florida beaches

[pdlore]

does anyone know which beach is good.from nj an love beach time.

[DougB]

Cape Canaveral has a beautiful beach. About one hour and 45 minutes to the SE. Not crowded, very little commercialized. We have a second home in Brevard and love it. Check out Cherie Down.

[gocubsgo]

Flagler Beach between Daytona and St Aug...dog friendly and there's an awesome bar/restaurant on it, not 20 yards from the water.

[Down Sized]

New Smyrna beach. Rated top 5 in fl

[jbdlfan]

St Pete beach is by far the best in my opinion. White sand and quiet.

[buggyone]

I would go along with St. Pete Beach. The sand is so powder soft it is unbelievable. It is a reasonable one day trip from The Villages.

New Smyrna Beach is nice also - but rip currents are more plentiful there than on the Gulf side. Not to scare anyone away but New Smyrna Beach is called The Shark Bite Capital of the World. shark bite capital of us - Yahoo! Search Results (http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=AtS8_thUb.H9dZ0OlExETNSbvZx4?fr=yfp-t-701-s&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8&p=shark%20bite%20capital%20of%20us)

[Judith Ann]

We, too, are looking for a closer nice beach. We love Vero beach...used to go there when my kids were little. But, it is about 3 hours from here if I remember correctly. On the subject, are there any nicer, closer beaches that have shells? Thinking ahead to
our grandkids visiting....

[eweissenbach]

Fred Howard Park Beach in Tarpon Springs, is one of the closest to TV and is very nice with ample parking.

[justjim]

New Smyrna beach. Rated top 5 in fl

I agree New Smyrna beach----and you can drive right on to the beach and tailgate out of your vehicle. On the Gulf side----Treasure Island which is just south of St. Petersburg.

[kittygilchrist]

Important to know the Atlantic is surfier and loud, the gulf is calm and quieter. If you go north of Tampa Bay the water is dark, fishy smelling, and wild boars may chase you away.

[kittygilchrist]

PS, you can take your dog on Flagler, and the sand is orange, but I don't think the dogs caused that.

[chuckinca]

Fred Howard Park Beach in Tarpon Springs, is one of the closest to TV and is very nice with ample parking.


Fort Island Beach in Crystal River on the Gulf is 40 miles closer to TV. Take State Hwy 44/County Hwy 44 West until it ends at the beach. About a 60 mile drive.

Ditto very nice with ample parking.


.

[Cantwaittoarrive]

St Pete beach is by far the best in my opinion. White sand and quiet.

:agree:

[PammyJ]

Well, I go to the beach for the therapeutic sounds of the surf, the beautiful waves, and birds. I love Cape Canaveral. Just locals there, not a touristy beach. The cruise ships going out on Thursdays at 4:00 is also very cool! I agree with DougB!

[DougB]

Well, I go to the beach for the therapeutic sounds of the surf, the beautiful waves, and birds. I love Cape Canaveral. Just locals there, not a touristy beach. The cruise ships going out on Thursdays at 4:00 is also very cool! I agree with DougB!

Hey Pammy, you like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain? :loco:

[baustgen]

does anyone know which beach is good.from nj an love beach time.
We are lazy and love New Smyrna because you drive out on the beach and picnic out of your car. I would go during the week. Lots of traffic on the weekend. About 75-90 min away. Porta Potties or a bath house by the main entrance. A small beach town at the main entry.

[PammyJ]

Hey Pammy, you like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain? :loco:

I like the feel of the ocean and the taste of champagne. Meet me tomorrow in the dunes of the Cape. :lipsrsealed:

[pdlore]

thanks to all who answered,will go to the atlantic when it gets warmer.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

We visited Daytona Beach a couple of weeks ago and loved it. You can drive your car onto the beach. The sand is very hard packed and there are almost no shells or rocks.
One word of warning. The water is very, very, very cold this time of year. And that was after several days of the air temp being in the mid eighties.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Is the water in the Gulf usually warmer than the water on the east coast?

[2 Oldcrabs]

Spent a lot of time in Wildwood NJ. We go to Daytona for a "beach fix". Nothing compares to the 5 mile boardwalk at Wildwood. I am not sure Florida understands the benefits of a Boardwalk.:cus:

[ssmith]

Here is a vote to check out Siesta Key Beech....powdered sugar sand and crystal clear water....so you can see if a shark is coming hahahaha....seriously it is usually too shallow quite a ways out....but on occassion does get some serious waves. A little further but one to check out any way!

[JeffAVEWS]

http://www.bocc.citrus.fl.us/commserv/parksrec/parks/ft_isl_beach/fib_park.jsp?PARKID=18
Close to TV!

[Monkei]

Fred Howard Park Beach in Tarpon Springs, is one of the closest to TV and is very nice with ample parking.

I agree. Also you get to swim with a lot of dolphins coming very close to you here. It's a little hard to find but just follow the signs.

