You guys would love my vacation...oh, question for FL residents too.

Making all final plans for my family vacation, coming up next weekend. I know most of you guys will be jealous , but we'll be spending two weeks in Disney World. I'm looking forward to it, my kids are overwhelmed with excitement (we just told them about it a few days ago). Been there several times, so I'm all good there. We rented a house dirt cheap, same one we used last time so I know what we're getting. I really like having a house, lets us do laundry (which means packing less), cook food (saves money), etc...

So here's my question for FL folks. We're there for 13 full days and our Disney pass is 10 days. We've got 3 days to kill and plan on spending it on a beach somewhere. In the past, we've done day trips to Daytona, which is fine. But I can use bonus points on a credit card and stay in a hotel in Cocoa Beach for free. What is Cocoa like? Keep in mind I've got 3 kids (9,5,5), so I'm looking for things oriented towards kids. Not worried if there is car stuff or anything like that, just want a nice beach for the daytime and things for the kiddies to do at night.

Age of kids? Legoland might be an option for tweens or younger. Less so for teens. (...and I'm not biased by the fact that I live three traffic lights away )

I think Kissimmee Old Town is fun, but realize that some people here dislike the "old guys sitting with their cars" experience

My oldest is 9, and my twins are a month shy of turning 6. We're looking at beaches, because the kids love them...and specifically Cocoa since it's free. Have you been there?

Cocoa is fine, can be a little touristy but hey, why not. Rent some boogie boards or try to get them in a surf camp. Also, take a look at the many state parks which will be in between Orlando/Cocoa.

I'm actually from Cocoa. Cocoa Beach is great. It's less crowded than Daytona but still has a cool drive down US1, there's Ron Jon's and all that. The sand is nice, the locals are friendly. It's definitely still a "tourist" beach though. If you really want to go to a small-town vibe beach with less people, go hit up New Smyrna Beach, about 30-40 minutes south of Daytona.

Bonus side-trip: take the kids to Kennedy Space Center and tour the VAB and pad and stuff while you still can! It's just north of Cocoa Beach, so you can stay at your same hotel.

Plus a big bunch on the Space Center. I think the kids will enjoy, but you will really like it. Lot of real history, and really big toy rockets.

I liked Midieval Times, but it's not an all day event.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnmuhSQ4_HU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G52eNM4wsaY

Wikkiwachi Spring to see Mermaids?

Awesome, thanks. Touristy is fine with me, not looking to go off the beaten path. The kids like tourist stuff, and frankly it doesn't bother me either. As long as they've got a nice family oriented beach, somewhere to eat, and things like mini-golf or boogie boards, etc...they're thrilled. Kennedy is a great idea, maybe we'll go there too.

Weeki Watchi is not far from my place in Hudson. The mermaid show is the same as it was when I was 9, but kids still dig it. The real attraction is that it is basically a public pool, with water slides, snack bars and whatnot, but in a natural spring. Sometimes, Manitee swim up the river and into the "ppol" area. It's kitchy, but fun if you are heading to the Gulf Shore.

You can also head up to Homasassa Springs and see more manitee and other animals there. Again, kids dig it because you take a boat ride and are out in the Florida nature. It's kinda the opposite of Disney.

Do they stil do the tube runs down the wikiwacchi river? Kids (and 'rents) may like that. Crystal clear water!

Clearwater is a longer drive but is a very family friendly spot too.

Javelin wrote: I'm actually *from* Cocoa. Cocoa Beach is great. It's less crowded than Daytona but still has a cool drive down US1, there's Ron Jon's and all that. The sand is nice, the locals are friendly. It's definitely still a "tourist" beach though. If you really want to go to a small-town vibe beach with less people, go hit up New Smyrna Beach, about 30-40 minutes south of Daytona. Bonus side-trip: take the kids to Kennedy Space Center and tour the VAB and pad and stuff while you still can! It's just north of Cocoa Beach, so you can stay at your same hotel.

This ^^^^ Smryna is a quiet, very nice little town.

You mentioned "family friendly beach". Cocoa is a nice beach, but keep in mind there are several "dancing" establishments in the area, and the "talent" tends to hang out at the beach during the day. Not a problem, as long as you don't mind scantily clad young ladies in abundance.

