Destin Florida

Destin, Florida’s powdery white beaches and beautiful Gulf waters make it a popular destination for families, couples and weddings. If you’re looking for a full-service resort in the area, you might want to check out The Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa. With 15 tennis courts, three pools, four championship golf courses and plenty of beachfront property, you won’t have to look to hard to find things to do!

The majority of the rooms at the Hilton Sandestin are suites, and you have to be 25 or older to check in to the property, so there won’t be any crazy college kids partying in the rooms. Kids are allowed, however, and some of the rooms offer bunk beds which are perfect for the kiddies. Rooms are between 460 and 768 square feet (and there are even larger Presidential Suites), so they’re perfect for family gatherings. You’ll be able to enjoy couches, living room areas, kitchens and balconies with views of the Gulf. Gorgeous! The water can be incredily clear in Destin – on the best days, the water rivals the clarity of Caribbean beaches.

The spa treatments at the Hilton Sandestin get rave reviews, and there are kids programs so that you can go enjoy your spa day or night and let the kids run wild somewhere else. There’s shopping nearby and plenty of restaurants onsite and nearby for dining options throughout the day.

And of course, you can wander onto the gorgeous beach at the hotel. If you plan to swim in the water, visit closer to summer when the water starts to heat up.

Photo: just jennifer

Located near Ka Lae (South Point) on the island of Hawaii, this secluded beach gets its dusky emerald-colored sand from the presence of a green, semi-precious stone named olivine (called peridot when the stone is of gem-quality). The cliffs above the beach contain this stone, and with the continual erosion of the cliffs by the waves of the ocean miniscule extracts of olivine are deposited onto the sand. 

Of course green sand does not come easily. Visitors must hike a rugged 2-mile dusty trail of ruts and trips down a giant bowl-shaped cinder cone.  The hike is so ragged that visitors might be tempted to question if it is worth it, but bear in mind: Papakolea is one of only two green beaches in the United States, the other located on Guam.

Please note: There are no facilities at the beach and little shade. Swimming is not recommended as the water is treacherous and there is no lifeguard on duty.

Photo credits in order of appearance: M + J’s Adventures, Weathermandale, both photostream’s via Flickr.

Waves splashing on Punta Morena Beach

Miles of virgin beach  coupledwith huge waves attract surfing fans to Punta Morena Beach in Cozumel, Mexico. Located on the quiet, undeveloped East Coast of the island, Punta Morena supplies fun for beach bums and surfers alike.  A 20-mile-stretch of coastline, pearly sand beaches and exposed coral shelves reveal Cozumel’s beauty from a vastly different perspective than what you see from a cruise ship. Palm trees wave and blow holes push out shooting cascades of water.  On weekends, locals sail boats and call to dolphins by tapping on the side of their vessels.  The dolphins magically appear and swim along with the boats.  A looming, white cross guards Punta Morena and it seems to spread a tranquil vibe across the entire area. You can go hours without seeing anybody except a few surfers and divers.

Punta Morena offers few tourist amenities besides hammocks and a great beach cafe that serves fresh shrimp fajitas but I think that adds to the natural charm of the beach. For surfers, there are cute, thatched-roof, beach cabanas for rent.  The rooms are small and only offer sleep and bath basics, which is all you really need.  Surf, dive or sprawl in a hammock  while catching a breeze, Punta Morena will remind you that paradise is all about the simple things.

A Thatched-Roof Beach Cabana

Photos by Rosalind Cummings-Yeates

Nearly deserted, the northernmost beach looks toward Stump Pass and Manasota Key

But Palm Island is a misnomer. The beach is actually on Knight Island, which along with Don Pedro Island and Little Gasparilla Island, are part of an extensive chain of barrier islands extending along the Gulf Coast of Florida. The three islands used to be separated by inlets but storms and shifting sands caused them to fill in, creating a single landmass. In the mid-1980’s a developer, recognizing the potential of the remote barrier islands, purchased the northern portion and build Palm Island Resort. Over time, the name Knight Island faded and folks just began calling it Palm Island.

