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Florida Has One Of The Best Off-Season Beach Towns In America

Author Jeff Gorra

After Labor Day, many popular beach towns slow down as we head into fall. Daily Passport recently named the best off-season beach towns, and a Florida area was among them. Daily Passport notes, “The long, warm summer days may be gone, but the good news is so are the crowds from America’s most popular coastal towns.”

The best off-season beach towns named here are all across the country. From Nantucket to California and up the coast of Oregon, these areas all see significant local traffic throughout the year.

In Florida, this best off-season beach town is also famously known for being the setting of Jim Carey’s 1998 film, The Truman Show.

We Are Headed Up The Coast To Seaside

Filled with colorful houses and charm, Seaside provides a true artistic touch along the Gulf of Mexico. “Seaside is a planned community that prioritizes pedestrian travel and a neighborly feeling, thanks to narrower streets, front porches, and spaces to gather,” Daily Passport explains.

The town as we know it was founded in 1981. The plaza area is filled with artisan shops. Biking throughout the unique narrow streets is encouraged. For relaxing on the beach, SeasideFL explains there are “nine streets that provide access to the powdery white sand and the inviting waters of the Gulf of Mexico.”

SeasideFL also details a fascinating timeline of how this beach town came to be. In short, Robert Davis inherited a family cottage in 1978. He had a vision of turning the local area into a special coastline community. Now, Seaside consists of 300 homes with shops, a chapel, restaurants, and galleries.

They Have A Music Festival Benefiting Cultural Arts

Daily Passport highlights the 30A Songwriters Festival that takes place in January. The next one takes place on January 12-15, 2024 and features Jeff Tweedy, Elvis Costello, and Rosanne Cash. In total, over 175 artists participate over the four-day experience that celebrates the art of songwriting.

Florida Has 2 Of The Most Beautiful Bridges In The Country

According to Infrastructure Report Card, there are 617,000 bridges in the United States. Outlets such as Attractions of America and Mr. Hudson have each come up with lists of the most beautiful bridges. Two of them call Florida home.

A bridge can be a historical landmark in addition to a pathway that connects communities. Certain bridges, like the Golden Gate in San Francisco, draw thousands of tourists each year. People plan trips around visiting this site and taking in its incredible views. Unsurprisingly, the Golden Gate Bridge is either #1 or #2 on each of the aforementioned lists.

The bridge that it shares the top spot with is famous for its ability to walk or bike over. The Brooklyn Bridge connects Brooklyn Heights to Manhattan via six lanes. Many charity-driven bike rides also cross here as it offers unique perspectives into New York City without any tollways.

Florida Bridges

In Florida, American Road and Transportation lists over 12,000 bridges in the Sunshine State (though not all of them are in functional condition). There are two however, that stand above the rest. One is architecturally astounding. The other feels like a gateway into a mysterious paradise.

“American bridges are often designed with looks to match their engineering ingenuity,” Mr. Hudson explains.

What’s fascinating about bridges in America, is they are constructed of different materials and serve different purposes. For example, the final and tenth selection in Attractions of America’s feature is the Benson Bridge, Multnomah Falls, in Oregon. This is a foot traffic bridge that is only 45 feet long. It allows visitors to walk 105 feet above the Lower Multnomah Falls cascade

Let’s take a look at the two most beautiful bridges in Florida.

 

  • Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Tampa

    Connecting St. Petersburg to Terra Ceia, this bridge is 4.1 miles long. This stunning bridge over Tampa Bay is often lit up with colors that highlight the skyline. Furthermore, since 2018, there has been a Skyway 10K race that closes the bridge each year.

    Sunshine Skyway Bridge crossing Tampa Bay in Florida with a beach in the foreground.

    Getty Images

  • Seven Mile Bridge, Florida Keys

    This two-lane bridge is technically part of Route 1. It’s a magical gateway into the Florida Keys. Mr. Hudson points out, “the Seven Mile Bridge usually has space for sightseers to park up and admire the Florida Keys.” In 1982, a heavy renovation made the lanes wider, allowing for a safer and more comfortable drive. The last annual seven-mile bridge run took place this past April.

    Overseas Highway Seven Mile Bridge Traffic at Sunrise, Florida Keys

Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.

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