I'm not trying to dissuade you from Cocoa, but different folks have different ideas of what is "family friendly".

I've been, but not recently. It's a beach, so it has all the normal beach stuff. People fish and swim at/near the jetty at north end. If you like commercial tourist trap stuff, that's where Ron Jon's is headquartered.

"Family Friendly:" St. Augustine. Hands-down. Alligator Farm, Castillo de San Marcos, and we used to LOOOOOOVE going to the Ripley's Museum when I was a kid. Anastasia State Park has a nice beach and wildlife and all that.

Joe Gearin wrote: You mentioned "family friendly beach". Cocoa is a nice beach, but keep in mind there are several "dancing" establishments in the area, and the "talent" tends to hang out at the beach during the day. Not a problem, as long as you don't mind scantily clad young ladies in abundance. I'm not trying to dissuade you from Cocoa, but different folks have different ideas of what is "family friendly".

Well, my boys have to learn sometime, huh?

Seriously, shouldn't be a big problem. I'm only about 2 hours from the closest New Jersey beach (Atlantic City) and go down there a few times each year. There's the same type "talent" down there in droves. The difference is that much of the talent at the Jersey shore has no business wearing such outfits...they may have 5 years and 40 large fries ago, but now...

poop, My parents took me to St. Augustine when I was a kid. The only thing I can remember about the place was the heat. It was some kind of a record high that day and it was ridiculous. 100 some-odd degrees and 137% humidity...or it felt that way.

^^^ Good to hear---- Some folks get extremely uptight when they see anything more than a belly-button exposed.

Cocoa is a good choice, as it's only 45 min from Orlando. St. Aug is great, but is a good 2 hours or so from Orlando.

Also-- if you are into wildlife, head to Mosquito Lagoon and charter a flats boat. (not real expensive) The lagoon hosts an incredible variety of wildlife----dolphin, sea turtles, giant pelicans, and fish all over the place!

http://www.google.com/search?q=mosquito+lagoon&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=P1G3UYeNF4nk8gSmooG4Cg&sqi=2&ved=0CDoQsAQ&biw=1430&bih=780

Definitely do Cocoa Beach then. Make sure you do a day trip up to Kennedy! The Visitor's Center and Astronaut Hall of Fame are both pretty good, the Saturn V center is fantastic. Get a bus tour through the launch pad, VAB, and launch control.

Make sure to stop at a random place roadside with Indian River fruit and buy some real non-pasteurized fresh OJ. Nectar of the gods...

Oh, and stop on the St. John's River on your way to Cocoa or back and take an airboat ride with a hillbilly. They're awesome.

Javelin wrote: Oh, and stop on the St. John's River ...

On a side note, why does the St John's river flow northward?

hobiercr wrote:

Javelin wrote: Oh, and stop on the St. John's River ...

On a side note, why does the St John's river flow northward?

It's downhill. Water does that.

poop, My parents took me to St. Augustine when I was a kid. The only thing I can remember about the place was the heat. It was some kind of a record high that day and it was ridiculous. 100 some-odd degrees and 137% humidity...or it felt that way.

Um. You do realize you're visiting Florida in June, right? If you think the coast is hot, wait till you get to the giant parking lot in the middle of the state! And if your parents didn't take you to the Ripley's museum, they didn't love you. You'd remember it. They have air conditioning!

^^^ truth. Ocean breezes are a good thing.

Absolutely, I plan to sweat...a lot. I've been to FL in June/July many times, so I'm prepared. But when I went to St. Augustine, I remember seeing the local news in our hotel. I don't remember the exact temp, but they were talking about how much hotter than normal it was. I actually do think we went to Ripley's now that you mention it. I recall bits and pieces of it (I was about 8 or 9 years old), and remember the air conditioning.

You just have to play it smart in Disney in summer. Lots of water, plan the attractions that have a/c for mid day....or do the water rides then. Always eat lunch inside.

^^^

and wear linen and loose fitting clothing. It's amazing the difference clothing can make in comfort when the temps rise.

^^^

I just wanted to do that like all the other cool kids.