Really Florida!

I must say, I didn’t know there was such a thing as a National Rip Current Awareness Week, but you learn something new every day here in Florida!

In all seriousness, rip currents aren’t anything to be joking about — it’s very scary to be caught in one, and it can kill you, if you don’t know how to handle it.

Since I think it’s worth repeating, here’s the full text of the public service advisory:

The week of June 1-7 is designated as National rip current awareness week. Over the past two decades, rip currents, which are narrow channels of water in the surf zone of the ocean, have caused more deaths in South Florida than hurricanes, lightning and tornadoes combined. In the United States, over 100 people are estimated to die
from these killer currents each year. In addition, lifeguards Rescue tens of thousands of people from rip currents in the United States annually.

In Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Collier counties, an average of 3 to 7 people die from rip currents each year. In 2007, a total of seven people drowned at Southeast Florida beaches. So far in 2008, one drowning and several near drownings have occurred.

Tourists are often victims, but local residents are also at risk. In addition, other people suffer near drownings and are left with life-long debilitating effects. These deaths and injuries are preventable with knowledge of how a rip current works. Rip currents can be referred to as the fair weather killer because they can occur when the weather appears to be generally nice.

A rip current is a strong channel of water that extends from near the beach through the breaking waves to about 50 to 100 yards offshore. The seaward pull of the rip current makes people feel that they have to struggle directly toward the beach to reach safety.

The speed of the rip current can be 5 mph or about 8 feet per second, faster than an olympic swimmer. This can easily overpower even the strongest swimmer. Instead of trying to fight the current by swimming directly against it, the best means of escape is to swim across the narrow portion of the rip current, usually only a matter of a few yards, before swimming toward the beach at an angle away from the outgoing current.

The best advice to avoid becoming a rip current victim is to swim at beaches with lifeguards. The United States lifesaving association has calculated the chance that a person will drown while attending a beach protected by an affiliated lifeguards at 1 in 18 million.

During the past several years, very few drownings have occurred at beaches with lifeguards, and lifeguards routinely perform hundreds of rescues yearly at South Florida beaches alone. Ocean Rescue personnel can spot rip currents and warn you before you get into them. Color flags are posted from lifeguard stands which indicate the risk of rip currents. Always heed the advice of the beach patrol and ocean Rescue.

Even before you go to the beach, you can learn about the risk of rip currents each day by listening to NOAA Weather Radio and local media outlets. In addition, the National Weather Service in Miami issues daily surf zone forecasts, hazardous weather outlooks and special weather statements which alert the public of expected hazardous weather, including rip currents. This information can be obtained via NOAA Weather Radio or by visiting the National weather in Miami website at www.Weather.Gov/Miami and clicking on the current hazards for South Florida link.

Persons are urged to learn about rip currents and the danger they pose by visiting the National Weather Service rip current web site at www.Ripcurrents.NOAA.Gov.

Remember, break the grip of the rip!

I took a trip to Sanibel Island, Florida on Monday (along with side trips to Captiva and Lover’s Key). It’s been quite awhile since I’ve actually been to Sanibel, and it’s both changed and unchanged.

It’s changed because it’s a lot more built up. There are houses, clubs and inns everywhere. It’s hard to find the water at times!

It’s unchanged because when you do manage to get to the beach, it’s as lovely as I remember it. The Gulf is just as blue, the shells just as abundant, the sands just as soft.

I went to Lighthouse Beach, and there was ample parking available. There is a boardwalk over to the lighthouse and restrooms, and you can take a stroll over to the fishing pier.

You can also wander over to the beach side and take in the sun and sand and water.

The shells in this photo are from the beach itself — there are so many, all over the beach! Shells with small blemishes that I’d normally grab on a “regular” beach I passed up on Sanibel Island — there were too many that were even better.

The water near the pier area seemed a little cloudy for swimming, and it seems more people prefer the area around the point from the lighthouse, for going in the water.

I don’t know if this is usual, but I saw a fair amount of starfish on the beach, near the waters edge. They were ever-so-slowly making their way back into the waves. Pictured is just one of the many that I came across.

Now David and I did drive over to the other beaches on the island, and they seemed pretty packed, as far as parking goes. We couldn’t even get into the parking lot for one beach (limited parking is putting it very mildly).

So if you want to go shelling and seeing all kinds of sea life, try Lighthouse Beach. As you enter Sanibel Island, Florida from the causeway, take a left to get there.

