Today is

By: Ikedi Ani-okoye.

The beach

Besides silky sand, turquoise water and near-constant sun, a perfect beach is where everything comes to you - where you don't have to work at keeping you, your partner and your kids entertained. Florida beaches consistently rank in the top 10 out of all the beaches in the United States. Just thinking about Florida, conjures up images of beautiful, pristine beaches, palm trees, and walking barefoot in the sand. With every beach in Florida serving up sun, sand and warm weather, how do you pick the perfect beach?

Clearwater Beach

Clearwater Beach is located in Pinellas County and it has miles of pure white sand and a gentle surf. This is a really popular beach that can get crowded during the summer and it has become a spring break mecca for college students.

Clearwater Beach has a fishing pier called Pier 60 which is great for fishing and in the evening it is taken over by craftsman and performers much like in Key West. There are many neat shops, cafes, bars, and restaraunts that line the strip that runs adjacent to the beach. You can stay in a hotel on the beach and never have to use a car because everything is within walking distance.

Time for the beaches

Time and location are important for the collector. While the warm days of summer find most beach lovers out, the best collecting is actually in the cooler months. One good way to find shells along beaches is to look for low stretches where the water can surge farther up on the sand. In these areas, small patches of beach can be covered with fragments and may also contain whole shells in excellent condition.

Phuket's beaches

Phuket's beaches are world-renowned and tourists flock from across the globe to visit the famous beaches at Patong, Karon, and Kata. So much so that many people complain these beaches have lost their charm. They say Phuket can no longer claim to be an idyllic tropical island getaway. The beaches are too crowded. Sun loungers line the entire length of the beaches, sometimes in rows three or four deep. Jet skis, banana boats and parasail boats plough through the water while vendors ply their wares up and down the beach. They say Phuket is finished as an island getaway destination and only caters to the party crowd.

CONCLUSION

For most people the image that springs to mind when you mention holidays abroad is a nice, hot, white sandy beach. The idea of relaxing on an idyllic beach is what most people consider to be their perfect holiday. However, before you go ahead and book your next summer beach holiday, there are various things that you should think about.