ilasik

I am planning a beach vacation in FL with the hopes of doing a day trip to Orlando. What coastal area is nice, with great beaches but no more than 150 miles from Orlando?
Thanks much!

gardendiva

I have stayed in Cocoa Beach and made a day trip to Orlando. I have not been there in years so I cannot vouch for the beach today but it was very nice back then. You are also close to Cape Canaveral.

vjpblovesitaly

Do you have a preference of ocean beach or gulf? Siesta Key (Sarasota area) is nice

ilasik

Thanks for the suggestions. I am open to gulf or ocean but would love to fly nonstop from my local airport which goes to Ft Lauderdale, Tampa, Ft.Myers, W Palm Beach and Miami.

Orlando_Vic

Take a look at this very recent thread: http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...ar-orlando.cfm

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Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

beachtee

Does your local airport fly into Melbourne, FL? Cocoa Beach is about 30 minutes from there. Cocoa Beach is mostly a quiet little town. It's nice that Orlando is less than an hours drive--straight out the "Beachline". (SR 528)

Most of the airports you listed are further than an hour from Orlando. Tampa would be the closest, but Tampa isn't much of a beach town.

swalter518

On the Gulf side, you can shoot straight across and hit the Tampa/St. Pete's area in just a little over an hour. It's a very easy drive across the state from Tampa airport to Orlando.

birgator

St. Pete is perfect -- we headquarter in Orlando in November, and drive to St.Pete at least one day even though it's a little further than Cocoa Beach. Really depends on whether you prefer Gulf or Atlantic beaches.