Most everyone has heard of the Florida Everglades, but not nearly as many have heard about Shark Valley. Despite its name, Shark Valley is in the middle part of the Everglades, and nowhere near any water.

Nevertheless, Shark Valley is a definite “must see” if you are anywhere in South Florida. It’s a part of wild Florida that seems to be diminishing, but here, at least is a stronghold.

Alligators were once on the endangered list, but came back so well that they were taken off. And if you want to see gators, come on over to Shark Valley! Practically everywhere you looked there was one not too terribly far away.

In fact, I came waaaay too close to one, just by not paying enough attention to where I was walking. I never thought that there would be an alligator shuffling along the middle of a trail path, so I wasn’t exactly on the alert for them.

Whoops! David grabbed me back before I could take a step closer, as I was already in the danger zone as it was. Fortunately, this gator was sleepy and didn’t pay attention to me — I got lucky.

I’ve lived in Florida all my life, and in South Florida for about 20 years, and it wasn’t until 2007 that I ever went to Shark Valley. I should have gone much sooner, because it’s incredible.

Just driving up into the park from the Tamiami Trail was amazing — there were all kinds of people, standing by the side of the driveway, cameras in hand. And the animals? It was like they were getting paid to pose! People were taking all kinds of photos; it was practically impossible to not get a great shot.

So what kind of animals are there in Shark Valley? Aside from gators, other animals we saw included turtles, herons of all colors, egrets, roseate spoonbills (my personal favorite), ibises, cormorants and more. There were tons more that were pointed out to us on the tram tour, but I didn’t write them down — I was too busy staring and taking pictures!

Speaking of the Shark Valley tram tour — go on it, as it’s worth every penny, especially if you can get an early morning ride (but we took the noon tram and it was still excellent). The tour takes about 2 hours total, and covers a 15 mile loop. The guides are excellent and told all kinds of interesting stories (like the one about the two-timing cormorant).

Here is more information and more photos about Everglades Shark Valley.

I have a few more photos to share with you. So far we’ve covered Bahia Honda and the Dry Tortugas, followed by Islamorada. In this post, we’ll take a look at what boaters see in the Keys.

This first picture is of Florida Bay, taken from Flamingo in Everglades National Park. Florida Bay caresses the Keys, providing smooth, shallow, warm water. Boaters are most likely to play in this area, as well as those fishermen stalking shallow-water game.

The Everglades aren’t precisely in the Keys, seeing as it’s on the mainland, but it’s tied directly to the Keys. The health of the Everglades plays an enormous impact in Florida Bay.

Anyway, Flamingo isn’t a widely-visited area. Not only is it a bit on the remote side (well, remote by Florida standards), but in the summer, the heat and insects are relentless. Unless you’re out on a boat, of course — the insects will give you a bot of a break. (The heat doesn’t let up, though.)

No real beaches in Flamingo, but there is a bot of sand here and there. For real (and real gorgeous) beaches, you’ll have to take a boat over to Cape Sable, located at the very tip of the mainland portion of the state. Cape Sable sits between Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico and definitely is remote, by anyone’s standards.

Intrigued? Here’s more information on the Everglades and the animals in the Everglades.

If you’re in the Florida Keys, you should take a sunset sail while here. The Keys are known for their glorious sunsets, and there’s no better place to experience one than on a sailboat of some sort.

There are all kinds of sunset cruises and sails available in the Keys — pretty much anywhere you are, there’s one available nearby.

Don’t worry if you are the seasick-type (like me) — the waters around the Keys are calm most of the time, with little wave action to bother you — it’s more like sailing around on a lake. Especially if you are on a boat out on the Florida Bay side.

If motion sickness does bother you but you’d still like to try a Florida Keys sunset sail, look for a catamaran, which is wider across and more stable. And go in the summer, when the waters are the calmest.

I hope you’ve enjoyed these Florida Keys pictures! I’ll post more from time to time, for your enjoyment.

The last photos were of Bahia Honda and the Dry Tortugas. In this post, the Florida Keys pictures will be for Islamorada. Not just what it looks like, but also what you can actually do there!

Islamorada marks the end of the Upper Keys and the beginning of the Middle Keys. It’s not widely known for much — more of a “drive through” to get between Key Largo and Key West.

Except for one thing — Islamorada is known world-wide for one particular sport — offshore fishing. It’s one of those places that enthusiasts dream of going. Marlin? You bet. Dolphin (Mahi-Mahi) — definitely. Snapper, grouper, cobia, kingfish, tuna and more all come through the Islamorada area.

This photo? It was the catch for a charter that my husband and our neighbor went on, Summer of 2007. They caught more fish than what’s shown, and as of this writing, we still have fish in the freezer from this catch!

But you know, Islamorada deserves to have more of a following than from just fishing fans. It’s a lovely island, less crowded than the other three major Keys cities. The sunsets are just as pretty as those in Key West, and the ocean just as warm and inviting.

Ok, actually one other group of people make Islamorada a destination — divers. There are reef clusters nearby that make great dives, and they aren’t as crowded as the ones closer to Key Largo.

There is one attraction in town that is very much worth seeing — Theater of the Sea. Don’t expect something like Sea World (it’s not that big or fancy), but it is a great time. I like to visit whenever we’re in town for more than a day — it’s just fun. Any you won’t believe what happens on the bottom-less boat ride! (And no, it’s not that you sink.)

Check out more information about Islamorada in the Florida Keys.

Hope you’ve enjoyed these Florida Keys pictures, and there are still more to come!

The Florida Keys are gorgeous, and it’s really hard to do them justice with just words. I can say things like they are known as the “American Caribbean” or “tropical America”. Maybe even just call them “paradise”! But since they are worth a thousand words, how about some Florida Keys pictures?

The first is a photo on one of the prettiest beaches in the state, located in Bahia Honda State Park, in the lower Keys. The water is excellent for swimming and snorkeling, and there’s plenty to do at Bahia Honda.

Since it’s a Florida State Park, Bahia Honda has everything you’d expect — trails for hiking, roads for biking. Picnic areas and even beachside camping. But did you know that this park also has cabins for rent near the beach? Complete with air conditioning (very much a necessity most of the year), you can stay by the water without having to pitch a tent.

Here’s even more information about Bahia Honda State Park.

What’s next? How about a place that’s in the Keys…but not really? I’m speaking of the Dry Tortugas.

The Dry Tortugas islands are even more offshore, and you can’t drive to them — you have to take a ferry or a seaplane to get there. The name means “dry turtles” (hmm). The turtles was in reference to the sea turtles that would congregate there, and the dry was for the fact that there isn’t any naturally-occurring fresh water on the islands (of which there are seven).

There aren’t any hotels, nor any facilities on the islands, so why go there? Because of their absolute beauty.

The Dry Tortugas National Park encompasses these islands, lying about 70 miles west of Key West. There is one outpost, Ft. Jefferson, which was built in the 1800’s, then abandoned by the military.

I mentioned that there aren’t any hotels on these islands, but there is camping allowed. Real beach camping. Real primitive beach camping, although composting toilets are available. No running water, so bring your own. There are only 8 spaces available, so if you want to camp, make a reservation well ahead of time.

Snorkeling, swimming, diving and fishing are other draws for the Dry Tortugas. Plenty of wildlife, too, both under and over the sea.

Here’s where you can learn more about the Dry Tortugas National Park.

Hope you’ve enjoyed these Florida Keys pictures. More are coming up!

Not everyone knows, but there is a ferry that runs between Key West and three South Florida places– Ft. Meyers, Marco Island and now Miami. If you don’t like the hassle of driving down to the Keys (especially if you live on the Gulf Coast), why not try the easy way?

Now the term ferry in this case means “ferry people” and not “also ferry cars”. These aren’t terribly large boats, from 130 to 170 feet long, but they are large enough to be comfortable, and include amenities like flat screen TVs, a galley/bar and seating either indoors or out.

The Ft. Meyers to Key West ferry is about a 4 hour trip each way. Currently, the schedule is to leave Ft. Meyers at 8:30 AM and turn around midnight.

The Marco Island ferry also takes in the vicinity of 4 hours for the trip, but you have a slightly shorter stay as you leave Marco Island at 8:30 AM and return at 8:30 PM.

The Key West ferry to and from Miami is only available during the “season” (roughly Thanksgiving to Easter), but they may be extending it to year around — have to wait and see on that one.

A round-trip ticket is in the vicinity of $110 to $150, depending on your port city (Ft. Meyers being the most expensive). But honestly, with all that Key West has to offer, you might want to spend at least one night there in a cozy bed & breakfast, so that you have time to really enjoy the island.

So the next time you’re thinking about a trip to Key West, but dread the traffic, why not consider taking the Key West ferry and enjoy the trip in comfort?

Key West resorts aren’t exactly cheap; even the cheapest are triple-digits a night. So while Key West may not be a cheap place to stay, you still don’t need to pay more than you have to. Here are some tips for getting the best price you can when planning your Florida Keys vacation.

