which beach for a weekend after Disney?

[fairydust72]

Going to WDW in June, We would like to go to the beach for a couple of days after our Disney trip. WHich beach is nicer and why? Cocoa Beach on the east coast or one of the gulf beaches like Clearwater ? We are used to east coast beaches bur have never seen the gulf. Is it worth it? What are the pros and cons to each of them? We would like some activity around us also not just sand and water if possible.

 

[staceyrhood]

We love honeymoon island on the gulf. It is great there! As locals we are not crazy about the busy beaches like cocoa (one time was enough for me there on the coast we like jetty park it is at port Canaveral and is nice because you can watch the cruise ships from the beach.

 

[robndani]

We love Clearwater and the whole Tampa area in general. Being an East Coast girl makes me appreciate the Gulf Coast so much more. totally worth it!

 

[JimMIA]

It depends on what you want. And also, your specific question of where to go AFTER a Disney vacation is different from those seeking day trips.

You have two choices -- East Coast (Atlantic Ocean) or West Coast (Gulf of Mexico). The beaches both places are great, but different.

On the Atlantic side, you will find "real beaches" with real waves, surf, etc. Many places on the Atlantic side tend to be crowded and touristy (Cocoa Beach, and especially Daytona Beach), but there are some really beautiful beaches which are much more relaxing (Canaveral National Seashore, St. Augustine, etc.)

The Gulf side is more tranquil and might be a better choice if you have little kids who might be intimidated by the waves of the Atlantic. A few areas on the Gulf are pretty touristy -- anywhere around St. Pete Beach, and also Ft. Myers Beach -- but generally the Gulf Coast is calmer.

There are a couple of very cool places, depending on which way you go.

On the Atlantic side, St. Augustine is the oldest continuously inhabited city in North America -- founded in 1565, 55 years before the Pilgrims on the Mayflower, and 42 years before Jamestown. Very cool, very historic and also an interesting town with some great beaches.

Most of the better places on the Gulf side are either further south from Tampa (Marco Island, Sanibel, Longboat Key, etc) , or way west in the Florida Panhandle. But just above Clearwater (which has a nice beach) is Tarpon Springs -- a Greek sponge-fishing town with a very interesting history and culture.

Do some research on non-Disney tourist sites to get a better idea what's out there.

Good luck, and have a great trip!

 

[jtopicz1]

Really depends what you are looking for.

Atlantic Beaches tend to be better surf and very blue water.

Gulf beaches are typically calmer, with greener water. They are often great for shelling.

I am local to the Clearwater area, however for a one day trip (or an overnight), I would recommend Treasure Island, Honeymoon Island, or the EXTREME north part of Clearwater Beach (Less crowds / Free parking). On the Atlantic side, both Vero and Palm Coast are nice, and usually less crowded than the others on that coast.

 

[Trixie15]

Anyone local know what the beaches will be like in January? I'm sure it's too cold to swim but is it too cold/windy/rainy to walk along the beach and collect shells and stuff? And is Altlantic or Gulf better if we do decide to go in January?

 

[JimMIA]

Anyone local know what the beaches will be like in January? I'm sure it's too cold to swim but is it too cold/windy/rainy to walk along the beach and collect shells and stuff? And is Altlantic or Gulf better if we do decide to go in January?

Depends on where you are from, where you are in Florida, and also the weather that particular day.

It probably will NOT be rainy. October - May is our dry season, so your weather will probably be clear.

Cold? How cold is cold? Here in Miami, we wear ski parkas when the temps plunge into the 60's.

Where? Cold fronts come through during our "winter," but they rarely make it south of West Palm Beach on the Atlantic side. So, if you are in Miami, you probably won't have "cold" weather. Lots of people swim at our beaches in January; in fact, it's peak tourist season. OTOH, if you're in Jacksonville 350 miles north, you could get snow in January.

Wind. January-February tend to be pretty windy, often with strong Easterly winds which cause dangerous rip tides. So the Atlantic coast would be much more likely to be uncomfortable than the Gulf coast in January.

 

[NinaBella]

If kids are in your group, check out Tradewinds Resort. They are very family friendly. The water island is not out everyday in off season, just weekends and holidays, so check with the resort on what is and is not available for your travel dates.