[baustgen]

Originally Posted by pdlore

does anyone know which beach is good.from nj an love beach time.

We are lazy and love New Smyrna because you drive out on the beach and picnic out of your car. I would go during the week. Lots of traffic on the weekend. About 75-90 min away. Porta Potties or a bath house by the main entrance. A small beach town at the main entry.

[PammyJ]

Originally Posted by DougB

Hey Pammy, you like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain?

I like the feel of the ocean and the taste of champagne. Meet me tomorrow in the dunes of the Cape.

[pdlore]

thanks to all who answered,will go to the atlantic when it gets warmer.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

We visited Daytona Beach a couple of weeks ago and loved it. You can drive your car onto the beach. The sand is very hard packed and there are almost no shells or rocks.
One word of warning. The water is very, very, very cold this time of year. And that was after several days of the air temp being in the mid eighties.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Is the water in the Gulf usually warmer than the water on the east coast?

[2 Oldcrabs]

Spent a lot of time in Wildwood NJ. We go to Daytona for a "beach fix". Nothing compares to the 5 mile boardwalk at Wildwood. I am not sure Florida understands the benefits of a Boardwalk.

[ssmith]

Here is a vote to check out Siesta Key Beech....powdered sugar sand and crystal clear water....so you can see if a shark is coming hahahaha....seriously it is usually too shallow quite a ways out....but on occassion does get some serious waves. A little further but one to check out any way!

[JeffAVEWS]

http://www.bocc.citrus.fl.us/commser....jsp?PARKID=18
Close to TV!

[Monkei]

Originally Posted by eweissenbach

Fred Howard Park Beach in Tarpon Springs, is one of the closest to TV and is very nice with ample parking.

I agree. Also you get to swim with a lot of dolphins coming very close to you here. It's a little hard to find but just follow the signs.

Another good choice is Honeymoon Island just pass through the town of Dunedin north of Clearwater.

[Shimpy]

Originally Posted by 2 Oldcrabs

Spent a lot of time in Wildwood NJ. We go to Daytona for a "beach fix". Nothing compares to the 5 mile boardwalk at Wildwood. I am not sure Florida understands the benefits of a Boardwalk.

I'm not sure you have seen all of Florida. Check out Hollywood Beach.

Hollywood Beach Broadwalk - VisitHollywoodFL.org

And.....this water is warm enough to swim in comfortably. The water temps in South Florida are much warmer than central Florida due to the Gulf Stream coming very near the shore in this area bringing warmer water and weather. Florida south of lake Okeechobee is like a entirely different state as far as climate and vegetation, and not to mention fishing. Of course with everything there is a + and - and South Fla is prone to hurricanes, more humidity and longer hot summers.

[Sunshine Mary]

Is there ever a bus here in The Villages who go to the Beach for a day ?

[eweissenbach]

Originally Posted by Sunshine Mary

Is there ever a bus here in The Villages who go to the Beach for a day ?

I don't know of one, but it seems like a helluva business opportunity for some entrepreneur. Buy a small bus and run a shuttle to various beaches for $50 or so round trip.

[gomoho]

Originally Posted by Judith Ann

We, too, are looking for a closer nice beach. We love Vero beach...used to go there when my kids were little. But, it is about 3 hours from here if I remember correctly. On the subject, are there any nicer, closer beaches that have shells? Thinking ahead to
our grandkids visiting....

Sanibel Island (off the coast of Ft. Myers) is one of the top shelling spots in the world. Not kidding. Little bit of a distance and might require an overnight stay, but I could think of worse places to spend a night. Sanibel is a beautiful island worth spending a little time on.

[Sunshine Mary]

Ok I well go buy a bus lol
It would be a real good business

Originally Posted by eweissenbach

I don't know of one, but it seems like a helluva business opportunity for some entrepreneur. Buy a small bus and run a shuttle to various beaches for $50 or so round trip.

[Schaumburger]

Originally Posted by gomoho

Sanibel Island (off the coast of Ft. Myers) is one of the top shelling spots in the world. Not kidding. Little bit of a distance and might require an overnight stay, but I could think of worse places to spend a night. Sanibel is a beautiful island worth spending a little time on.

I love Sanibel Island -- probably 3 hours drive from The Villages.
St. Pete Beach/Clearwater Beach/Tarpon Springs area is also very nice and closer to TV.