FLORIDA BEACHES

 

Hey folks, it’s vacation time.

If you wanna have one of the most memorable holidays of your life, pack your bags and head for the famed beaches of Florida. A never-ending white expanse of sparkling sea beaches and clear blue waters greet the eye as you land on the peninsula on the West coast. There are 35 miles of white beaches on about 20-barrier islands. The Gulf of Mexico lies to the west of the peninsula and the Tampa Bay surrounds it from the east. You can spend your mornings warming up with beach volleyball and cool off at the beachside clubs and bars, a mere stone’s throw away from your hotel. Or enjoy sumptuous, fresh seafood and spend your day in the shopping arcades, picking up mementoes for friends and family.

 

The beaches are ideal for college students to enjoy the sand, sea and sun during the spring break. You can take part in beach contests, enjoy the scenic beauty of the sunsets, bask in the sun and also experience the cultural heritage of the Sunshine State.

 

Florida’s beaches are one of the most attractive in the world and have received several awards from rating institutes. The water is warmer than anywhere else in the US and the sand is very fine and sparkling white in the northwest along Pensacola and Panama City Beaches. This also holds good for Clearwater Beach. One can spot the differences in the beaches here for as you proceed along the Atlantic, you will notice that the sand is coarser and a light beige-color. And if driving is your passion, you can indulge yourself in the Daytona Beach where the hard-packed sand is conducive for motor sports.

 

Here are some of the best beaches to bathe under the sun or experience the varying sand dunes.

 

 Key Biscayne's beaches in Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park are ideal for a laidback holiday. The balmy ocean breeze and the rustle of palm fronds are sure to rejuvenate your spirit. You can relax in a hammock with a novel or charter a deep-sea fishing boat or ride a jet ski if you’re in the mood. Or, if you wish to enjoy the fun and frolic of Disneyland, a 90-minutes drive will take you to Walt Disney World Resort, Sea World and Universal Studios Escape in Orlando.  And if it’s the beauty of nature that appeals to you, then the Busch Gardens in Tampa is a mere 30-minutes drive away.

 

If walking through ruins that offer glimpses of the past excites you, then don’t miss the Fort De Soto, a historic fort built during the Spanish-American War. This is located on Mullet Key, the largest of the five islands, which make up this unique area. Exploring the 900-acre Fort De Soto Park with its seven miles of beaches and two fishing piers can be another memorable experience. You can camp out with your friends, enjoy a picnic or visit the history museum here. This park also has a 2,000-foot barrier-free nature trail for people with disabilities. Toll on bridges to the park is 85 cents. Visiting the Fort De Soto Park is an absolute must. The Park boasts a 4.2-mile recreation trail, a 2.25-mile recreational canoe trail and a 1-mile nature trail. The 12-foot-wide asphalt recreation trail connects the campground with the North and East Beach Swim Centers and the historic fort. Canoe, kayak and bicycle  rentals are available at the canoe trailhead. And if you are a nature lover, then don’t miss the nature trail in the Arrowhead Picnic area famed for its fauna and flora.

 

For the adventurous, a trip to Caladesi, one of the few remaining large undeveloped barrier islands on Florida's Gulf Coast is a must. It can be reached only by boat and is perfect for swimming, shelling, fishing, picnics, skin and scuba diving and nature study. There is a ferry every hour from nearby Honeymoon Island. Do not be bothered if you are in a private party for docks are available on the island for private boats. The park, which is open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset, also has a 3-mile nature trail winding through the island's interior. A snack bar and shelters are also available.

 

Miami in southeast Florida hardly needs any introduction, famous as it is for business, sun, sand, beaches, and entertainment. It’s a great place for a gala holiday. Continuing north from Miami Beach, Ft. Lauderdale Beach is dotted with swaying palm trees and numerous parks.  

 

Some of the other popular beaches are as enumerated below:

The Fort Myers beach in southwest Florida is another captivating beach with lots of islands waiting to be explored. Ft. Myers beach, Bonita Beach, Sanibel Island and Captiva are a few of the excellent spots.

 

The 20-miles of beaches in Jacksonville in northeast Florida along the Atlantic Ocean are popular for sunbathing, swimming, surfing, windsurfing and surf fishing. Jacksonville Beach has a 1,000-foot long fishing pier. It has a restaurant and gift shop on the premises.

 

St. Augustine in northeast Florida with its hard-packed sand beaches is another place for motor sports lovers. Besides, you can also enjoy swimming, surfing, sunning and fishing.