Endless sweeps of beach beckon shell seekers, kayakers, and sun worshipers

So what makes this place so special? Since there is no bridge to Palm Island, the only access is by private boat or ferry. The resort provides a ferry service, but the round-trip fee is steep: single cars pay $55 and pedestrians (bicycle included) pay $6. Other than people who own property on the island or those staying at the resort, few bring their car over, especially since there are limited roads and no public parking. Thus only the most tenacious beach lovers make it to Palm Island Beach, and those who do are almost guaranteed endless stretches of deserted sand.

Ferry transports vehicles to Palm Island

Palm Island is seven miles long and only 700 yards wide at its broadest. It is located about nine miles south of Englewood, Florida, off the coast of Cape Haze, and just a 20 minute drive from the Charlotte County seat of Punta Gorda. The ferry is operated by Palm Island Transit and runs seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. (11:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday evenings).

Photo credit: Barbara Weibel
Article by Barbara Weibel at Hole in the Donut Travels

Sand castles or snowmen?

Located in New South Wales, Australia (roughly 3 hours from Sydney), Hyams Beach sits on the shores of Jervis Bay. Here, all beaches face east to the Pacific Ocean; the sand is unbelievably fine, soft and sugary, not to mention white, almost blindingly so.

The water 'aint half bad either.

While the area is a hot spot for tourists, it has maintained its pristine beauty in part due to local national parks. The village of Hyams Beach is bordered on the north by Jervis Bay National Park and Booderee National Park, then Botanic Gardens to the south. In all, the beach and surrounding village has the feel of undisturbed bush with an abundance of native plants, animals and birdlife, perfect for a white Christmas. Or a white New Years. Easter. A white Tuesday, really–perfect for anytime.

Photo credits in order of appearance: Agent Smith’s photostream, Monique Barber’s photostream, via Flickr.

Dog on a Beach

Key West, Florida is a popular destination for families, couples, and even pets. A few of the resorts on the island, such as the Doubletree Grand Key, allow pets, and there’s even a dog beach next to a restaurant called Louie’s Backyard. Enjoy your Florida Keys vacation together!

This Key West dog beach is pretty small, and it’s not fenced in – so make sure your pets come when you call them! There are apparently some slippery rocks to one side, so be careful. Key West’s Dog Beach doesn’t have any real waves, as the entire island is protected by a coral reef. That’s good news if you have smaller dogs. You’ll get some small splashers, though, and there are enough ripples for your doggie to have fun with. I don’t know about your dog, but my dog is completely content to just run around and get insanely dirty in the sand, so either way you should have a happy pooch.

Louie’s Backyard has an outdoor bar called Afterdeck which is pet friendly until 5pm, when they begin serving dinner. So, you can go play on the beach with your pooch and then stop by for a drink and some rest for both of you.

Don’t confuse the dog beach with the dog park near Higg’s Beach – though that’s fun as well!

Key West, Florida is Dog Friendly

Photos: Elinb, mikebaird

Kent Hotel in Miami, Florida - South Beach

South Beach, Florida’s Art Deco District is a lively, colorful, historic area with much to recommend. Like most of South Beach (and Miami, Florida, for that matter), the area is pretty expensive for hotels, and finding a good quality hotel that’s close to the beach with a decent price tag is about as difficult as finding dance club in the area that doesn’t have a cover charge.

Luckily, there’s The Kent, one of a handful of affordable hotels within a block of the beach. There are only 57 rooms here, each of which is outfitted in fabulous Art Deco style. Bright fresh colors, bold shapes, minimalist design – the rooms are clean, cool and calming. You can choose between Standard, Deluxe and Deluxe Suites, but there are only four each of the Deluxe categories, so book early if you want more space.

When I say affordable, I really do mean it! Rates in November are around $80/night for a standard Queen room and $110 for a Deluxe King. Anybody who’s been to South Beach know that these prices are fantastic, especially for a nice hotel like this one. If you’re really in the mood to splurge, you spend about $220 for a King Suite room that comes with a Jacuzzi bathtub. ALL rooms have flat screen tv’s, hooray.

