A Guide to the Colors and Textures of Florida's Beach Sands

A beach is a beach, right? Not in Florida. The Sunshine State has beach variety a-plenty. Depending on where you go, the beach sands will look dark, white or even orange! Here's your guide to Florida beach sands.

By David McRee

Sand is something I ordinarily try not to get on my feet, but the best way to walk on the beach is barefoot. The soft sand feels great, and there's nothing like kicking off my shoes to sink my toes into powdery-white, squeaky-clean beach sand. It's rejuvenating.

I grew up playing on the beaches of Anna Maria Island, where the sand was always brilliant white and soft. When I started exploring other beaches, I was surprised to find that there are many different types of beach sand in Florida-- and not all of them are white.

There have been many &#;contests&#; over the years to determine which beach has the whitest sand. White sand is wonderful, but I have no trouble appreciating beach sand of all kinds. I'm going to take you to some of my favorite beaches to have a look at the different types of beach sand that you may enjoy getting between your toes.

Chunlei supply professional and honest service.

Where Did Florida Beach Sand Come From?

Much of the sand on Florida beaches is made up of quartz crystals, produced by the weathering of continental land masses like the Appalachian mountains. The quartz is washed down America's great rivers into the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico where it's carried onto the beaches by water currents and waves.

Combined with the sparkling quartz crystals may be shell fragments, coral limestone fossils and organic matter, which lend different colors to the sand. Beach sand along the southeast Florida coast and the Keys is often composed more of coral and mollusk shell fragments than of quartz crystals.

There's no need to hop south of the border for powdery white sands or exceptional scuba diving. The town of Mexico Beach, Florida is a hidden gem on the Gulf of Mexico, with small-town charm and untouched sands. But it's not likely to stay hidden for much longer. According to Airbnb data collected in Q1 , Mexico Beach has become one of the top-searched domestic travel destinations for summer among U.S. travelers.

Mexico Beach will appeal to fans of sleepy, small towns. Located about a 45-minute drive east of Panama City, the town has a population of just about 1,060 people, according to the census. On the streets, you'll find mom-and-pop shops instead of the chain stores that line Florida's bigger cities. And as you're driving around, you'll notice there isn't a single traffic light around. So nothing will hold you back from the beach.

Courtesy of Mexico Beach Community Development Council

And you'll probably want to get to the beach as quickly as possible. The sand at Mexico Beach is a geological rarity, made from only one type of quartz crystal. It's a point of local pride that the sands are powdery soft and remain cool, even in the hottest summer months.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit quartz sand beneficiation equipment.

But if you overheat on the sands, be sure to head into the water to cool off. The Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association has been building and maintaining artificial reef systems in the area since . If you choose to go scuba diving or snorkeling around Mexico Beach's reefs, you're likely to spot colorful fish like snapper and mackerel, along with turtles, jellyfish, and starfish.

Courtesy of Mexico Beach Community Development Council

When you get hungry, be sure to indulge in the area's phenomenal seafood. (Naturally, the town's culinary specialty.) Two of the most popular local joints are Killer Seafood and Mango Marley's, where you'll want to try out the fish tacos.

Mexico Beach is a beloved destination no matter the time of year, but one of its most popular nights is New Year's Eve. The town sits directly on the divide between Eastern and Central time zones. So each year, the town hosts a "New Year's Eve Celebrate Twice" event in partnership with the neighboring Port St. Joe. Celebrations kick off in Port St. Joe, and then, after midnight, attendees board a free shuttle back to Mexico Beach and ring in the new year twice.

Cailey Rizzo is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure, currently based in Brooklyn. You can find her on Twitter, Instagram, or at caileyrizzo.com.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website hammer mill crusher.