We want to spend a few days on the Ocean after visiting Universal with our 9 year old the week before Easter. Is Spring Break still going strong in April? Would like to avoid the college crowd. We were leaning toward Daytona Beach Shores (lot's of inexpensive accommodation choices away from Daytona action), but now I'm thinking New Smyrna Beach sounds good. Can anyone familiar with these areas give some advice? Thanks.

A good friend has a condo in New Smyrna Beach, she lives there part of the year. She tells me it is only 45 minutes to Orlando, where her cousin lives, on I-4 and is also very close to Daytona. Not quite as crowded as Daytona, rates probably a bit less, and beach is just as nice. She really enjoys living there, says it is very nice area.

I believe Easter is mid April next year, so most of the college kids should be gone(they usually spring break in March or early April), there may be a lot of high school kids around the week before/after Easter since they usually spring break at that time.

New Smyrna Beach is close to the Canveral National Seashore, a gorgeous, pristine stretch of white sand and dunes that is never crowded. Only so many people are allowed in every day because parking is limited.
If you have your child with you be aware that the very southern end (it's a long, long walk) is an unofficial nude sunbathing area.
NSB itself has a quaint little downtown area and some surprisingly good dining (Vincent's or Victor's Backstreet, for one). You can drive on the beach in NSB as well, if that matters to you.

Can you suggest hotels/condos that are near or in Ponce Inlet? Thank you.

I go to Daytona Beach Shores every year & love it. I wouldn't stay at Daytona Beach though. Too crowded. We stay at Manatee. It is a Mom & Pop style motel right on the beach with a nice pool overlooking the ocean. It is very reasonable,not fancy. We get a one bedroom & it is just a few steps to the beach. Has a kitchen & couch in the living room that makes a bed. I leave the door open all night & listen to the ocean. Wonderful sleeping! It is almost to the end of Daytona Beach Shores the farthest away from Daytona Beach. I took my 7 year old Grandson there after going to Disney World & he loved it. It is an easy trip to Kennedy Space Center also.

Stayed at Daytona Beach Shores , June 2001--loved it. Trip report and pictures at

http://www.angelfire.com/ma3/vacations/index.html

To avoid the college crush (and the frenzy of Universal), I think NSB is a great idea. I have been there twice to visit a friend and it is much quieter. It has a kind of small-town feel for a beach town and the pace is a lot slower as well.

There are also some good places to eat as well. For a tasty lunch on the beach, try Chase's. Their crabcake sandwich is very good. And the aforementioned Vincent's is good.

If you get tired of the beach, there's a nice park area by one of the bridges onto NSB where you can see the marina and the many boats go by. My friend walks her dog there often.

Family or just a couple I would definitely pick New Smyrna Beach. Daytona is too crowded & overrated.

I have never been to New Smyrna so I can't make a comparison. However, Ormond by the Sea is quite nice for a family. Apart from the beach, there are not really any attractions in Ormond Beach. No driving is allowed on Ormond Beach. The sand is also softer than that of Daytona Beach. The sand is also not white but has a pretty orange color. As for hotels, "Coral Sands" is quite nice. I stayed there in 1998. There is a main hotel building plus cottages. If you stay there ask for a new room / suite which is not part of the main hotel or a new cottage nearest the beach. Some of the rooms have little kitchen areas and some have only coffee makers, microwaves etc. You have to specify what you want. The hotel does not have a restaurant, but it has a pool as well as cabanas on the beach for hotel guests. Furthermore, unlike in Daytona Beach there is not another hotel directly next to it. The beach is also usually much quieter than Daytona's and is usually locals and families. The drive from Ormond Beach by the Sea to Daytona is about 10 minutes. In Daytona, there are plenty of good family restaurants as well as places like Pizza Hut etc.
The hotel is on Daytona's tourist site under accomodations.
http://www.daytonabeach.com/viewhotel.asp?id=66&SearchID=11477241528280

There is also a beach not far from Flagler Beach which is a state park. I believe it is called Washington State Park. It is probably 20 minutes from Ormond by the Sea and is basically a beach made of big rocks - interesting to see given that it is so differnt from Daytona and Ormond. They also have tables for picnics. (or they did when I was there.)

I would not stay in Daytona Beach it is full of tourism -- t-shirt shops etc. They also allow driving on the beach which also is not very good if you have children even if they are older. The driving has also made the sand very hard over the years. (Maybe they have stopped it since I was last there in 1998.)

Just south of St. Augustine off A1A is a beautiful beach - Anastasia Island. Very family-oriented & lots of little motels along the strip there.