Beach Getaways 2008 - (Page 10) experts BEACH ADVICE Ask the Expert DAVID MCREE VISIT FLORIDA Beach Expert A Bradenton native, David spent nine years photographing and writing about Florida beaches for his website and companion book, Florida Beaches: Finding Your Paradise on the Lower Gulf Coast. He is now VISIT FLORIDA’s online Beach Expert, one of 10 Florida travel experts. VISIT FLORIDA Beach Expert David McRee At VISITFLORIDA.com, read stories on his favorite beaches, see videos on topics like snorkeling and comment on his blog posts. You can also send David questions on Florida beaches. Here are a few reader questions submitted online that we hope will inspire some travel ideas of your own. FAMILY TRIP TO KEYS Mel writes: Hi David. I like your blog. I’m considering a family trip to the Florida Keys. The kids are 15 and 11 so don’t need kid programs – they are looking for sports / nature / state park adventures. Find David on VISITFLORIDA.com David responds: The best beach in the Keys is found at Bahia Honda State Park. The water is very shallow and calm and it has the sandiest beach. There are no hotels on Bahia Honda (though there is camping), so you’d have to find a room on another island that isn’t too far away, perhaps even in Key West. There is also Sombrero Beach in Marathon. Here are some places I think you’d enjoy visiting: John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo (take the 2.5-hour glass bottom boat tour); Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park (if you like nature tours); National Key Deer Refuge; Big Pine Key; the Key West Aquarium and Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum (Key West). HAD ENOUGH OF YUCK KAYAK OPTIONS Sarah writes: I’ll be in the Fort Myers area in May for a short time and want to do some kayaking. I’ve been reading about Lovers Key State Park and Cayo Costa State Park. I’d like to see wildlife, and have a nice spot to stop for a swim and picnic. Erica writes: What beach do you recommend for the clearest ocean water? I am traveling to Naples in March and I’m a big beach bum! Where I live, our ocean water is yuck! CALM WATER SEARCH Shea writes: My wife and I are looking for an oceanfront area that has calm waters for swimming. We are driving from North Carolina and were thinking somewhere in the western part of Florida. We have read your reviews on Siesta Key for the clear waters and it sounds great, but we weren’t eager to drive that far down. David responds: Sarah, the difference between Lovers Key and Cayo Costa is one of access and scale. Lovers Key is a relatively small group of islands between Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Beach, with some other mangrove islands just south of Lovers Key thrown into the mix. There is wildlife at Lovers Key and plenty of places to stop for a swim and a picnic. Lovers Key also has a kayak vendor. Cayo Costa can only be reached by boat. You can paddle to it from Pine Island, but it is a roughly 16mile round-trip paddle. You can ride the ferry to Cayo Costa and bring your kayak along for an extra fee. Water biking in the Naples area. Photo courtesy of Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades CVB. David responds: I really like the beaches around the Naples Pier at 12th Avenue South. I also recommend that you visit Clam Pass Park and enjoy the walk over the wooden boardwalk through the thick mangroves to the beach. You also might like to take a drive down to Marco Island and visit Tiger Tail Beach Park. Take a long walk out to Sand Dollar Island and enjoy the quiet beach and clear, shallow water. David responds: Shea, Northwest Florida has wonderful beaches and clear water, and the water is usually calm for swimming. You didn’t mention what month you are planning to come. Beaches between Pensacola and St. George Island would be great from May or June through early October. Other months, it might be too cool for swimming. Panama City Beach has a lot of Gulf-front hotels, and the beach is absolutely gorgeous. 10 VISITFLORIDA.com/beaches http://VISITFLORIDA.com http://VISITFLORIDA.com http://VISITFLORIDA.com/beaches
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