Beaches close to Orlando

**mayoctk** · 15-02-2003, 04:12

Hi, Going to Orlando first week of March, staying at Crescent Lakes. Where are the closest, best beaches for kids? Thanks for any information![8D]

**chris** · 15-02-2003, 13:04

Depends what you want and the age of the kids. I've been to Clearwater (1 and a half hours drive) and my boys (aged 9 and 14) have been to Cocoa Beach with their father (1 hour drive). I just asked which they preferred and they dont know!
Clearwater had white sandy beaches. We went for one night and packed our day out. We went on a tug boat around the bay for a dolphin watch. The advantage of the tug compared to some of the other trips on offer, is that you are low down in the water so the dolphins are literally a foot away from you.
My daughter (aged 10 at the time) and I went for a paraglide around the bay. The man in charge was a bit of a big-headed American. He was dunking people in the water and before I got in the thing I said to him please do not dunk me (I did not have my swimsuit on and was in the only clothes I'd brought for our days beach trip.)Of course he did[}

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, I was furious, I almost demanded my money back but didn't feel I could as apart from that I'd really enjoyed it!

The boys went to Cocoa Beach in October, when they had a week in Orlando and I stayed home to look after my daughter who had a broken arm and concussion! They loved Ron Jon's Surf Shop. My eldest son now has what he calls his 'uniform'. Clothes he bought from there which walk off him on their own to jump in the washing machine occasionally![xx(]
They bought a couple of bodyboards and had a great time playing in the surf.
It's really up to you where you go but both coasts are really nice.

**esprit** · 15-02-2003, 14:42

I would say Melbourne is the closest to Crescent Lakes. It is a dead easy journey. Turn onto 192 and head in an easterly direction ( ie opposite direction to Disney) and just keep on going along 192, through St Cloud and straight on. 192 goes all the way to Melbourne Beach. It is a sandy beach with some good surf and would be nice to take a boogie board to. Take quarters as it is all meter parking along the beach front.

PS. Good market in St Cloud on your way through. Saturdays????

**blott** · 15-02-2003, 16:02

Julie, do you mean the Osceola Farmers' Flea Market? If so, it's on the left and it's open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

If the kids are interested in snakes, then Reptile World Serpentarium is further down (also on the left) the same road.

**bellaepovera** · 15-02-2003, 23:54

Melbourne and Cocoa are the closes to Cresent lakes and are both very nice and the resturaunts serve the best fish meals around.

**phil moloney** · 16-02-2003, 03:04

I spent 6 days in cocoa last year it was wonderful, the restaurants are terrific, my husband and boys want to go back as you are so close to the space centre, austronaut centre, cocoa town is vey relaxing wee spot.
Phil

**orlandobabe** · 18-02-2003, 16:39

I didn't know that Julie-that the 192 went to Melbourne. How long does it take?
We'll have to give it a try.
I feel that this market you are on about on Saturdays is a different one to the farmer's market on fri/sat/sun is that right?

**surferguy** · 06-08-2003, 20:05

Great forum. Lots of great ideas on here. These bogie boards that have been mentioned. What are they and where would you purchase them? Are they expensive?

**blott** · 06-08-2003, 21:27

Hi Suferguy

Welcome to the forum. With a nickname like that, I thought you would have known that a boogie board is a body surfing board which is broader and shorter than the normal surf board.

Try Ron Jon's shop at http://www.ronjonsurf.com (where they're actually called body boards!) or http://www.malibulongboards.com/boogieman.html