Closest beach
 

We were thinking about going for a day at the beach tomorrow. Where is the closest one that does not require a permit?

Clearwater Beach is a nice one. 1 hour 59 mins. 103 miles.

Daytona is 73 miles. 1 hour 38 mins.

Fort Island Gulf Beach, Crystal River

50 Miles, 1 Hr 17 Minutes

West End of Hwy 44

Google Maps Directions: from The Villages to Fort Island Beach


Fort Island Gulf Beach - Crystal River - Reviews of Fort Island Gulf Beach - TripAdvisor


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I like Honeymoon Island State Park for a nice beach. I also like Pass-a-Grille down by Clearwater for a nice day's outing. I know New Smyrna Beach is a little closer but the rip tides are sometimes strong there.

If you want the ocean New Smyrna just below Daytona is our favorite. You can park on the beach for about $5. Couple of eating places on the beach also. It is the shark capitol of the US so you may get lucky and spot one, I did;)

If you go to New Smyrna Beach and enjoy great burgers, you need to hit Breakers:

The Breakers Restaurant and Lounge | New Smyrna Beach

Bill :)

I hope you were not in the water when you spotted the shark. :shocked:

I am much more a fan of the Atlantic .... it is an actual ocean. The Gulf is more like a big salty bathtub most of the time.

Yes, NSB is the shark bite capital of the entire world, however 99.987% of those are withing 100 yards of the inlet on the extreme northern end of the beach.

NSB due to the nature of being cut off to the north by Ponce Inlet (Daytona is on the other side) and to the south by The Canaveral National Seashore (which goes all the way south through Kennedy Space Center) has no through traffic. As such it has remained a fairly quaint Fla beach town ..... virtually unchanged from the 70's.

Actually I was. Chest deep, waiting for a wave, ( body surfing), looking out at the swell's I noticed a silver fish about a foot long racing through the water, breaking the surface. I figured it was chasing something to eat. As the swell rose , and the sun behind me, I could see a shark, about 10 feet in front of me chasing the fish! Happened so fast all I could say was "neat". I called to my wife "come look" but she declined. As the other poster said further north by the inlet you would have a better chance of spotting one.

I just looked at NSB and will be adding it my road trip from TV list.

Also a great place is Chase's, a few miles south of the town,on the beach. They have valet parking, two or three bars, swimming pool with pool volleyball, decent food, live music and you can walk down to the beach

Chases on the Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Florida

Cool story but I have to side with your wife. :22yikes:

I've been in Fla. since 1953 and never heard of a "permit" for a beach. The real beaches as far as I'm concerned are on the east coast and worth the drive. I prefer the waves of the Atlantic as compared to the calm of the Gulf.

I agree the Gulf just don't do it!, except out on the panhandle those are nice beaches and waves.

For us Highlanders any beach il do. :beer3: