Really Florida!

Beaches in the Florida Keys aren’t as plentiful as you might imagine — the Keys are islands, right?  Yes, they are islands, but special ones which don’t have many beaches.

However, there are some wonderful stretches of sea and sand in the Florida Keys.  If you’re not expecting the wide beaches of NE Florida or the Panhandle, you’ll likely be pleased.

Let’s take a look at some of the beaches in the Florida Keys.

First Stop:  Harry Harris Park

Tavernier, located in the Upper Keys, has a beach at mile marker (MM) 92.5.  The beach itself is located inside Harry Harris Park.  Now remember, the beaches in the Florida Keys are small, and this is definitely…small.  But it is a beach!  If you have youngsters, this is a great beach because of the protected swimming area; no surf, and no large fish to nibble their toes.

Anne’s Beach

While there are places to play on the sand in the Florida Middle Keys, most of them are private beaches for resorts.  If you want a public beach, Anne’s Beach at mile marker (MM) 78 (kind of between the Upper and Middle Keys).  It’s not a long or wide beach, and there’s little surf, due to the calming effect of the offshore reef.  Still, the water is warm and clear and the sun shines brightly.  Anne’s Beach on Upper Matecumbe also features picnic areas and covered pavillions.

The Beach at Bahia Honda

This is a glorious Florida Keys beach, and worth the trip to the Lower Keys to see it.  It has a good-sized beach area, with plenty of room for walking.  Swimming and snorkeling are great here, and Bahia Honda is just what you’d expect from a tropical island beach — a slice of paradise.

(The photo you see here is Bahia Honda.)

The Key West Beaches

Smather’s Beach is the most famous of the Key West beaches, as well as the largest — a half mile long.  Still, there is plenty to do here.  From parasailing to snorkeling to volleyball, there is plenty going on.  And if you like just kicking back and watching the world go by, there’s a beach chair waiting!

Other beaches in Key West, Florida include Higgs Memorial, Fort Zachary Taylor State Park and Beach, as well as CB Harvey Rest Beach.

Here’s additional information on Key West beaches. 

Beach Trivia

 Well, I did warn you there there weren’t a lot of beaches in the Florida Keys, and here’s why.  The only living coral reef in the continental United States is offshore, and it protects the Keys from the wave action of the sometimes-storm Atlantic Ocean.

However, that wave action is what builds up beaches!  Add to it that the Keys are composed of limestone and coral, which aren’t the best beach-building materials, and you have few stretches of natural sand.

Still, most of the major resorts do have their own private beaches, so fear not; there just may be some sand closer than you think!

Florida Keys camping in the state and national parks can be awesome.  It can also be miserable.  What’s the difference between awesome and miserable?  It’s the time of year and place to camp.  Let’s take a look.

Best Time of Year for Florida Keys Camping

The most comfortable time of year, camping wise, is in the winter.  The days are generally balmy in the upper 60’s to mid 70’s.  The skies tend to be sunny (unless a front is coming through…and they don’t reach the Middle and Lower Keys that often).

Nights can be a little chilly at times, but not excessively so — upper 50’s.  Great sleeping weather!  Especially since there are no (or at worst a very, very few) flying insects to bother you.

Spring is the next best time of year, because it’s the tail end of the dry season, which again means fewer insects to “bug” you.  Weather is slightly warmer, with the days in the 70’s.  Can be a little cloudier, but usually the sun shines.

Fall can be a little iffy, depending on how wet it’s been during the summer.  Unless you’re at a campside on the water where you can get a sea breeze, you may be plagued by insects early in the fall.

Not-So-Great Time for Camping

Summer, hands down, is the worst time.  For campsites not on the water, the insects can be merciless.  And most campsites are not on the water.

Summer is also our rainy season, and while it may not rain every day, there’s a good chance of it most days.  And you really don’t want to be in a tent at least during a thunder and lightning storm.

Last but not least, Summer is our hurricane season.  Although the chance of a hurricane actually affecting Florida Keys camping is fairly low on any given week, it is a possibility.  Especially in light of recent years.

The Places for Camping

If Summer is your only option for Florida Keys camping, check out the water sites at Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Lower Keys.  And if you don’t mind primitive camping, Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas can be very interesting.

In general, camping in the Florida Keys parks that you can drive to are:

• Bahia Honda (Lower Keys)
• Long Key (Middle Keys)
• Pennekamp Coral Reef (Upper Keys)

Here’s more information on state parks in the Florida Keys and the camping opportunities.

This is part 4 of Florida vacation ideas.   To see the other ideas (past, present and future), you can look here to see the posts of ideas.

Florida is known for it’s beaches, for sure.  But not everyone lives by the beach.  For those more inland, cruising or paddling the rivers and lakes of the Sunshine State makes more sense.

For today’s Florida vacation idea, let’s take a look at boats and boat rides!

Go for a Boat Ride

Florida is not only surrounded by water on three sides, but we also have lots of lakes and rivers. From canoes and kayaks to cruise ships, there are boating opportunities galore!

For example, many of the Florida parks run concessions that rent canoes/kayaks.  One Florida state park that has great canoe trips is Wekiwa Springs near Orlando.  Myakka River in SW Florida has excellent canoeing as well. 

And if you’re into kayaks, check out the waterways at MacArthur Beach State Park.  And if you’re curious, the photo to the right was taken on the Loxahatchee River, which flows near Jonathan Dickinson State Park.

And one more:  the Florida Panhandle has some of the most beautiful rivers you’d ever want to paddle in a canoe (or kayak).  You can also motor along some of the larger rivers.

Take a Boat Tour!

Sunset cruises are big in the Florida Keys. And if you’re in SW Florida and hankering to visit Key West — there’s a ferry that departs daily.

