Florida's East Coast, sunriseCocoa Beach.- probably the fastest one to get to from the Orlando/Kissimmee attractions area. It's an hour drive directly east of the attractions area on the Atlantic Ocean. In many spots, where the ocean meets the land are steeply inclined sand beaches (this may change during hurricane season or major storms), but a few feet from shore it's nice and flat so that you can set up your beach towel. This beach seems to have bigger waves than most of the others and when a storm passes off-shore many surfers are attracted to it. Be careful at this beach (and other east coast beaches) when there is rip-tide. Kennedy Space Center is just a couple of minutes north if you want to make a side trip. Park Yourself by the Shore at the loveliest Lori Wilson Park that offers clean and wide beach, thick with golden-hued sand, the park boasts free parking. Explore-walk the Cocoa Beach Pier. One popular landmark store is Ron Jon Surf Shop (once we parked at Ron Jon's, shopped in the store, then walked to the nearby beach and saved ourselves a parking fee). Take State Road 528 (called the Bee Line Expressway, it's a toll road) East, follow the local signs to to beach, which is just off of highway A1A.
Daytona Beach.- self-proclaimed by locals as "The Most Famous Beach in the World", this beach is popular with tourists and easily accessible from the attractions area, being less than 2 hours drive northeast. Famous years ago for its automobile races on the beach, today cars are still permitted on the beach. Parking is $5 on the beach and free off of the beach. Local proprietors offer jet skiing, windsurfing, para-sailing and boat rentals. There are many events in the Daytona area throughout the year, and getting a hotel during these can prove challenging (Speedweeks, Bike Week, LPGA golf, Coke Zero Speedway, Biketoberfest, Car Show and Swap Meet). Take the Interstate Highway I-4 East (which is really an intra-state highway, and looks more like it goes north than east on your map).
Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse.- just south of Daytona Beach - It is a wonderful old lighthouse completed in 1887, which is fully functioning, in which you are permitted (for an admission fee) to go up its 203 steps to the top and go outside to the walkway which encircles a the top, which has a beautiful 360 degree view of the area (if you walk around). It is said to be the second tallest lighthouse in North America. The admission fee also covers the lighthouse museum, a micro-theater historical film, historical grounds, nature-walk and the gift shop. This is a definite must-do if you are in the Daytona area. 4931 South Peninsula Drive, Ponce Inlet, Florida 32127. From Daytona Beach, take A1A south to the Lighthouse.
Canaveral National Seashore and Merritt Island National Wildlife.- considered one of the most beautiful stretches of beach in the U.S.A., many rare and endangered species call these places home. If you are an eco-tourist, you might consider visiting this environmentally sensitive and protected area, just be ready for the mosquitos if you travel inland because this area is notorious for them. Occasionally you'll hear a story of a rocket part that washes up on shore, and then they caution you about touching it because of the toxic rocket fuel (but also its probably because sometimes they are military payloads). Aside from the rocket stories, it's a wonderful area to visit. The fastest way here is to take State Road 528 (the Bee Line Expressway, it's a toll road) East to Merritt Island, to State Road 3 north. If you want to go to the Canaveral National Seashore, take 528 East to U.S. 1 North, when you get to Titusville, watch the local signs to the beaches (which Canaveral National Seashore beaches start at the latitude of Titusville [3 miles east of it] and run to the north.