Clearwater is home to pristine white sand beaches and clear gulf waters. It is located in Pinellas County on the West Coast of Florida. Although Florida has many beautiful beaches, Clearwater Beach is one of the most popular and best beaches on Florida’s Gulf Coast. It is truly a family oriented beach with lots of things to do and unlike some of the other beaches, a key feature of Clearwater is that it has lifeguards on duty year-round for you and your family safety. (Photo courtesy: sandpearlresidences.com.)

There are well-maintained picnic areas, shaded playground, and concessions near the pier entrance for family get-togethers. The pier, called Pier 60, is the centerpiece of Clearwater Beach. It is here that the famous “Sunsets at Pier 60″ celebration, inspired by the sunset watching ritual at Mallory Square in Key West, takes place since 1995. (Photo courtesy: flickr.)

Vendors of arts and crafts, clowns, jugglers, entertainers, singers and bands all gather at Pier 60 two hours before and after sunset providing a great night of fun for the entire family. Every night, between 40 to 60 vendors set up stands along the pier selling an array of locally made goods such as photographs of gorgeous beach scenes, watercolor paintings, jewelry, soaps, candles, things made of leather, beads and metal and much more for the several hundred people that gather at Pier 60.

This nightly celebration provides the perfect end to a busy day of sunbathing or sightseeing. So while at Clearwater Beach, the “Sunsets at Pier 60″ celebration is a must see. In addition to this, there are lots of other attractions at Clearwater for the whole family and here are some of my favorites. (Photo courtesy: beachhousefl.com.)

Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise – Cruise away into the fantasy world of pirates and swashbucklers aboard the Pirates Ransom. The journey cruises within cannon range of Captain Memo’s deserted island along Florida’s inter-coastal waterway out into the Gulf of Mexico and along Clearwater Beach.

Queen Fleet Deep Sea Fishing – a favorite in Florida for over 40 years, if fishing is your sport, then this one is a must for deep sea fishing! These boats are available for private charter and hold up to 150 people.

Kai Lani Catamaran – this is a 50′ high performance catamaran that is well designed for comfort and safety. Enjoy a day of sun and fun as the catamaran speeds away at over 20 knots under sail.

Yacht StarShip II – this is Tampa Bay’s premier dining yacht and it offers lunch, brunch and dinner cruises. It is also America’s first “3 Diamond” rated dining yacht. This is also a great place for special occasions like weddings, conventions or banquets.

There are many other places to see and enjoy at Clearwater Beach. The ones listed above are just a few of my favorites. So keep these in mind when planning your next Florida travel vacation.

Amelia Island located in the northeastern coast of Florida is one of the state’s best kept secrets. It is part of Fernandina Beach and considered a vacation paradise from just everyone I know that has been there. It offers miles of white sand beaches, spectacular golf, world class resorts, historic landmarks, great shopping and lots more activities for you and your family to enjoy. Amelia Island is tiny, just thirteen miles long and about two miles wide, but full of surprises. (Photo credit: m.travelpn.com.)

Fernandina Beach is rich in history that goes back to ancient Indian tribes and Pirates but all of those structures have been well preserved through the years. Now you will find that the downtown area is full of gorgeous Victorian style homes, great restaurants and even some unusual shops all along oceanfront for a breathtaking view. Because Fernandina Beach is at the border of Georgia, some visitors say that it has that “old south” feel and look. In the 1970′s, Amelia Island was developed at the southern end of Fernandina Beach adding first class hotels to the area such as a Ritz-Carlton and luxury condos. (Photo credit: slapshots.com.)

Voted #6 among the Top Ten North American Islands by Conde Nast Travelers 2008 Readers Choice Awards, Amelia Island has become a preferred destination for visitors from all over the world. The choice is yours at Amelia Island. You can take your family fishing, kayaking, camping, bird watching, sailing horseback riding or even shell collecting if this is what you enjoy. Or you can enjoy Amelia Island’s upscale resorts which include championship golf, tennis, world class spas and great dining facilities.

Amelia Island is a place that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. It is a place that combines intriguing history with charming southern hospitality. When you do plan your Florida travel to Amelia Island, be sure to include the following attractions. (Photo credit: goforadventures.com.)

Carriage Tours – board a horse-drawn carriage and enjoy all the landmarks and gorgeous 19th century homes of Amelia Island. You will even hear tales of pirates and ghosts.

