New Smyrna and it's a lot better than Bikers Town Daytona/ Tshirt shops

The only think that worries me about New Smyrna inlet is that most of the shark sightings are in that inlet. So don't let Fido go in too far!

I love these pictures of your dog enjoying the water and sand. I live on a beach during the summer and spend most mornings watching people playing with their dogs!

Holy smokes! We took our yellow lab to a beach and it was a real BEAR getting the sand off her! You must have had a heck of a time with your golden!!

We took her to St George Island beach, thinking she would enjoy that, also. She walked into the water, a wave slapped her in the face, she retreated, and wouldn’t approach the water after that!

OK what am I missing ? The Villages to Daytona approximately 70 miles. How is that achieved in 20 minutes ?

Same question I had, but thought I was being dense.

I prefer the gulf side as well and I also like to in the water. The water on the ocean side is very cold. I was very disappointed with Daytona Beach and several others on that side. You can drive on the beach at Daytona which was a nice experience but I would go back just for that.

I have traveled around trying to find the beach that I liked the most and I always return to Clearwater Beach. It has been named as the number one beach in Florida several times and recently it was selected at the number one beach in the United States.

The sand and water are great. Parking is convenient and the amenities are fantastic.

Helicopter? Daytona is and hour and a half to a two hour drive.

They must go by aeroplane.

I can drive to Daytona Beach in 1 hr. 10 min (done so countless times / in-laws). I am willing to bet you from the time I leave the house drive to the helicopter / take off / land / and get a taxi to my destination my 1 hr. and 10 min wins by a long shot.

Yes, it's always fun getting sand out of a golden, but he grew up a block from a Lake Michigan dog beach, so I have developed a (backbreaking) system.


That's also where he learned to plow through big waves. Lake Michigan can get very rough.

In the last 50 years, we have had many nice trips to St. Augustine. The beaches are better than ever since they re-routed A1A farther away from the ocean.

Anastasia State Park is very nice and NO DOGS and NO CARS are allowed on the beach. There is a nice snack bar, a nice walking trail near the campground, and the beach is great for walking.

Farther south is Fort Matanzas, where my wife and I went on our first date in 1970. It is as beautiful as ever. The beach has eroded a little on the ocean side, but the sand bars on the 'back side' have grown much larger than they were in 1970.

A few miles south is Washington Oaks State Park, which is very nice. The gardens have not changed over the years and they have added some beautiful walking trails.

Our favorite place to eat at Matanzas Inlet was unfortunately destroyed in the hurricane in 2016 but we found the great Captains BBQ a few miles south.

I guess it is time for us to make a visit.