There is nothing better than a Florida beach vacation.
Sun Sea and sand. Some serious tanning. The occasional bath. Happy kids. A sizzling barbecue. Balmy evenings and glorious sunsets.
But which beach is the best beach? Here are three of Florida’s fabulous beaches, all great vacation destinations.
Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach boasts more than 27 miles of powdery white sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico. It is a great place to vacation. Just lie on the beach, soak up the sun, and venture out for the occasional swim. Or try one of the many sports like parasailing, jet skiing, snorkeling, windsurfing, or scuba diving.
There’s a beach for everyone, from the trendy City and Bahama beaches, to the relatively undeveloped and unspoiled St Andrews State Recreation Area beach to the south.
At night, the main complex comes to life: you can eat at a great-value seafood restaurant, drink at a lively bar, and then dance at a trendy club.
Bathtub Beach, North Hutchinson Island
A very popular beach, and deservedly so, as a small reef (created not by coral, but by sand-eating worms!) about 100 feet offshore creates a shallow, warm-water lagoon perfect for swimming. Behind the beach is a wooden boardwalk, which leads to the nearby river and dune paths.
If you fancy a break from all those strenuous beach activities, visit the nearby Elliot Museum, created in the early 20th century. Favorites at the museum include a 1920s diner, vintage country store, and a large collection of vintage and veteran cars.
Another nearby attraction is the Florida Coastal Ocean Center, which is very kid-friendly – the little ones will love the ‘touch’ pool.
Caspersen Beach, Venice
Caspersen Beach is the most natural and undeveloped of all the beaches in Venice. It is located at the southern end of Harbor Drive, about a mile south of the Venice Fishing Pier. Parking is free and it’s connected to the beach by a pleasant boardwalk, which winds through native foliage.
The beach itself is very beautiful, stretching for over a mile and a half of soft sand. It’s a great place to swim – the beach is designated as Blue Wave Beach, but many people forget to swim and focus instead on searching for fossilized shark teeth. These fossils come from massive 50-foot sharks, which crossed the waters here a couple of geologic ages ago. Caspersen Beach is a good place to find these fossils, because it has not been restocked or covered with sand from other areas, unlike many of the beaches along this stretch of coastline.
In early summer, from May to July, watch out for turtle nests: they are often marked with stakes so you can avoid them. If you’re there in the morning, see if you can spot the tell-tale turtle “tram lines” that run along the beach from the seawater’s edge.
There is also a beautiful little nature trail that runs through the dunes and sea oats, eventually connecting to the Venetian Waterway Trail.
So which beach to choose?
It all depends on your mood. If you love the non-stop party atmosphere, choose Panama City Beach. If you want a family day at the beach, Bathtub is great for kids. But if relaxing is your thing, relax at Caspersen.