What beach to go to?

[nursehackett]

We are leaving for our Disney vacation in 9 days!!! Yeah!!!! My DD is almost 5 and has never been outside of Michigan. I want to take a day and go to the beach while we are in Florida. I want somewhere that she will be able to hunt for shells and just have a good time. What beach would everyone recommend? I have seen some postings about Cocoa Beach? Is this a good one? Any suggestions are so greatly appreciated!! Thanks!

 

[ellenmiele]

Cocoa Beach is beautiful - we were there in June - very wide beach and lots of shells.

 

[FirstTimertoDiz]

Hi there, we did the same thing on our last trip, in December 2007- a one day beach trip. We went to Cocoa Beach, and had a wonderful time. It was ds (he was 4 at the time) first time to see the ocean. The day we were there the locals warned us that there was a "red tide," so we shouldn't swim, but we saw other families splashing in the water, so we went in, and never had a problem.

The sand at Cocoa Beach had lots of small broken shells on it, which made ds feet sore, so maybe bring some sandals or water shoes while there. Also, I felt like the water was a bit rough, so I only let him wade to his knees. Since it is on the Atlantic Coast, the water is definitely not clear, but we found the beach in general to be pretty clean.

We are going to wdw again this August, and we decided we are going to try a Gulf beach this time- after researching, we are going to try Siesta Key, because reviews say the slope into the water is very gradual, and the sand is very soft and doesn't get hot to the touch because it is mostly quartz. Also, the gulf water is much clearer, which makes dh happy.

Let us know what you decide- I am sure it will be fun whichever beach you choose, and it is nice to have that one "down" day to just relax.

 

[MidgeD79]

Howdy neighbor! We've been to Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, and Clearwater Beach. This summer we will be returning to Clearwater Beach. The water is much clearer and the beach just seemed nicer.

 

[dzneelvr]

At some point, try to combine a trip to WDW with a short side stay at Disney Vero BeachWe did it to introduce DS and DD to the beach as well in a clean and fun way. DVB is absolutely perfect. It's relaxing and offers educational forays for guests into coastal marine and land life. Really Neat! and of course, full of Disney magicWe did 7 days in the parks and then drove over for 2 days/1 night at DVB. Well worth a bit of extra planning.

 

[LuvOrlando]

Subscribing

 

[Lovin' Disney]

We have always gone to Daytona Beach. The waves are nice, the beach is huge--you drive right on to it. Not too many shells, though.

 

[OmahaNEDad]

We visited Cocoa Beach last year and will be returning this year. The water is not as clear as other beachs but it's the closest beach to WDW that we could find.

The drive was around 1 hour from the Orlando area.

We stayed at hotel with direct beach access. Our twins who where 4 yo last year loved it. But sadly on our last day my DD dumped all her shells out because she "wanted to wash her bucket".

 

[bouncycat]

I live near Cocoa Beach, and while it's nice, I prefer New Smyrna Beach, I grew up there, and the sand is whiter, you can drive on the beach to find your perfect spot...just stay on the south end, not the jettys, more sharks at the jettys, but no problems anywhere else, and no reports this year on sharks. It's also less crowded then Daytona Beach, but just as nice! I can give directions if you need them!

 

[Sgt Mickey]

Ft Myers would be perfect but it is a drive. SOO I also vote Coco beach. We stopped at dayton this time and year don't like it as much.

 

[pooh4evr]

Visited St Pete Beach 2 years ago it was really nice- easy hour and a half drive, clean beach, nice activities to do (dolphin racer boats, Captain Nemo's Pirate Cruise was really great) the water was perfect because the girls could still play in the small waves but it wasn't rought enought to hurt them.

 

[nursehackett]

Thanks for the input on the beaches. I was leaning toward Cocoa Beach, so since it is closest and everyone agrees it is pretty nice that is probably where we will go. I have heard the Gulf beaches are really nice, with white sand and gentle waves, but is that a lot longer drive?

 

[scrapbookmom5174]

I live near Cocoa Beach, and while it's nice, I prefer New Smyrna Beach, I grew up there, and the sand is whiter, you can drive on the beach to find your perfect spot...just stay on the south end, not the jettys, more sharks at the jettys, but no problems anywhere else, and no reports this year on sharks. It's also less crowded then Daytona Beach, but just as nice! I can give directions if you need them!

This is the beach we were thinking of going. My kids really want to get some shells. Is this a good place to go for that?

 

[Sgt Mickey]

Thanks for the input on the beaches. I was leaning toward Cocoa Beach, so since it is closest and everyone agrees it is pretty nice that is probably where we will go. I have heard the Gulf beaches are really nice, with white sand and gentle waves, but is that a lot longer drive?

Yes but if you have the time they are so worth it. It was so pretty in Ft Myers I am so glad we went and the kids had a great time.

 

[LuvOrlando]

-

 

[bouncycat]

Cocoa Beach has alot of shells, but they're broken, and can hurt your feet. For New Smyrna, they have shells, but not as many, and when you find them, they're usually very nice. The sand there is whiter, and you can drive on the beach to help find that perfect spot, instead of walking all over the place. The sand at CB is a little darker, and it has burned the bottom of my feet once, growing up in NSB, the sand doesn't burn cause it doesn't hold the heat....so definedly wear water shoes at ALL times if you go to CB. It's not *that* much farther to go to NSB.

 

[ktdaiwik]

Having fun on Cocoa Beach....

We had a great time there in December.It was very family friendly,not too big waves,we found sea shells which my DS4 loved finding and it definitly helped me get some beach air which I was missing for the last few years having moved from Australia to Edmonton Canada.

 

[theatermouse]

We love New Symrna Beach! We went there this past March (the morning after a wild thunderstorm) and I got so many beautiful shells, including an intact sand dollar!! We brought a few of the shells home & I cleaned them up and are now on my shelves. Very unpopulated, we were able to drive on the beach, and the waves were perfect for my son to "jump." A friend of mine lives 20 minutes from there and had never gone. We converted him to turn that into "his" beach from our visit!

 

[nursehackett]

New Smyrna does look absolutely beautiful! It will definitely be debate between Cocoa Beach and New Smyrna, which we probably decide once we are actually in Florida.