Florida Gulf Coast Beaches

We love the beaches along the Florida gulf coast, from the Panhandle to Fort Myers.  The past dozen  years we've spent a lot of time in the St Pete/Clearwater area, so our favorites beaches are in that area- Ft DeSoto, Clearwater, Caladesi, Anna Maria, Longboat Key and Siesta Key.

When friends and family come visit us, they always request to go to Clearwater, a beach we try to avoid. Why go to such a touristy spot, get stuck in traffic and pay for parking? This is laid back Florida after all, and there are so many choices.

This particular summer day, we gave in and drove our guests to Clearwater Beach. It was late in the afternoon, and the water was so warm it felt like water in a hot tub! A few days earlier, we had gone to Siesta Key. The sun had hid behind the clouds, so instead of a sunset we got to see a wedding taking place on the beach. We lucked out at Clearwater. The sunset was absolutely spectacular, one that is comparable to Key West's, only without the fanfare.

sunset at Clearwater Beach

a wedding at Siesta Key

We also took our guests to Longboat Key. It was Memorial Day weekend and boats were rafted up partying away. We've never seen this quaint locale so busy with many anchored boats, as well as water police and Sea Tow. We had gotten a ticket ($75) here once, when we were exploring on our dinghy and had one less life jacket than we should. While checking out our old stomping ground, we ran into peacocks that roam freely around the neighborhood. One even strutted and showed off his plumage.

Memorial Day Weekend at Longboat Key

On another day, we visited Ft DeSoto, a Pinellas County State Park in St Pete, our absolute favorite beach of all times. We had not been here for over a year. It is even more beautiful than we remember it. We got to the North Beach just before 10 am. A bunch of young, good-looking lifeguards were getting ready to man their stations. It was like a scene out of Baywatch. How cool is that?

We hope and pray that the Deepwater Horizon Oil spill will not hit this part of Florida. The state has been the first to suffer from the economic downturn due to the housing bust. The last thing Florida needs is another blow, to its tourism business. Not to mention the impact on the wildlife and its ecosystem.

Ft DeSoto North Beach

Where's your favorite beach?

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