- North Central Florida: Southern charm has rubbed off from nearby Mississippi. With hospitality as warm as the weather, and unparalleled beaches, you'll want to come back again and again.
- Northeast Florida: Hosting the oldest European settlement on the continent and unspoiled beaches, this region is a mix of historical treasures and natural wonders.
- Central West Florida: While Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater Beach offer plenty of man-made attractions, nature holds her own here with mangrove forests, wildlife reserves and barrier islands.
- Central Florida: Okay, we're cheating. There aren't any beaches here. But how could we skip the world's top tourist destination? Need a beach connection? Orlando's Walt Disney World is home to the ride that inspired the swashbuckling Pirates of the Caribbean.
- Central East Florida: With Daytona Beach, "The Birthplace of Speed", and Cape Canaveral on its shores, this fast-paced region offers thrills for vacationers of all ages. Despite its high-flying reputation, prices can meet a modest budget.
- Southwest Florida: If luxury is on your list, consider heading south. A mix of island resorts and natural beauty make this a romantic destination with pampering as top priority. No wonder so many couples choose to tie the knot here.
-
Southeast Florida: Don't let Miami's
ultra-chic South Beach mislead you - this area hosts some of the
friendliest beaches in the state. Sophisticated cities are
counterbalanced by the untamed Everglades and natural wonders of
the Lower Florida Keys.
Atlantic Coast Beaches
Atlantic Beach is one of three that comprise Jacksonville's oceanfront.
A stretch of sand along the south end of New Smyrna Beach on Florida's East Coast that provides a mixed bag of beach experiences.
Just an hour east of Orlando and the attractions is the closest beach, and it's the hippest, happening, all-around place that has surf!
Daytona Beach is not just the spring break capital of Florida - it is a great destination for families where you can drive right on the beach and activities are plentiful.
Daytona Beach, Florida is a big beach with big fun for all ages!
This well-preserved city at the northern end of Amelia Island, Florida's northern-most barrier island, marks the beginning of Florida's "First Coast."
Often called the "Peaceful Beach," because of lack of interest from the outside world, Flagler's beach is a well-kept secret.
It is the Intracoastal Waterway – stretching south to Miami – and the waterfront homes which dot it, that have earned Greater Fort Lauderdale its reputation as the "Venice of America."
The Art Deco District at Miami's South Beach is the world's most in-vogue neighborhood. If you want to see celebs, this is the place to be!
Playalinda Beach is one of the few areas in Florida where nude sunbathing is still a practice.
This upscale resort development is located at the south end of Fernandina Beach on Florida's East Coast.
Our Top Ten Beaches
-
Cocoa Beach: Science and nature live side-by-side here. While ancient cypress trees line an expansive beach, just down the road NASA's Kennedy Space Center has everything a budding astronaut could hope for.
-
Daytona Beach: If your kids love racing, Daytona is a must-see destination for future Jeff Gordon's. Not just NASCAR - IROC, AMA and other hotrods can been seen at Daytona International Speedway throughout the year.
-
Playalinda Beach: This undeveloped beach is secluded enough to make most nudists feel comfortable. While it also draws eco-tourists with binoculars, don't worry - they come to gawk at the wildlife, not you.
-
New Smyrna Beach New Smyrna Beach is a 13 miles stretch of white sandy beach. Sunbathing, swimming, bicycling, strolling or doing nothing at all is the choice of most visitors. But the beach is also well known to surfers, offering some of the finest wave action on the Eastern Seaboard, treasure hunters in search of rare coins and jewelry and anglers who say surf fishing is the only way to go.
-
Melbourne Beach, where 33 miles of barrier islands connect with the mainland via three causeways. In Melbourne Beach, you will find gorgeous, white sand beaches, grassy dunes, and several beachside parks that offer recreation for the whole family. Melbourne Beach is Brevard County's oldest beach community. It was established in 1883 by a retired Union general. Pineapples were grown until 1895. When Ponce de Leon landed near Melbourne Beach in 1513, he became the first European to set foot in Florida.
-
Clearwater Beach: You can hike and bike the trails, or just enjoy the beach. The kids will get a kick out of meeting Panama the Dolphin at the Clearwater Aquarium, and will beg for treats at Pier 6 or the old-fashioned Farmer's Market.
-
Panama City Beach: Despite its reputation for spring break parties and wild nightlife, Panama City also caters to families. Its 27 miles of shoreline provide plenty of room to swim, while nearby amusement parks entertain kids who've had enough sun.