Sightseeing River Cruises – enjoy a narrated scenic cruise along the waterways of Amelia Island and get a view of one of the mansions built by the Carnegie family at the turn of the 20th century and other historic sites along the way. You will also get a chance to see lots of manatees, dolphins and sea turtles.

Amelia Island Plantation – here you will see a magnificent privately owned resort and residential community. It has winding roads and paths, gorgeous live oaks, lush landscaping and miles of beautiful white sand beaches.

Amelia Island Museum of History – enjoy 4,000 years of Florida history including exhibits of archaeological finds, educational lectures, walking tours and ghost tours.

Fort Clinch State Park – here is a Civil War era fort and a tour will take you back to 1864. You can also go biking and hiking.

It is summer time and that means beach time. If you and your family enjoy a vacation in a place with beautiful beaches, consider the east coast of Florida where you will find some of the finest white sand beaches and some that are left the way nature made them. All the gorgeous beaches that I will describe here are on waters of the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast of Florida. The Florida beaches below are listed in alphabetical order and I included the county for each one to give you an idea as to where they are located. (Photo credit: visitusa.com.)

Atlantic Beach
Considered the most popular beach out of three Jacksonville area beaches, Atlantic beach dates back to 1900 when Henry Flagler first built a depot for his east coast Railway. It is not only a beautiful beach but also very popular and the town people just make everyone feel welcome. Atlantic beach is located in Duval County and is part of the Jacksonville beaches community. (Photo credit: flickr.)

Bethune Beach
Also called New Smyrna beach, is a stretch of sand along the south end of New Smyrna and about ten miles south of Ponce Inlet. It is located in Volusia County and with its 13.2 miles of gorgeous white sand it has become a popular vacation place for many families as well as tourists. Seven miles of this beach are marked ‘transitional zone’ where you can drive and park your vehicle well off to the dunes or even the seawalls.

Cocoa Beach
Cocoa beach is one of my favorite beaches, and it is jut 15 minutes from my home. It is part of Brevard County and located on a barrier island nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Banana River. Cocoa beach is a popular vacation destination and thousands of people flock to it every year. The reason for this is that it is just an hour east of Orlando which makes it a convenient get away from the theme park attractions; it is 20 minutes away from Kennedy Space Center with its breathtaking shuttle launches, and a 10 minute drive to Port Canaveral where all the cruise ships leave from to their destinations. At Port Canaveral, you can also enjoy Vegas style casino cruises twice a day for a short sail into the Atlantic and the enjoyment of your favorite games and live entertainment. While at Cocoa beach, a visit to the famous Ron Jon Surf Shop is a must! (Photo credit: ed-and-rita.com.)

Daytona Beach
The famous Daytona Beach located in Volusia County is not just for spring breakers, but it is also a great vacation destination for families with lots of activities to enjoy. Here you and your family can enjoy days of surfing, jogging, walking, bicycling and plenty of volleyball. It is one of the few beaches where you can drive your car right on the beach. Daytona Beach is where car racing took place in the early 1900s and it is still going strong today. Another attraction that is quite big at Daytona Beach is Bike Week where thousands of bikers from all walks of life gather for a week of sun and fun.

Fernandina Beach
Fernandina Beach is located in Nassau County, Florida (not to be confused with Nassau County in New York City.) at the northern end of Amelia Island and it marks the beginning of Florida’s first coast. This part of Florida is designated as a historic district in the National Register of Historic Places. This is another beach that has become popular for families to enjoy some sun, fun and relaxation.

Flagler Beach
Flagler Beach is located in Volusia County and if you are looking to have a relaxed and peaceful beach vacation, then this beach is for you. Often called the land that time forgot, Flagler Beach dates back to the 1920′s and not too many restorations have been made since then. Yet, lots of people love this beach and consider it “the best kept secret” because of the lack of interest from the outside world.

Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale is located in Broward County and often called the “Venice of America” because it has it all. Here you will find approximately 300 miles of waterways that stretch south to Miami winding through gorgeous estates, citrus groves and the exotic everglades. Fort Lauderdale attracts sun seekers from all over the world and while some people think that this area is only for the rich and famous, there are places that offer a wide variety of accommodations for every budget. Here you can find a variety of small inexpensive family run inns and also the expensive deluxe resorts. (Photo credit: florida.com.)

