FLORIDA

For the majority of Florida’s 105 million annual visitors, the typical travel poster images of Florida – sun, sea, sand, and Mickey Mouse – are reason enough to jump on the next plane. The Sunshine State deserves its reputation as the perfect family vacation spot, but Florida is much richer in its culture, landscape, and character than its stereotypical image suggests.

Spring Training in south and central Florida. Let's play ball!

• State Capital - Tallahassee 
• Largest City - Jacksonville
• State Nickname - The Sunshine State
• Florida is the fourth most populous state in the USA, after California, New York and Texas.
• Origin of the Name Florida - Florida was first seen by the Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon on Palm Sunday on April 2, 1513 - he then named the "Pascua de Florida," meaning "Feast of Flowers" and claimed it for Spain.
  
• Major Industries - tourism, agriculture (oranges, grapefruit, tomatoes), electronics 

 

Peaceful picturesque beaches line Florida's coast 

Postcard of one of many Florida beaches. The best beaches are along the Atlantic, where the water, as blue and pure as on the front, travels as far as the eye can see, kissing the sky where the horizon lies. The white, hot crispy sand squishes beneath your feet and between your toes as the sun warry your cheeks and salty ocean breeze tickles your face.

FISH HOEK

 One of the many popular seaside resorts along the peninsula with a fine safe bathing beach. Especially frequented by old and young windsurfers and catamaran sailors. On the other side of the beach is a popular Hobie Cat launching spot where regular regattas offer a colourful spectacle for visitors. A stipulation laid down in 1818 by Lord Charles Somerset (who also declared free fishing rights for all) in the original grant of the land that no public house be kept on the farm has been strictly adhered to. The sale of liquor is prohibited in Fish Hoek. The only teetotal town in the country. 

Peer's Cave. A rock shelter named after the man who discovered the so-called Fishhoek Man, estimated to be about 15 000 years old. 

A lovely spot for bathing. Cape Peninsula, South Africa.

MAGIC SAND BEACH

 It is one of the few white sand beaches on Hawaii. This beach near Kona Town is named Magic Sands because the entire beach will regularly disappear and then return with the natural action of the ocean. Magic Sands is one of the nicer Kona Beaches, suitable for swimming, surfing, boogie boarding, even snorkeling and scuba diving.

The swimming conditions at Magic Sands are generally quite good, particularly when the sand is covering the beach. Even during the winter months when the shoreline has more rocks exposed, there is a sandy bottom in the water. A nice shore break creates some great waves when the surf is up, making La’aloa Bay another popular spot for boogie boarding and surfing. Crowds of people will often gather to relax on the beach and watch the waves roll in. This beach is very popular and gets pretty busy. In addition to water activities, there is a volleyball net and lots of room to  plant your own beach chair and umbrella.

Magic Sands Beach at La’aloa Bay south of Kona is home to a beautiful beach cove, known also as Disappearing Sands Beach, or White Sands Beach.

HUNTINGTON BEACH

The City of Huntington Beach is located along the Southern California coast in Orange County, 35 miles south of Los Angeles and 90 miles north of San Diego. It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the west, and has been long known for its long 8.5 miles of beautiful beach, mild climate, and excellent surfing, earning it the nickname of Surf City.  Surf, sand, sun and subtle sophistication encapsulate what the City of Huntington Beach is all about. Named for railroad magnate Henry Huntington who orchestrated its development, the city is now an epicenter of activity and entertainment with wide, sandy beaches.

Huntington Beach offers residents a charming community with ideal weather, a diversified economy overflowing with good jobs, a wide variety of housing, an excellent educational system, boat marinas, numerous parks, and exemplary health care. Boasting some of California’s widest, cleanest, and safest beaches, the unofficial dress code has become a mix of wetsuits, bikinis and sandals accessorized by volleyballs, surf boards and beach towels.  

Read more at: City of Huntington Beach

CAPE BEACHES

The choice of beaches in the Cape Peninsula is vast (more than 100 to choose from) but to make it easier each beach is unique, offering something to suit every beachgoer. There are family beaches, beaches for suntanning, snorkelling, boardsailing, surfing, fishing and for swimming! There is also an unofficial beach for nudists at Sandy Bay.

• Hout Bay >> http://theworldofpostcards.blogspot.com/2014/10/HOUTBAY.html

• Muizenberg  >>  http://theworldofpostcards.blogspot.com/2014/11/MUIZENBERG.html

• Bloubergstrand >> http://theworldofpostcards.blogspot.com/2014/11/BLOUBERGSTRAND.html

Cape Town's Beaches.  The fun of surf, sand and sun together with magnificent scenery on a picturesque shoreline

• Sandy Bay - Well-known unofficial nudist beach. The beach is backed by steep sand dunes and bushy mountain slopes. Poorly protected from the south-easter wind, Sandy Bay has no access roads, shops or facilities.

• St. James - Named after the first church built here, in 1874, this is a charming village, with beautiful holiday houses, residences and a small, sheltered beach and a large tidal pool ideal for toddlers. Characterised by its parade of brightly coloured bathing boxes. There is a cafe on the main road.

