Beach

New York may be famous for its 11,875-pound, 12-foot diameter Waterford crystal ball that drops over Times Square every New Year’s Eve, but it’s no longer the only for revelers wishing to count down the minutes to the new year. For the second consecutive year, Panama City, Florida will celebrate New Year’s Eve by dropping an 800-pound glowing beach ball at Pier Park.

Watch the video below of last year’s event, which attracted more than 12,000 attendees:

Festivities, all of which are free and open to the public, begin at 5:30 p.m. with family entertainment that will include bounce houses, party favors, street performers, stilt walkers and Read More »

In 2003, Florida officials decided to renourish 6.9 miles of beach in Destin, Florida to repair damage from hurricanes. In the process, the State created a new boundary line between the oceanfront property owners and the public portion of the beach. Although the beaches in Florida have always been public up to the “mean high water line,” this new line, which the state called the “erosion control line,” effectively allowed the State to claim a portion of the beachfront that previously lay above the MHWL.

Property owners fought back, filing a lawsuit that charged the State with illegally seizing property without compensation (municipalities and governmental entities can legally take property through a process known as eminent domain, as long as they can prove it is for the public good, but the owners of the property must be fairly compensated for their property). The case has been in the courts ever since, with the initial Florida appeals court ruling in favor of the property owners eventually being overturned by the Florida Supreme Court.

Now being heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, the case has far-reaching implications for all owners of waterfront property. Throughout the long legal proceedings, Destin property owners have insisted that the beach had not eroded and that the State widened the Read More »

Concerned that spring breakers are giving Panama City Beach a bad reputation, the Bay Area Tourist Development Council recently voted to withdraw its funding support for the month-long party, refused to issue permits for the annual Beach Scene Music Festival, and severed ties with MTV, which films the annual event. According to the Panama City News Herald, “A consensus emerged among TDC board members that Panama City Beach needed to shift the model of how tourists viewed the destination, marketing the area as a more “family friendly” year-round region, especially as the new Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport comes online in May.” Accordingly, the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau has launched its new campaign, “Spring Break, Family Style,” hoping to lure parents looking for sun and fun during Spring Break 2010, rather than the party hearty crowd.

Panama City Beach is just the latest in a string of communities that have chosen not to welcome the college spring break crowd. Issues such as excessive public drunkenness, security, and stress on public infrastructure and services have been cited by local authorities who decided to ban spring break activities in past years. In the case of Panama City Beach, two stabbings during a Lil’ Wayne performance last year may have been the impetus for the decision.

Read More »

Aerial viel of Cayo Costa State Park

Accessible only by boat, Cayo Costa State Park is located on an unspoiled, eight mile long barrier island that is part of a chain of islands sheltering Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound on the Gulf Coast of Florida. The 2,506-acre island contains unique tropical vegetation and it looks much as it did 500 years ago when the first Europeans arrived.

Cayo Costa, translated as “Key by the Coast,” was the name given to the island by early Spanish traders. In the early 1800’s, Spanish fishermen from Cuba established “fishing ranchos” on the islands along Florida’s west coast, where they caught and dried fish before transporting them to Cuban markets. The Smithsonian Institution has identified two of these “ranchos” on Cayo Costa. In the late 1800’s, a quarantine station was established on the northern end of the island for immigrants entering the country through Boca Grande Pass. During the early 1900’s, approximately 20 fishing families living on Cayo Costa established a school, post office, and a grocery store.

While fishing continues to be an important activity on Cayo Costa, 95% of the island is now owned by the Park Service, with the remaining 5% in the hands of private owners. Neither electricity nor cable is available from the mainland and water is from wells, thus the private residences tend to be rustic weekend getaways. Within the park, 12 primitive cabins and 30 tent sites are available for overnight stays. Each cabin is equipped with a table and three bunk beds with mattresses; guests must bring everything else with them, including all food and drinks. Restrooms, showers, and water are located near the cabins and tent sites. Read More »

Fort De Soto Park

Fort De Soto Park is a gorgeous recreational area near Tampa, Florida and very close to St. Petersburg, Florida. The park is actually located in Tierra Verda on Tampa Bay, across from St. Petersburg. There are so many things to do for humans here including exploring the historic monuments, swimming in the beach, picnicking and more. If you have a pooch in tow, though, don’t despair – there are dog parks for big and small dogs as well as a fenced in area of beach where dogs can swim and play to their hearts’ content!

Fort De Soto, Florida Beach

The two dog parks at Fort De Soto are called Paws Playground. They’re located near the Bay Pier parking lot (Fort  De Soto is a big place, just follow the signs!) This Paws Playground area is the only place in the park where dogs can run off-leash on the beach. They can swim in the water, run in the sand and just have a good time.

There are showers available to help clean off the sand from your dogs before putting them back in the car. Hot summer days can bring a large number of dogs to this beach, so make sure your dog plays well with others before you take him or her off the leash to splash around in the water.

Dog on Beach

Photos: CreativeDC, comingstobrazil, Through the Lens, Darkly

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

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

Stump Pass State Park, the most remote of the four beaches on lovely little Manasota Key, consists of the southernmost mile of Manasota Key, Peterson Island, Whidden Key and the protected channels between them. Although numerous beaches are found throughout the park, the only one accessible by car is the one at the southern end of Manasota Key. The beach technically begins at the parking lot, where a $3.00 daily parking fee is collected, but this portion is narrow, somewhat steep, and has suffered considerable erosion. It is also somewhat unattractive, as the dunes are topped with a stand of dead Australian Palms, an invasive species that the State is slowly killing off. To find the beach that everyone raves about requires a boat or a 1.3 mile one-way hike, either on a nature trail through dense sea grapes groves or along the sloped beach.

Aerial of Gulf Islands. On the left, near the southern tip of Manasota Key and part of Stump Pass State Park; on the right, Peterson Island.

Visitors who make it to the trip are rewarded with one of the most pristine, deserted stretches of sand in the State of Florida. Here, the warm Gulf waters are excellent for swimming and snorkeling year round. Fishing, both from shore and on nearby submerged grass flats, provides anglers access to a variety of game fish, including flounder, snook, trout, redfish, snapper, Read More »

Manasota Key, a beguiling barrier island off the southwestern coast of Florida, is in perfect harmony with its surroundings. There are no traffic lights or high rises, just a narrow two-lane canopy road leading past the pure white sand of the island’s four beaches. Each of these beaches (read about Manasota Beach and Blind Pass Beach in earlier articles), has a distinct personality deserving of a separate review.

Long sweeps of white sand framed by waving palms define Englewood Public Beach on Manasota Key

While singles and couples may prefer the more remote beaches on the northern end, Englewood Public Beach is the preferred park for families. Hardly a day goes by that dolphins are not seen romping just offshore in the warm turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Other wildlife abounds too: loggerhead turtles have been known to nest here and the shore is alive with seabirds. All Read More »