Teresa wrote:Where is the nearest good beach? Natural as first choice, not crowded as second.
I know, Lake City isn't exactly Destin, but I'd like to spend a day at the beach. (Not the swamps of the armpit of Florida, either.
Thanks.
I'm not sure about the nearest beach to Lake City. I know there are some beaches near Jacksonville, but I have personally never been there and I think it would take you just as long to drive through Jacksonvillle to get to a beach as it would to go a little south to St Augustine. The St Augustine area has some great beaches, plus some very cool history - it's the oldest european settled community in the US. There are a couple of forts you can visit. my favorite is Fort Matanzas. It's this little fort and a national park. free boat ride out to the fort. Both this fort and the main fort in St Augustine are made of coquina - a soft sedimentary rock composed entirely of cemented shells. There are beaches all along this coast. If you want one a little more natural - I like the one near fort Matanzas. It's got natural outcrops of coquina and the beach is made up of the broken cochina rock. Most beaches in Florida get replenished. But they are still nice areas.
I've also heard good things about Fort Clinch state park. This is a little north of Jacksonville. I've been told it's a great place to take kids as the swiming areas are not so rough and during low tide there are some great tidal pools. I have yet to visit this place myself.