Where to go for a beach day?

[Disneylovrs]

Poking for opinions of where everyone likes to go to the beach. Easy coast or west coast of Florida? Wife & I will be in Orlando in 3 weeks for 12 days. Wife wants to take long drive to Miami Beach. It's intriguing always wanted to go there.

 

[Southern Bell]

When at Disney we usually go to the East coast, to St Augustine, Daytona, Cape Canaveral Area. One time we did go to Tampa first to visit relatives and afterwards Disney.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Last year, we visited Cocoa Beach and had a great time (loved Ron Jons Surf Shop!). Easy drive from Orlando, free parking, great waves, no crowds.....fun times.

This year, we're trying Daytona Beach at the request of the teenagers.

 

[keishashadow]

Poking for opinions of where everyone likes to go to the beach. Easy coast or west coast of Florida? Wife & I will be in Orlando in 3 weeks for 12 days. Wife wants to take long drive to Miami Beach. It's intriguing always wanted to go there.

long is the operative word, wouldn't want to tackle that RT in one day. We love visiting South Beach a vibrant place but you really need at least a night or two to experience it. Perhaps you could add it on the end of the trip and, if flying home, catch a flight out of MIA or FLL vs driving back to MCO?

we are looking forward to driving to Clearwater in October for a few nights in between our WDW & Universal visits. Highly rated beach, wide & is white/powdery, doesn't get hot on the feet. The drive is not much longer than to Cocoa Beach.

 

[Disneylovrs]

Talked to the wife last night about beach day & as much as she wants to see Miami Beach as do I. She liked the idea of going to Clearwater Beach instead. The sound of soft white sandy beach got her thinking as did the 2hr drive.

 

[Jdismom]

And the drive to Miami is a lot longer than 2 hours - more like 3 and a half!

 

[Cira]

South Beach is absolutely stunningly beautiful, particularly at night. However, depending on the time of day you arrive in Miami, there will be massive traffic and the trip could take anywhere from 3 .5 to 4 hours. Not exactly what you would want to be doing when hoping for the Beach. Also, in South Beach you have to allow for the traffic IN South Beach. I have heard that St. Petersburg beach has the best sand and it is pretty. Have fun in Clearwater, enjoy! The ocean is the best place to be (other than Disney, of course). LOL

 

[Dannek]

If you want to go over to the east coast and not drive all the way down to Miami, then Daytona Beach is a nice choice. You can pack up your car with all your stuff for a beach day and drive right onto the beach, park, walk towards the water and pick a spot to setup.

If you aren't into that, you still can enjoy driving on the beach, then heading down A1A to Ponce Inlet (where I live) which is just south of Daytona Beach on the island. There are plenty of free public parking areas with restrooms, where you can park and go onto a beautiful non driving beach for the day. You also have Ponce Inlet lighthouse that you can tour, charter fishing boats, mountain bike trails, and great surfing at the inlet if you're so inclined. There are also lots of great restaurants on the beach side and the mainland to choose from.

Then you have the option of driving about an hour south and touring Kennedy Space Center, or heading about an hour north and touring St. Augustine. If you have the time and go to St. Augustine, there are several really nice bed and breakfast inn's right over the bridge in town that are worth checking out for a night. As for Kennedy Space Center, it's a great day trip with a nice tour and lots of things to see.

The west coast is really nice as well, so you can't go wrong either way..

 

[NinaBella]

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