Miami South Beach
Miami South Beach, also know as Miami Beach is in Dade County and it is called “America’s Riviera because of its magnificent art deco structures. Many years ago, more than 800 art deco structures were built on the southern tip of Miami Beach. Today, the area reflects bright neon lights, confetti like colors, and sleek aerodynamic lines making the Art Deco the center piece of the beach. Don’t worry about keeping the family busy as the beach is big enough for everyone and there are lots of activities such as volleyball, kite flying and plenty of sunshine for the family to enjoy.

Playalinda Beach
Playalinda Beach is in Brevard County and located within the Cape Canaveral National Seashore and one of the few beaches in Florida where nude sunbathing is still a practice. Some people visit Playalinda out of curiosity to see if what they’ve heard is correct. What I will tell is that Florida law does not allow nudity in public places. There is an ordinance for Brevard County against nudity on the books but I guess it is not enforced and nude sunbathing is still going on. My advice is that if nude sunbathing offends you, just don’t go there. (Photo credit: cfnews13.com.)

If you enjoy a vacation chuck full of history and beauty, consider Saint Augustine on your next Florida travel. It is Florida’s first coast, it has survived five centuries of history, and today Saint Augustine remains as a tribute to its past with its old world charm.  History tells us that Saint Augustine is known as the nation’s oldest city and was founded over forty years before the English colonized Jamestown, Virginia and over fifty years before the pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts. (Photo courtesy of flickr.)

Back in the 1950′s, a project was underway to preserve and restore Saint Augustine’s historical structures. Included in this project were a seventeenth century fortress, eighteenth century buildings, and huge architectural structures from the nineteenth century. These are buildings that date back to 1885 when Henry Flagler began building railroads and hotels in the area and they are still there as beautiful as ever.

Most people visit Saint Augustine for its history but once there, they realize that there is no other place like it in America. That is exactly what happened to me. While driving north several years ago, we decided to stop and spend a day in Saint Augustine. It was amazing! Literally all the buildings have that stucco Spanish style look that you see in Spain or Europe. We also found that Saint Augustine is a great vacation place for the whole family. Here are some of the attractions you can consider while visiting Saint Augustine. (Photo courtesy of myfloridatrips.com.)

Attractions for the whole family

• Bayfront Mini Golf – opened in 1949 and it is the oldest miniature golf course in Florida.
• Dolphin Watch and Harbor Tours of Saint Augustine – not only will you see dolphins in their wild habitat, but also beautiful scenery of the oldest city in America.
• Helicopter Tours of Saint Augustine – great views of Saint Augustine’s Lighthouse, the Bridge of Lions, Castillo de San Marcos and the entire city.
• Scenic Cruise of Saint Augustine – a relaxing one hour and fifteen minute cruise where you can see all the historical landmarks and natural sites of Saint Augustine.
• Ripley’s Believe It or Not – there are over 800 exhibits here for the whole family to enjoy.
• Fiesta Falls Mini Golf – fun for all ages at this landscaped course that also features 8 waterfalls, caves, and a 65 foot Spanish ship. You can also enjoy a great view of the ocean from a mountain top gazebo.

Museums

• Colonial Spanish Quarter Museum – go back in time to Saint Augustine in the 1740′s. A must see!
• Old Saint Augustine Village Museum – includes five houses with exhibits, historic furnishings, museum collections and lots of outdoor exhibits on a self-guided tour.
• Lightner Museum – this one is a must see! This is the former Hotel Alcazar built in 1887 and now the Lightner Museum. Enjoy three floors of exhibits that includes the stained glass work of Louis Comfort Tiffany, costumes, furnishings, musical instruments and other artifacts that gives you a glimpse into the 19th century life.
• The Oldest House – tour the oldest Spanish Colonial dwelling in Florida, the Gonzalez Alvarez house now a landmark museum. Here you will see evidence of British, Spanish and Americans and how they lived back in the 1600′s.
• Potter’s Wax Museum – enjoy past and present famous movie stars, poets, composers, explorers, artists, authors, and even presidents in the first was museum founded in America.

Not only can you visit the attractions and museums listed above, but Saint Augustine also offers great shopping especially if you like antiques. For sun and fun you can spend some time at one of the beautiful beaches either at Anastasia Island or the Atlantic Ocean. So on your next Florida travel vacation, keep Saint Augustine in mind and don’t forget to visit one of the fine restaurants scattered throughout the city. (Photo courtesy of flickr.)