[jayerose]

Would like to spend a few hours at a nice, family-friendly beach for a few hours and have a nice lunch...any suggestions (not too much of a drive)?

[dewilson58]

Port Orange.

Less crowded and family friendly.

We enjoy eating at Boondocks Restaurant.

[jayerose]

Perfect! Thank you!!

[baustgen]

New Smyrna. Drive on the beach. Do not have to carry anything. Check the tide charts.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

I’m not trying to be snarky here , but what does a family friendly beach look like , I’ve spent a lot of time on a lot of beaches and don’t think I could distinguish between a family friendly beach and one that isn’t .

[justjim]

Beautiful Cocoa Beach and less than a two hour drive. Lots of good restaurants too.

[shut the front door]

Originally Posted by charlieo1126@gmail.com

I’m not trying to be snarky here , but what does a family friendly beach look like , I’ve spent a lot of time on a lot of beaches and don’t think I could distinguish between a family friendly beach and one that isn’t .

A beach where a family can enjoy their space with hearing eardrum damaging rap music blaring from vehicles driving by on the beach with fat women in bikinis hanging out of vehicles and twerking for the crowds. Which can be the experience on many beaches on a weekend.
Best advice is go during the week.

[eweissenbach]

We prefer the gulf beaches. Clearwater beach eat at Frenchys. Madeira beach eat at John’s Pass. Anna Maria Island beach eat at the concession area. Siesta Key. All are family friendly except during spring break.

[tophcfa]

We like Playalinda Beach on the Canaveral National Seashore.

[Lyarham]

Originally Posted by jayerose

Would like to spend a few hours at a nice, family-friendly beach for a few hours and have a nice lunch...any suggestions (not too much of a drive)?

New Smyrna beach

[markusb741]

Originally Posted by jayerose

Would like to spend a few hours at a nice, family-friendly beach for a few hours and have a nice lunch...any suggestions (not too much of a drive)?

We go to Andy Romano Park on Ormand Beach. It's an easy 1 1/4 hour drive on roads with no traffic, you can park on the beach (kinda cool), miles of beach to walk, rental chairs/umbrellas available for rent, nice changing area, a snack bar, never to crowded and on the way home we stop at The Essex Seafood Restaurant for an excellent seafood dinner (rivals New England).
We use to go to New Smyrna Beach, shark capital of the world, google it.

[CSB1228]

Eaton's Beach on Lake Weir. Close to northern part of The Villages. Beach, restaurant and boat rentals all together.

[Get real]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

We like Playalinda Beach on the Canaveral National Seashore.

13?

[me4vt]

Originally Posted by CSB1228

Eaton's Beach on Lake Weir. Close to northern part of The Villages. Beach, restaurant and boat rentals all together.

Alligator friendly too!

[midiwiz]

Originally Posted by jayerose

Would like to spend a few hours at a nice, family-friendly beach for a few hours and have a nice lunch...any suggestions (not too much of a drive)?

You are inbetween both coasts, rough estimate on straight line, you're probably able to get to the gulf a tad quicker. however the question is about a beach, so I'll tell you what I know from experience.

East -

Flagler - beautiful beach, quiet, good waves and one of the cleanest on the east coast
Cocoa Beach - to many tourists, filthy, and places to eat are over priced and slow
Daytona/Ormond beach - step above Cocoa Beach, can be difficult in certain areas to run for food. currently closed to motor vehicles on most days otherwise watch out.
St Augustine Beach - very nice like Flagler and surrounded by eateries.

West -

Cedar key - small, but nice, only a couple places to eat of which only one is actually real good.
Clearwater - hit or miss on the crowd, getting over the bridge can be a parking lot depending on timing, and for most things high priced.
Random spots (i find these on roaming days) between clearwater and cedar key they aren't all that easy to find.
Terra Verde - at the bottom of the island is a great park/beach. very nice

also note a lot of folks also hang out on the causeways.