| David McRee's Blog Archive |
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| Take a Walk with the Sea Turtle Preservation Society |
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| June 29, 2009 |
June and July bring thousands of sea turtles to the beaches of Florida, and Brevard County is the top nesting spot in the world for loggerhead turtles. That's right -- Brevard County beaches are perhaps the most important nesting site in the world for loggerhead sea turtles. Nearby Atlantic Ocean beaches of Volusia County and Indian River County are also important nesting areas.... more |
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| Jr. Lifeguard Surf Camps at Crowne Plaza, Indialantic |
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| June 25, 2009 |
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Do your kids love the water? Do they spend a lot of time in or near the ocean? Legacy Sports and Life, a nonprofit educational organization, is offering Jr. Lifeguard Surf Camps at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Indialantic, Florida.
Indialantic is a quiet beach town between Cocoa Beach and Melbourne Beach.... more |
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| Albury Court - Key West Boutique Hotel |
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| June 22, 2009 |
Lately I've been writing quite a few blog posts about beaches in the Florida Keys. This is because I recently took a road trip through the Keys and visited all the major beaches. I also spent two nights in Key West since I was taking a ... more |
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| Get Involved: Volunteers Needed for Beach Cleanups |
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| June 11, 2009 |
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Summer is here and everyone is headed for the beach. Many of us make the decision to do more than just hang out at the beach. Thousands of volunteers all over Florida get involved by putting on gloves, grabbing a trash bag and participating in a group beach cleanup effort.... more |
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| Get Involved: Volunteers Needed for Beach Cleanups |
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| June 11, 2009 |
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Summer is here and everyone is headed for the beach. Many of us make the decision to do more than just hang out at the beach. Thousands of volunteers all over Florida get involved by putting on gloves, grabbing a trash bag and participating in a group beach cleanup effort.... more |
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| Share the Beach with Nesting Birds |
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| June 10, 2009 |
Part of the Florida beach experience is enjoying our beautiful seabirds and shorebirds. From elegant white egrets to raucous gulls and graceful terns, Florida beaches are blessed with a tremendous variety of birds.
We'd like to keep our birds happy and healthy.... more |
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| Slow Boat to Cayo Costa: All Aboard the Tropic Star |
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| June 08, 2009 |
I discovered Pine Island, Cabbage Key, Cayo Costa and the Tropic Star quite by accident in the summer of 1993. That wonderful summer trip out to Cayo Costa made such a lasting impression on me that I've been back again and again. These islands are located near the mouth of ... more |
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| June Weather Expectations in Florida |
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| June 04, 2009 |
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Summer is here! Well, almost. Summer doesn't officially begin until June 21, but try telling that to the thermometer.
We've got the heat, the sunshine, the humidity -- it's the perfect time to cool off in the Gulf of Mexico or in the Atlantic Ocean.... more |
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| Northwest Florida Beaches Offer a Summer Dream Getaway |
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| June 03, 2009 |
Most of the Florida peninsula experiences their busy season during the winter and spring season. But summer is the high season in Northwest Florida (spring and fall have their merits as well).
Northwest Florida encompasses that area of the state which has for many years been known locally and affectionately as "the panhandle.... more |
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| Cape Florida State Park in Dr. Beach's Top 10 List |
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| May 26, 2009 |
In addition to serving as the unofficial kick-off of summer, Memorial Day Weekend also brings Dr. Beach's announcement of his picks for the top 10 beaches in the nation.
For 2009, two Florida beaches are in coastal geologist Stephen Leatherman's list.... more |
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| Share a Little Sunshine and Enjoy Palm Beach Summer Specials |
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| May 15, 2009 |
With nearly 50 miles of Atlantic Ocean beaches, Palm Beach County has a lot to offer visitors. Coastal cities like Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, Boca Raton, Jupiter, Juno Beach, Delray Beach, and Singer Island boast a variety of choices for a beach getaway.
