Latest news with #JacksonvilleBeach
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Yahoo
Nine of the US's most epic beaches revealed, from flour-soft sand in Florida to castaway havens in California
Sand that stretches as far as the eye can see, prehistoric rocks lording it over the landscape, and mile after mile of boardwalk fun. Welcome to the U.S.'s most epic beaches - photogenic strips of sand you can only capture on the widest of lens settings. This coast-to-coast compendium is for those summer vacationers who like their beaches long and lust-worthy, with a splash of drama. Perhaps you'd like to throw your towel down on a beach in Hawaii with breaching whales in the background, or tick off a record-breaker with a visit to the longest pleasure beach in the world. Our list also includes Tripadvisor's No.1 beach in America for those who like extra assurances of quality. In our opinion, though, each one is a shore bet for a good time. Located 17 miles from the city's downtown, Jacksonville Beach has attracted visitors since 1886, when it emerged as a resort destination. Then called Pablo Beach, it boasted that it had the 'finest beach in the world'. In the early 1910s there were dance pavilions and even a roller coaster on the sand. But while these are long gone, the stunning strip of sand remains and visitors can gaze upon the Atlantic Ocean from the 1,300-foot pier. For more, Port Aransas offers a rare stretch of sand, an 18-mile strip of cinematic, soft Texas grains that slope into warm Gulf waters. And it's one of the few beach shorelines in Texas that you are allowed to drive on. says: "This makes it easy to bring all your items for a beach day, fishing, or surfing. "Hit the beach in your golf cart or your car and explore all that the beautiful Port A coastline has to offer." For more visit Iconic Carmel-by-the-Sea is known for its famous residents (Clint Eastwood was mayor in 1986), fairy-tale cottages, and Michelin-starred restaurants. But the sugary white-sand beach will be the main attraction for many visitors, and rightly so. It's an absolute gem, with emerald-green waters and plenty of exotic wildlife in the neighborhood. Pelicans soar overhead, and if you're lucky, you may even spot dolphins or whales breaching offshore. Tripadvisor user, Brenda P, describes the "pristine" beach as her "happy place", where the views are "stunning". At 17 miles long and wonderfully wide too, Pismo Beach is the very definition of epic. And with so much shoreline, sand art is often on show, with the beach's first Sand Art Festival taking place this November. There's surfing too (three competitions a year), amazing clams (the Pismo clam has made a dramatic comeback in the past five years after a 30-year disappearance) and if you want to explore, just drive to another spot. It's the only section of California State Park where vehicles are allowed on the beach. For more visit You won't have problems identifying where this jaw-dropping beach draws its name from. Morro Rock is a breathtaking volcanic plug that stands 576 feet tall. Sometimes called the "Gibraltar of the Pacific", it has been used for hundreds of years as a navigational tool and for time immemorial as a sanctuary for birds. Needless to say, it helps make the beach extra photogenic. Visit Morro Bay says: "At the end of the day, the sunsets are dramatic, with Morro Rock turning golden and casting long reflections on the sand." Here, you'll be throwing your towel down on an award-winner. Siesta Beach was named the No.1 beach in the U.S in the 2025 Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Awards. It has a 4.7 out of five rating from over 8,500 reviews, with user Rob P from Pittsburgh describing it as "beautiful", with "incredibly soft sand that you can barely feel when it gets into your shoes". Tripadvisor, meanwhile, notes that it's family friendly, too, with lifeguards on duty and lots of shells for children to collect. For more visit tour operator Ocean Florida. This stunning three-mile stretch of sand occupied the top podium spot in the 2023 Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice awards. And as the picture shows, it's always going to be a contender for a gong. Beachgoers at Kaʻanapali Beach bask on postcard-perfect sands with swaying palm trees and the occasional breaching whale adding to the paradise vibe. Virginia Beach is recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest pleasure beach on the planet. The picture above shows a three-mile stretch called Oceanfront Beach, which runs alongside the Virginia Beach Boardwalk. says: "This 28-foot-wide marvel is a wonderful place to go for a stroll, run or bike ride. Along the way, watch surfers catching waves, anglers reeling in the day's catch, and little ones playing in the sand or having fun at Grommet Island Park, a fully accessible playground at 40th Street." Being 28 miles in length, Long Beach certainly lives up to its name. Epic vistas are front and center of a trip here. Want to linger longer? notes that there is "an abundance of fun accommodation options, from cosy cottages, to beachfront hotels". It adds: "Long Beach is an easy drive from both Portland and Seattle as well as a classic Highway 101 road trip destination."
