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.

There are literally thousands of restaurants in the Central Florida, If you are looking for good places to eat on Disney Property:

Joico the African restaurant in the Animal Kingdom is phenomenal if you like unusual food. Each dish is delicious and it is doubtful that you have tasted anything like it before.

The French Pavilion at Epcot has the best food in that park. You will prefer the downstairs restaurant because it is less stuffy. On the upper level you get course after course . Downstairs has more homey food like ham and cheese on a croissant and big dishes of baked Macaroni and cheese.

The Bakery in the French Pavilion is also a great choice. You can get a ham and cheese croissant or pastries for a lot less than dining in one of the restaurants and still enjoy a delicious meal. You can even get a glass of wine and sit at one of their outdoor tables while you enjoy your meal.

If you are going off property, the choices get more interesting:

Tu Tu Tango is an artsy restaurant on International Drive that serves tapas ( or small dishes) they also have a great Sangria. Every night they have entertainers like Samba dancers and tarot card readers so it has a very fun atmosphere. And there is artwork for sale on every wall created by your servers.

If you want loud and fun, go to Opa on International drive. You can get Greek food here like souvlaki and moussaka, along with some traditional Greek wines. At night, it truly comes alive with belly dancers and the guests jump up and dance on the tables while everyone throws napkins.

If you are in the mood for a more upscale feel, try Christinis Ristorante Italiano, one of the most famous restaurants in the country. The food has won awards, the service is amazing, the wine list has something for even the most experienced pallets and at the end of the meal each lady is gifted with a rose. If that is not enough, you will see some of the most famous celebrities in the world on their walls and you may even have the opportunity to sit across from one. From the top athletes to the most famous actors, they all find their way to Christinis. If you like to people watch this is the place.