Hollywood Beach, a 2.5 mile long stretch of oceanfront restaurants,shops, and resorts. It is a place that I consider a piece of paradise at home. Located between Ft. Lauderdale and Miami Beach, it is a place that is within a reasonable distance from what is considered suburbia.
While conducting my interviews for the locations I met two wonderful women from Texas on vacation. Their names were Gloria and Veronica, they were told by Gloria's brother that Hollywood beach "is one of the most beautiful beaches in the South." To me growing up here, I didn't realize the growing popularity of my hometown beach.
I met a man named Glenn, he was a New York resident who recently moved down to South Florida. He told me he has been living in Florida for 14 days, and he has been at the beach 10 out of the 14 days. Very unique, he told me the people here were very different than those in New York.
I have also spoke with the owners of the Surf n Spray Ice cream parlor. Store owner Tom and Kathy, were very nice and open to the thought of an interview. When I interviewed them, they mentioned that they have been in business for 17 years. I grew up with this ice cream parlor, it was a tradition for me to get pizza and ice cream on the beach. Kathy, told me that they serve thousands of people every week and they meet people from all over. People like Tom and Kathy really inspire me, they love their business and love what they do, they seem to be happy serving and meeting new people.
There are over 50 different shops and restaurants at the beach. As I mentioned in one of my previous post, Florio's is my favorite place to eat at Hollywood Beach. For this article I chose to also broaden my horizons and try some of the other restaurants that are on the beach. My friend and I took a trip down to Nick's Bar and Grill and give it a try. Nick's Bar and Grill is very popular and has been around a good few years.
I had the chicken wings and a side of fries, my friend had the seafood salad and fries at Nick's Bar. I was completely satisfied with my dish. My Russian waiter and waitress were very friendly as well, striking up conversations with my friend and I as well as recommending dishes. I'd say I would definitely go back and visit again.
I also tried the Taco Spot on the Boardwalk. I would always walk past the Tikki styled building never giving it a second thought until that day I went with my boyfriend. The food was delicious, I never had a better chicken taco on a corn tortilla with a side of rice,beans and corn until I went there. The service was nice, the food was amazing, I scarfed the food down in under 10 mins. The drink I had was also satisfying, a Miami Vice, I almost never have alcoholic drinks on the beach but this was one of the best, it had me feeling loose and less stressed after I finished my drink.
Not only are there several places to eat and shop at but I like seeing the people and the unusual stories one can tell at this location. I met a man named Lester who told my friend and I one of his experiences at Hollywood Beach. "I was eating at Florio’s pizza joint, and my waitress and I saw a guy walking fully clothed. He looked normal until he turned around, the man has a huge rip in the butt of his pants, and he had no underwear on. My waitress almost threw up," said Lester.
The only problem I see with the beach besides parking is the trash build up at the beach. Litter is a problem at most beaches in South Florida. As a kid I would find cigarette buds, plastic cups and wrappers, as well as other forms of trash on the sand and water on the beach. I have actually participated in a beach clean up and I feel the need to attend again this year. Hollywood Beach is very strict with litter, if caught littering one can be fined up to $500.
Luckily I found a organization that comes together to clean up Hollywood Beach and others nearby. Coastal Cleanup, a volunteer organization, hosts annual events to clean up Hollywood Beach, the next scheduled cleanup event takes place Saturday, September 17 2016 from 9 a.m. to noon. To register email coastalcleanup@broward.org, include your name, contact information, which site you would like to participate, and number of attendees. I highly recommend to those who want to do something for their community to participate.
All of this started in the 1920’s when John W. Young came to what is now City of Hollywood to create his “Dream City in Florida,” between 1925-1926, Young built the Hollywood Board Walk to visitors to the oceanfront and to entertain them. Young referred to the City of Hollywood as “Hollywood-By-The-Sea.”
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