The Independent
10-07-2025
- The Independent
Nine of the US's most epic beaches revealed, from flour-soft sand in Florida to castaway havens in California
Sand that stretches as far as the eye can see, prehistoric rocks lording it over the landscape, and mile after mile of boardwalk fun. Welcome to the U.S.'s most epic beaches - photogenic strips of sand you can only capture on the widest of lens settings. This coast-to-coast compendium is for those summer vacationers who like their beaches long and lust-worthy, with a splash of drama. Perhaps you'd like to throw your towel down on a beach in Hawaii with breaching whales in the background, or tick off a record-breaker with a visit to the longest pleasure beach in the world. Our list also includes Tripadvisor's No.1 beach in America for those who like extra assurances of quality. In our opinion, though, each one is a shore bet for a good time. Jacksonville Beach, Florida Located 17 miles from the city's downtown, Jacksonville Beach has attracted visitors since 1886, when it emerged as a resort destination. Then called Pablo Beach, it boasted that it had the 'finest beach in the world'. In the early 1910s there were dance pavilions and even a roller coaster on the sand. But while these are long gone, the stunning strip of sand remains and visitors can gaze upon the Atlantic Ocean from the 1,300-foot pier. For more, The Port Aransas beachfront, Mustang Island, Texas Port Aransas offers a rare stretch of sand, an 18-mile strip of cinematic, soft Texas grains that slope into warm Gulf waters. And it's one of the few beach shorelines in Texas that you are allowed to drive on. says: "This makes it easy to bring all your items for a beach day, fishing, or surfing. "Hit the beach in your golf cart or your car and explore all that the beautiful Port A coastline has to offer." Carmel Beach, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey County, California Iconic Carmel-by-the-Sea is known for its famous residents (Clint Eastwood was mayor in 1986), fairy-tale cottages, and Michelin-starred restaurants. But the sugary white-sand beach will be the main attraction for many visitors, and rightly so. It's an absolute gem, with emerald-green waters and plenty of exotic wildlife in the neighborhood. Pelicans soar overhead, and if you're lucky, you may even spot dolphins or whales breaching offshore. Tripadvisor user, Brenda P, describes the "pristine" beach as her "happy place", where the views are "stunning". Pismo Beach, California At 17 miles long and wonderfully wide too, Pismo Beach is the very definition of epic. And with so much shoreline, sand art is often on show, with the beach's first Sand Art Festival taking place this November. There's surfing too (three competitions a year), amazing clams (the Pismo clam has made a dramatic comeback in the past five years after a 30-year disappearance) and if you want to explore, just drive to another spot. It's the only section of California State Park where vehicles are allowed on the beach. For more visit You won't have problems identifying where this jaw-dropping beach draws its name from. Morro Rock is a breathtaking volcanic plug that stands 576 feet tall. Sometimes called the "Gibraltar of the Pacific", it has been used for hundreds of years as a navigational tool and for time immemorial as a sanctuary for birds. Needless to say, it helps make the beach extra photogenic. Visit Morro Bay says: "At the end of the day, the sunsets are dramatic, with Morro Rock turning golden and casting long reflections on the sand." Siesta Beach, Siesta Key, Florida Here, you'll be throwing your towel down on an award-winner. Siesta Beach was named the No.1 beach in the U.S in the 2025 Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Awards. It has a 4.7 out of five rating from over 8,500 reviews, with user Rob P from Pittsburgh describing it as "beautiful", with "incredibly soft sand that you can barely feel when it gets into your shoes". Tripadvisor, meanwhile, notes that it's family friendly, too, with lifeguards on duty and lots of shells for children to collect. For more visit tour operator Ocean Florida. Kaʻanapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii This stunning three-mile stretch of sand occupied the top podium spot in the 2023 Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice awards. And as the picture shows, it's always going to be a contender for a gong. Beachgoers at Kaʻanapali Beach bask on postcard-perfect sands with swaying palm trees and the occasional breaching whale adding to the paradise vibe. Virginia Beach, Virginia