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Warning Issued For 2 Popular Florida Beaches

Author Babs
Getty Images / pabradyphoto

Have you heard about the warning issued for 2 popular Florida beaches? When I first read about this, I was hoping that it wasn’t a beach in the St. Petersburg area. I literally just went to Gandy beach the other day and had a great time. Well, the warning has not been issued for any beaches in St. Petersburg. Officials are urging Florida residents to stay out of two beaches in Palm Beach County.

Fecal Pollution At Two Popular Florida Beaches

Residents and people visiting have been urged by officials to stay out of the water at these two popular Florida beaches. The beaches are Midtown Beach and Dubois park in Jupiter. Reports tell us, the waters contain high levels of enterococci. This bacteria could cause urinary tract infections in people who swim in these waters during the advisory.

Enterococci can also lead to meningitis. If you don’t know what that is, it is caused by a viral infection and deadly blood infections like sepsis. This could sadly end in organ failure and death. The advisory for these two beaches will be lifted when the enterococci levels become acceptable. The Florida Department of Health issued the advisory on April 30th, following results of a test that came back a day before.

How Did High Levels Of Bacteria Get Into The Waters?

Officials have not given us an answer yet but the Environmental Protection Agency stated some possible sources. The high levels of bacteria could have come from leaking septic systems, wastewater treatment plant effluent, stormwater runoff, domestic animal and wildlife waste or sewage discharged.

Please listen to the advisory and don’t go swimming at those two beaches. Do you live near these beaches? Are people following the rules, or do you see people swimming? Feel free to email me Babs@wild941.com.

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Shandra “Babs” Littleton is a member of the WiLD Squad. She’s originally from Detroit but has spent most of her “grown-up” life in Fort Myers, Florida where she graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University. Babs loves to write about everything from Tampa concerts, to WiLD murders that happened in Florida, and her favorite businesses.

5 Florida Beaches Named the Best 'Secret Beaches' in America

Summer is here, and it’s going to be hot, as always, in Florida. Florida beaches are very popular and fun. But, they can also get crowded. Thankfully, there are some “secret” beaches that are kind of more difficult to find.

If you’re looking for some “secret” places to get your beach on in Florida, the crew at Family Destinations Guide has done the research to find you those spots. “We surveyed 3,000 families in the United States to determine the hidden beaches they most want to visit in summer 2023,” they state in the study.

As it turns out, Florida has four of the top 10 “secret beaches” in America, according to this study. That means they shouldn’t be too overcrowded. That’s a great thing.

If you’re wondering about Family Destinations Guide, they regularly feature “reviews of hotels, resorts, destinations, and attractions your whole family will love. In addition, the site is filled with ideas that will help you plan your next trip. From family trips with infants and children, to excursions with teens and older kids, Family Destinations Guide gives you detailed advice for traveling with kids of all ages.” Even if you don’t have kids, their content can be useful. For example, these secret beaches can be fun to visit no matter your age. Read on for four Florida spots that made the top 10 of the list and one extra. Find the full list here.

  • Shell Key Preserve

    Shell Key Preserve, Florida is ranked No. 2 on the list. That’s amazing! What makes it stand out? According to Family Destinations Guide, “The beach is unspoiled and natural, with no development or buildings, offering a peaceful and serene atmosphere.”

    Shell Key Preserve

    Shell Key Preserve is a jewel-in-the-rough that few people take the time to experience. A 1,828-acre archipelago at the mouth of Tampa Bay off Florida's Gulf Coast, Shell Key Preserve is frequented primarily by birds and other wildlife. For people to get there, they must take a boat to Shell Key, the biggest piece of dry land in the preserve.

  • Lovers Key State Park

    Lovers Key State Park is ranked No. 6 on the list. According to the official Florida State Parks website, the park “protects some of the most pristine barrier islands in Southwest Florida.” It also features “over two miles of sugar-sand beaches.”

    Lovers Key State Park

    Once a collection of secluded barrier islands reachable only by boat, Lovers Key, in recent years, has become a romantic destination for spectacular, beachside weddings.

  • Dry Tortugas National Park

    Dry Tortugas National Park is ranked No. 9 on the list. According to the park’s official website, “This 100-square mile park is mostly open water with seven small islands.” It’s also accessible only by boat or seaplane.

    Dry Tortugas National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

    Almost 70 miles (113 km) west of Key West lies the remote Dry Tortugas National Park. This 100-square mile park is mostly open water with seven small islands. Accessible only by boat or seaplane, the park is known the world over as the home of magnificent Fort Jefferson, picturesque blue waters, superlative coral reefs and marine life, and the vast assortment of bird life that frequents the area.

  • Boneyard Beach

    Boneyard Beach is ranked No. 10 on the list. According to the Florida State Parks website, it “is a favorite Jacksonville retreat and close-kept secret.” It also offers three miles of shoreline along the Nassau Sound.

    Boneyard Beach

    Escape the hustle of the city shore and explore a wilder side of Jacksonville at a one-of-a-kind beach at Big Talbot Island State Park.

  • Navarre Beach

    Navarre Beach is ranked No. 13 on the list. According to the Visit Florida website, “Navarre, a compact beach community found just east of Pensacola at the far northwestern tip of the state, beckons with 12 miles of pristine white shoreline.”

    Navarre Florida - Vacation Guide & Attractions in Navarre FL

    Nestled between Gulf Islands National Seashore and Navarre Beach County Park, the beach community of Navarre offers solitude and simplicity. Relaxation is the main attraction here.

  • Source

    This study comes from the Family Destination Guide. They surveyed 3,000 families in the United States to find the hidden beaches they most want to visit in summer 2023. Find the full list here.

    100 Best Secret Beaches in the USA for (2024)

    Looking for the top hidden beach destinations in the USA? Click this now to discover the BEST secret beaches in the USA - AND GET FR

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