Family going to Orlando over Spring break. We want to do a couple of days at the beach but don't want to get caught up in the crowds. Any suggestions of beaches fairly close (within 2 hours) that will be relatively calm and uncrowded would be gratefully accepted.

Look into Anna Maria Island or Longboat Key area for Gulf beaches, or Vero Beach area for Atlantic beaches.

I'm omitting Clearwater Beach/St. Pete Beach area, some of the prettiest beaches and an easy drive from Orlando, but they do tend to get crowded during spring break--not with college aged kids necessarily, but lots of families. If it's just the college kids you are looking to avoid, you might consider them still.

We are going to try Cocoa Beach, which is less than an hour straight east. I have no idea if it is "calm", but I must say that in the course of human events, we've managed to hit MTV's "Spring Break" twice in our travels, including the first-ever in Lake Havasu. Frankly, it wasn't that bad -- but maybe I'm just nuts and don't mind a few antics. (Hey, I'M on spring break too! LOL!) Your choice of accommodations will generally have an impact on what you end up having to put up with, but there is probably no sure-fire formula.

Jim:
Cocoa beach is a mecca for surfers and young people. Although it's not Daytona beach, there will still be a big spring break presence there. There will be bands on the beach, wet t-shirt/bikini contests, and drunken 20-somethings staggering up and down A1A. If you cancel your reservations, let me know so I can pick them up .

It appears as if I've hit it right again. I'm on a roll -- YESSSSSS! Thanks, Larry! (I'm sitting here in two feet of snow. Can you tell that this vision simply does not trouble me very much?).