To sweeten the deal, as part of its 1909 - 2009 Centennial Celebration, Palm Beach County has created a "... more |
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| Invite the Kids to the Beach - Share A Little Sunshine |
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| May 12, 2009 |
Some of my fondest childhood memories are of the days I spent at the beach with family and friends. The excitement of driving out to the beach was almost too much to bear. Would the water be calm and clear for snorkeling? Or would I be body surfing and playing in the waves?
The sensory cues from childhood days at the beach still remain strong decades later: the smell of salt air, suntan lotion and hot dogs cooking on the grill; the sounds of laughing gulls and children playing; the gentle surge of the waves, and the taste of salt water, fresh watermelon, and if I was lucky, a banana popsicle from the beach concession.... more |
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| Florida Keys Beaches - Sombrero Beach |
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| May 07, 2009 |
Sombrero Beach is definitely one of the top beaches in the Florida Keys. This crescent-shaped white-sand beach is located near the end of Sombrero Beach Road (mile marker 50) in Marathon, and is several miles off the highway, so traffic noise is not a factor on this quiet beach.... more |
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| Florida Keys Beaches - Anne's Beach |
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| May 06, 2009 |
The Florida Keys have beaches. Quite a few beaches, in fact. But they are not the same wide beaches with soft sand that the rest of the state enjoys.... more |
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| First Anniversary Celebration at Barrier Island Center, Melbourne Beach |
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| April 23, 2009 |
Learn about Brevard County's unique nature communities and see Florida as the early explorers saw it at Melbourne Beach's Barrier Island Center and Sanctuary. This shining new educational facility is located on Highway A1A, right on the Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy the exhibits, watch a movie, go for a hike on the boardwalk or a trail and get a great view of the Atlantic Ocean.... more |
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| Kayak Kids Kamp 2009 offered by Grande Tours of Placida |
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| April 22, 2009 |
Some of my best memories are from the days I spent at camp during summer break, learning to canoe and develop confidence around water. Now I prefer kayaks to canoes, but the skills I learned at boy scout camp with canoes transferred easily to kayaks. These skills have provided me with much enjoyment all my life.... more |
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| Space Coast Nature Blog Uncovers Eco-Tourism Opportunities |
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| April 10, 2009 |
Most of us think of NASA or beaches when we hear the words "Space Coast" or Brevard County. In fact, one of the reasons Cape Canaveral was chosen for rocket testing many decades ago was because of its distance from major population centers.
Today there are still huge undeveloped areas in Brevard County that have become nature preserves and are teeming with wildlife of all kinds.... more |
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| 11th Annual Zap Pro/Am Skim Jam coming up at the Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort in Panama City Beach |
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| April 09, 2009 |
You know what skimboarding is, right? It's when you take a thin, nearly flat board, get a running head start, throw the board down on the thin film of water left over on the beach after a wave breaks, then ride it as far as you can, hopefully up onto the face of another breaking wave.
Skimboarding has come a long way in the past few decades. In my day, a skimboard was made out of a piece of 3/4 inch marine plywood covered with varnish.... more |
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| Siesta Key Sand Sculpture Contest |
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| April 07, 2009 |
Need an excuse to head over to Siesta Key? Attending the Annual Siesta Key Sand Sculpture Contest is a great reason to come to pure white beaches of Siesta.
This Sarasota beach has long been one of my favorites.... more |
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| April Weather Expectations in Florida |
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| April 03, 2009 |
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Daytime air temperatures are consistently above 80 degrees in most of Florida during April, and the water temperature is generally in the mid 70's over most of the peninsula, with upper 70's in extreme south Florida and the Keys. This means that April is great for enjoying water sports without needing a wetsuit! In the first week of April, so far we are experiencing temperatures slightly cooler than average, with stiff breezes (great for beachcombing).
April is traditionally a dry month, but a few late season cool fronts often bring a few days of much appreciated rain now and then.... more |
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| The 'Staycation' is an Attractive Option for Florida Residents |
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| April 01, 2009 |
One of the things I recall about my childhood, growing up in Florida, is that nearly all of our family vacations were at destinations in Florida -- Naples Beach, Holmes Beach, the Keys, Disney, camping in state parks -- and we loved it!
