Dancing on the Beach

By Chad Rutt

Florida’s Gulf coast is known for its miles of sugar-white beaches, championship golf courses, fishing, and endless musings (amusement parks, museums, and aquariums). One of the things that makes the coast such a great place to vacation is its great beaches.

Orange Beach

Orange Beach is located along the tip of Northwest Florida, along Alabama’s famous Emerald Coast. One of the greatest parts of Orange Beach is its 30-miles of continuous white sandy beaches and emerald shaded waters. When not at the beach, you will probably find yourself at either the golf course or aboard one of the many saltwater deep sea and back bay fishing boat excursions.

Known as the home of Red Snapper fishing, Orange Beach has one of the largest fishing boat fleets in the US. Both half-day and full-day excursions can be purchased, but you’ll have to pay attention to the time of year, as fishing is seasonal. If watching fish, rather than catching them is more to your liking, the Blue Dolphin Cruises is a great way to see dolphins while in their natural habitat.

Orange Beach also has several world-class, 4/5-star, championship golf courses.

Fort Walton Beach

Summer or winter, Fort Walton is always gearing up for some sort of celebration. In June, the Billy Bowlegs Festival kicks off with a four-day celebration of pirates and mayhem. In February, The Fort brings Mardi Gras to the Gulf with the Okaloosa Island annual Mardi Gras Celebration and Ball. The celebration includes the traditional New Orleans parade, food, beads, bauble heads, and costume.

Okaloosa Island, a barrier island separating Fort Walton from the Gulf, makes a nice day trip when vacationing at the Fort. The beach community offers 24 miles of sand and surf, charter fishing tours, and the Gulfarium marine park, which is the countries second oldest sea life exhibit and dolphin/sea lion entertainment extravaganza.

Fort Walton is also known for its 1,080 holes of championship quality golf courses.

Panama City Beach

Panama City does its best to entertain all age groups, and it does this no better than with its famous, award-winning, pristine beaches. Known as the second best beach in all of the Florida, Panama City does not limit itself to just its sandy white beaches and crystal clear waters. It is also known for its pirate ship tours, turbo engine speed boats, golf courses, and water parks.

Three noteworthy attractions of Panama City Beach are the Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise, Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum, and Shipwreck Island water park. The Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise is a two hour journey across the Gulf on a life-like pirate ship, while Ripley’s Believe It or Not, located on its own massive shipwreck, features the most bizarre collection of oddities and illusions you’ll ever see.

Shipwreck Island is Panama City’s premier water park, featuring slides, wave pool, and a lazy river.

Chad Rutt is the Director of Marketing for the online lodging site http://www.abetterstay.com and the Managing Editor of its accompanying Vacation Blog http://www.abetterstay.com/blog/

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By Carol Eiseman

Family vacations are a wonderful source of memories and tradition. While there are many exotic and beautiful destination choices, our family’s favorite vacation spot is on the West Coast of Florida. For over 25 years we have made it a point to spend time on the sand bar beach strip just south of Clearwater Beach, Florida in Belleair Beach. We rent a three bedroom condo that is right on the beach. Renting a private condo allows us to save hundreds of dollars as it is less expensive than a hotel and we have all the amenities of home. We save even more money by stocking up at the local grocery so everyone can make their own breakfast and lunch. Best of all, we walk out the door and have our choice: a beautiful pool or the Gulf of Mexico. What more could you ask for?

This narrow strip of paradise sits with the Gulf on one side and the bay and intercoastal waterways on the other. This barrier island runs from Clearwater down to St. Petersburg. There all kinds of accommodations available from high rises and hotels to smaller condo complexes or beach cottages. There is something to fit any budget. It is quiet and uncrowded but yet close to lots of activities!

When we want a break from the beach the possibilities are numerous. A 45 minute drive to Tampa and we are at Busch Gardens for a day of fun. If we want to attack the Orlando scene we get up early and make the 90 minute drive. We can spend the day at any of the Disney, Universal or Sea World theme parks and be back at the beach by 10pm.

