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Friday, March 29, 2024

I may not be a talented surfer, but I have certainly enjoyed watching those that are. Florida is much like a paradise with beautiful beaches and tropical weather all year long. The best way to enjoy the sunshine state is to embrace the outdoors and everything it can offer.

Not all beaches are made equal, the surf and the skill level required is different at every beach. With that, here are a few of the best beaches on both coasts of Florida.

Gulf coast beaches can have temperamental waves. The weather is a huge factor in the gulf. Hurricane season and just after cold fronts rush in make for some fantastic surf. This is when most surfers will be seen ripping it up out on the waves. The best Gulf coast surfing spots are found at Naples Beach and Pensacola beach. Both of these are big summer vacation spots so beware of crowds and time your visits correctly.

In Jupiter, Fla., is Juno Beach with a great crowd and a pier that fishermen flock to. Around Juno Pier you can find some great waves, but be careful because this beach gets some radical surf and can sometimes be dangerous during storms, so don’t take it for granted and be more than a novice when you take them on.

Ever heard of Ron Jon’s Surf Shop? It is fair to say that this is one of the most popular and well known surf shops in the world. It stems from Cocoa Beach, home to many current and past professional surfers. Along the pier on the beach you can find some great piña coladas and seafood. If you are a competitive surfer, Cocoa Beach is home to a few surfing competitions so get ready to take on some talented local surfers at the NKF Pro Am surf festival during Labor Day weekend and the Easter surf completion.

One the greatest winter vacation spots in Florida can be the beach town of South Ponte Vedra Beach. My family has vacationed here multiple times and I have been witness to the beautiful waves that are a result of the windy northern Florida Winters. Winter creates some of the most consistent surf on the beaches throughout the state so prepare yourself for some long surfing days. If you are in the Ponte Vedra area shoot down to St. Augustine which is about 30 minutes away and St. Augustine beach can provide a second surf spot in the area.

New Smyrna Beach is also a great northern Florida surf spot. This can be considered one of the most consistent surf spots in Florida. Ponce de Leon inlet and the abundant sandbars create an epic surfing environment and great swells. The sand bars also spread out the crowds in the water so this popular beach can be populated by surfers and beach goers alike.

Surfing lessons are on my 2013 bucket list. If you are like me and have a passion for surfing but just cant do it, get out there and try something new that is fun and a great workout at the same time. Get a lesson and check out some of these great surf spots.

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