[Villageshooter]

we have vistors who want to go to a beach and walk,, they are big time walkers,,was thinking of getting up early,, going to a beach that someplace someone would reccomnend and go to lunch at someplace special near that beach,, anyone have any ideas or help on this,, thanks again for your advice in advance ... these folks are not big swimmers,, just to roam the beach and walk

[stuckinparadise]

I don't know how far Siesta Key Beach is from the Villages but it is beautiful and there are plenty of great restaurants.

[tracy1j]

New Smyrna Beach is nice, and is a pretty drive.

[schmitty]

Englewood Beach on the Gulf is fantastic. If you're willing to drive about 2
hours South of the Villages, it is well worth your time. It's a great beach to
find sharks teeth. Nice restaurants in the area too. You won't be disappointed.

[Trish Crocker]

Just checked it out...distance from TV to New Smyrna Beach..82 miles.

[Deb01]

There is a really great beach near Tarpon Springs, Florida called Howard Beach Park. It's about 70 miles from here. We recommended it to friends of ours and they said they even saw dolphins there.

[eweissenbach]

Originally Posted by stuckinparadise

I don't know how far Siesta Key Beach is from the Villages but it is beautiful and there are plenty of great restaurants.

Originally Posted by tracy1j

New Smyrna Beach is nice, and is a pretty drive.

Originally Posted by Trish Crocker

Just checked it out...distance from TV to New Smyrna Beach..82 miles.

Originally Posted by Deb01

There is a really great beach near Tarpon Springs, Florida called Howard Beach Park. It's about 70 miles from here. We recommended it to friends of ours and they said they even saw dolphins there.

You got the best answers here in my opinion. Siesta Key is about 2 hours, it is just south of Sarasota. Great Beach (one blogger named it #1 beach in America) lots of consessions and good resturaunts nearby. Parking is at a premium near the beach.

New Smyrna is closer and you can park on the beach for $5. Some good resturaunts available right on the beach. Atlantic is not as good for swimming IMO, but it is a great beach.

Fred Howard state park has a nice beach and great parking area. Concessions available on the beach. You will need to program the GPS to get there as it goes through some residential areas.

[JLHart]

Go to NSB ..... straight shot east thru Deland, little over an hour drive time.

Plenty of nice beach to walk and eat at The Breakers which is right on the beach at the end of Flagler Ave (the main east / west road thru town)

OPTION: go to NSB and drive as far south on S. Atlantic Ave as you can (prob about 10 miles south of town) ... you will enter into The Canaveral National Seashore. Pristine, natrual Florida beaches the way nature made them. THEN drive back up to The Breakers (burgers and Fish sammy's rock!)

[Sable99]

I am a little biased as we have a condo on St. Augustine Beach!! And, I love to walk the beach. The old city is great if you get tired of the beach!

[Bogie Shooter]

siesta key beach 143 miles from LSL 2 hours 36 minutes....Google Maps.

[JLHart]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

siesta key beach 143 miles from LSL 2 hours 36 minutes....Google Maps.

Google map does not take into account traffic ... count on at least 3 hours to Siesta Key. IMO that takes it out of the range of a fun "day trip"

[JeffAVEWS]

I use to live in Sarasota and I like the Manatee County Beach (Coquina) better then Siesta Key. Plenty of parking and less people. We took our granddaughter down there last week and she went para sailing.

[CaptJohn]

Originally Posted by JLHart

Google map does not take into account traffic ... count on at least 3 hours to Siesta Key. IMO that takes it out of the range of a fun "day trip"

That's for sure! When I was in Sarasota in April, it took an hour or so just to get past Tampa. Traffic was really backed up for no reason. I was doing good to get up to 50 mph. Mostly 20-30 mph.
I would say just drive due west to the Gulf Coast and travel south along that route until you find a beach you like.
There are plenty of them.

[eweissenbach]

Originally Posted by CaptJohn

That's for sure! When I was in Sarasota in April, it took an hour or so just to get past Tampa. Traffic was really backed up for no reason. I was doing good to get up to 50 mph. Mostly 20-30 mph.
I would say just drive due west to the Gulf Coast and travel south along that route until you find a beach you like.
There are plenty of them.

We experienced the same issue in mid-march. There was no apparent reason but it took us an hour to go 10 miles. ugh

[asianthree]

i love tampa bay