Things-that-are-awesome Thursday! Week 2

Welcome to Things-that-are-awesome Thursday!

This week's Thing-that-is-awesome is a location.  A beach, actually.

Now, I live in Florida. Dead smack in the middle of Florida, to be exact.  I'm surrounded on all sides but one by AMAZING beaches, as well as mediocre ones.  Needless to say, it was extremely difficult to pick just one for today's edition.

Ever dedicated to my readers, I sallied forth and weeded through the ones I had been to, compiling a short-list of ones I make an effort to go back to as often as possible.  There was one that truly stuck out, though.  I often dream about it, and find myself craving it's powdery white sand and warm, gentle waters.

Caspersen Beach is located in Venice, FL just south of the Venice Airport.  It is one of the single most awesome beaches in the entire state for shell collecting, and it is the beach best known for finding prehistoric shark's teeth with minimal effort, often finding more than one in a single afternoon.  The sand is powdery fine, and the water of the gulf is warm and gentle.

There are no lifeguards on duty and there is no concession stand or playground.  There is also no camping on site. It DOES have the following:   

177 acres of land
9,150 linear feet of gulf beach frontage
1,100 foot boardwalk
dune walkovers
fishing
nature trail (.34 mile trail)
parking
picnic area
rest rooms
swimming
undeveloped land

Some fun trivia about Caspersen Beach:

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  Originally deeded to Sarasota County by the Caspersen family in 1968 through a special warranty deed that stipulated the land would revert back to the family in 20 years.
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  In 1972, a bond referendum was held and passed for the purpose of acquiring Caspersen Beach and South Lido Park.
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  In 1986, the Board of County Commissioners included the Caspersen Mainland site (64 acres) in a $20 million bond referendum which the voters approved.
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  A friendly condemnation suit was filed by the Caspersen family requiring the county to prove in Federal Court the need for the land as a public park. The court ruled in the county's favor and established the value of the land.
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  A Land and Water Conservation Fund grant combined with proceeds from the bond referendum provided the funding to acquire the site at the price established by the court.
  
  
  
  You can see freshwater and saltwater marshes, mangrove areas, and tidal flats. Visitors can enjoy a 20 minute walk through Caspersen's nature trail which has been developed through a coastal hammock. The southern two thirds of beachfront has been left in its natural state. A dune restoration system with walkovers has been implemented to preserve the shoreline.
  
  
  Caspersen is TRULY one of Florida's treasures, and just another reason why I will live out the rest of my days in this beautiful state.  There's even been the occasional thought in the back of my brain that a small beachfront home might just be the perfect thing.
  
  
  Anyways, I'll leave you with one more photo, proof of just how awesome and fun this beach is.  If you're ever in Florida, you NEEED to make visiting it part of your itinerary.  You won't regret it!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

All photographs copyright Jacqueline Monck of MMC Designs.  Remember, Hotlinking makes Baby Jesus cry.  If you'd like to use an image, please contact Jacqueline at mmc.designsfarmsandkennels@gmail.com and ask nicely. Have a good day! :)