The Florida Keys are especially great for boating and boar tours.  The waters there are usually pretty calm on the Atlantic side, due to the protecting effect of the coral reefs offshore.  The Florida Bay side is even calmer!  (I do have the tendency towards seasickness in rougher waters, but I never have been afflicted in Florida Bay, or on the Keys side of the reef.)

Watery eco-tours abound, especially around the Spacecoast on the Atlantic, and the Ft. Meyers area on the Gulf.  Usually canoe or kayak led for a true natural experience, there are also motorized boat tours for those so inclined (usually early and late in the day, so as to see the most wildlife).

So those are today’s Florida vacation ideas.  Check back in again later for part 5 in this series!

As I mentioned in the previous post, I thought I’d put up some Florida vacation ideas.  (Here’s the vacation ideas part 1 if you missed it.)

Park It (And I Don’t Mean Theme Park)

The Florida parks are the unsung heros of the Sunshine State. From State Parks like Grayton Beach in the Panhandle to National Parks like the Everglades, it’s a side of Florida that all too many people never see.

This photo was taken in Everglades National Park, at the Shark Valley entrance.  This is one park that can almost pass for an attraction, it’s so neat!  Plus there’s the awesome tram tour, which is not to be missed.

For example, there are caves in Florida where you can take a tour.  They may not exactly be Mammoth Cave, but Florida Caverns is worth a trip to the Panhandle to see.

There are two parks that are almost entirely underwater — Biscayne and Pennekamp in the Florida Keys are.  Both of these parks offer glass bottom boat tours of the only living coral reef in the continental United States.

There are state parks like MacArthur Beach where you may be almost alone on a gorgeous stretch of sand and sea.  I don’t know why, but the beach has been almost empty every time I’ve gone; if you like a quiet Florida beach, it may be for you.

If you love camping, there are places for beach camping in the summer (the sea breezes help keep the mosquitoes away) and more inland the rest of the year.  Spring and Fall are especially nice for Florida camping!

Before I forget, here’s something else to consider; Florida parks are great for your wallet.  The entrance fees are small, and even if you rent boats or take a tour, it’s far, far less than the cost of one of the major theme parks!

I hope I’ve given you some Florida vacation ideas.  In the meanwhile, here is a list of some interesting Florida parks — there should be one in your area.

Do you need some Florida vacation ideas?  Maybe you’re curious about the state.  Maybe you’re a resident and want to explore…but don’t want to use a lot of gas doing it.  Maybe you’re visiting Florida for the first time and are eager to learn all you can.

You’ve got the time off — now what do you do?  In this and the next few posts, let’s explore Florida vacation ideas, from around the state.

Attractions are Everywhere (Almost)

Yes, Florida is a tourist state, and so we have lots and lots of attractions, large and small.  Of course you know about the big three (Disney, Universal and SeaWorld), but they’re in Orlando and if you’re not, it could be a long drive for you.

Not to worry, there are very few places in Florida that are more than two or three hours from some sort of destination, and most often times much closer. 

For example, St. Augustine in NE Florida is loaded with all sorts of places to see.  From the Fountain of Youth, through Ripley’s Museum; trolley tours and ghost tours.  Most all of it is in one area, so you can roam from one to the next.

The Nature Coast has Weeki Wachee Springs; Tampa has Busch Gardens.

Orlando…well, enough said there!  Enough attractions to sink a ship.

Spacecoast has Kennedy Space Center; West Palm Beach has Lion Country Safari.

Florida vacation ideas involving attractions are certainly one of the first things a visitor (and often a resident) considers.  And while there is the occasional “dud”, most attractions are worth visiting.

Here’s a listing of some Florida attractions, by regions of the state — that should get the vacation ideas flowing!

This is part 1 of Florida vacation ideas; keep on the lookout for parts 2 through 5!

I know, I meant to write more about Sanibel much sooner than this. But I’m now back to the blog, so how about some photos of my favorite Florida bird — the roseate spoonbill.

Roseates are that wonderful pink color that one usually associates with flamingoes.  Well, I think the flamingo copied it from the roseate!

David and I were over in Ding Darling on Sanibel Island this past April (oh boy am I ever late in posting these photos), and while we were on the wildlife drive, we saw a bunch of people pulled off to the side of the road and a crowd gathering.

Lo and behold, there were three…wait, now four roseates gathered!  They were apparently interested in lunch more than a get-together, but what was interesting is that they were pretty close.  Every time I’ve seen roseate spoonbills in the past, they were waaaaayyyy far in the distance.

Now these birds didn’t seem to care too much about the growing crowd; they just keept on preening their feathers and then leisurely stopping to poke around for underwater treasures (i.e. food).

I tried looking up some information on these lovely birds, and wouldn’t you know, Wikipedia doesn’t have much in the way of info.  I searched around some more and found a link to the Honolulu Zoo (of all places).  Not a ton of information, but it was a start!

I have a book on Florida wildlife that has a photo of a flock of roseates in a mangrove tree.  It was truly a breathtaking photo, but then I thought…don’t they look like ornaments on a Christmas tree?

OK, back to Ding Darling and Sanibel. 

If you’ve never been over to Sanibel Island, on Florida’s SW coast, the first time you go you’re stuck by how crowded it is.  It’s a small island, but a big tourist destination, and people are everywhere.

What most people (aside from maybe Sanibel residents) don’t know is that 60% of the island has been set aside for wildlife.  Ding Darling is large part of the 60%.

It’s hidden, though; you have to want to find it.  David used to go over to Sanibel all the time and he didn’t know it was there!  (Naturally, the map reader I am, knew where it was.)

Sanibel is a lovely island, but next time you’re there, take a step back from the beaches and restaurants and hotels and take a look at the real Florida — naturally.

The roseates are probably still waiting for you to drop by!

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 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!

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!