What's The Best Beach?

[team harris]

We are now in the planning stages for next year's holiday.
We would like to spend a day on a beach. We have a car and are happy to drive for around 2 hours to get there. We have two teenage DS, so where would be the best beach for us all - how long to get there and is it a straight forward drive?

 

[tracipierce]

I would also like to know, last year I had planned on driving to Cocoa Beach, but I was told by someone staying at our resort that it wasn't a very nice beach, so we didn't go. Next year my DD16 has said that she definitely wants to go to a beach this time, but I just don't know which one to go to.. Daytona isn't too far away, about 1 hours drive, but I thought it might be a bit busy?

Hope someone can help

 

[kevin harrison]

You are best heading to the west coast, Clearwater and St Petes to name but two. The water is far warmer there also.

Have a look on the web for Caledesi Island, you can only get there by Ferry and is untouched, no cars there - nothing, just pure white beach.

It was voted Number 1 beach in North America this year...

http://www.floridastateparks.org/CaladesiIsland/

 

[team harris]

You are best heading to the west coast, Clearwater and St Petes to name but two. The water is far warmer there also.

Have a look on the web for Caledesi Island, you can only get there by Ferry and is untouched, no cars there - nothing, just pure white beach.

It was voted Number 1 beach in North America this year...

http://www.floridastateparks.org/CaladesiIsland/

Sounds lovely, do you know roughly how long the drive would be?

 

[Netty]

I would say going to Clearwater is roughly just over an hour away.

 

[Netty]

90 minutes from Orlando and 2 hours from Sanford airport. Clearwater attracts a mainly younger crowd perhaps due to the excellent water sports facilities to keep you amused during the day. At night there are lively bars and nightclubs to keep you entertained. A great haunt of the yachting scene the old harbour area provides a few seafront restaurants and you can even hire a boat to go up and down the coast. The coastline here attracts lots of dolphins so keep your eyes open as you go over the 'inter coastal highway' bridge. If you do get theme park withdrawal symptoms you can always spend a day at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay for some more thrilling rides.

 

[tracipierce]

I would say going to Clearwater is roughly just over an hour away.

OOh that doesn't sound too bad! I have driven to Busch Gardens before (admittedly I got lost on the way back ) but if it isn't much more of a drive I may just check it out.

I'm looking into buying a sat nav for the trip, it gets a bit scary being a woman on my own driving around with the kids, a sat nav might make me feel a bit more secure?

 

[Netty]

OOh that doesn't sound too bad! I have driven to Busch Gardens before (admittedly I got lost on the way back ) but if it isn't much more of a drive I may just check it out.

I'm looking into buying a sat nav for the trip, it gets a bit scary being a woman on my own driving around with the kids, a sat nav might make me feel a bit more secure?

sounds like a satnav would be a good idea Tracie, good on you on driving round with the kids

 

[tracipierce]

This will be the 3rd time for me driving with just the kids! The time I got lost was on our first trip and I was terrified, luckily I didn't get lost last year, but then again I didn't travel too far, just from the airport, a few walmart trips and of course florida mall and the outlets

BUT if I am to go any distance, I'm definately getting a sat nav. I'm watching one on ebay at the minute which is currently selling for $10, wish it would stay at that price (not very likely though is it lol) Oh well I have 11 months to get one

 

[JohnnySharp2]

The beaches on the west coast are much nicer, further away but worth the extra drive.
Around 90 minutes or so to Clearwater/St Petes, pretty straightforward drive along the I4, just follow road signs for Tampa.
Never rated Cocoa Beach personally.

There is a lot of construction work involving hotels and the new 'beach walk on Clearwater beach at the moment, so you may need to bear that in mind.

My favourite beach is Anna Maria Island which is totally unspoilt and really quiet.
The beach guide below is very good:

http://www.beachhunter.net/

 

[kristieuk]

The beaches on the west coast are much nicer, further away but worth the extra drive.
Around 90 minutes or so to Clearwater/St Petes, pretty straightforward drive along the I4, just follow road signs for Tampa.
Never rated Cocoa Beach personally.

There is a lot of construction work involving hotels and the new 'beach walk on Clearwater beach at the moment, so you may need to bear that in mind.

My favourite beach is Anna Maria Island which is totally unspoilt and really quiet.
The beach guide below is very good:

http://www.beachhunter.net/

Johnny - stop telling people about Anna Maria Island - it's supposed to be a secret!!

We stay on Anna Maria every year, rent a house, live on the beach. It is true old style Florida living, not that much to do except eat, fish, relax....heaven for us. It depends on what you are looking for - for more commercialised / watersports etc, St Petes or Clearwater is your best bet, but it's not for us.

Anna Maria is probably about another hour south of Clearwater or St Petes if this is any consideration. If you do venture this far south, you could also look at Siesta Key (whitest sand in the word apparently!). It also has more of a vacation feel imho - Anna Maria has lots of permanent and long term winter residents, so a lot of the time you are amongst locals.

Good luck with your choice, I don't think you'd be disappointed whatever you decide

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Johnny - stop telling people about Anna Maria Island - it's supposed to be a secret!!

Notice we have the same avatar? I am still floating at Anfield after I witnessed Stevie G's winner yesterday - sorry off topic there for a moment.

You make a fair point also, Anna Maria is unspoilt but maybe for children Clearwater would appeal more.

 

[amystevekai&bump]

You are best heading to the west coast, Clearwater and St Petes to name but two. The water is far warmer there also.

Have a look on the web for Caledesi Island, you can only get there by Ferry and is untouched, no cars there - nothing, just pure white beach.

It was voted Number 1 beach in North America this year...

http://www.floridastateparks.org/CaladesiIsland/

was going to say the exact same thing!!

 

[team harris]

Thanks guys, I think Clearwater it is!

 

[MrsSparrow..]

Just to agree with everyone else, we've done most of the nearby beaches and Cocoa beach isn't all that great. We much prefer clearwater

 

[leicesterbob]

[
BUT if I am to go any distance, I'm definately getting a sat nav.



If you don't want to buy a satnav you can usually hire one when you rent your hire car. As a fellow single parent I wish you good luck

 

[kristieuk]

Notice we have the same avatar? I am still floating at Anfield after I witnessed Stevie G's winner yesterday - sorry off topic there for a moment.

You make a fair point also, Anna Maria is unspoilt but maybe for children Clearwater would appeal more.

I'm with you on Cloud 9! Couldn't believe it, although it was more the words of Matt Le Tissier on Sky Sports 1 that sent me there - gone are the Anfield days now the 2 children have me chained to the kitchen sink all weekend I seem to remember you are among the righteous with a season ticket?? Not that I'm sick with jealousy or anything....

I don't know about Clearwater being more appealing to children necessarily, but teenagers are always looking for the action I suppose. Hopefully mine won't ever notice the difference, I can't imagine a year without Anna Maria, my favourite place on earth.

 

[eaglevillas]

[
BUT if I am to go any distance, I'm definately getting a sat nav.



If you don't want to buy a satnav you can usually hire one when you rent your hire car. As a fellow single parent I wish you good luck

Best place i have found to get a sat nav or any other travel gadgets is
a company called StresslessJourneys. They have sat navs, Sony psp's nintendo's, dvd players, DVD camcorders and for the protective parents a fantastic child tracker all for hire..