboats and pelicans. We also love a restaurant called Parkes which is on the water at the end of one of the bridges, we always have to ask for directions, lol, it's very family oriented with lots of neat aquariums and a good children's menu, and we usually hit Bubba Gumps at least once.

Also don't forget to take a Mickey kite, my ds's favorite part!

 

[sweetheart2576]

Check out this hotel, It is the Fairfield ocean walk resort it is located on the traffic free part of the beach. I've never stayed there but I have seen it. We are looking into staying there in August. It is right next to the Adams Mark hotel, and the ocean walk shops. There is also a lazy river.

http://www.oceanwalk.com/

Here are some reviews for the resort off tripadvisor.com

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re..._Ocean_Walk_Resort-Daytona_Beach_Florida.html

 

[GIOny]

We were in Daytona 2 years ago the week before Easter and it was nuts. The spring break crowd (mostly high schoolers) are there and there is a constant traffic jam on most of the strip. You may be alright if you stay at the southern end of the strip. Good Luck!

 

[Snoopymom]

Thanks Sweetheart 2576 for the tip on The Ocean Walk hotel. I just checked it out and I love it, now if I can just convince dh to stay somewhere else when we go to Daytona next time.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Thanks for the replies!

What is Bubba Gumps?

Yeah, the spring break crowds have me concerned. I don't mind a lot of families, but don't want top be kept awake by noisy teens or college students. Is Daytona worse in that respect the week before Easter than other towns?

Oceanwalk looks good since my family of 6 can fit in a 1br unit and there is a little kitchen. At least I think there is a kitchen in the 1br units.

For the Beachcomer Inn we'd need two rooms, but then of course would have more privacy and plenty of bed space (without one or two of the kids being on a sleeper sofa).

Are there places within walking distance (shops, restaurants, boardwalk, etc) or are these things that we would need to drive to?

I'm sure I'll think of more questions, too.

T&B

 

[sweetheart2576]

Not only do they (ocean walk resort 1 bedroom) have a kitchen but a washer and dryer as well.

 

[Snoopymom]

Bubba Gumps is a seafood restaurant taken from the movie Forest Gump http://www.bubbagump.com/
It's a fun kind of noisy family place with Tom Hanks trivia, and there's a nice outdoor eating area that looks out over the beach. It's not cheap, approx $15-20 for adults, but you get a lot of food.

There really isn't anything within walking distance of the Beach Comer, maybe a few shops if you cross the street, but the Ocean Walk Hotel is right in the middle of everything and you would be able to walk to all of the bigger and nicer beachwear/gift shops, goony golf, restaurants, and arcades. I would definitely stay there if it's affordable, especially to avoid traffic if you do go during Spring Break.

We always go when it's completely dead, but I could see where it might be fun when it's a little crowded especially for teenagers, since there's a big stage area and volleyball courts, but I think we'd be miserable if it was really crowded and crazy, but then we're the type to stay off property at Disney to get a break from it all, lol.

Have fun!

 

[sweetheart2576]

For our dates in August they are asking $139 a night at the Ocean walk resort.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

We'd probably be there (or wherever we end up) for 3 nights, so a few days of crazy wouldn't be too bad, especially if we could park our van and then walk places. Of course before that we'll be at Universal, right in the middle of lots of people.

We're vegetarian, so I suppose that Bubba Gumps wouldn't be our thing. Some seafood restaurants have good vegie selections, too, so I'll look over the menu.

The washer/dryer would be great at that point in our trip. I like have laundry facilities when staying at the beach since having sand stuck to me drives me crazy. It's nice to be able to wash the sandy suits and clothes and not take it back home. Seems that sand can last for years in a vehicle. lol

T&B

 

[Snoopymom]

I think there were some vegeterian things to order at a fun restaurant we tried called The Wreck. You'd have to drive to it from the beach area, but it's on the water and has that casual vacation feel to it, so your kids would probably like it. I couldn't find a website for it, but it's pretty popular so you should be able to find it.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

LOL, the Wreck...sounds like my house after being gone a week.

I'll make note of it and check it out!

T&B