Another good choice is Honeymoon Island just pass through the town of Dunedin north of Clearwater.

[Shimpy]

Spent a lot of time in Wildwood NJ. We go to Daytona for a "beach fix". Nothing compares to the 5 mile boardwalk at Wildwood. I am not sure Florida understands the benefits of a Boardwalk.:cus:

I'm not sure you have seen all of Florida. Check out Hollywood Beach.

Hollywood Beach Broadwalk - VisitHollywoodFL.org (http://www.visithollywoodfl.org/hollywoodbeachbroadwalk.aspx)

And.....this water is warm enough to swim in comfortably. The water temps in South Florida are much warmer than central Florida due to the Gulf Stream coming very near the shore in this area bringing warmer water and weather. Florida south of lake Okeechobee is like a entirely different state as far as climate and vegetation, and not to mention fishing. Of course with everything there is a + and - and South Fla is prone to hurricanes, more humidity and longer hot summers.

[Sunshine Mary]

Is there ever a bus here in The Villages who go to the Beach for a day ?

[eweissenbach]

Is there ever a bus here in The Villages who go to the Beach for a day ?

I don't know of one, but it seems like a helluva business opportunity for some entrepreneur. Buy a small bus and run a shuttle to various beaches for $50 or so round trip.

[gomoho]

We, too, are looking for a closer nice beach. We love Vero beach...used to go there when my kids were little. But, it is about 3 hours from here if I remember correctly. On the subject, are there any nicer, closer beaches that have shells? Thinking ahead to
our grandkids visiting....

Sanibel Island (off the coast of Ft. Myers) is one of the top shelling spots in the world. Not kidding. Little bit of a distance and might require an overnight stay, but I could think of worse places to spend a night. Sanibel is a beautiful island worth spending a little time on.

[Sunshine Mary]

Ok I well go buy a bus lol
It would be a real good business

I don't know of one, but it seems like a helluva business opportunity for some entrepreneur. Buy a small bus and run a shuttle to various beaches for $50 or so round trip.

[Schaumburger]

Sanibel Island (off the coast of Ft. Myers) is one of the top shelling spots in the world. Not kidding. Little bit of a distance and might require an overnight stay, but I could think of worse places to spend a night. Sanibel is a beautiful island worth spending a little time on.

:agree: :agree: I love Sanibel Island -- probably 3 hours drive from The Villages.
St. Pete Beach/Clearwater Beach/Tarpon Springs area is also very nice and closer to TV.

[2 Oldcrabs]

[QUOTE=Shimpy;613445]I'm not sure you have seen all of Florida. Check out Hollywood Beach.

Hollywood Beach Broadwalk - VisitHollywoodFL.org (http://www.visithollywoodfl.org/hollywoodbeachbroadwalk.aspx)

We have been to Hollywood beach. IMHO it is not the same as Wildwood. The Jersey Shore has wood boardwalks and a very nice night life. I don't think the wood Boardwalk do well in a Hurricane.:grumpy:

[Monkei]

[QUOTE=Shimpy;613445]I'm not sure you have seen all of Florida. Check out Hollywood Beach.

Hollywood Beach Broadwalk - VisitHollywoodFL.org (http://www.visithollywoodfl.org/hollywoodbeachbroadwalk.aspx)

We have been to Hollywood beach. IMHO it is not the same as Wildwood. The Jersey Shore has wood boardwalks and a very nice night life. I don't think the wood Boardwalk do well in a Hurricane.:grumpy:

Not to mention the relentless Florida summer sun! The upkeep would be massive.

[Cantwaittoarrive]

[QUOTE=Shimpy;613445]I'm not sure you have seen all of Florida. Check out Hollywood Beach.

Hollywood Beach Broadwalk - VisitHollywoodFL.org (http://www.visithollywoodfl.org/hollywoodbeachbroadwalk.aspx)

We have been to Hollywood beach. IMHO it is not the same as Wildwood. The Jersey Shore has wood boardwalks and a very nice night life. I don't think the wood Boardwalk do well in a Hurricane.:grumpy:

I love Hollywood Florida and there's a nice Holiday Inn right on the beach at a very reasonable per night price

[Cantwaittoarrive]

Is there ever a bus here in The Villages who go to the Beach for a day ?

I don't know of one, but it seems like a helluva business opportunity for some entrepreneur. Buy a small bus and run a shuttle to various beaches for $50 or so round trip.

Don't even have to buy a bus. All we need to do is hire a bus and driver, add in some drinks and food and sell tickets at a profit

[cquick]

Here is a vote to check out Siesta Key Beech....powdered sugar sand and crystal clear water....so you can see if a shark is coming hahahaha....seriously it is usually too shallow quite a ways out....but on occassion does get some serious waves. A little further but one to check out any way!

