We’ve had the good fortune to have visited many of the world’s top beaches over the years, from Thailand to Vietnam, Australia, Brazil to Barcelona, the Caribbean, and both coasts of North America. For sheer beauty, Florida’s Emerald Coast ranks among the best of them.
It’s simply stunning, with fine crystal white sand that squeaks when you walk on it and ultra clear green water. No rocks, no seaweed. The water gently laps the shore at a perfect temperature. The beach is backed by dunes covered with green scrub bushes and grasses.
However, sadly, it seems to miss something...soul, I’d say. There are very few people on the beach and even those on it don’t seem to be having any fun. They glumly walk along heads down or sit in chairs. No laughter, no volleyball, playing children or dogs. Maybe it’s the time of year. This is the state park beach after all, so it’s just campers like us.
And like we’ve experienced at all Florida state parks, there are a litany of rules to ensure no one has fun. Signs admonishing “NO DOGS, NO GLASS, NO ALCOHOL...but enjoy yourselves!”. The sign at the children’s playground literally was 3 feet long with rules. “Don’t shove, don’t throw wood chips, don’t stand on the slide” etc etc, and there wasn’t even a slide!
The rules are only outnumbered by billboards for lawyers...which I’m assuming is in direct correlation. Again bemoaning our over-regulated society. But apparently, Galveston TX (aka Wild West) allows BOTH dogs and alcohol on the beach so we’re looking forward to that ;-) !!!
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