Florida's incomparable coastline is populated by stretches of pure white beaches, each with their own attraction, and if you're a beach bum, you'll want to take the time to visit as many as possible and find the one you feel most sums up your own ideal of an idyllic beach. Acres of white sands and foamy azure waves for as far as the eye can see stretch away into the Gulf of Mexico.
There are many family-friendly public beaches along Florida's share of the Gulf Coast, so basing yourself in one of our beach front villas will give you the edge on claiming the very best spot. One of the best beaches for families is the Manatee County public beach, which is an island beach located just west of Bradenton City. The calm waters are a shallow, child-friendly depth, and manned by lifeguards for extra added security. Packed with family fun activities such as fishing and boating trips, you can play all day, stopping for sustenance at their 'Cafe on the Beach'.
Beaches nearest to Orlando:
Atlantic Coastline
If you've come to Florida to meet Mickey Mouse, a break from the action may be in order, and there are plenty of beautiful beaches close to Orlando, without having to drive around all day: The main public beaches on the Atlantic coastline are Cocoa Beach and Daytona Beach. Daytona is a very lively beach; with lots of amazing events to go along to at various points of the year, such as fast car 'Beach Racing', this 23 mile stretch of unspoilt sand has large parking capacity and offers ingenious 'surf chairs' to visitors with disabilities.
Cocoa Beach is an hour's drive east of Orlando, with tons of fun for adventurous travelers, offering such activities as parasailing, 'eco tours' and deep sea fishing, and if you're feeling lucky there is also a lavish casino cruise ship. Attractions such as Brevard Zoo and the Kennedy Space Center are also nearby.
Gulf Coast
On the breathtaking Gulf Coast, the closest beach to Orlando is a drive of around two hours away, at Clearwater Beach. Clearwater boasts waters that are exactly as its name suggests; the gulf waters are clearest in this area, and the sandy beaches are renowned for their pure white grains, so not only is this a recommended beach for children, the unspoilt views also warrant a stroll along the beach. Major attractions close to Clearwater Beach include Florida Botanical Gardens, Busch Gardens, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and The Florida Aquarium; the perfect environment to start getting better acquainted with the natural world. The area surrounding Clearwater is packed with great shops and restaurants, and the beach also hosts a children's play area, so the whole family will find an activity to take part in.