If we want to stay local, we head 5 minutes up Gulf Boulevard to Clearwater Beach for shopping or water fun. Centrally located in the beautiful harbor, there are boat rides, fishing charters, pirate ships, dinner cruises and even parasailing for the more adventurous. Prices are much more reasonable than in some of the larger, more commercial beach cities in Florida.

Perhaps our favorite tradition is our night at the Clearwater Phillies minor league ball field. Located about 15 minutes from the beach, their stadium is beautiful, clean and family friendly. Tickets are under $10 and the food courts are well stocked with the traditional ball field goodies at bargain prices. You sit close to the field and have a great chance to catch a fly ball! Players sign programs and balls for the kids. They have numerous special events throughout the season including fireworks! It has been a part of every vacation for over 20 years. Of course, you can venture into Tampa and see the Tampa Yanks play at the famous Legends Field.

While we eat home for breakfast and lunch, we explore the local cuisine at dinnertime! Always budget conscious with our big crowd, we seek out the family style restaurants. Our two favorites are in Indian Rocks Beach. Crabby Bills has to be the best seafood restaurant in the state. It casual and fun and family style. Long picnic tables covered with red and white table clothes set the ambiance. Nothing fancy but a party like atmosphere prevails. Beer and soda by the pitcher, fresh seafood on paper plates with great side like coleslaw, fries and hush puppies. It is the perfect family seafood restaurant. Stop into their fun gift shop on the way out!

The second family favorite is an Italian bistro, also in Indian Rocks, TJ’s Italian Café. Casual with delicious home made Italian food. The pizza and strombolis are a must! It is an easy place to bring the kids no matter their age! After dinner hop next door to TJ”s Mom’s Homemade Ice Cream Parlor for dessert!

What would a family vacation be without a round of miniature golf? Travel another 5 minutes south and you will see Smuggler Cove Adventure Golf right on Gulf Boulevard. Three courses with lots of “pirate theme” holes including waterfalls and an alligator pond.

Family vacations are a great part of establishing family traditions. While our kids are all older from 20-26, we still ALL look forward to our family vacation. We start in later winter, pick some dates and everyone works their vacation schedule. They are welcome to bring along their significant other or a friend. Planning early allows for use of airline miles and assures lower fares. So this August there will 10 of us making memories at our favorite vacation spot in Florida. It will truly be a fantastic family celebration!

Carol shares more great family celebration and tradition ideas from their own family album at http://www.celebrationideasonline.com/family-celebration-ideas.html

Carol is married with four grown children. She loves to celebrate everything! This Florida vacation is one of their many family traditions. Their family celebration experiences and traditions can be further viewed at http://www.celebrationideasonline.com – There are some great ideas for creating lasting family memories!

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If you are looking for a holiday with lots of sun, sea and sand, Florida is the perfect destination. With more than 1,100 miles of beaches along its sultry coasts, Florida has something for everyone. But which are the best Florida beaches and what can you expect to find there? Here are ten best beach picks:

1. Panama City Beach, also known as PCB, is consistently listed among the best Florida beaches, featuring shimmering white quartz sand, which is beautiful to look at and soft enough for children to play in. More than 25 miles in length, it borders on the Gulf of Mexico, ensuring warm, clear water for swimming.

2. Daytona Beach, as seen on MTV, has hard packed sand, which is great for sports and dancing. A former racing venue, much of it is still accessible to cars. Daytona Beach is a popular location for bodysurfing and is an excellent place to swim. Its gently sloping shoreline means you are less likely to unexpectedly find yourself out of your depth.

3. St Joseph Peninsula offers a beautiful, sugary white beach with all the benefits of a National Park. Its tall dunes offer beautiful views out across St Joseph Bay. This is a popular location for fans of canoeing and kayaking, and fishing is available just offshore. St Joseph is often rated among the top 10 Florida beaches for those who enjoy activity vacations.

4. Cocoa Beach is positioned just minutes away from the Kennedy Space Center, so if you time your trip right, you can lie back on the soft sand and watch a shuttle take off. Cocoa Beach is a great place for surfing and there is always a party atmosphere around the pier.

5. South Beach is popular with international celebrities and those looking forward to luxury holidays where they can be seen by the right people. South Beach bars and restaurants are priced accordingly, but his is a great place to hang out if you enjoy looking chic.

