It’s not surprising that we at Cozy Florida write a lot about water, both on this blog and in our books. Florida’s west, south, and east coast are surrounded by water — the Gulf of Mexico on one side, and the Atlantic on the other.
I’ve lived on both coasts, and there is immense beauty in each. Sunrises are amazing on the east coast, while sunsets are stunning on the west.
These days, I live in St. Pete, on the Gulf side. Other than Spring Break and a few holiday weekends, it’s pretty easy to find a secluded beach and enjoy the sand, surf and sun. Of course, for us Floridians, it’s too cold to actually go in the water during the winter — I think that’s best left to our visitors from the north — but there are ways to enjoy it from afar.
For my 50th birthday, my husband surprised me with a sunset meal on the beach, catered by the St. Pete Picnic Co and Gather Round Graze.
The picnic company set up an incredible spread, right on the sand. Flowers, linens, pillows, china — it was all there, aimed right at the Gulf. Since it was December, they provided cozy, fluffy blankets and we snuggled up and drank some bubbly. Gather Round Graze provided the food, with crackers, fruit and veggies for me, and cold cuts and cheese for my husband.
The vibe was absolutely magical as the sun dipped below the horizon and the electric candles flickered.
If you’re in the St. Pete area, I’d highly recommend these two companies — they also do “pop up picnics” at other picturesque locations around the area. It’s a beautiful way to enjoy the water without getting wet.
