The Beach

The Beach

Living on the beach, I have watched the man-made sand replenishment efforts intended to widen the beaches, and also the natural erosion of that same sand drift back into the ocean. From a protection point-of-view, wide sandy beaches and dunes are a deterrent against violent storms and keep the water at bay. From a practical point-of-view, wide sandy beaches draw tourists who pay for hotel rooms and flock to our local restaurants. They spend hundreds of thousands of dollars collectively in our state and their presence may be a nuisance to the locals, but there is no denying the resulting economic impact.

According to www.islands.com here are some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. If you are a beach lover, maybe a visit to some of these should be on your personal bucket lists.

Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Here the people-watching may be more riveting than the scenery.

Santa Monica Beach. Most recognizable is the historic carousel and solar-powered Ferris wheel. The hotel, Shutters on the Beach is in the heart of the action. The beach spans 3.5 miles and is a haven for sports enthusiasts, rollerblades, skateboards, and cyclists who populate the area.

South Beach, Miami, Florida. Glamorous hotels, clubs and restaurants converge in South Beach. Nicknamed the American Riviera; it is famous for its beautiful models and its two miles of white sand.

Renaissance Island, Aruba. The renaissance Aruba Resort and Casino’s man-made private island is the only place in Aruba where you can take a selfie with flamingos. The island is open only to resort guest. (and some day passes)

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii. A luscious beach with a spectacular view of the famous Diamond Head crater.

Trunk Bay, St. John, U.S. virgin Island. Donated to the U.S. National Park Service by Laurence Rockefeller in 1956 remains, it remains free of any hotels. However, visitors to the US Virgin Island do share the pristine beach with cruise passengers and schools of tropical fish, viewed along a 225-yard underwater snorkeling trail.

If your time and budget don’t allow you to visit all the above beaches, may I suggest you come to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida instead. The original Elbo Room Bar, made famous by Connie Frances in the movie “Where the Boys Are” is still alive and booming. It’s a dive that serves beer just yards from the beach. For 75 years, the Elbo Room has been a mainstay in Ft. Lauderdale. It is old and run down, but historic and fun…the beer is cold and the place is not to be missed. *Unfortunately, since this blog was written, covid-19 has changed everything. The Elbo Room is no longer drawing huge crowds and it’s not the famous beach-watering-hole of old. Hopefully, it will return to its former glory days after we have an effective vaccine.

Until my next inspiration…ciao.

Reading on the Beach

Beach Rose Wine

Elbo Room Bar


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