Florida is a big state, and there are lots of options for Florida residents to consider. If you live away from the coast, any beach destination will be a nice change of scenery.... more |
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| Spring Getaway in the Florida Keys |
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| March 27, 2009 |
If you're looking for something a little different for a Spring Break getaway, the Florida Keys fits the bill and offers warm air, warm water and all the trimmings of the tropics: coral reefs, coconut palms, clear water and gorgeous sunsets.... more |
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| Family Beach Day: Are You Ready? |
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| March 25, 2009 |
Some folks make such a production out of a day at the beach that it can seem more like work than play. Smart planning is the key! Check out this article by Paul Eisenberg at Fox News about excellent tips for keeping your family's day at the beach uncomplicated, fun and safe.
Eisenberg draws on the experience of a number of "experts" on beach and family travel, including:
- Me, David McRee, ... more
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| Sebastian Inlet Surfing Championship March 28-30 |
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| March 24, 2009 |
Did you know that the Eastern Surfing Association (ESA) holds 150 surfing competitions each year in which 450 surfers show off their surfing skills for a chance to be invited to the Eastern Surfing Championship?
Surfers progress from District level competitions to Regional competitions on their way to the Championship.
March 28-30 from 8 a.m.... more |
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| Florida Keeps Its Beaches Clean |
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| March 17, 2009 |
Florida's Clean Beaches
Much of the Florida coastline, from northwest Florida to the Keys, and up the Atlantic coast, consists of sandy beaches. Our beautiful beaches not only attract millions of visitors from all over the world each year, they are also a popular playground for Florida residents. Florida beaches are among the cleanest and safest beaches anywhere in the world.... more |
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| Florida's Official State Shell |
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| March 06, 2009 |
You probably knew that Florida's official state flower is the orange blossom, the state tree is the sabal palm and the state bird is the mockingbird, but do you know what the official Florida shell is?
It's the horse conch (Triplofusus giganteus). A conch is a mollusk - an animal that makes its own shell. This large predatory mollusk glides along the bottom of the gulf and bay waters looking for other shells to eat.... more |
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| March Weather Expectations in Florida |
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| March 01, 2009 |
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March is off to a chilly start, but you can expect a rapid warm-up later in the first week. March is what I think of as a transition month; we can still have some rather cool weather, but between cold fronts we often experience temperatures in the low 80's, especially in south Florida.
March is generally a dry month; rain is infrequent and thunder and lightning are rare.... more |
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| Where the Fish Are: Sebastian Inlet State Park |
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| February 25, 2009 |
Florida State Parks often have special events or activities that offer fun and educational opportunities for the whole family. Sebastian Inlet State Park is one of the most beautiful and active beach parks on Florida's Atlantic Coast, and it offers a variety of events and activities to the public.
Fishing from the long jetty is one of the more popular activities in the park.... more |
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| Island Camping on Florida's Gulf Coast - Video Clip |
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| February 23, 2009 |
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It's nice to take a mental health break from time to time during the day. How about going on a virtual overnight camping trip on a Florida Island? Cavin Brothers shot some excellent time lapse video, set to music, of a camping trip to an island near his home on the gulf coast of Florida. I really enjoyed watching it.... more |
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| Beach Expert in Fort Lauderdale - Day 3 |
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| February 23, 2009 |
The morning breezes off the Atlantic picked up while we were eating breakfast at The Deck Restaurant overlooking A1A and the Atlantic Ocean. Runners getting ready for the Sunday A1A Marathon were out in force, taking advantage of the cool ocean breeze to get ready for the next day's event, so the beach promenade was even busier than usual.
