Beaches
 

We are new, which is the best beach for a day's visit and which coast?

Closest beach on the east coast is New Smyrna, just south on Daytona, nice spot with eating places on the water, park on beach, go during the week to avoid crowds. For a nice beach and beautiful water on the west coast you will have to go to Clearwater and south.

Yeah, Clearwater is very nice but you don't get to see as many entertaining shark attacks as you would at New Smyrna.

You might wish to tell folks what you look for in a "good" beach. Then they'll be able to give answers that help you. As per usual there are some really dumb answers included in the few sorta helpful answers.

We like to go to Madeira Beach between St Pete and Clearwater. It's about 1 1/2 hrs to drive but we stay overnight at Shoreline Resort. Guests have to be over 25 so it's on the beach and rooms are clean and comfortable with kitchen so you don't have to eat out if you don't want to. Just stay on the beach or your balcony and stare at the ocean or go to their pool. The beach is a short walk to water whereas some beaches you have to walk quite a ways to waters edge.

I would be interested in answered to nice beaches as well. We are interested in not crowded, little traffic, not looking at high rise buildings, easy parking, short walk, nice white sand, and good swimming. Dog friendly would be a bonus. So far Playalinda beach is the only beach we have found that meets most of our criteria.

If you're referring to the reference to shark attacks above, I think that's useful information. New Smyrna Beach holds the record for having the most annual shark attacks in the world.* I witnessed a horrible one myself in the '90s. I have not been back since.

In any case, depending on where you are in the Villages, beautiful (and safer) Ormond Beach might be the closest Atlantic beach.

*As 2021 sees 1st fatal shark attack, Florida's Volusia County still No. 1 for global shark bites

*Florida surfer’s drone shows just how many sharks gather off New Smyrna Beach - Orlando Sentinel

We stopped there a few weeks ago and hated it. It was very small and the only place to get food was across a 6-lane highway.

Fortunately, we knew about beautiful nearby Tomoko State Park and went there for a picnic and a walk on their magnificent walking trails.

Florida is full of surprises - both good and bad. One visit teaches us to avoid the bad places - like Ormond Beach and Vilano Beach - and we keep going back to the wonderful places like Alexander Springs and Bok Tower. It is great to live in Florida.

A closer alternative is Fort Island Beach out past Crystal River. We had a great neighborhood picnic lunch there pre-Covid. You need to bring your own food but there are restrooms.

Home | Doc's Beach House

Highly recommend.
Bonita Beach (Bonita Springs).
Doc's has really good sea food.
Nice beach right there.
Public parking.
Water sport equipment available.

Ormond Beach has a few different public beaches. It does have a few restaurants right on the beach (mostly in or near beachfront hotels or condos), but you're right that most of them are across busy A1A.

We head over to Little Pine Island on the Gulf Coast. North of Clearwater. Nice little town park, cost $5 to park, beach, bathrooms, showers, changing rooms, food.