Pirates Plank

Archive for the ‘Nature’ Category

Miami, Florida has over 15 miles of great sandy beaches, which consistently receive praise in most national surveys and have been recognized as great recreation areas for, individuals, couples and families. Listed below are discriptions of only a few of the many beaches available to the public.

Miami’s South Beach is located on Ocean Drive and 5th Street from Collins Avenue and 21st Street. This is a great place to watch cruise ships sail out to sea. You can leave the room of one of the Miami luxury hotels , empty handed because everything you’ll need to enjoy your time at the beach will be available to rent or purchase at most of the beaches. South beach is great for the entire family because there is are lifeguards and beach Patrols; volleyball courts are available, and you can rent beach chairs, umbrellas and all kinds of water sports equipment. Don’t worry about food, there’s plenty of concession stands offering a wide variety of drinks and food. At Miami Beach South Pointe Park, located on Ocean Drive at 5th Street; the southern tip of South Beach is Miami Beach Art Deco District is at its best. It’s a wonderful beach to bring a picnic, fish and hike along walking trails. Rentals are available for beach chairs and umbrellas, there’s restrooms and showers to wash off the sand.

North Shore Open Space Park , located at Collins Avenue from 78th Street to 87th Terrace, is a great beach for individuals or for couples; it’s uncrowded, shady and green with walking trails on the sand. There are barbecue grills, picnic tables and lifeguards. Further down Collins Avenue, at 157th Street to 193rd Street is the Sunny Isles Beach, which this 2-mile beach has been newly re-nourished. There’s a fishing pier at south end and that’s where concessions are located. Lifeguards are stationed down the wide, white sandy beach, along with volleyball courts, picnic tables, shelters, beach chairs, umbrellas and water sports rentals and restrooms with showers.

North of Rickenbacker Causeway at Crandon Blvd. is Key Biscayne – Virginia Key Beach North , is a great place to windsurf and for ultra light seaplanes, both water sports equipment can be rented. You’ll have a great view of Brickell Avenue and of the downtown Miami skyline. There are lifeguards, picnic tables, barbecue grills, restrooms and showers. Don’t worry about food and drink, because there’s plenty of concession stands. At Virginia Key Beach South, east of Biscayne Bay, this beach offers an ultra secluded beach with shady areas, nature trails and a bird sanctuary nearby; this is the only beach in Miami-Dade County where dogs on leashes are allowed.

Carey had recently acquired a new hobby, which was bird watching. He was definitely not expect it to become an almost obsession though it quickly and definitely did. The manner in which it became his hobby was almost by accident. His good friend Carl, who also happened to plan his recent bachelor party, was an avid bird watcher and had been for years. Because he was actively involved in Carey’s life during the planning of his upcoming Singapore wedding Carey began hearing frequent and unrequited stories about the fascinating world of bird watching.

It turned out that quite by accident he had gained quite a bit of information about bird species and habits. He also learned about the types of birds that he could expect to find in Singapore where he and his soon to be wife Lila decided to have the ceremony. They had visited the city a year before and loved it so much that they decided to have their wedding in the Pasir Ris Park.

While they were at the park on the day before the wedding to make their final arrangements and just orient themselves to were the service would be and become familiar with all of the surroundings, Carey couldn’t help but to notice the three story high bird watching tower. He was struck by the discovery and made a mental note to tell Carl about it. However, later that afternoon Carey realized he had an incredible need to be alone. Completely and uncompromisingly alone and almost without thinking he found himself drawn to the park and that bird watching tower. He immediately thought he recognized a Chinese Egret, which if he remembered correctly should be a rather rare occurrence. Carey stayed and watched birds for a couple of hours without realizing how the time had flown. He was amazed at how claming it was and how peaceful he felt when he was finished. That was all it took for him to become an avid bird watcher.