Best Family Beach near Disney (Miami, Clearwater: oceanfront, rent, hotel)

[NurseNiki]

Hi everyone,
We are taking a family trip in mid July and will have several kids 2, 7, 10, 12, 13, 15 and then the grown kids and grandparents. We are looking to make 2-3 day trips to the beach, would like something nice/not trashy and not super crouded, somewhere we can boogie board, and hopefully somewhere we can snorkel (not necessarily on the same day). I was looking at the Anna Maria Island on the gulf coast, any suggestions?

Also we are trying to decide on a good ocean beach looked at these three, ( <a href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/beach/orl-newsmyrnabeach-story,0,1892989.story">[URL="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/travel/tourism-leisure/new-smyrna-beach-PLREC000079.topic"]New Smyrna Beach[/URL], [URL="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/travel/tourism-leisure/canaveral-national-seashore-PLREC000050.topic"]Canaveral National Seashore[/URL], [URL="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/beach/orl-melbournebeach-story,0,1976902.story"]Melbourne Beach[/URL] ), any suggestions?

Any insights would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!

[kyle19125]

Clearwater Beach would be your most direct/convenient option on the Gulf coast and is very family-friendly. The beach is very clean (white powder sand), not super crowded and has all kinds of water sports options.

Clearwater Beach | St Petersburg Clearwater, FL Beach Vacations

[DeannaC]

Kyle is correct.

Clearwater is the best for families. The undertow is not like it is on the Atlantic coast, the water is warmer and it's less crowded. Small children enjoy it much more than they do Atlantic beaches (and they can play without cars running over them...we can drive on our beaches to an extent).

You'll find better shopping, more calm and clean atmosphere and the prices are at least 1/3 less than on the other side of the state.

It's not as "touristy" either, so it's not dragging in party goers, but rather, families that want quiet vacations.

(OH, and there's "Wiki Watchee" where the kids can watch mermaids, just north of Clearwater)

[Rabflmom]

Originally Posted by NurseNiki

Hi everyone,
We are taking a family trip in mid July and will have several kids 2, 7, 10, 12, 13, 15 and then the grown kids and grandparents. We are looking to make 2-3 day trips to the beach, would like something nice/not trashy and not super crouded, somewhere we can boogie board, and hopefully somewhere we can snorkel (not necessarily on the same day). I was looking at the Anna Maria Island on the gulf coast, any suggestions?

Also we are trying to decide on a good ocean beach looked at these three, ( <a href="http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/beach/orl-newsmyrnabeach-story,0,1892989.story">New Smyrna Beach, Canaveral National Seashore, Melbourne Beach ), any suggestions?

Any insights would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!

I see all your beaches are on the East Coast so you are looking more to the beaches with waves. Did you want to maybe rent surf boards for the older ones to try surfing?

I'd suggest Cocoa Beach and South to Melbourne Beach or Sebastian Inlet. Beach parking is free on the East coast except for a few beaches. You can rent surf and boogey boards in Cocoa Beach area and even get surf lessons. We have all types of beaches here. Sandy with a pretty flat bottom for little ones to play in like at Lori Wilson Park. It also has a little nature walk that is pretty cool.
If staying in a hotel-make sure it lists Oceanfront and not just A1A because A1A is a block or 2 away from the beach in some areas in Cocoa Beach.

Go farther south and the reef off the shore is so close the rocks are exposed a lot when the tide is at its lowest so you could snorkel and see lots of different life along the reef.
The Reef Off Satellite Beach - YouTube

Canaveral Seashore is a National park so an entrance fee for cars to go in. Beaches are beautiful. Natural area with no water, but they have block buildings with port-o-potties that flush <g> in each restroom at each parking lot. Bring own food and water and anything you will need at the beach. I would advise not using the last parking lot and access with a family, though. The first access is very close to some of the gantries etc on KSC property so you can get some cool pictures. It is a little more crowded(meaning 50-100 people max most of the time.

If you go to New Smyrna area you are close to Ponce Inlet. Can drive on the beach there. White sands and there is a beautiful Light House museum.

On the East coast we tend to find more shells on the beach South of Indialantic so if the little ones want to look for bigger shells we have better luck South around the spessard Hiolland Parks and Coconut Point than we do in Central Brevard County beaches.
I have some beach pics on my profile so check them out.

[tinytrump]

the gulf is great for small children we hung out at Sand key just south of Clearwater/ also Fort de Soto/ but it's calm warm waters and do watch for sting rays,,, shuffle shuffel... I came from Miami beach and never ever got hurt in the ocean till Clearwater,,, OUUUUU,, now in ORL and cant wait to get to the Atlantic shores