Orlando, FL beaches

[Jamisjockey]

Okay we're going to be spending next week in Orlando.  I don't relish spending 5 straight days in the parks, and would like to take a day and head to the beach. 
I was thinking maybe Cocoa beach, but not real familiar with those beaches.  Would just like to lounge around, get some sun, surf fish a little and let the kids splash around.  Suggestions?

[Gewehr98]

From the Bee-Line Expressway and south:

Cocoa Beach.

Patrick AFB beach (public access).

Satellite Beach.

Indialantic.

Melbourne Beach.

Pay attention to rip tide warnings, we tended to lose more tourists that way.

[Harold Tuttle]

its a tad farther, but picking sharks teeth at Venice beach is memorable

[Jamisjockey]

Grew up in Californistan and NC mostly...I know my way out of a rip.... 
Probably gonna just go to Cocoa....seems to be the closest to Orlando.

[Gewehr98]

If you swing south on A1A just about 6 miles of Cocoa Beach, you'll find Patrick AFB.  The huge bomb-resistant building opposite the beach and All-Ranks club is AFTAC, the organization I sold my soul to for many years.  It'll have windows on the north side, but not the side facing Hwy A1A.  That's all Kevlar and metal cladding to protect the agency from semi-truck bombs.  Take a picture for me, I haven't been there since January 2006! 

[Jamisjockey]

I avoid taking pictures of heavy-security government buildings....