Destin Florida Nature and Wildlife

Florida’s Emerald Coast -- nestled between the sand dunes of Destin and Fort Walton Beach along Florida’s 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 “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village,” 1,080 holes of golf, undeniably fresh seafood and some of the world’s 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.

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