Surfing & Kayaking
Surfing
When surfers talk about Florida's place among the world's' best breaks, two words come to mind: "The Inlet."
Located south of Cocoa Beach, the East Coast's own "Surf City." There is a definitive pecking order on the north side of the jetty at a place called "First Peak." That's where you will find the best and most competitive surfers and a descending hierarchy on the two breaks just to the north, "Second Peak" and "Third Peak."
Florida, like most of the best surf spots around the world, names its surf breaks after nearby landmarks or some unique or oceanographic feature.
Heading north, you'll find another great local break for surfing in Florida, "Spanish House." But as the case with Sebastian Inlet or "Chernobles" (sometimes referred to as "Third Peak"), be aware that you'll have plenty of company even on days when the surf is just fair.
Beaches south of Florida Bay tend to have larger and better surf than those north of the bay.
To be rideable with a surfboard, you'll need waves at least 2 or 3 feet high. A typical cold front swell will top out at 3 to 5 feet, with particularly strong fronts bringing 5 to 8 feet once or twice a season. Hurricane swells are generally more powerful ground swells in the 5 to 8 foot category, and can last from two to five days.
The most consistent waves for surfing occur in the colder months--December through March--so you'll need a wetsuit. Water temperatures in January in the Florida panhandle dip into the low to mid 50's. Combined with a 50 degree air temperature, water that cold calls for a wet suit. Further south, the air and water temperatures are 8 to 10 degrees warmer, but still quite chilly. By April and May water temperatures are back up to comfortable levels.
Hurricanes and tropical storms also create some very good surf on the Gulf coast, but they too are unpredictable. The panhandle region of the Gulf coast gets the most surf on a regular basis, relative to the peninsula. Pensacola Beach has a thriving surfing community.
Kayaking
Warm sunshine and calm winds make the perfect conditions to explore the variety of kayaking alternatives in the St. Pete/Clearwater area.
The Pinellas County Blueways paddling trails stretch the length of St. Pete/Clearwater, from Anclote Key Preserve State Park in the north to Fort De Soto Park in the south. The scenic waterways snake around Gulf Coast barrier islands along the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail, continue inland to Lake Tarpon and wind into Florida Bay.
Whether you want to discover the mangrove trails of Caladesi Island, cruise the coastline along the beaches, lose yourself for the day in the intracoastal waterways, or cast a line a little bit closer to the fish, kayaking is a great way to soak up some fresh air and experience firsthand the natural beauty of the area.