• Clifton - Four sheltered beaches seperated by enormous granite boulders. Cold for swimming, but noted for bikini-clad sun-bathers. Many houses are built on stilts or on overhanging cliffs. The area between the sea and Victoria Road is a scenic and botanic reserve. Cape Town's most glamorous beach packed in season with consequent parking problems.

Received from Lynne, Cape Town

BLOUBERGSTRAND

Holiday resort with a spectacular view of Table Mountain and Cape Town. Wild flowers abound in spring. A clear day affords a view of Robben Island. 'Ons Huisie', a restored fisherman's cottage, and a national monument, now a restaurant. Safe swimming opposite lifesaver's club where a lifesaver is on duty. Fishing is good, as is surfing and swimming, despite the cold surf. A small beach (Little Bay) for swimming, sunbathers and families; a large one (Big Bay)for angling, surfing and paddle-skiing competitions. Braaing permitted on grassy verge behind car park. International windsurfing competitions are held here annually.

The beach from across the waters of Table Bay - with magnificent panoramic vistas of Devil's Peak, Table Mountain and conical Lion's Head

Received from Lynne, Cape Town

MUIZENBERG

At the north-west end of False Bay, cradled between the sea and high mountains, this famous seaside resort boasts a magnificent 35-km stretch of beach and a relatively warm surf. This sea is shallow, and bathing safe. The beach is distinctive with its rows of Victorian bathing boxes. Popular amongst families and young surfers, the pavilion at the beach also offers great fun and entertainment.

Cape Peninsula. A scene of the pavilion at this popular holiday resort.

Places of interest include:

1. De Post Huys. The original garrison building, one of the oldest surviving structures from settlement days. Built as a lookout post and signal station in 1673.
2. Rhodes Cottage. The cottage in which Cecil Rhodes died in 1902, maintained as a memorial museum. Contains many of his possessions and photographs.
3. The Natale Labia Museum contains fine furniture and works of art. 

Received from Lynne, Cape Town

NOVA SCOTIA

Nova Scotia is Canada's Ocean Playground, known for its splendid coastal scenery, fascinating marine history, colourful marine culture and warm, hospitable people.
Along its 4,625-mile-long coastline is  almost every conceivable geographical marine feature - beaches, lagoons, salt marshes, harbours, inlets, coves, estuaries, bays, basins, channels, straits, passages, capes, points, heads, sandbars, mud flats, and sand-dunes.

Lobster traps and fishing boats - a familiar sight at Peggy's Cove.

There's deep-sea fishing, coastal canoeing, clam digging, rockhounding, bird watching, boat tours, dory races, wind surfing, swimming, camping, hiking, and sightseeing on highways that travel along some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.

Known as the Festival Province of Canada, Nova Scotia annually hosts some 350 summertime community festivals, fairs, gatherings and special events.

Travel to Nova Scotia
Government of Nova Scotia

HOUT BAY

An unspoilt, picturesque village, with a large fishing harbour. The centre of the snoek industry, and headquarters of the crayfishing fleet. The beach is noted for 'trek' (drag-net) fishing. Wood was one obtained here for many of the buildings in Cape Town. Beach is attractive, but cold for swimming.

SPRING FLOWERS ALONG CHAPMANS PEAK

DRIVE - HOUT BAY IN THE BACKGROUND

FISHING BOATS IN HOUT BAY HARBOUR

HOUT BAY FROM FLORA BAY

• Hout Bay Museum Depicts the story of the bay and its environs, as well as the development of the fishing industry.
• Hout Bay Harbour A unique seafood 'emporium', encompassing a fresh fish and Cape rock lobster market.
• Chapman's Peak One of the world's most spectacular scenic drives, the road is an engineering feat. Cut into the cliffs around the peak, the 10 km drive begins at Hout Bay, and traverses Chapman's Peak Mountain, its cliffs falling sheer to the sea.

DURBAN

The slogan 'Durban - Where the Fun Never Sets' is particularly apt when applied to the Golden Mile. Sumptuous  hotels command superlative views of the sea; restaurants represent every facet of the city's cosmopolitan nature; discos, night clubs and coffee bars scintillate until late. Durban offers a subtropical carnival atmosphere, endless summer, an effervescent ocean lined with golden beaches, and thousands of pleasure options.

The "Golden Mile" begins to glitter as night approaches and the many entertainment venues come alive.

The city is an intriguing blend of East, West and Africa.
On the palm-fringed beachfront where the chic rich stroll, Zulu women sell baubles and baskets, and colourful ricksha pullers pose for photographers. And within a stone's throw of the office blocks, the theatres and shops of the business centre, you will discover a world of mosques, temples, oriental festivals and bazaars, fragrant with spice and incense. The cosmopolitan vibe is further enhanced by a constant floating tourist population. It's a centre of commerce and industry. It runs the busiest harbour in Africa. 

Dolphin and trainer often play together.

Durban's got the lot. From world championship surfing, a military tattoo and the country's most glamorous horse race to Indian temples, street entertainers, nature trails and the fastest growing time-share developments in the country.

Received from Lynne, Cape Town