If I didn't life in The Villages, my second choice would be Siesta Key! Love it there.

[Villages PL]

Clearwater Beach

[senior citizen]

Sanibel Island (off the coast of Ft. Myers) is one of the top shelling spots in the world. Not kidding. Little bit of a distance and might require an overnight stay, but I could think of worse places to spend a night. Sanibel is a beautiful island worth spending a little time on.

Ditto. I agree.

We would take the kids every April spring vacation (after they outgrew Disney World after going from toddlerhood through middle school....)

Rent a condo on the beach......great shelling. A quiet island.

If you are looking for "night life" , then it would not be your place to go.

Ding Darling Nature Preserve allows you to canoe through what looks like "old Florida".....lots of alligators on Sanibel.

Captiva Island.....down at the tip......driveable from Sanibel island, has a great little place to eat......."The Bubble Room". Again, you will feel like you are in the old Florida on Captiva Island. Both Sanibel and Captiva are small. No super highways.

Sanibel is accessible by causeway from the Fort Myers area......on the Gulf coast.

For those who like the serenity of a beach which is NOT a hangout type of place, you will appreciate Sanibel Island. We always felt safe there.

We were "Jersey shore teenagers" (not the snooky type, ha ha) as we were raised in N.J........but after moving to Vermont in 1970 and paying one return visit to Wildwood Crest when our kids were about ten and twelve, we realized that the LOUD boardwalk "stuff" was no longer for us.
But we did enjoy Seaside Heights, etc. as teenagers. It was the place to go on Sundays to bake out on the sand......then to crawl home on the Garden State Parking Lot.

Now, we prefer peaceful beaches, for sure....especially those in Maine, off the beaten path.

[senior citizen]

Important to know the Atlantic is surfier and loud, the gulf is calm and quieter. If you go north of Tampa Bay the water is dark, fishy smelling, and wild boars may chase you away.

Wild boars? The barrier islands south of Tampa have gorgeous white sand beaches. Not sure about north?

Nokomis Beach is a little known one......Casey Key, etc. north of Venice.

The Gulf of Mexico beaches are beautiful. We've seen them all.

As someone else mentioned. Saint Pete Beach is HUGE......great beach.
Nice pier as well.

Tarpon Springs is a cute town to visit.....with the Greek fishing boats, restaurants, etc.

[senior citizen]

Well, I go to the beach for the therapeutic sounds of the surf, the beautiful waves, and birds. I love Cape Canaveral. Just locals there, not a touristy beach. The cruise ships going out on Thursdays at 4:00 is also very cool! I agree with DougB!

Another "not touristy" at all beach is Satellite Beach, Florida.
We lived there when our kids were 2 and 5 for one year.

Empty beaches, great shells, great coral..........a few condos but very private.

No traffic. Just A1A. Our daughter actually began kindergarten at Patrick Air Force Base. Believe it or not, they were more advanced than Vermont schools at the time. Anyway, for those who like nice empty beaches, all to themselves, without a lot of honky tonk, check out that stretch from Cape Canaveral south and north.

Vero Beach is also very very nice. Hutchinson Island has a nice beach too, except there are BOMBS left in the sand and water......also an interesting bomb museum.

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2007/nov/20/possible-explosive-device-turns-hutchinson-island-/


I added this; also just remembered that there is a nuclear power plant on Hutchinson Island......it's next area over from Vero Beach which we really liked. Cute family oriented town. Nice beach.

[graciegirl]

I think that the most beautiful beach in Florida is Rosemary Beach and the whole Destin area is less "touristy", but it is not close, not easily available and not inexpensive.

[senior citizen]

I think that the most beautiful beach in Florida is Rosemary Beach and the whole Destin area is less "touristy", but it is not close, not easily available and not inexpensive.

Yes, I was going to suggest the Florida panhandle beaches, such as you mentioned, however, it's a much longer ride..........unless one is going for a week or so.

Excellent prices on homes up on the panhandle as well, but for some reason I seemed to notice more jails??? But gorgeous beaches.

[genebouc]

does anyone know which beach is good.from nj an love beach time.





Siesta Key off Sarasots. Voted numerous times as best Beach in USA if not the world. ALMOST AS GOOD AS NJ BUT I AM BIASED.

From a fellow Jerseyan who is still waiting to see what will happen to my Ortley Beach home EXTENSIVE DAMAGE BUT iNS CO TAKING THEIR SWEET TIME IN REIMBURSING ME.

[villagerjack]

Siesta Key off Sarasots. Voted numerous times as best Beach in USA if not the world. ALMOST AS GOOD AS NJ BUT I AM BIASED.

From a fellow Jerseyan who is still waiting to see what will happen to my Ortley Beach home EXTENSIVE DAMAGE BUT iNS CO TAKING THEIR SWEET TIME IN REIMBURSING ME.
Recommend any hotels? How warm is gulf water this time of year?