We headed for ... more |
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| Beach Expert in Fort Lauderdale - Day 2 |
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| February 20, 2009 |
Today was our second day in the Fort Lauderdale Beach area - our first full day. We started our day with a walk on the beach, which is really beautiful in the morning light. People are out early for a stroll, a jog or a bike ride along the paved beach promenade that creates a much-enjoyed space between A1A and the coconut palm-lined beach.... more |
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| 2009 Sanibel Shell Fair and Show |
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| February 17, 2009 |
Come and see the largest and longest running shell show in the world. Hosted by the Sanibel Community Association and the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club, this popular show attracts shell enthusiasts from all over the world. Here's a list of some of the things you'll see and experience:
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Scientific and artistic competitions (amateur and professional)
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Rare Shells
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Shell jewelry and arts and crafts
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Workshops and demonstrations
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Food vendors
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Authors' table and book signing
What: Sanibel Shell Fair and Show.... more |
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| Pelican Island Wildlife Festival: Don't Miss It! |
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| February 13, 2009 |
You can see birds on Pelican Island today that you couldn't see back when it was first established by President Theodore Roosevelt as our Nation's first national wildlife refuge in 1903. The U.S.... more |
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| Experience Beach Camping on Shell Key |
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| February 12, 2009 |
As VISIT FLORIDA's Beaches expert, I frequently get asked about where one can camp directly on the beach. Despite the fact that Florida has more than 1,200 miles of beaches, camping directly on the beach is not always permitted, but there are a few beaches, like those on Shell Key, where you can pitch your tent directly on the beach. Shell Key is one of the top spots in Florida to pitch your tent directly on the gulf beach.... more |
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| Fast Cat to the Dry Tortugas |
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| February 09, 2009 |
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As the VISIT FLORIDA beaches expert, I plan several special trips each year to film a short video highlighting a particular place that I think is noteworthy. One of the trips I have planned this spring is a visit to ... more |
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| Two White Egrets You Should Know |
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| February 06, 2009 |
If you've ever been to Florida, especially to the beach, you've seen our white egrets. They are incredibly graceful on the ground and in flight.
There are a number of all-white wading birds on the beach, but the two most common are the American Egret and the Snowy Egret.... more |
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| Windy Weather Brings Shells to Beaches |
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| February 05, 2009 |
During cold snaps it's usually too cool for most folks to lay out sunning on the beaches, but the strong weather systems do bring benefits for beachcombers and "shellers."
After several days of strong northwest winds, fresh shells are starting to appear along the peninsular Gulf coast beaches. The rest of this week should bring excellent shelling to the central and southwest Florida Gulf coast beaches.... more |
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| Discover The Magic of Southwest Florida |
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| February 03, 2009 |
I've always lived in southwest Florida, so I've come to appreciate its often subtle beauty. But where should one go and what should one see to really get the feel for this unique area of the state?
To best answer that question, I'll point you to an excellent article by Sandra Friend, which you'll find right here on VISITFLORIDA.com.... more |
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| Flagler Beach Getaway |
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| February 02, 2009 |
If you're looking for a romantic place on a quiet, windswept beach, far from the crowds of Daytona, I've got a suggestion for you: Think Valentine's Day weekend. Think romantic getaway. Think ... more |
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| Tango on the Beach With Your Valentine |
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| January 30, 2009 |
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Valentine's Day is fast approaching. If you want to combine romance with the beach, there is no better way than to get cheek to cheek during an evening of Argentine Tango at the Hollywood Beach Theater. On Friday, Feb.... more |
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| Inexpensive Fun on Clearwater Beach |
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| January 26, 2009 |
If you haven't been to Clearwater Beach recently, now is the time to consider coming by to check out the new face of their beachfront. Completely re-designed and renovated, it is now even more attractive and pedestrian-friendly, and the selection of ... more |
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| Beach Expert's Romantic Getaway |
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| January 24, 2009 |
In October my fiance and I enjoyed a romantic beach getaway in Northwest Florida. We picked a cute Bed & Breakfast called the Hibiscus Coffee and Guesthouse in ... more |
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| Looking for a Warm Beach? |
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| January 14, 2009 |
Most of us prefer warm weather when we go to the beach. I receive quite a few questions from folks planning a Florida beach vacation between December and March. They want to know what temperatures to expect.... more |
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| Beach Expert Stories 2008--Looking Back |
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| December 30, 2008 |
I visited a lot of great beaches in 2008 and wrote some informative articles about life at the beach. Here's a summary of the aritcles I wrote in 2008 that you can find here on VISITFLORIDA.com:
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| Beach Expert Videos 2008 -- Looking Back |
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| December 26, 2008 |
In 2008, as "Beaches Expert," for VISITFLORIDA, I found myself taking a closer look at some of the places and activities that attract beach and nature lovers to Florida.
