Public beach near Orlando?
 

As per my other thread, we're headed to Disney soon and we have a day to kill when we first arrive. I figured that I would take the kids to see a beach on the ocean (as opposed to the Gulf of Mexico)

Anyone have a recommendation for a good public beach near Orlando? Also, do you know if the water is warm enough down there to swim in this time of year?

Thanks!

Daytona beach, the water is too cool for my tastes but the kids will like it. I'm spoiled by a solar heated pool @ 86 almost year round... ;)

Ha! Tell me about it. I grew up on Ft Myers Beach. I DON'T like the cold water.

Thanks for the input!

Florida Water temps as of March 14th.

LOL.....if you guys think the water in Daytona is cold then you need to swim here. In the river I always used to swim in the water is so cold your lips would be blue after about 15 minutes in the water......that was in the dead of summer. I went swimming in ocean in Ft. Lauderdale in january and thought it was warm in comparison to what Im used to.

I prefer the west coast beaches. It's about the same drive from the resort area and the beaches are much cleaner and nicer. Fort DeSoto Park near St. Pete is pretty cool. The beach is beautiful and you can walk around whats left of the old fort. The area beaches have a tourism website with some info about the area. If you are looking for big waves, the gulf coast does not get the waves that the Atlantic side gets.

Cocoa Beach is due east of the Orlando airport. Less than an hour drive and absolutely beautiful. Make sure you leave some of your tourist $ at Ron Jon's while there. Jump on the Bee line expressway and head east.

Enjoy!