East Coast Beaches
Cocoa Beach
| Close to the Orlando/Kissimmee attractions area. It`s an hours drive directly east of the attractions area on the Atlantic Ocean. Kennedy Space Center is just a couple of minutes north if you want to make a side trip. One popular landmark store is Ron Jon Surf Shop which specializes in surf culture goods. Also nearby is the Cocoa Beach Surfing School (Cocoa Beach - (321)868-1980 - 150 E. Columbia Lane, Cocoa Beach FL 32931). There are free outdoor showers, rest rooms and inexpensive to free parking. Take State Road 528 (called the Beach Line Expressway, it`s a toll road) East, follow the local signs to to beach, which is just off of highway A1A. |
Daytona Beach
| "The Most Famous Beach in the World", this beach is popular with tourists and easily accessible from the attractions area, being about a 1 1/2 hours drive northeast of it. Famous years ago for its automobile races on the beach, today cars are still permitted on the beach. Parking is $5 on the beach and free off of the beach. Local proprietors offer jet skiing, windsurfing, para-sailing and boat rentals. If you want to go deep-sea fishing drive down to Ponce Inlet (also see Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse below) and go out on a charter boat. Take the Interstate Highway I-4 East, and then just follow the local signs to the beach area. There are many events in the Daytona area throughout the year. |
New Smyrna Beach
| Just south of Daytona Beach and just north of Canaveral National Seashore, this a slightly less busy beach if Daytona is too much for you. Driving is permitted on part of the beach, but there are also conservation areas where driving is prohibited. Take I-4 East to State Road 44 East, then follow the signs to the beach. |
Ormond Beach
| Just to the north of Daytona Beach, this is a less busy, quieter beach than Daytona. There is less development here and there is a stretch of beach that is so secluded, at Ormond-by-the-Sea, that you can feel almost all alone. This is an amazing trait for a beach so close to Daytona. There are also nice-sized, innumerable sand dunes here too. Take I-4 East to I-95 North, to State Road 40 East until you see the signs to the beach. |