Ocala Area – Beautiful Beaches Just a Short Drive Away
It’s summer time and what could be more “summer” than the beach? Being centrally located between the east and west coast of Florida, residents of On Top of the World can escape to some of the world’s most famous and beautiful beaches in as little as 90 minutes to the Atlantic and 40 minutes to the Gulf of Mexico.
In Florida, there is a wealth of choices when it comes to beaches, from quiet secluded beaches and beautiful state parks to beach towns packed with attractions and activity as well as rich history. The oldest city in the nation, St. Augustine, retains the history and charm of the old Spanish quarters built for the early settlement and the fort which provided safety for the town. Definitely worth seeing! The powdery white sand and blue waters of the gulf beaches in the panhandle will transport you to a new state of consciousness. Pensacola, Panama City, Mexico Beach and Destin are all popular destinations. Along the west coast are equally enticing beaches: Siesta Key, recently voted a top beach by the Travel Channel, as well as Captiva and Sanibel Island, all offering a serene experience. The waters of the Atlantic provide surfers with that perfect wave. From Jacksonville all the way to vivacious Miami, with the Space Coast in between, there is every kind of beach opportunity for your exploration.
There are many things to do at the beach, whether you’re looking for exhilaration or relaxation:
- Boating and parasailing
- Deep sea fishing or surf fishing
- Swimming and sunning
- Snorkeling and scuba diving
- Surfing and boogie boarding
- Flying a kite or reading
- Volleyball and Frisbee throwing
- Running or walking along the shoreline
- Collecting sea shells and building sand castles with the grandkids
- And much more
A couple of famous Florida beach routes include US Highway 1 and US Highway 98. US 1 runs north and south along the entire east side of Florida between I-95 and the coast until it reaches Key Largo; then it is the sole road leading to the southern most tip of the United States: Key West. US 98 follows the panhandle coastline from Medart to Pensacola, a beautiful stretch of highway. Along each route you will encounter many beach towns, some quaint with nostalgic low-rise motels and local diners and others more modern with high-rise hotels and an abundance of city life.
One of the unique aspects of Florida is that one can watch an ocean sunrise in the morning on the Atlantic and then, in the same day, drive to the west coast and watch a beach sunset as well. And no one does sunset better than Key West with their Sunset Celebration every night on the dock at Mallory SquareSM! Although closer to Ocala you will find Clearwater’s Pier 60 sunset event very enjoyable.
Because Florida enjoys sunny weather year-round, beach visits are not just limited to the summer. As a resident of On Top of the World, you can partake of this wonderful lifestyle almost any day of the year.
