FLORIDA SCORES 6 BEACHES IN THE TOP 10

St. Pete Beach (TripAdvisor)

Florida beaches score again. TripAdvisor's most recent Traveler's Choice Top 25 Best Beaches in the United States listed six Florida beaches in the top 10:

1. Siesta Beach, Siesta Key, Florida
2. St. Pete Beach, St. Petersburg, Florida
5. Pensacola Beach, Pensacola Beach, Florida
8. Clearwater Beach, Clearwater, Florida
9. St. Augustine Beach, St. Augustine, Florida
10. Beach at Panama City, Panama City Beach, Florida

That list aside, it's pretty hard to go wrong at any beach in the Sunshine State. -- Gerry

FLORIDA GRABS 10 SPOTS ON BEST BEACHES LIST

Siesta Key (Credit: Trip Advisor)

The votes for the 25 best beaches have been tabulated by Trip Advisor, and guess what? Florida scored 10 places on the list. Pretty impressive. But considering the state we call home has over 800 miles of beaches altogether, maybe we should have had more, right? It's just 10 more great reasons Florida is the place to be if you like sun and surf. The 10 include: Siesta Key (3); St. Pete Beach (9); Caladesi Island State Park (11); St. Augustine Beach (14); Big Pine Key (17); Pensacola Beach (19); Panama City (20); Clearwater Beach (21); Lido Beach (22) and Navarre Beach (25).

FLORIDA'S HISTORIC HOTELS: THE COLONY

DELRAY BEACH -- We are in Delray Beach, just south of West Palm Beach, as the Cruising Squared "Florida's Historic Hotels" tour continues. Our destination this time is The Colony Hotel and Cabana Club, a mainstay on Atlantic Avenue since it opened in 1926. Big, bright and very yellow, a stay here is truly like a step back in time. You notice it immediately as you enter the unair-conditioned lobby (fear not --the rest of the hotel is very cool and comfortable).

All around you, in classic Florida style, you are surrounded by color. Reds, yellows, oranges, blues ... you name it. It not only has retained its charm over the decades, but also looks almost as shiny and bright as when it opened its doors back in the Roaring 20s. See for yourself in this photo tour:




Especially notable for arriving guests is the hand-operated elevator (yes, the original from 1926) and a telephone switchboard that was finally retired in 1995.

Our room featured antique furniture paired with a new age, flat screen TV. The bath is very white and bright. A window unit with its own remote keeps you comfortable at whatever temperature you like.

You'll want to take time to roam the halls and lobby to check out the framed art, including historic photos from the hotel's past. Another bonus is complimentary breakfast. It's served in the lobby dining area from 7 to 10 am. There's also a bar that opens at 4 pm, and the entrance off Atlantic offers a wide porch where guests can enjoy a beverage, people watch, read a book or enjoy live music in the evenings.

Parking is free -- another nice perk -- in the lot right behind. Guests also have use of the Cabana Club, a private beachfront two miles away with a heated saltwater pool. At the time of our visit the pool was closed for renovation, so take a rain check on the pool/beach report. (It is supposed to re-open near the first of the year.)

Then there's the location. Just a few steps from your room and you're on Atlantic Avenue and its myriad collection of shops, restaurants, bars, boutique shopping and entertainment. Pam will have more to day about one shop she discovered. Here's a hint: Cupcakes.

If you want to try it for yourself, now's a good time. They have special rates in effect through the end of the year. You can also find a good overview of the hotel's history in this article from The Palm Beach Post.

We give it our top rating -- four pineapples. -- Gerry and Pam

ANOTHER FLORIDA SUNSET

Credit: Gerry

Sunset is no doubt one of the most photographed times of the day, and here in Florida is no exception. The sky is frequently so clear you can experience almost every color of the rainbow, and photos don't do it justice. But we keep trying. -- Gerry