Hernando Beach, Florida

Dredged from wetlands and the Gulf of Mexico’s floor in the 1960s, mellow Hernando Beach is about an hour north of Tampa. It’s a somewhat remote residential canal community, and despite its name, does not have a beach.

Instead, Hernando Beach boasts inshore fishing, offshore fishing, a yacht club and, yes, a beach club. The three marinas host shrimp boats and pleasure craft. They also have charters, high and dry storage, repair facilities and dockside eateries.

Seafood eateries, tropical grilles and thatched-roof bars are scattered along Shoal Line Boulevard.

Every home sits next to a canal, and nearly all have a boat dock. Properties in the northern section of town have direct access to the Gulf, which makes this the more expensive part of town. Homeowners in southern section must use the community boat lift to move their boats to the northern canals with Gulf access.  This southern area is also deed restricted.

The Weeki Wachee Preserve sits on Hernando Beach’s eastern border and has a patchwork of habitats, including pine-covered sandhills, hardwood hammocks, river frontage, and marshes. It is also home to a large population of black bears, numerous birds species, hiking paths, biking trails and fishing lakes.

Pine Island Park, about 10 miles north, has beautiful oceanfront beaches.