Adult & Teen Summer Reading Challenge 2025
Week Eight — Florida Waters
With the longest coastline in the lower 48 states, Florida has an estimated 663 named beaches. But Florida is also home to 7,700 lakes, 1,000 natural springs, and 1,700 lakes and waterways. Here are some books that will submerge you in Florida's waters:
- Cocoa Beach by Beatriz Williams
- The Love Haters by Katherine Center
- Stiltsville by Susanna Daniels
- Water Keeper by Charles Martin
- Sunset Beach by Mary Kay Andrews
- Gone by Randy Wayne White
- March Queen by Virginia Hartman
- A Shell of a Problem by Jennifer Lonoff Schiff
- A Lakeside Reunion by C. Chilove
- The Styx by Jonathon King
- Sea Castle by Andrew Mayne
- Sunset Bridge by Emilie Richardson
- The Newcomer by Mary Kay Andrews
- Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindberg
- Canoeing and Kayaking in Florida by John Molloy
- Florida Gulf Coast by Joshua Lawrence Kinser
- Discovering Florida's Coast : From the Emerald Northwest to Miami's Biscayne Jewel and Beyond by Doug Alderson
- Paddler's Guide to the Sunshine State by Sandy Huff
There's a Florida beach to fit everyone: kid-friendly, pet-friendly, camping, horseback riding, surfing and sunbathing. The list, like the shoreline, goes on and on.
It's not Hawaii or California, but Florida surfing is alive and well. If you want to catch a wave, check out these top spots for Florida surfing.
Scuba diving or snorkeling more your vibe? There are some awesome Florida snorkeling and scuba diving sites, ready to explore.
Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens, in Williston, is a century old limestone quarry that was reclaimed, cleaned and opened to the public as a botanical garden in 2014.
Port Charlotte is a destination of hundreds of miles of waterways, offering breathtaking Gulf sunsets, freshwater and saltwater adventures, and world-class fishing.
Silver Springs State Park in Marion County is a great place for paddling. Or, if you want a more relaxing day, you can take a ride in their famous glass bottom boats and experience an underwater world.
Located north of Clearwater, Tarpon Springs is a hotbed of Greek culture and a sponge-harvesting industry that dates back more than a century. At the historic Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks, you'll find dolphin cruises and fishing.
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