Since December lends itself to looking back on the year to reflect on what one has accomplished, I thought I'd take a few minutes to do just that. Let's start with the beach expert videos I've helped produce.... more |
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| Guidebook to All Florida Beaches |
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| December 19, 2008 |
One of the most important things in my back pack when I visit a coastal city I've never been to is a good beach locator guide.
I have thoroughly covered the beaches on the lower southwest coast of Florida between Dunedin and Marco Island (meaning I've been to EVERY beach), and have even written my own ... more |
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| Calusa Clues at Randell Center on Pine Island |
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| December 14, 2008 |
Pine Island is one of my favorite places in Florida. Although it is still a quiet place, development is slowly encroaching on the slow-paced way of life that has endured here longer than in most of Florida. Many hundreds of years ago, the pace of life on Pine Island was set by the Calusa Indians, who fished, hunted, gardened, dug intricate canals and built homes on top of huge shell mounds.... more |
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| Look For Whales! |
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| December 05, 2008 |
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Every year, North Atlantic right whales migrate from New England to the Atlantic coast of Georgia and Florida to give birth to their calves. The whales can be seen off the coastal waters of northeastern Florida from December through March.
Because there are only 350 to 400 right whales left today, a great effort is being made to monitor these beautiful creatures.... more |
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| Beach Photography Tips |
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| December 04, 2008 |
The beach can be a difficult place to snap good quality photos. White beaches are especially troublesome. The high contrast between the white sand and darker subjects often results in part of the image appearing too dark (underexposed), and part of the image appearing too bright (overexposed).... more |
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| Essential Gear for Your Beach Vacation |
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| November 20, 2008 |
There are a few items you simply cannot go to the beach without. They are essential for your comfort and health. The longer you plan to stay at the beach, the more things you will likely need.... more |
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| Beach Access for the Physically Challenged |
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| November 11, 2008 |
Getting from the beach parking lot to the water's edge generally requires two strong legs and good balance. The sand is usually soft and deep, and some of the beaches are very wide, which makes for a long walk.
Anyone who is unable to walk through the sand to the beach needs special assistance to help them get down to the water.... more |
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| Cocoa Beach Getaway |
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| October 21, 2008 |
| One of the most challenging aspects of planning a beach getaway is finding the right accommodations. In fact, “Where should we stay?” is one of the most often asked questions on my Q&A page. I'm always happy when I can make a recommendation based on personal experience.... more |
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| Video Sneak Peek: Atlantic Sunrise to Gulf Sunset |
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| October 15, 2008 |
I haven't seen a sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean and a sunset over the Gulf of Mexico in the same day since I was a teenager. We thought it would be a fun "expert" video to shoot.
In a couple of weeks you'll get to see the video, but I thought I'd give you a sneek peek at what what we did.... more |
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| Top Southwest Florida Beaches |
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| September 30, 2008 |
Southwest Florida beaches are internationally recognized for the opportunities they offer visitors to enjoy nature, and to relax on family friendly beaches. Here are a few of the top beach locations in Southwest Florida ranked highly by respected travel information sources:
Sanibel Island
- Named one of the Top Shelling Beaches, Travel & Leisure magazine, July 2008
- Ranks among the "world's best islands," National Geographic Traveler magazine, 2007 Places Rated
Lover's Key
- Listed by CoastalLiving.com among its Top 10 Romantic Retreats.... more
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| Surfing's Shaun Tomson, 'Bustin Down The Door' in Panama City Beach |
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| September 10, 2008 |
| The press release says: "World champion surfer, Shaun Tomson, will be in Panama City Beach, FL to attend the showing of "Bustin'Down the Door" - an award-winning documentary about a pivotal period in the history of surfing."
I say, if you love surfing, this is a film you definitely don't want to miss!
Yes, it is a documentary.