The thing about South Beach, and the Art Deco District, is that there’s so much to see and do (including people watching!) just outside your hotel that it’s likely you’ll spend little time inside. What’s more entertaining – admiring the Art Deco design of your hotel room, or walking around taking pictures of people in crazy swimsuits on roller skates and buildings that look like they’re from a movie set? The Kent is barely a five minute walk from the white sands of South Beach – it’s perfect!

Art Deco District in Miami, Florida

Photo: Chris O’brien Wickiow, Ellen B

Consider yourself warned.

Widely claimed to be the most venomous marine mammal known to mankind, perhaps in the entire animal kingdom, the Australian Box Jellyfish can be found floating off the northern coast of Australia and in the waters of the Indo-Pacific region near Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Hawaii and Vietnam. Also known as a sea-wasp or marine stingers, this jellyfish carries extreme toxins in its fifteen tentacles which, when in contact with a human, can stop cardio-respiratory function in as little as three minutes. It is no wonder, then, that it is responsible for more deaths in Australia than snakes, sharks and salt water crocodiles.

Wish you weren't here.

Since 1954, box jellyfish venom has caused at least 5,568 recorded deaths. Each tentacle has about 500,000 harpoon shaped needles that inject venom into the victim, and each tentacle can reach 80cm in length. They are known as the “Suckerpunch” of the sea not only because their sting is rarely detected until the venom is injected, but also because they are almost transparent. However, once the sting is detected it is excruciatingly painful.

Which gives me a new idea for my Halloween costume. Ghosts, witches, monsters–these are but unicorns and flowers when compared to the Australian Box Jellyfish, the deadliest thing on the beach.

Photo credits in order of appearance: gmheymer’s photostream, Kilona’s photostream, both via Flickr.

Beach backed by large pavilions, which may be rented for large groups or special events

Located on the banks of the Peace River at its junction with Charlotte Harbor, the water at Port Charlotte Beach is coffee brown with a tinge of red. But don’t be fooled by the color; the Peace River is among the cleanest rivers – if not the cleanest – in Florida. It is colored by tannin leached from trees in the enormous watershed that drains into the river.

Boardwalk connects the beaches on either end of the park. The water here is caramel color, the result of tannin from surrunding forests.

The sand here – crystal fine and just shy of pure white – rivals that of the Gulf beaches and has the added benefit of being surrounded by amenities not found elsewhere. Port Charlotte Beach Park offers a boat ramp, picnic shelters, barbecue grills, a large pavilion that can be reserved for special events, basketball court, tennis courts, sand volleyball, fishing pier, playground, club house, restrooms, and a pool overlooking the river, where water aerobics classes are held six days per week, for a nominal charge of $3.50 per class.

Water aerobics classes are held six days per week at the pool

Best of all, crowds are rare at this park and the atmosphere is always laid back. Port Charlotte Beach Park is open located at 4500 Harbor Boulevard, in Port Charlotte, Florida. Parking is 75 cents per hour. Obtain a ticket from kiosks located in the park and display it on your dashboard.

Photo credit: Barbara Weibel
Article by Barbara Weibel at Hole in the Donut

Dangerous beauty.

Located in Oaxaca, the southern state of Mexico, the name Zipolite quite literally means “beach of the dead” in the native Zapotec language. Unfortunately, this moniker does not come from the area’s laid back vibe of surfers and followers of The Grateful Dead, but instead refers to the actual body count claimed by the strong rip current and undertow. Apparently, the beauty of the turquoise water lures tourists to swim while more knowledgable locals stay far away.

Dog days of Zipolite.

There are, in fact, periods when the water is at its most dangerous, so-called rebalses when the water is said to rebel. It is a time of high seas and the full moon; rebalses are stronger and occur more often from April to June.

There is a lifeguard program which has succeeded in cutting down on fatalities, but the beach still lives up to its name. If you choose to swim in the waters off Zipolite Beach extreme caution is advised; stay close to the shore and do not enter the water when you see red flags.

Photo credits in order of appearance: Kevin Hutchinson’s photostream, antifluor’s photostream, both via Flickr.