[nn0wheremann]

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)?

Honeymoon beach < https://www.floridastateparks.org/honeymoonisland> on the Gulf.

[B-flat]

Originally Posted by markusb741

on the way home we stop at The Essex Seafood Restaurant for an excellent seafood dinner (rivals New England).

And that's because the owners are from Essex, Massachusetts where they also own a seafood restaurant..........can you say whole belly clams, shrimp and deep fried scallops! Don't miss stopping there to eat. It's nothing fancy but the food is great.

A few years ago Guy Fieri featured the Mass. restaurant on "Diners, Drive-thrus and Dives."

[kkingston57]

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 .

Great ? To someone a family friendly beach would not have signs "clothing optional"

[Cupcake57]

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)?

For the Cousin Eddie of beaches, Fort Island on the gulf. Prolly the closest place to sit on the sand and take a nice dip. Not fancy and ignore the power plant. Public parking, stainless steel toilets; wasn't crowded when we went at 10am but was picking up by 1pm. Eat in Crystal River on your way home.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

Originally Posted by shut the front door

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.

do you live alone ????

[Rich42]

If you are open to a two hour driving window, then I would definitely recommend checking out Fort De Soto state park. I am surprised no one has mentioned it already as I have lived all over this country and it is one of the nicest state parks I have ever seen. It sits on the point of land where Tampa Bay joins the Gulf of Mexico. You can Google it and easily see all the facilities it has to offer, but I can tell tell you, I have been there dozens of times and it has a fantastic beach that stretches for miles. It has all kinds of activities, including an old fort, kayaking, bicycle rentals, fishing pier, camping facilities, boat launch, cooking facilities, plenty of food and restrooms, etc. If you strictly want the beach, I would recommend going to what is called North Beach, which is pretty much away from all the other activities is a nice quiet beach, where you can relax, swim, shell, whatever your heart desires. Last time I was there a little over a year ago, the entrance fee was $5 per car. You won’t be sorry, it is a nice place. Plus, there are several motels and restaurants just a few miles outside the park if you want to make it more than a day trip.

[Marcie]

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)?

Google Eatons Beach in Marion County

[La lamy]

I like Eaton’s Beach. Very close to TV, beautiful lake, beach, food, drinks and water craft rentals. But if you want to drive Clearwater beach is wonderful on the Gulf side

[Sharon5]

Originally Posted by baustgen

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

New Smyrna Beach is most dangerous beach for shark attacks. Why New Smyrna Beach has so many shark attacks

[shut the front door]

Originally Posted by charlieo1126@gmail.com

do you live alone ????

No, and I'm not interested in someone who doesn't know the definition of family friendly.

What does family-friendly mean?
adjective. /ˌfæməli ˈfrendli/ /ˌfæməli ˈfrendli/ ​suitable for or aimed at families with children.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

So you tell me what beaches you think are not family friendly , and then we can see if all those beaches have no families on them , your trying to judge beaches on your own standards ,most likely one where the woman wear a Hijab , people are forbidden to talk and no running for kids , family friendly for me means whatever those families enjoy and that includes nude beaches where you can see plenty of families here and especially in Europe

[Switter]

I'm new to the villages and Florida and I went to Flagler Beach and loved it! I was there on a Saturday between 11 AM and 2 PM and I don't think I had anybody within 50 feet of me but yet there was still people there, many were families with kids. The water was also good for swimming. You park on the road right alongside the beach. I liked it so much I don't know if I would even bother checking any other beach, lol. I'd get there a little early though so you can park close to where you are on the beach, maybe before 10 a.m. I parked by the golden lion café. The only thing I'm not sure about is public restrooms. I didn't see any but I wasn't looking for them either. It was about an hour and 45 minute drive from the villages.