6. Clearwater Beach is always bustling with activity. With artistic and cultural activities to enjoy, it also features free concerts at night down by Pier 60. And children will enjoy visiting the nearby aquarium. Kids often declare this to be one of the best Florida beaches.

7. Fort Walton Beach is a great place to go to relax, especially for families, with plenty of space for kids to play and lifeguards to watch out for them. Dolphins play in the bay just offshore and you can take a boat ride if you want to go and meet them.

8. Captiva Beach, out on Captiva Island, is a popular destination for young couples as well as for older holidaymakers. Its miles of glittering sand are laced with exotic shells. Captiva Beach is situated near the Bahia Honda Channel, with its stunning reefs, which makes it a great place to go snorkeling.

9. Fort Lauderdale offers 23 miles of stunning beaches between its wayward waterways and the open sea. Here you can watch manatees at play or simply walk out into the water to explore the reef. Often listed among the top 10 Florida beaches, its enduring popularity is a testament to its ability to charm visitors from all different backgrounds.

10. Sanibel Island Beach is undoubtedly one of the best Florida beaches, and also one of best kept secrets in the state. Though it is a popular location for marriages, it is still largely undiscovered, and its quiet atmosphere attracts wildlife such as sea turtles. Sanibel Island Beach is a great place to find shells and is popular with windsurfers.
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by John DeLellis

The internationally-known Don Cesar is perfect for romantic getaways, including romantic weddings and luxury honeymoons. One of the not-to-be-missed dining experiences at the Don CeSar is the Sunday morning King Charles Brunch featuring nearly 200 choices from appetizers to decadent desserts. The Don CeSar is a beach front luxury hotel with full-service spa and 24-hour fitness center. Also called “the Pink Castle”, the Don Cesar is known for its rich history and famous clientele. In addition to being on the National Register of Historic Places, the Don Cesar is the type of place where the person lounging next to you on the beach could be a famous celebrity.

Perhaps the most obvious Florida vacations are trips to the many theme parks that the city of Orlando has to offer. Florida vacations are fairly common among Americans from all states, partly because of the irresistible attractions in the area and partly because it is one of the cheapest destinations from within the United States. Florida vacations are full of fun, from the many great beaches, water sports and attractions to the diverse dining and shopping opportunities, Florida has it all. To most people, Florida vacations are synonymous with sun, sea, sand and Mickey Mouse, the ultimate family vacation destination.

St Pete Beach vacation rentals are just a few miles from St Petersburg, FL, and about 35 miles from Tampa, FL. St Pete Beach is just minutes away, and the area is renowned for spectacular rivers, nature preserves, state forests, world-class fishing and championship golf. St Pete Beach ranks as one of the best beaches in Florida, especially on the West Coast of Florida. St Pete Beach, on the central gulf coast of Florida, has a small town atmosphere with plenty of vacation amenities within walking distance.

St Pete Beach Hotels and St Pete Beach Resorts offer accommodations on some of the best beaches directly on the Gulf of Mexico. St Pete Beach is not as populated with tourists as Clearwater Beach but still offers beautiful sunsets, popular nightlife, great restaurants & plenty of day and night activities. St Pete Beach Wave runners offer a riding experience unlike any in the Tampa Bay Area. The Gulf beaches are known for warm, white sands, pristine waters, palm trees, and dolphins.

Another Place that is a great party hot spot restaurant on St Pete Beach is Jimmy B’s. Jimmy B’s Beach Bar caters to the upscale crowd so you better make sure you’re ready to roll. If you are looing for good food and good times on the water n St Pete beach you may consider the Sloppy Pelican. The Sloppy Pelican is one of St. Pete Beach’s newest waterfront bar & grill. A favorite for locals and visitors alike, our menu offers a wide variety that everyone is going to enjoy; from fresh seafood and pasta prepared from scratch, to the biggest burgers and tastiest nachos on the beach. Out of all the restaurants in St Pete Beach the Hurricane restaurant is one of the most popular. The Hurricane Restaurant: a landmark multi-storied restaurant/bar/entertainment complex is situated across the street from the beach right in the middle of Pass a Grille and keeps the hungry and thirsty beachgoers happy late into the evening.

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