First, consider the time of year. Between the beginning of May and through to about Thanksgiving is the “low” season in the Florida Keys. Partly because it’s hot and humid, partly because the risk (small, but there) of hurricanes, partly because the tourists are crowding Orlando then. But Summer is a great time to find a Key West resort bargain.

There’s one caveat — don’t try to book a resort stay the last Thursday/Friday/Saturday in July — it’s lobster mini-season. And lobster mini-season means that hotels, motels and resorts all up and down the Keys will be packed to the gills (so to speak).

Next, find out if there are either price breaks for booking online - or - check out some of the places like TripAdvisor that get the prices for you all in one place (and you’d be surprised at the differences sometimes).

Also check and see if the resorts have special packages. It might be that they have a package that overall looks like it costs more — until you see all that you get. Then it can many times be a cost savings.

Some of the big Key West resorts make you pay for parking, and it doesn’t tend to be cheap. Granted, it’s a small island and space is at a premium, but if you plan to drive down — ask if you have to pay to park.

How far away are you from the Old Town and Duval Street? Usually the farther away from the Old Town area, the less expensive it becomes, but not always. And you have to weigh the hassle of driving your car around in the crazy Keys traffic against being able to walk to the major tourist areas.

Consider a B&B or inn instead of a resort. There are many small inns that give you a good amount of privacy, plus a nice amount of TLC.

Here are some Key West resorts that you might want to consider, when planning your Florida Keys vacation.

Key West beaches aren’t that numerous — kind of funny, when you consider Key West is in Florida and is an island surrounded by water. You’d think there would be lots! Alas, it’s not so — but the ones they have are neat!

One of the best of the Key West beaches is Smathers Beach, where you can do just about anything. Feel like taking a parasail? Need to rent a chair and/or umbrella? Want to do some snorkeling? Maybe just plain people-watching — you can find it at Smathers.

Another one you might want to check out is Higgs Memorial Beach. This is another of the Key West Beaches where there is plenty to do and water toys to rent. And Higgs actually has some of the best snorkeling in Key West, although you do have to go out aways — the waters are shallow close to shore.

You can check out some more Key West beaches information, but meanwhile you might be wondering why this island doesn’t have much in the way of sand? For that answer, you have to look out to sea.

The only living coral reef in the continental United States lies offshore, and it’s that reef that prevents the beaches from getting a good foothold, like they do in more northern parts of the state. The reef prevents (mostly) the heavier surf from getting near the island — and the surf is what builds up the sand.

Now some (many?) of the Key West beaches are man-made — like the private beaches at the various resorts. And others are “nourished” from time to time with imported sand.

Still, if you’re in Key West, do take time to visit one or more of the beaches there. Smathers, Higgs, Fort Zachary Taylor and more await you!

Although South Florida beaches don’t tend to be really large, like those in the Panhandle and North Florida, they definitely do have their own flair. From quiet to crowded, here are some of the best Florida beaches in the southern portion of the state.

If you’re into a quiet beach, check out MacArthur Beach State Park. The two miles of beach tends to be very lightly populated — I’ve never seen more than a handful of people at a time. Beach comb, lie in the sun, snorkel the reef, swim in the ocean — you can do all these things here.

The beach at Blowing Rocks Preserve in the Jupiter area is rather interesting, as it’s one of the few rocky beaches in Florida. Well, it’s not really all that rocky, except by Florida standards. But one thing that’s kind of cool — it there is a storm out to sea, or if there’s a very strong wind from the northeast (like in Winter), the waves crash against some of the limestone formations and can send the spray up to 50 feet in the air!

If you like a more tropical-looking beach, check out the area around Boca Raton and Delray. The on-street parking is a little tough in this area, but you’ll see palm trees, hedge-like sea grape bushes, warm waters and soft sands.

One of the more interesting South Florida Beaches is the one in Ft. Lauderdale. This was a very popular Spring Break destination back in the 60’s and 70’s, but has come into its own as a nice all-around beach. A great place for people-watching, kicking back and basking in the sun, or renting some “beach toys” and enjoying them. You can rent just about anything, so not to worry if you forgot to bring something.

Of course, there’s always South Beach, which is part of Miami Beach. The South Beach area has quite an interesting history, though. Back in the 60’s and 70’s, it was known as a retirement area, or mostly elderly residents. It was actually considered more of a “poor” part of town! The 80’s started changing that, with the TV series Miami Vice, and now South Beach is a very wealthy spot. Anyway, it’s great for people-watching!