No, there are no car chases.... more |
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| Florida Beach Basics DVD & Reference Cards |
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| September 09, 2008 |
| Visitors to Florida's beaches often encounter things they've never seen before. Florida beaches have their own unique plants and animals, and all kinds of things are brought to the beach by the ocean currents. A small Brevard County based company called Still Nature has produced an excellent DVD and six UV-coated reference cards that describe the Space Coast's beaches and the natural treasures that are commonly found there.... more |
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| Labor Day was Beach Day |
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| September 03, 2008 |
| Labor Day weekend is a really big beach weekend in Florida. Families from all over the state head to the beach for the weekend to relax and have fun. This past Labor Day was no exception, although overall beach attendance was lower due to Hurricane Gustav blowing by out in the Gulf of Mexico.... more |
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| Florida Surfers: A Dedicated Crew |
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| August 24, 2008 |
You won't find a more dedicated bunch of surfers anywhere than right here on the Gulf coast of Florida. We take what we can get when it comes to waves, and this week we are getting a lot of sloppy chop from tropical storm Fay.
I drove out to Sunset Beach on Treasure Island on Thursday afternoon.... more |
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| Pole R Bear's On The Beach |
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| August 18, 2008 |
| I've found a great product that I think all beach lovers can use. I use it every time I set up my beach umbrella.
One of the biggest problems with bringing clothes, towels, camera bags, etc.... more |
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| Florida Nature Beaches Video Now on VISIT FLORIDA! |
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| August 04, 2008 |
Sometimes when I go to the beach I want to get as far away as possible from the noise and commerce of cities and be surrounded by nature and quiet. Florida has plenty of beaches where I can do that.
Florida State Park beaches offer some of the best opportunities to get away from it all.... more |
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| McLarty Treasury Museum: No Pirates Allowed |
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| August 01, 2008 |
On a recent beach-hunting trip to Vero Beach with an old friend, we discovered the McLarty Treasure Museum. The museum is located in Sebastian Inlet State Park on Florida's Atlantic coast, and is the site of the 1715 Spanish Plate Fleet Survivors' and Salvaging Camp. Let me explain:
In the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, Spain took a lot of gold and silver out of Mexico and South America, turning it into ingots, coins, and jewelry.... more |
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| Tour Florida's Coast and Beaches DVD |
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| July 26, 2008 |
Wouldn't it be great to take a trip to EVERY beach in Florida without leaving your living room? If Gerald Crosby has his way, you'll be able to do just that.
Gerald has been to all the beaches in Florida with his video camera and has put together a wonderful DVD that takes you on a tour of the entire Florida coast, beach by beach.
I can tell you, as an experienced beach explorer and author of a guidebook on Florida's Southwest Coast beaches, it takes a long, long time to visit all the beaches in Florida – more time than most of us have available.... more |
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| Clearwater Debuts New Beach Walk |
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| July 14, 2008 |
| Clearwater Beach has proudly opened its new Beach Walk a full six months ahead of schedule. The $30 million face-lift and redesign of the beach front has created "a winding beach-side promenade with landscaping, unique amenities, improved pedestrian access, and views of Clearwater's award-winning beach and the Gulf of Mexico.... more |
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| Loggerhead Turtle: Florida's Official Saltwater Reptile |
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| July 02, 2008 |
As of July 1, 2008, the loggerhead sea turtle has been named the official saltwater reptile of Florida, and now serves as a symbol of Florida, like the 21 other official state symbols, including the alligator and the manatee.
The significance of this is to draw attention to the loggerheads and to create exposure that will likely result in a greater awareness of the turtle's importance to Florida.
... more |
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| Daytona Beach - Day 3 |
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| May 26, 2008 |
| I woke up Sunday morning at 5:30 and waited for the sunrise. At 6:15 things looked promising so I grabbed my camera and headed for the beach. Clouds on the horizon muted the sunrise, but I did manage to take a couple of photos of the pink orb as it began another beautiful day on ... more |
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| Daytona Beach - Day 2 |
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| May 25, 2008 |
I woke up this morning in time for the sunrise, but alas, the clouds were thick and the sun was hiding. I'll try again tomorrow morning.