Virginia Beach is recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest pleasure beach on the planet. The picture above shows a three-mile stretch called Oceanfront Beach, which runs alongside the Virginia Beach Boardwalk. says: "This 28-foot-wide marvel is a wonderful place to go for a stroll, run or bike ride. Along the way, watch surfers catching waves, anglers reeling in the day's catch, and little ones playing in the sand or having fun at Grommet Island Park, a fully accessible playground at 40th Street." Long Beach, State of Washington Being 28 miles in length, Long Beach certainly lives up to its name. Epic vistas are front and center of a trip here. Want to linger longer? notes that there is "an abundance of fun accommodation options, from cosy cottages, to beachfront hotels". It adds: "Long Beach is an easy drive from both Portland and Seattle as well as a classic Highway 101 road trip destination."
Daily Mail
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Emotional moment father of the bride invites her stepfather to join them mid-aisle walk
Heart-warming footage captures the moment a bride's father invites her stepfather to walk down the aisle with them. The emotional video shows Shayna Sweeney, 29, of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, preparing to tie the knot at Castello Di Ristonchi in Pelago, Italy. As she readies herself to walk down the aisle, Shayna's father, Rob McHugh, 60, approaches the wedding guests' before pulling a man from the crowd. In a touching gesture, Rob asks his daughter's stepfather, Vinny Mauro, 48, to join him in escorting Shayna to her groom. Vinny appears to be surprised but accepts the offer, and the trio walks down the aisle together, holding back tears. The touching moment captured hearts online and went viral on TikTok, amassing more than 1.3 million likes and over 6.9 million views. 'Walking down the aisle with both of my dads made perfect sense. 'They've both supported me and been by my side throughout my life, so it was only right that they stood with me on such an important day,' Shayna told Newsweek. The idea to include Vinny - who has known Shayna since she was 8 years old - was a collaborative effort between her and Rob. The wedding was attended by just over 100 guests, who traveled to Italy to celebrate the couple's special day. TikTok viewers expressed their emotional reactions to the video in the comments section. One said: 'Even the guys crying in the back. I also walked with my dad and step dad.' Another added: 'The only type of coparenting that should ever exist.' 'WHY AM I UGLY CRYING I DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU,' shared a third user. 'How are some families this healthy?', asked another viewer. It comes after last year a woman revealed how both her father and her stepfather walked her down the aisle on her wedding day. According to bride Amy Walkinshaw, 31, as soon as she got engaged to Ryan Walkinshaw, 31, she knew she wanted both men to be involved in giving her away. Amy was raised by both dad, Andy Collins, 58, a train driver, and her stepdad, Jeff Bennett, 64, a project manager - who has been in her life for the past two decades. She wanted to honour both father figures at their wedding last weekend at Prested Hall in Colchester, Essex. So, she asked her father Andy to go and surprise Jeff by grabbing him from the audience to walk down with him and Amy. Amy, a student studying psychodynamic practice at University of Essex, said: 'Jeff has been in my life for 20 years, he is basically a second dad to me. 'I always imagined if I got married I'd ask him to walk me down the aisle as well as my dad. 'Jeff didn't know it was coming either - you can tell in the video the shock on Jeff's face, I knew how much it meant to him. 'The main thing to come out of it is to show there doesn't have to be animosity.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Miles Russell of Jacksonville Beach, the No. 1 junior golfer in America, commits to FSU