-
Fort Walton Beach: It's hard to believe the white sand and emerald waters aren't the main draw, but they have to compete with dolphins leaping just offshore. And, with a science center, marine park and Indian temple to explore, everyone in the family is sure to find something of interest.
-
Siesta Key: Kids and adults alike will love to watch the dolphins and collect shells along the beach. If you miss the amazing sand-sculpting contest in May, the Ringling Museum and Jungle Gardens are open year round and hold wonders of other kinds.
-
Fort Lauderdale Family Beach: Even though this eco-friendly beach earned a coveted Blue Wave Award for its clean shores, you might not have time to enjoy them - not with the Museum of Science and Discovery, Flamingo Gardens and Butterfly World nearby.
Nude Beaches
The following is a list of one official public nude beach and nine unofficial nude beaches. Please keep in mind that laws change frequently, so ask locals before sunning in all your glory in any of these locations:
- Haulover Beach: The only legal beach on this list, this beach draws nude bathers of every age, shape and sexual orientation. The clothing-optional sections are well-marked and maintained by the county, so you can sun without fear.
- Apollo Beach: While nude sunning is illegal, it's generally tolerated if you are discrete. Nearby Daytona offers naturist accommodations.
- Playalinda Beach: This undeveloped beach is secluded enough to make most nudists feel comfortable. While it also draws eco-tourists with binoculars, don't worry - they come to gawk at the wildlife, not you.
- John D. MacArthur Beach State Park: Also known as Air Force Beach, this park hasn't been a legal nude beach since the 1980s. A sub-tropical paradise, you can usually get away without a bathing suit if you don't actually cross the park's boundaries.
- Hobe Sound: A secluded spot where celebrities like Celine Dion build multi-million dollar mansions, Hobe Sound has views that outshine the glitz. Cautious naturists can catch some rays in the buff since most people come to escape the crowds.
- St. Lucie Inlet State Reserve: This state reserve offers the same seclusion, celebrity homes and warnings as nearby Hobe Sound. Nude bathing isn't legal here, so strip with caution.
- South Beach: The anything-goes approach to life here makes unofficially clothing-optional beaches easy to find.
- St. Vincent Wildlife Refuge: Uninhabited and accessible only by boat, you'll have to share your spot of beach with sea birds and turtles.
- Gulf Islands National Seashore: Although nude bathing isn't legal, long stretches of deserted beach means most naturists can skinny dip in peace.
- Navarre Beach (Eglin Air Force Base): While you can depend on warm weather, the social climate changes quickly. Authorities used to turn their heads, but now nude bathers need to exercise caution.
Beach Swimming Safety
Although the beach is a wonderful experience, there are times and conditions that are a safety concern.
* Stay within the designated swimming area and
ideally within the visibility of a lifeguard.
* Never swim alone.
* Know the flag warning system:
-Red Flag: Stay OUT of the water - strong undertow and
riptides.
-Yellow Flag: Use CAUTION in the water - some undertow and
riptides possible.
-Blue Flag: Calm water.
* Be aware of rip currents. If you should get caught in a
current, don't try to swim against it. Swim parallel to shore
until clear of the current.
* Use common sense - if the waves look dangerous... they probably
are.
* Jellyfish cause intense burning. Lifeguards know the first aid
procedure for reducing the pain.
* Seek shelter in case of storm. Get out of the water. Get off
the beach in case of lightning.
* Watch children carefully and constantly. It only takes a couple
of minutes for them to be knocked down by even the smallest wave
and pulled out by a current.
Things To Take To Take To The Beach
No matter where you are in Florida, you are no more than 60 miles from a beach, so it's easy to see beach-going is a favorite activity. If you're planning a day (or more) at the beach, there are certain "must have" items that you won't want to leave home or your hotel room without. They are:
Sunscreen
Too much sun can not only damage and dry our skin over time, today it can cause a nasty sunburn and even death. Prevention seems to be the key here, so follow these tips:
- Avoid sun exposure during the hottest hours of the sun's rays (between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.).
- Apply sunscreen with a SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 15, paying special attention to the face, nose, ears and shoulders.
- A sunscreen with a SPF of 30 more more should be used for children. Babies should not spend a lot of time in the sun, and your pediatrician should be consulted for babies under 6 months of age.
- Don't forget your lips. Bring along a lip balm with a SPF of 15 or more.
- An Aloe-based after-sun lotion is a great way to soothe your skin after a day in the sun.
It is equally important to recognize and carefully watch for the symptoms of sunburn and know how to apply first-aid. Remember that if you do get a sunburn, treat it seriously.