Today I'm meeting the VISIT FLORIDA video crew to start the day by filming Tim Gilley and his assistant Kelly teaching a family how to ride a surfboard at the ... more |
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| Daytona Beach - Day 1 |
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| May 24, 2008 |
| We are working on another short video adventure. This time we're in Daytona Beach to spotlight all the activities available right on the beach, besides the usual stuff like swimming, looking for shells and working on your tan.... more |
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| Best Beach in the Nation 2008--Caladesi Island! |
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| May 22, 2008 |
| Summer is upon us and families all over are planning their Florida summer beach vacations. It's already starting to feel like summer at the beach with temperatures well into the 80's. Even the water temperature is already around 80 degrees Fahrenheit.... more |
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| This Beach is 'For the Birds'! |
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| May 15, 2008 |
| Summertime is nesting time for many of our shore birds here in Florida, and some of them are pretty lazy when it comes to building a nest. In fact, some of them don't bother at all. They just plop down in the sand and lay their eggs.... more |
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| A Visit to Playalinda Beach |
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| May 02, 2008 |
| If you are looking for a really remote beach where you can truly get away from the crowd, I've got a just the place for you. ... more |
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| Pelicans, Pelicans, Pelicans! |
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| April 16, 2008 |
A wonderful bird is the pelican
His beak can hold more than his belly can.
He can hold in his beak
enough food for a week.
I'll be darned if I know how the heck he can.... more |
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| Boy Finds Mega Sharks Tooth on Egmont Key |
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| March 10, 2008 |
| Imagine going to the beach and finding a five-inch long sharks tooth! That's just what happened to a young boy Sunday on Egmont Key. Johnathan Abel of The St. Petersburg Times wrote a great ... more |
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| Yoga On Indian Rocks Beach--A Great Way to Relax |
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| March 05, 2008 |
| Sometimes the beach offers adventure and excitement, like when the surf is up. Other times relaxation is the order of the day. One of the most relaxing activities I've found happening at the beach is yoga.... more |
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| Clearwater's New Beach Walk Takes Shape |
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| February 13, 2008 |
If you've been to Clearwater Beach lately, you've noticed some major changes taking place along the beachfront between Pier 60 and the south jetty on Clearwater Pass. All the construction may make parking a little difficult, but the end is in sight and it is all for a reason.
... more |
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| Arrrrggggghhh! A Pirate's Life For Me! |
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| February 03, 2008 |
| If you are looking for a unique Florida vacation far removed from Mickey Mouse, try St. Augustine. I hadn't been in many years, but my fiance, Sue, had recently gone to yoga school there and fell in love with the place and wanted to go back to visit.... more |
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| Sandsculpting Video Now On The Web |
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| January 27, 2008 |
Hi everyone!
At long last, the video we shot at the 21st Annual Sandsculpting Festival has been edited, chiseled, massaged, hammered, tweaked, and polished into a true masterpiece! The video crew and editors did a magnificent job of condensing nearly a whole day of wandering around among the sand castles (oops, sand sculptures) into an entertaining and all-too-short video clip. Check it out.
... more |
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| Green Flash: A Mirage at Sunset |
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| January 17, 2008 |
Have you heard of it? Seen it? Did you just imagine it? Was it real?
I'm talking about the green flash.
The story goes that if you look very carefully when the sun is setting over the sea, sometimes there is a flash of green light just as the sun disappears. For most, the green flash is half real, half legend.... more |
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| Sand Between Your Toes |
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| January 07, 2008 |
| Every beach in Florida has sand and shells. Some have white sand, some brown, some gray, some orange. Some beaches, like those in the Daytona/Ormond Beach area, have a lot of coquina shell fragments mixed in with the sand.... more |
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| It's Warm Again! |
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| January 07, 2008 |
| You've probably heard all about the cold snap we had here in Florida during the first week of the New Year. Yes, it was pretty chilly for a couple of days. It's gone now.... more |
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| Honeymoon Island is for Nature Lovers |
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| January 03, 2008 |
| Driving up US 19 through Dunedin, Florida, just above Tampa Bay, you would never suspect that adjacent to the coast is a wonderful undeveloped State Park on an island with a virgin pine forest.
