We are going to Orlando, and want to travel to one of the beaches for a few day, and a few hour drive is OK. My question is, what beach should we go to? We have several in mind, but we want to stay somewhere NICE too. We have looked at all the info on Daytona Beach, and the hotel rooms there sound scary!! Like they are dirty, and such. I know you can't always rely on the reviews of everything, but we are not there, so thought I'd ask you all. What beaches have you visited, and tell me what was nice about it. And please tell me where to NOT go too!! We have teenagers too. Thanks
St. Augustine is awesome on the Atlantic side and on the Gulf, Anna Maria Island and the Indian Rocks Beach areas are beautiful!
From Orlando, consider St. Pete Beach or Clearwater (Tampa area) it would be about 1.5 hrs each way. Also, if you want to go further, Sanibel Island is beautiful. It might not be great for teenagers because there is not a lot there besides the beach. If your teenagers have any interest in history, St. Augustine is really interesting. It is actually the oldest city in the US (not Williamsburg, VA!).
I would avoid Daytona, would avoid places associated with college spring break! C.
We drove to Clearwater Beach from Orlando a couple years ago and loved it! Beautiful white beaches and clear, blue water. We stayed at the Marriot across the street from the beach, and it was nice. I've also been to Cocoa Beach briefly, and it was fine but with murkier water. I didn't stay there overnight because it is just about a hour or so from Orlando. Clearwater was closer to 2 hours.
Daytona Beach. There is a place called Ponce Inlet. You can't get any further down the beach than Ponce Inlet. There is a river side and a beach side to play in. There are some hotels and condos in that area that are a little nicer than the touristy places. You can park on the beach or a couple of pull off parking spots and a parking lot. It is $5 a day. there is a jetty you can walk out on. A portion of it does not have cars. You can walk up this boardwalk and they have picnic areas, huge bathrooms for changing, a place to play in the river but you do need shoes. If you follow the driveway back, there is lighthouse to tour and a park to play at. A place where the charter for fishing go out. Theres also a marine science center. The crowd isn't bad except on the weekends.
Tampa is also not to far.
We just got back from going to Orlando 2 weeks ago. We had planned to do 6days in orlando and 5 days in Daytona beach, but after talking to friends that live in Tampa they suggested we take the family to St. Petes Beach, St. Petersburg Fl. instead. They said the town of Daytona and the beach were run down looking. So glad we cancelled our hotel reservations there and took them up on their advice to go to St. petes beach. We stayed at the Trade Winds resort. Very kid friendly, awesome beach, that is on the gulf of mexico, the water was so warm, and calm. Please check out their website, for the Trade Winds resort, you wont be dissappointed. (I promise)
Everywhere on the gulf coast is nice. Sarasota beaches are beautiful, Cochina Beach is really fun with all of the live shells. If you are in the Clearwater/St. Pete area make sure to visit the sponge dock with the great greek food!
St. Petersburg beach is wonderful! I have gone there my entire life and still love it. Miles of endless beach, warm gulf waters & tons of hotels, condos and restaurants for every budget. Fly into Tampa, and it's a 30 min drive.
Tampa Bay. St.pete my favorite doncesar spa resort, we do lots of stay cations there especially long weekends. Very historic and famous Pink palace on the beach, kids club for all ages. fused water and SPF lotions free at the pool and beach, icecream parlor, toys for the kids at the arrival, lots of beach toys for the kids, water activities right at your private beach. excellent customer service. simply paradise!!! Ps. There lots of walking distance affordable restaurants and cafes. I love the calm water on the west coast, lots of European visitors. http://www.loewshotels.com/en/Don-CeSar-Hotel/
We go to Destin every Spring Break and stay at the Hilton SanDestin Golf Resort and Spa. LOVE this place. We have a 16 yr old and she usually has a friend tagging along.
There are lots for them to do, it is in a gated community, one of the local restaurants has teen night when everyone over the age of 17 are not allowed in the club and they have security onsite. They loved going there. We love this resort. No idea how far from Orlando it is located though. We fly to Ft Walton from DFW and then drive about an hour.
We also love Marco Island.. very nice. We stayed at the Hilton Resort there in July. Beautiful place, great food, not as commercial but teens loved it. We flew to Ft Lauderdale and drove across to marco Island. You can fly to Ft. Myers/Naples and it is about 1/2 hr.
My favorite FL beach is South Beach in Miani but it is not appropriate for teens. It is an adult fun spot.
Amelia Island in Jacksonville area is very nice.
Enjoy your trip!
Fort Myers Beach...it's beautiful! And yes, stay away from Daytona.
I also love Amelia Island! It is not touristy at all, so the beaches are clean and rarely crowded. I don't remember seeing a lot of hotels in the area, so if you're looking for oceanfront accommodations, that may be difficult. However, Jacksonville has a lot of lodging options and it wouldn't be a long drive.
Well if you do not mind not having an ocean go to St. Petersburg and watch the porpoises swim. Treasure Island area. If not Jupiter has some really nice beaches and nice hotels. Of course Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood have the best beaches.
