Floridas Emerald Coast --
nestled between the sand dunes of Destin and Fort Walton Beach along Floridas upper
Gulf Coast and voted Best Beach in the South by Southern Living readers for
the fifth year in a row and No. 1 Beach in the USA by USA Today -- offers safe
summer guidelines for families and mother sea turtles.
Each May through October, 300-pound sea turtles crawl from the
moonlit Gulf waters to lay eggs on the protected shores of the Emerald Coast. These
endangered animals deposit up to 100 leathery eggs in the oat covered dunes, which by
early Fall may transform into fragile newborns scurrying toward the sea for survival.
To protect the lives of these federally endangered species, the
Emerald Coast offers some useful tips:
1) Walk along the shore to avoid stepping on nests camouflaged by
dunes.
2) Never scare or disturb a turtle that is crawling to or from
the water.
3) Avoid shining lights or taking pictures, this may scare or
distract mother turtles or hatchlings.
Along with the
environmental protection of sea turtles, the Emerald Coast offers safety tips for
vacationers indulging in the 24 miles of sugary-white sands and sun-specked emerald green
waters. A Beach Flag System -- both on the beaches and on cards in each of the 18,000
rooms located throughout the Emerald Coast -- reminds visitors of water safety featuring
three different colors representing three types of swimming conditions. Each day, in
designated areas, beach guards fly one of three colored flags that represent current
swimming conditions.
1) A Blue flag indicates favorable waters but swimmers should
exercise caution.
2) A Yellow flag signifies swimmers should use extreme caution.
3) A Red flag means NO SWIMMING or WADING.
With an easy paced atmosphere, Santa Rosa Island presents simple
pleasures -- the Worlds Luckiest Fishing Village, 1,080 holes of golf,
undeniably fresh seafood and some of the worlds finest underwater shelling.
Destin, Florida
- With its brilliant white quartz sand and
warm gulf waves, Destin and Fort Walton Beach lures visitors with plenty of recreational
opportunities, fresh seafood dining, and reasonably priced lodging. Part of northwest
Florida's less crowded Emerald Coast, it is conveniently located between Pensacola and
Panama City.