... more |
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| Merry Christmas from the Beach! |
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| December 26, 2007 |
Just from watching television, almost anyone would come away with the impression that Christmas Day is spent by everyone in front of a lighted tree, a pile of gifts, an assortment of relations, and a fourteen pound turkey. For most of my life that's pretty much the way it was.
Sure, when I was a teenager, if the surf was up I'd make an early run out to the beach to catch a few waves on Christmas morning, but I'd always be back in front of that Christmas turkey by lunch time.... more |
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| Sand Dunes Big and Small |
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| December 20, 2007 |
One of the most beautiful features of Florida beaches is the sand dunes. The sand dunes on each beach are different—some are large, others are small; some are covered with sea oats, while some of the larger dunes are inhabited by larger vegetation like sea grape or small oak trees.
Dunes are formed by the wind and plants on the beach.... more |
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| Take an Evening Stroll on Pass-A-Grille Beach |
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| December 14, 2007 |
Many of us, when we think of the beach, think of the weekend. After all, that's when those of us who live in Florida usually have the time to go to the beach. We drive to the beach and have to contend with heavy weekend beach traffic and crowds at the public beach.... more |
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| Sea Turtles Go Back to Nature |
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| December 09, 2007 |
Sea turtles are creatures of few words, but I imagine that if they spoke, certain lucky turtles would express their appreciation for the kind folks that saved them from near death, cared for them and released them back into the wild to continue doing what turtles were put here to do.
Turtles "Astro" and "Kelsey" were released back into the wild on Friday morning by their rehabilitators from Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota. Astro is a loggerhead turtle discovered in June 2007 floating near a weather buoy near New Pass in Sarasota.... more |
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| BeachHunter in Sarasota Magazine |
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| December 05, 2007 |
| I'm pleased to say that the December issue of Sarasota Magazine has an article about me and my beachhunting activities. On my own ... more |
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| The Beach is On The Web! |
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| December 03, 2007 |
If you are wondering what it's like at the beach today but are not able to be there, did you know that the beach is just a mouse-click away? Web camera technology makes it possible to get a live view of your favorite beach. Although not all beaches have web cams, more are popping up all the time.
What exactly is a beach web cam, you ask? It's nothing more than a camera (still or video) that is connected to a computer.... more |
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| Bridge Street Pier's New Face! |
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| November 27, 2007 |
| Sunday evening my fiance and I decided to drive down to one of my favorite islands, Anna Maria, and have a look around the newly renovated Bridge Street Pier. Bridge Street is not a contrived name. The bridge between Bradenton Beach and the mainland used to connect to the island at Bridge Street.... more |
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| Beach Wrack for Beachcombers |
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| November 18, 2007 |
So, what do you do for fun at the beach? Listen to the radio? Read a book? Play Frisbee? Swim? Skimboard? Take long walks and look at all the people? Look for shells? Have you ever tried “beachcombing?”
Does a cloudy day interfere with your day at the beach? Well, a lot of people go to the beach just to see what has washed up with the tide. They look for interesting objects to identify and marvel over. This is called beachcombing, and doesn't require a sunny day, or even a warm day.... more |
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| Spectacular Sandsculptures on the Beach |
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| November 15, 2007 |
| I attended my first sandsculpting event on November 8th and 9th, 2007 and discovered that sandsculpting is a lot more than just building sandcastles on the beach. Artists from all over the World participated in the event and produced some incredible works of art in the sand. The VISITFLORIDA video crew met me at the event to help create a short video of the sandsculpting, which you will be able see right here on the VISITFLORIDA.... more |
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| Sunsets at the Beach |
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| November 01, 2007 |
Hi Everybody!
Fall is finally here and our first Florida "cold front" is coming through. The temperature is expected to plummet into the upper 80's for a high over the next few days. But it will be a "dry" 88 degrees.... more |
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