Cover-Ups
Everyone should consider bringing protective clothing. Even something as simple as a t-shirt can offer relief from the sun's rays. Babies under 6 months old should wear protective clothing, a brimmed sun hat and sunglasses to protect the eyes from harmful UV rays.
Bringing along or renting a beach umbrella is a great idea. It adds greater protection from the sun.
Beach Towels
Chairs
Sand & Water Toys
The standard shovels and pails and sand sifters are great for building sand castles and sifting for shells, but a few items from your kitchen including plastic cups in various sizes and large metal or wooden spoons are better than nothing.
Nerf balls and lightweight Frisbees (the canvas ones) are great for older children.
Bring along a plastic container to collect shells, and don't forget to leave the live ones on the beach.
Some public beaches will not allow floatation devices such as rafts, noodles or arm floats because they are not Coast Guard approved safety wear. Coast Guard approved life jackets are allowed and welcomed for young swimmers.
Drinks & Snacks
If the beach you are visiting allows coolers, this is a great way to keep your water cold and save money on snacks. Bring along fresh fruit, cold sandwiches and munchies like carrot sticks or celery.
Some beaches have concession stands. This is a nice alternative to bringing your own, but be prepared to probably spend lots of money.
Cameras
Lightning Safety
Welcome to Florida and welcome to the lightning capital of the United States. Lightning strikes in Central Florida this time of year more often than anywhere else and is the most deadly. Although it kills only about ten percent of its victims, those that survive are often left with lifelong severe medical problems.
In 2000, lightning was blamed for death and injury in Florida. Four people were injured outside a golf course clubhouse in Citrus County, one teenager was struck while surfing in the Atlantic Ocean, and it is believed that lightning killed a boater and injured his fishing companion in Old Tampa Bay. So far this year lightning has been blamed for many wildfires, many resulting in loss of personal property.
Let's take a closer look at this force of nature and your knowledge of it by taking this simple true or false quiz.
The rubber tires on a car can protect you. False. It's the metal framework of the car that dissipates the force of the lightning. The tires have nothing to do with it. As long as you don't touch any part connected to the vehicle's frame, a hard top car, bus, truck or van is safer than being outside.
The average lightning bolt is only one inch in diameter. True. That one inch bolt can carry as much as 100 million-plus volts and pack heat to 50,000-degrees Fahrenheit -- that is three times hotter than the surface of the sun.
Lightning never strikes the same spot twice. False. Although not in Florida, the Empire State Building in New York City is hit an average of 25 times per year.
If you get struck by lightning, you will die. False. Lightning kills about 100 people and injures another 500 in the United States each year. Actually, only 10 percent of people struck by lightning die, however, most survivors do suffer lifelong severe medical problems such as memory loss, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, sleep dysfunction, attention deficit and irritability.
A storm must be directly overhead to be dangerous. False. Lightning is unpredictable. It can strike up to 25 miles away from its parent storm. It can literally strike "out of the blue".
Even if you got all the above questions right, do you know what to do to keep yourself safe in a thunderstorm? Do you know where NOT to be when lightning looms? In Central Florida one thunderstorm can generate a thousand or more lightning strikes an hour. Don't be blase. Learn how to protect yourself. Follow the tips below. . . and stay safe!
OUTDOOR SAFETY TIPS
- Follow the 30/30 rule. If the time between seeing the flash of lightning and hearing the thunder is less than 30 seconds, take shelter. You are in a strike zone.
- Immediately get away from pools, lakes and other bodies of water.
- Get off the beach.
- Never use a tree as a shelter.
- Avoid standing near tall objects.
- Keep away from metal objects including bikes, golf carts, umbrellas, fencing, machinery, etc.
- Get indoors if at all possible or get in a hard-topped vehicle.
- Remain in shelter for 30 minutes after the last flash of lightning.
INDOOR SAFETY TIPS
- Stand clear of windows, doors and electrical appliances.
- Unplug appliances well before a storm nears - never during.
- Avoid contact with pipes including sinks, baths and faucets.
-
Do not use the telephone except for emergencies - and then use cellular or cordless phones.
Thanks to www.floridabeachesguide.com for much of the information above. For more check out their site.
Beaches I Other Attractions I Florida Information
Florida Haunted Places and Ghost Tours
Haunted Florida
OTHER PAGES
Home I Sandi's Pages I Jim's Pages
Scotland I Harley Bikers I Florida Page I Harry Potter
Renaissance
Faire Page I Swords
& Fencing I Steampunk
Legal Information and Disclaimer
This work is licensed under a Creative
Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States
License.