Florida East Coast Beach Info!

Florida's East Coast Beaches: The Gold Coast or The Space Coast

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Daytona Beach - dubbed the "World’s Most Famous Beach"
Located on Florida's Central East Coast, Daytona Beach stretches a stunning 23 miles along the Atlantic. Home of the Daytona 500 NASCAR race, one of the best college spring breaks on the planet and BikeWeek, Daytona is popular with young people and families alike. The gentle slope and tides have packed the white sands near the ocean which allows for driving of cars as well as the rental of many different types of beach bikes and buggies. Of the 23 miles of beach, 16 miles allow driving and parking during the day and when the tide permits. This has it's pluses and minuses. On the plus side, you can simply pack a lawn chair or blanket and cruise right over to Daytona, park within feet of the water and deploy your lawn chair, sandals and suntan lotion. All while declaring this a sun and surf lovers paradise. On the minus side, well if you like cars and a beautiful beach, you may never want to leave.Whether you’re cruising the boardwalk, hanging out on the pier or just kicking back with your favorite book, Daytona is one good time after another.

The Daytona Beach area is only an hour's drive from greater Orlando and its attractions, and even closer to St. Augustine and the Kennedy Space Center. Please click this link to reserve hotels at the worlds most famous beach!

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Ormond Beach!
Visiting Ormond Beach can be one of the most rewarding vacations to Florida. Ormond Beach is located on the northern end of the greater Daytona Beach Resort Area. This area is known for it's famous drive-on beach, one of the few available in the world. Ormond Beach's nickname, the "Birthplace of Speed" comes from the turn of the century speed records set here on the beach. Today, millions of visitors come each year to witness automobile racing at nearby Daytona International Speedway and enjoy the Daytona 500..

Ormond Beach Some beach areas permit driving, however the northern areas do not. All offer breathtaking beauty and water related fun! It's easy to see why these beaches are considered among the best in the world. Whether your day at the beach is to relax and read a book; cast a line into the surf; build sand castles with the children; or cruise along the shoreline with the top down, Volusia County beaches can accommodate your desired experience.

New Smyrna Beach - South of Daytona - nice beaches - less crowded
Location: New Smyrna Beach is located on Florida's east coast, just north of Cape Canaveral. Off 1-95, exit 84A. Directions: East off I-95, Exits: Southbound 84A; Northbound 84.

New Smyrna Beach boasts over 13 miles of beautiful white sandy beach. Wide and flat with vehicle access like Daytona but much less crowded than its northern neighbor. New Smyrna begins at Ponce Inlet and continues on to Canaveral National Seashore and Apollo Beach."The World's Safest Bathing Beach" is great entertainment in a clean, peaceful setting (sunbathing, swimming, surfing, jet skiing,wind surfing, fishing, shell collecting and a plethora of recreational activities make this a great choice).

Cocoa Beach
Location: Simply drive east from Orlando (or the Orlando International Airport) on the Beachline (SR 528) Expressway. Cocoa beach is just south of Port Canaveral which the Disney cruise line (Magic and the Wonder) call home.

Cocoa Beach is just an hour from Orlando so it is very popular with tourists and residents alike. The beaches offer a wide variety of fun with wide sands, gently sloping beaches and moderate but fun surfing and swimming waves. There are quite a few "parks" on the beach which offer direct access to the ocean. Most are from 2 acres to 40 acres in size and some offer picnic pavilions, surf fishing, nature trails, playgrounds and surfing or swimming. Many resorts, hotels, and restaurants adjoin the parks.

One major highlight of Cocoa Beach is the pier which stretches 840 feet over the Atlantic Ocean and is open year-round. Food and beverages are readily available, with four restaurants, souvenir shops and frequent live entertainment. From an outdoor cafe table, guests can dine and see for miles down the beach making this a great spot to view a space shuttle launch or the sand, sea and sunshine.

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Melbourne Beach
The area is the perfect side trip for the Orlando vacationer with beach dreams.

Bonsteel Park 8455 Highway A1A, Melbourne Beach is popular for surfing and shoreline fishing, this peaceful 2.34-acre community beach park is located 15-miles south of U.S. Hwy 192. Preserving the natural environment, facilities at this quiet south beach include a stabilized parking area and dune crossover.

Coconut Point Park 3535 Highway A1A, Melbourne Beach Located 5.5 miles south of U.S. Hwy 192, this 36.9-acre community beach park and sea turtle nesting site preserves the natural environment. Popular for surfing, beachcombing and fishing, the park amenities include a small pavilion, restrooms, and an outside shower. One of the 2 dune crossovers is wheelchair accessible.

Vero Beach
In addition to its beaches and waters for swimming, scuba diving, boating, fishing, and other water sports, Indian River County's parks offer countless opportunities for recreation and enjoying the out of doors. Eighteen golf courses allow for all levels of play, and tennis facilities are widely available. Add Holman Stadium, the 6,500 seat Spring Training home of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Disney's Vero Beach Resort (where the Magic of Disney meets the Beauty of the Beach), and a host of museums, theatres, restaurants, night spots, and shopping areas and you have the makings of a great vacation.

No Florida vacation is complete without a trip to the beach, and no other beachfront resort can deliver the Disney-inspired family fun that you'll find at Disney's Vero Beach Resort. Don't be fooled by all the fun and sun, this is one beautiful Disney property and is directly ON Vero Beach. Let your kids slip down Pirate's Plunge, a 163-foot spiral water slide, or splash with them on the Pirate Ship wet-deck. There are no limits to the recreational opportunites and fun days. Swim in the Atlantic, play mini-golf, rent a hobie cat, campfires, massages, 7 mile bike trail, the nearby golf courses! I should mention that this is one of my favorite Disney Resorts and one of Floridas best beaches (quiet) although I have not had the chance to getaway to Disney's Vero Beach Resort, we have spent some time in the area. The Disney folks will pamper you at this wonderful beach resort. Obviously not as popular as the hotels at Walt Disney World, it is still just a 2 hour drive and relatively serene and quiet.

Hotels at additional Florida East Coast Beaches:

St. Augustine

West Palm Beach
Miami Beach Hotels
Key Largo

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