Beach Getaways 2008 - (Page 40) NW NC NE 11 WEST PALM BEACH Social networking at quiet parks Its name says it all: Palm-lined, expansive beaches with warm, shimmering blue waters are the main draw to this area, which is also famous for high-end shopping, trendy restaurants and striking waterfront mansions. In North Palm Beach County, you’ll find several unspoiled, sea-oat-dappled beaches, including the Juno Beach Park and Pier, a great spot to fish and swim. Singer Island claims some of the area’s nicest beach parks, and in Palm Beach itself, you’ll find Palm Beach Municipal Beach as well as R.G. Kreusler Park, where a manicured lawn with palm trees adjoins the beach, providing shade for sunbathers. DAYTONA BEACH/ NEW SMYRNA BEACH 12 Hard-packed excitement CW C CE FORT PIERCE/VERO BEACH Geography makes the beach This region possesses outstanding golden-shored beaches – some lively and packed with families and others pristine, with nature trails leading to secluded shores. The area is known for its offshore shipwrecks, which present spectacular diving opportunities, as well as for Sebastian Inlet State Park, where some of the best surfing in Florida can be found. Don’t miss Bathtub Reef Beach, beloved by families for the offshore reef that helps to create a warm, shallow lagoon free of ocean currents. And during high tide at Blowing Rocks Preserve, waves hit rock outcroppings at the shoreline, sending water up through holes in the rock. A typical beach day in this area could include biking on the sand, riding first-rate waves or surf-fishing. SW Find secluded shores in quiet beach towns including Ormond-by-the-Sea. Or hit Daytona Beach – the center of this region’s action – where you can sun, surf, swim and then stroll along the old-fashioned boardwalk and fishing pier. Ponce Inlet’s beach features Lighthouse Point Park, which has nature trails and an observation tower. And New Smyrna Beach, with its beautiful and hard-packed white-sand shores, is notable as being one of the few places where beach driving is still allowed (check times at www.volusia.org/beach/driving.htm). SE FLAGLER BEACH/PALM COAST Quiet on the East Coast You’ll find fewer crowds here than in neighboring coastal regions, but the beaches are just as amazing. At Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, waves have washed away the sand, exposing coquina rock and creating a picturesque, boulder-strewn beach in one section, which is perfect for exploring tidal pools. Flagler Beach has a peaceful, car-free shoreline, and its Municipal Boardwalk and Pier is a great place for fishing and surfing. At Gamble Rogers Memorial State Park, dune walkovers provide access to the warm golden sand and sea while protecting the fragile dunes. COCOA BEACH Surfing and beach blasts This area’s beaches are famous for having great waves and the awesome, huge Ron Jon Surf Shop, which can outfit visitors to ride said waves. Those who don’t wish to experience surfing firsthand can watch the pros from a beach chair at the Cocoa Beach Pier, a historic landmark with a beach famous for surfing, sunning, swimming and people-watching. However, this area is also chock-full of undeveloped shores that are striking in their natural beauty. Check out the peaceful Canaveral National Seashore and Lori Wilson Park, which features a boardwalk that winds through hardwood forest. 12 11 40 VISITFLORIDA.com/beaches http://www.volusia.org/beach/driving.htm http://VISITFLORIDA.com/beaches
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