Fla ROCers, need some vacation advice

Seems my wife wants to fly down and surprise her sister who will be vacationing in Kissimmee in April. Figured we'd spend a few extra days down there after the sister heads home to Arizona...

I'm looking for a beach destination within about a 3 hour drive from Kissimmee. 3 kids, oldest being 9, we'd like a place that isn't loaded with toursists as we'll be there heading into school vacation week. Also, any beach front accommodation recommendations is also appreciated.

We thought about Marco Island...
I've done Naples, Bonita, Sanibel areas and like them so I'd take recommendations for there...

So let's go Fla ROCers... show us your goods... :eek:
Thanks all...
:D

I've lived down here for 35 years & St Augustine is still one of my favorite places. Excellent beach,shopping,good restaurants & bars plus lots of interesting history. Unfortunately tourists have also discovered it so it can get pretty busy but this time of year it shouldnt be too bad. Just stay away from Daytona cause the only thing that place is good for is Bike Week or NASCAR. It would be about 2 1/2 hours from Kissimmee.

Also look at the Gulf Coast. Homosassa Springs has a Manatee refuge / zoo, where you can see them from an underwater vantage point. Also, gators, rhinos, and the like. Very cool place.

Well, a beach place without tourists at spring break time... unlikely. :(

St. Pete beach (tampa area)

Daytona beach is a place you can drive your vehicles on the beach, so that makes it interesting

Melbourne beach is usually not as busy as others

Sebastian inlet is nice (south of Melbourne beach) about 1.75 hrs. Bring your own food/drink as nothing nearby

Agree with PerryLynch, no beach there, but Homosassa Springs state park is amazing. Well worth the trip there. You can get within inches of full size alligators (chain link fence only). About a 2 hr drive

Well, a beach place without tourists at spring break time... unlikely. :(

St. Pete beach (tampa area)

Daytona beach is a place you can drive your vehicles on the beach, so that makes it interesting

Melbourne beach is usually not as busy as others

Sebastian inlet is nice (south of Melbourne beach) about 1.75 hrs. Bring your own food/drink as nothing nearby

Agree with PerryLynch, no beach there, but Homosassa Springs state park is amazing. Well worth the trip there. You can get within inches of full size alligators (chain link fence only). About a 2 hr drive

I guess living in Melbourne for 35 years I actually overlook how nice the area is, k757 is right the Melbourne Beach-Sebastian area is definetly more laid back and less crowded, the beaches are nice and there are plenty of good restaurants, KSC is a short drive north and that part of the East coast is about 45 minutes from Kissimmee.

Been to Daytona many times. Great beach!! Good deals on some of the beach front locations!! In 1955 I saw the speed ometer on a '55 Chevy pegged out at 110 MPH on the South end of the beach. Smothest ride ever!!!!!!!!!!!

Clearwater or Ft.Desoto beaches are nice destinations as well, if you want to come by the Tampa area.

If you are looking for a vacation destination, consider the Disney Vero Beach Resot (http://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/guest/resorts/resortDetail?id=ProspectsVeroBeachResortLandingPag e&bhcp=10 for an all-inclsive getaway. At tis time of year, I wouldn't imagine it would be swamped with tourists.

Kennedy Space Center is in Cocoa Beach if the youngins might be intersted in that. Search online for accommodations in Merritt Island, Cocoa Beach or Melbourne Beach. Don't forget that the famous Ron Jon Surf shop is located in Cocoa Beach.

The last time I was in Titusville, I watched a father and daughter swim with some manatees in a lagoon. That was cool but I do not recommend Titusville as it stinks of river scum. But, there is a very cool local retaurant there called the Crossroads Diner that serves some local fare such as black mullet. That is all I can think of off the top of my head.

In Titusville it is Dixie CrossRoads Rest. famous for the Rock shimp. People wait for hours to getto eat, from what I hear the food and service is gotten better in the last few months. True the River is kinda stinky.
Kissimmee is Disney area as well as Sea World and Universal Studios. Dixie Stampeed just closed. Come accross Interstate 4 towards Daytona Beach, but exit at #118 SR 44 New Smyrna Beach / Deland exit. New Smyrna Beach is over 20 miles of beach linked to Canaveral Seashore and the Cape. (Kennedy Space Center) Up in Daytona Beach there is only 8 miles of beach.
Approx. when in April? We are busy with Special Events until the April 7, which starts Spring Break til the end of April and then we get into Summer time. Oh a word of cautions Manatees are still protected. swimming in direct contact with them or very close is considered harrasment and you could get a ticket from the water patrol. PM me if you want more info from the area.

So far some great ideas... Much appreciated. We do Disney almost every year. We have a trip planned for November/December for Disney so with this trip, I was hoping to enjoy some down time on a beach with the kids. Disney Vero Beach looks booked. :(

We'll be in Kissimmee April 15-18 and then free to roam the 19 through 23rd...
I'm sure we won't find an empty beach but I'm just looking for something a little less crazy than Disney during school break...:eek:

Of course Lauderdale or Miami would be high on my list if I wasn't trying to entertain the whole family. Although my boys may be entertained...:cool:

:) All places named on the East coast are great. But, having lived in the Daytona Beach area since 1949, it is the greatest for beaches. If you want to do some shelling then Sanibel Island is best. Let us know and maybe we can get something together with FLA ROC'er.

:) All places named on the East coast are great. But, having lived in the Daytona Beach area since 1949, it is the greatest for beaches. If you want to do some shelling then Sanibel Island is best. Let us know and maybe we can get something together with FLA ROC'er.

Was looking at Sanibel today... Still not sure yet.

As for a FLA ROC get together.... My wife would KILL me.... :eek:
But not completely out of the question. I suppose if I don't tell her and we go someplace with a bunch of Ridgelines, she'll know I'd just have to start talking to everybody. And then we could all realize I "stumbled" upon a ROC meet.... Like what would be the odds....hehehe :D

2nd Cocoa Beach
My favorite is St. Augustine but that may be farther than 2.5 hours.

If you want to see Dr. Beach's #1 and #3 rated beaches of 2008 in the US, consider the west coast of Florida.

Welcome to Dr. Beach . org (http://www.drbeach.org/drbeach/)

Caladesi Island State Park(Clearwater) #1 and Siesta Key Beach(Sarasota) #3 are about 1 hour apart drive time.:) You won't disappointed.:)