Orlando does not directly border on the ocean, but it is near to some very good beaches. A vacation in Orlando usually means lots of time spent enjoying the theme parks and other attractions, but be sure to save some time for visits to the beautiful beaches that are not far away. Let’s take a look at what these beaches have to offer.

A famous beach near Orlando is Cocoa Beach. If you have been keeping up with the space program you will know that this is the beach that is near the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral. Cocoa Beach is a beautiful place to swim and it is also known as the “small wave capital of the world” making it a great locale for beginning or advanced surfers.

Cocoa Beach also offers a lot more than swimming and sand. Fishing, volleyball, shopping and restaurant visiting are also possible here. At nearby Jetty Park you can fish, go camping, or gaze at cruise ships as they travel past the coast. If you are on the beach at the right time you can also watch spectacular Shuttle launches or launches of other rockets from the nearby space center. And while you are at the beach you may as well keep some time available for a visit to Cape Canaveral and the Space Center.

Nightlife is lively at Cocoa Beach and you can dine, drink, dance and take in live music ranging from jazz to rock.

Even more famous than Cocoa Beach is Daytona Beach, and it too is close to Orlando. When you hear the words “Daytona Beach” you might be reminded of race car driving or of images of college students and their spring break revelry and both images are correct to an extent. Daytona Speedway is nearby but did you know that the racing at Daytona was originally done on the beach. These days you can still drive on the beach, but only at speeds of 10 miles per hour, and if you are careful to avoid the dunes. Daytona Beach is bustling with all kinds of activity and it attracts eight million tourists each year.

To the South of Orlando you can find the fabulous Sebastian Inlet. This is a beautiful beach front state park that offers a wide range of activities such as swimming, fishing, surfing, snorkeling, hiking, picnicking and wildlife viewing. There are different swimming areas offering opportunities for advanced swimmers as well as for children and families who just want to wade and enjoy the water and sun.

The state parks of Florida are a true bargain and Sebastian Inlet is no exception. For an entry fee of only $5.00 per car, up to eight people can enjoy a day at the park. In addition to the outdoor activity the park also is home to the Sebastian Fishing Museum and the McLarty Treasure Museum, which are both worth visiting. If you want to stay overnight the park also offers camping and it can issue fishing licenses as well.

So, if you are visiting Orlando be sure to bring all of your swimming gear and get ready for great times at the nearby beaches.

Author Bio: Janice McSherry writes frequently about Orlando tourism. She is the proprietor of www.floridavacationsvillas.com . Visit her website for great deals on Florida Vacation Villas

Category: Travel
Keywords: Orlando Tadalis SX Florida, beaches, travel, Orlando vacations