Florida Beaches allowing Adult Beverages from Sarasota to Naples
Updated: Jul 29, 2022
and 5 Tips to create a resort Vibe at a public Florida beach
With a little bit of planning and preparation you can create a Florida beach day that comes close to the blissful relaxation of a Caribbean beach resort. There are obviously big discrepancies between public beaches and an all inclusive or boutique tropical paradise. But vacationing in Florida brings many advantages over leaving the country for a week at the beach. Check out our five suggestions below to bring a resort feel to your next day at the beach. Number 3 breaks down which beaches allow adult beverages on SW Florida Beaches.
1) Shade
Summer temperatures are now reaching mid 90s on most days and higher on some, making shade is the best way to create a resort level vibe on SW Florida Beaches.
Beaches between Tampa and Naples lack clusters of palm trees and mostly no trees at all for shade. Most Caribbean resorts offer shade umbrellas or sun shade devices for at least half of their lounge chairs to give a bit of relief from direct sun.
Portable shade devices come in all shapes and sizes and often the limiting factor is ease of transportation, time to set up and wind resistance. We prefer an instant pop up screen tent intended for camping. You have netting on all sides to prevent insects from bothering your relaxation, yet the front netting can be rolled up giving you an unobstructed view. We place a cooler on the attached tarp in the rear of the tent and two loaded beach bags in the front corners to keep our tent anchored. These instant up tents collapse into a small stuff sack or bag for backpackers which makes this an easy item to carry onto the beach. We have found that these tents can be set up by one person, versus an easy up canopy style tent which requires two to four guide lines and stakes. Many outdoor companies make beach versions without netting in tropical colors if you prefer a more beachy vibe. Just make sure there is an attached tarp floor for ease of securing to the ground.
2) Lounges
Every resort guest knows that everyone wants the best available set of lounge chairs and that the best seating fills up fast. (check out our blog on lack of resort seating : https://www.sunhatsntravelmaps.com/post/all-inclusive-resort-guests-are-furious ) When you vacation at a local beach you have the advantage of bringing your seat with you. The downside is the ability to carry chairs with the rest of your beach gear.
We prefer a folding beach lounge chair with backpack straps. The lounge can recline, lay flat or sit in a seated position. The backpack design allows us to utilize both hands for other items and maintains balance by sitting squarely on your back. Full lounges as well as beach chair versions are available with the same folded footprint.
3) Adult Beverages and a Designated Driver
If you are a fan of all inclusive resorts then you understand the motto of keep the drinks coming. When you vacation stateside and unless you are lucky to rent or live in a beachfront home you must ensure you have a driver who abstains to get everyone home safely. Here in SW Florida there are many car for hire options to get you and your gear to the beach and there are many beaches that allow alcohol consumption.
We have found that many local taxi companies offer van and SUV service due to the amount of vacationers that need airport assistance. By booking a taxi ride with a brick and mortar taxi company you can arrange in advance for a round trip via van or SUV. When using Uber or Lift you are at the mercy of availability both time and distance as well as vehicle type.
Not all beaches in SW Florida allow adult beverages and many dictate the type of containers. To be on the safe side regardless of regulations, avoid any beverages in glass containers and make sure to have a disposal system like a trash bag to pack out your discarded items. Here are a few beaches that Allow adult beverages:
Naples Municipal Vanderbuilt in Naples
Coolers and Ice are important to keep beverages cold all day. If you want to increase the resort vibe, short of bringing your own waiter, pack a small beer bucket. There are many beer buckets available online repping various brands. Scoop some ice from the cooler drop in three or four beer cans and position within arms reach of your lounge. Lay back relax you have earned a cold beer or two after lugging all that gear from the parking lot.
4) Concierge Companies
A new cottage industry in South West Florida provides an all inclusive day at the beach. All you need to do is show up with swim wear. Several local companies will arrive prior to you at the beach, set up a canopy, set up lounges and arrange towels and pillows. They will provide coolers full of beverages and food along with plates, cups and utensils. This service is probably the closest you could get to a resort experience on a Public Florida Beach. Below are a few companies we researched. We are not affiliated nor do we receive advertising revenue.
Tropical Beach Services tropicalbeachservices.com
The Beach Guy thebeachguy.biz
Shaded Rentals shadedrentals.com
Naples Luxury Picnic Company naplesluxurypicnicco.com
5) Bluetooth Speaker
My favorite resort vibe is the afternoon music making it's way from the activity pool to the beach or from the beach bar to our beach lounges. While visiting the public beaches right here on the Gulf shores be sure to load your mobile device with plenty of your favorite tunes. You can use Google to help you build a themed playlist and then use your favorite app or website to acquire the music on your list.
We suggest finding a rugged Bluetooth speaker that can handle the sand and is also waterproof. there are many on the market to choose from and we plan on reviewing a few in the near future. If you do not want to share your tunes with others consider Bluetooth ear buds for a more private listening experience.
We hope to have inspired a way to enjoy the public beach like a resort guest. If you have a favorite SW Florida Beach or a fun way to set up your beach experience comment on our social media post or email us at sunhatsntravelmaps@gmail.com. Also if you have a company or product you would like us to review email us at sunhatsntravelmaps@gmail or check us out at sunhatsntravelmaps.com
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