Miles Russell of Jacksonville Beach, the No. 1-ranked player on the American Junior Golf Association Polo Rankings, has verbally committed to play college golf at Florida State. first reported the news and the Times-Union confirmed it with Russell's father Joe. Advertisement Russell, who is home-schooled, has a 2027 graduation year listed by the AJGA. That means he could begin playing for FSU in the fall of 2027 if he signs with the Seminoles during the fall sports signing period in 2026. Russell has won numerous major junior tournaments, including the Junior PGA, the Junior Players Championship, the AJGA Tournament of Champions and the Sage Valley Invitational. He broke Tiger Woods' record as the youngest player to be named the AJGA Player of the Year in 2023. Miles Russell of Jacksonville Beach will play college golf at Florida State. He has also played in two PGA Tour events and four Korn Ferry Tour events, and in 2024, at the age of 15, became the youngest player to make the cut on the Korn Ferry Tour at the LECOM Suncoast Classic. Advertisement Russell was a member of the Junior Ryder Cup and the Junior Presidents Cup and was a member of the inaugural USGA Junior National team. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Mile Russell of Jacksonville Beach commits to play golf at Florida State
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bride Books Wedding Venue to Accommodate 130 People. Then They Cancel Unexpectedly, Leaving Her Scrambling (Exclusive)
Dara Sweatt and her fiancé Doug Carlisle met at the gym back in 2020 and the rest was history The pair got engaged in August 2024 and eagerly began wedding planning in January 2025 Five months after securing the venue and a majority of the vendors, Sweatt received an email no bride wants to readAfter nearly five years with her fiancé and a picture-perfect engagement, one bride thought she had everything lined up for her dream wedding. With the venue booked and most vendors secured for their April 2026 celebration, the planning seemed to be on track – until an unexpected email changed everything. In June 2025, Dara Sweatt was blindsided by a message from her venue: her reservation had been canceled. Now, the 31-year-old from Florida is scrambling to secure a new location for the same date, all while trying to stay within budget and hold onto the vision she spent months building. 'Honestly, I thought I was hallucinating at first. It didn't feel real,' Sweatt tells PEOPLE exclusively. 'I had to read the email three more times before it sunk in – and I just sat there like, 'Oh my God, we have to find a new venue.' ' Her fiancé, Doug Carlisle, 42, was equally shocked but remained calm to help manage her anxiety and keep them both grounded. The couple had chosen the Casa Marina Hotel in Jacksonville Beach, Fla., as the centerpiece of their wedding plans. With the date locked in since January 2025, they went on to book a photographer, videographer, hair and makeup artist, DJ, florals, and a coordination team for planning and day-of support. However, five months later, Casa Marina informed the bride that the property was under contract for sale. "This email comes with a very heavy heart," the email read. "I have just been notified that Casa Marina is no longer able to confidently conduct any business for the calendar year of 2026. I understand what this means for you and your family, and I'm at a loss as to how to properly say we're sorry." Although the business will continue operating as usual through the end of 2025, starting in 2026, new ownership will take over, and the hotel will close for a complete renovation. PEOPLE reached out to the Casa Marina Hotel for comment but has yet to receive a response. Sweatt is now in search of a new venue with availability on the couple's original date. Fortunately, the Friday wedding is far enough out that a few options are available. 'Now it's about finding a space that fits our vision without blowing the budget we originally planned for,' she explains. Her mom and grandma have been incredibly supportive, offering advice, helping her stay true to her vision, and assisting with plans to DIY much of the additional decor. After experiencing an unexpected cancellation, Sweatt emphasizes the importance of having backup options and staying flexible throughout the planning process. 'I also recommend being proactive: if something goes wrong, like a venue cancellation, allow yourself a moment to freak out, and then pivot,' she shares. 'It'll feel like the end of the world, but I promise it's not. Sometimes the outcome is even better than what you originally planned.' Sweatt shared her viral reaction on TikTok to find humor amid the chaos, never expecting it to gain such widespread attention. The video resonated with many brides who understood the experience of plans falling apart and having to regroup with a smile – and perhaps a few tears. 'At the end of the day, all the little details are fun, but the real goal is marrying your best friend,' she says. 'You'll be stressed no matter what, but if you can stay grounded in why you're doing this, the journey becomes a whole lot sweeter.' Read the original article on People
