Florida, Minus the Mouse
Yes, Central Florida is a family vacation paradise, home of endless theme parks, and countless cute costumed characters.
But what to do when you’ve overdosed on “cuteness,” when you just can’t stomach another roller coaster ride, when the idea of one more amusement park fast food snack seems just too much to take?
Well, you head for the beaches—of course!
The Beachy Florida
The white sands of the beaches along the Florida Panhandle. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved
Beaches account for over 1,300 miles of Florida coastline, with two distinct waterfronts—the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast and the Gulf of Mexico on the west coast.
The Sunshine State’s world-famous beaches are second-to-none. Seldom do you see a “Best Beaches” list that doesn’t include at least two or more from Florida.
As “Dr. Beach,” coastal expert Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, Director of Florida International University’s Laboratory for Coastal Research, has selected the annual Top 10 Beaches since 1991. Fifty criteria are used to evaluate beaches, which include water and sand quality as well as safety and environmental management. An internationally known coastal scientist, Dr. Leatherman has published 16 books and hundreds of scientific articles about storm impacts, erosion, and ways to improve beach health and safety.
In his 20th annual (2010) Top 10 Beaches list Dr. Beach selected Siesta Beach on Siesta Key at Sarasota and number 2 and Cape Florida State Park (also known as Bill Baggs Cape) in Key Biscayne number 10. On Sierra Beach, he wrote, “With some of the finest, whitest sand in the world, this beach attracts sand collectors from all over. Siesta Beach has clear, warm waters that serve for ideal swimming. The beach is hundreds of yards wide in the shape of a crescent, due to anchoring of onshore rocks to the north and a unique underwater formation of coral rock and caves, providing for great snorkeling and scuba diving. This beach is great for volleyball and other types of recreational fitness.”
Located at the south tip of Key Biscayne, Cape Florida State Park “provides clear, emerald-colored waters and gentle surf. This fine, white coral sand beach is great for swimming, as waves are knocked down by a large sand shoal offshore. In addition, the Cape Florida Lighthouse allows for a breath-taking view of this beautiful beach.”
Enjoy life in the slow lane at Long Point County Park along Florida's Atlantic Coast. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved
Past national winners from Florida include:
2008: Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin/Clearwater
2005: Fort DeSoto Park, North Beach, St Petersburg
2002: St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, Port St. Joe
1995: St. Andrews State Recreation Area, Panama City
1994: Grayton Beach State Recreation Area, Santa Rosa Beach
1992: Bahia Honda State Recreation Area, Big Pine Key
Nature Coast
Think Florida, and you’ll conjure up thoughts of dazzling white beaches, wind-blown palm trees, and crashing surf. But there is one coast that is the antithesis of that image. That is The Nature Coast—140 miles of a real, alluring, and wild part of Florida that borders the Gulf of Mexico—north of Tampa Bay to south of Tallahassee.
The Nature Coast features numerous springs with underground caverns and crystal-clear waters ideal for snorkeling. In fact, Florida has 27 first magnitude springs (discharging at least 65 million gallons of water per day.)
Rainbow Springs State Park is at the headsprings of the Rainbow River with its clear 72 degree temperature water flowing 5.8 miles to its confluence with the Withlacoochee River.
Observe a manatee up-close in the floating Fishbowl Underwater Observatory at Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved
Wakulla Springs State Park features the world’s largest and deepest freshwater springs, surrounded by 3,000 acres of virgin forest. The springs were discovered by Ponce de Leon in 1513, who believed it to be the fountain of youth. Every minute, 400,000 gallons of crystalline water bubble through limestone formations before entering a five-acre pool that forms the Wakulla River: Divers have explored the main spring to a depth of 250 feet.
Honeymoon Island State Park is a treasure trove for snorkelers, scuba divers, and nature lovers. Located a short distance offshore from the city of Clearwater, Honeymoon Island is linked to the mainland by a causeway. It’s part of a 300-mile-long chain of barrier islands extending all the way south to the Everglades.
No visit to Florida is complete without a manatee encounter, and the mid-coastal area of the Nature Coast boasts the largest concentration of manatees in the state.
Crystal River denotes both a city and the river that runs through the county. It is here that you have the rare opportunity to interact with this endangered species in its natural environment.
These giant, lovable creatures grow to 15 feet and can weigh 3,000 pounds. Although several dozen West Indian manatees make Kings Bay at Crystal River their year-round home, from October through March the population swells to more than 300.
An easy and guaranteed way to observe manatees is by visiting Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, seven miles south of Crystal River.
You can enter the park’s floating Fishbowl Underwater Observatory and observe manatees, with their huge whiskers sprouting from their wrinkled faces, swim lazily by. From this vantage point you’ll also observe schools of jacks, shellcrackers, snook, mullet, and sheepshead.
In this series of articles we’ll hopscotch the state and offer suggestions for discovering Florida as a Snowbird destination.
Worth Pondering…
A string of counties studded with emerald-like gulf waters, deep springs and rivers…If you’re looking for a place of stunning natural beauty, undisturbed…habitats and silence, you’ve come to the right place.
—John Muir on his visit to the Nature Coast in 1867
If you enjoy these articles and want to read more on RV travels and lifestyle, visit my new website: Vogel Talks RVing.
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[...] the original post: Florida, Minus the Mouse Sunday, November 14th, 2010 Uncategorized TAGS: annual, beaches, central, central-florida, [...]
[...] link: Florida, Minus the Mouse Sunday, November 14th, 2010 Uncategorized TAGS: annual, beaches, central, central-florida, [...]
The beaches are nice, that’s the only good thing I can say about Florida.
Most of the beaches are private owned and you have to pay someone to get on them.
There are so many regulations on there beaches that I’d rather not go on them, a sign every 20ft.
The state parks are expensive and ran by the most unfriendly people. They also have a law governing each second of the day. That kind of place isn’t for me, I don’t need a babysitter.
When we were there it was very hot and muggy.
I had people tell me to go places with the best deals. When one gets old you must not want to fight with the crooks anymore I’m not going to let them people rip me off. A good example is ace hardware in Bradenton. Go and try to buy propane from them once and if you have an IQ higher than -1 you’ll understand what I mean. The campground host thought they have good propane deals, geeee!
Old Town near Kissimee is nice.Old car shows and bike nights.Lots of cool shops and good food.Camping not far from there and is fairly reasonable.
Thanks for the article. Good write-up. We love the beaches of North Carolina and are looking forward to exploring much of Florida over the next few years. It amazes us when we hear people say they “don’t like the beach”. We always ask what kind of beach they are talking about? There are so many different kinds. The N.C. beaches on the National Seashore park are a bit rough sometimes, but there is a very special kind of beauty there. We just look forward to seeing new places and enjoying each day as we go.
As a Florida Resident I apologize for any bad treatment someone receives. You can get that anywhere in the good ole USA.
Love your article about the Florida Bchs. If anyone is coming to Florida October thru May please make Reservations for campsites especially along the Beaches. They fillup quickly
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