Florida Beach Blog

Pensacola —- The Pensacola Wine Festival, April 2-5, features wine tasting, of course, as well as wine classes, a mix-and-mingle with Jorge Ordonez and other celebrity chefs, a wine and tapas tasting, live music and more. 850-434-1234, www.pensacolawinefestival.com.

Jacksonville Beach —- The three-day Springing the Blues, April 3-5, offers free blues music from Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, the Legendary JC’s, Roger “Hurricane” Wilson and more. Art shows and movie also scheduled. 904-247-6100, springingtheblues.com.

Fort Lauderdale —- The FGRA Sunshine Stampede Rodeo, April 3-5, is one of the largest gay rodeos in the country, and this year features a rodeo school. 1-800-692-1644, www.fgra.org/stampede.

Daytona Beach —- The Daytona Beach International Festival, April 16-May 2, is a 17-day event featuring more than 150 musical artists in 30 venues. 1-866-849-0731, www.dbif.com.

Starke —- The 11th annual Bradford County Strawberry Festival, April 18-19, features shopping, games, rides and a “Legends” show with Elvis and Patsy Cline. 904-964-5278, www.mainstreetstarke.com.

Hollywood Beach —- The Red, White & Bluegrass music festival, May 16-18, features Ricky Skaggs as the headliner. Other performers include Laurie Lewis and the Right Hands and more. 954-921-3404, www.visithollywood.org/bluegrass.html

Florida’s Emerald Coast invites families to a value getaway this spring. The southern sea towns of Destin - Fort Walton Beach - Okaloosa Island present affordable accommodations and events, with many area attractions at little to no cost. From building sandcastles on the shores and watching dolphins at Florida’s Gulfarium to casting lines off the Okaloosa Pier and splashing around at Big Kahuna’s Water Park, the Emerald Coast, voted the “Best Beach Town in the South” for 14 consecutive years by the readers of Southern Living, remains one of the South’s best values .

Florida’s Emerald Coast promises plenty of wallet-friendly adventures for “kids” of all ages. The 24 miles of sugar-white sands and emerald-green waters offer families the perfect backdrop for lasting memories at local attractions under $20, including:

   Building Sandcastles in the Sand          FREE
   Air Force Armament Museum                 FREE
   Gator Beach Alligator Exhibit             FREE
   Destin History & Fishing Museum           Adults $5.00/Children $3.00
   Emerald Coast Science Center              Adults $5.00/Children $3.50
   Fishing Off the Okaloosa Pier             Adults $7.00/Children $4.00
   Florida's Gulfarium                       Adults $19.25/Children $11.50

The Emerald Coast encourages visitors to experience the culture of the coast with affordable, family-friendly events. From boats lighting up the waters and kites soaring overhead to pirates invading the beaches and springtime serenading, families indulge in simple seaside charm while giving purses a break.

April

– 13th Annual HarborWalk Marina Destin Cobia Tournament — 6th Annual Destin Commons Spring Boat Show

May

– Northwest Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra Spring Concert — 2009 Catalina 22 National Championships

June

– Billy Bowlegs Festival — “Wait Until Dark” Performance

Along with a wide range of attractions and events, Florida’s Emerald Coast offers year-round affordable accommodations options, from beachfront hotels and a bed and breakfast to condominiums and vacation homes.

A small sampling of high-value accommodations and rates good through June 21 includes:

SeaCrest Condominium from $85 per night Comfort Inn Destin from $99 per night, free continental breakfast Southern Resorts from $100 per night Four Points by Sheraton from $125 per night, children free with parent

Legislation that would guarantee public access to any Florida beach moved forward in the state House Tuesday.

The Florida constitution says the public owns all state shorelines seaward of the high water mark. But state Rep. Maria Sachs, a Delray Beach Democrat, said private landowners are increasingly trying to deny public access to beaches.

“Now, with more and more coastal development, we need the state of Florida to step up and say that Florida beaches belong to all Floridians,” Sachs told the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Policy Committee this morning.

The bill would make it a misdemeanor crime for a private landowner to block access to the beach or to display a sign that says the beach is off-limits to the public. The legislation would also put the burden of proof on a private landowner who sues someone for trespassing when they walk on or swim at a beach.

The bill passed overwhelmingly today in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. Rep. Jimmy Patronis, a Republican from Panama City, was one of two committee members to vote no. Patronis said he had concerns the bill might infringe on private property owners’ right to put up a fence between their land and the high water mark or a sign delineating their property.

“If a private entity wanted to block access to its private enterprise … they can certainly display a sign,” Sachs told Patronis. “He can’t put barricades out saying no one can traverse the beach.”

Donna Christie, a law professor at Florida State University, testified in favor of the bill. Christie said people who pay high prices for waterfront property think that expenditure entitles them to make the beach private.

“They seem to think they’re buying not only the private rights but the public rights too,” Christie said.

Sachs Bill, HB 527, still has three more committee stops before it can come to the House floor.