While driving from the East Coast to the West Coast of the United States in one day would be far fetched, if not impossible, driving from Florida’s Atlantic Coast to Gulf Coast in a day is much easier to fathom.
This idea has been on my Sunshine State bucket list since around the time I moved here, and New Year’s Day seemed like an appropriate time to turn this dream into a reality. My girlfriend Karissa and I caught the sunrise over the shimmering Atlantic Ocean, ushering in the start of a new year with our roommate. We then hustled our way across the state to find a picture-perfect spot to catch the sunset on the Gulf Coast.
I had fathomed this experience as something that could be done during one of the longer days of the year by following State Road 50 across Florida, trying to see as many roadside attractions and quick stops as possible. While I aim to try that version of this across-the-state roadtrip on a future occasion, catching the sunrise and sunset both over the water proved to be a great way to begin 2025.
After watching the Times Square ball drop on TV and a few hours of sleep, we awoke in darkness to get ready for some time on the beach. We groggily packed up a few snacks and supplies for mimosas, then embarked on an hourlong drive to arrive at Hangar’s Beach across from Patrick Space Force Base. A Celsius energy drink supplied the necessary boost to get us there.
This little stretch of coastline was uncrowded and peaceful, with just a few other beachgoers sitting in anticipation of the sunrise, looking for shells or fishing. We set up our blankets and got settled around 7 a.m., just as the misty dawn was giving way to pink and orange hues.
Just after 7:20 a.m., the sun poked through the clouds and burst over the water with a vibrant amber that made us awestruck with the beginning of a brand new year. The next few hours were a mix of soaking in the sun, sifting through shells to add to our collection and discussing our dreams for 2025.
While I had envisioned us visiting attractions or getting lunch on our journey across the state, we had to make a stop at home to drop off our roommate and pick up Karissa’s black lab, Leo. We did make a pitstop in Christmas for a photo op with Swampy, the 200-foot-long world’s largest alligator (statue) outside of Jungle Adventures, A Real Florida Animal Park.
By the time we got to see the famed roadside alligator, I realized we wouldn’t have enough time to enjoy the park itself without worrying about missing the Gulf Coast sunset. We went on our westward journey and vowed to visit the attraction another day.
After packing up back at home, Karissa, Leo and I hopped on the turnpike and set our sights on a coastal park near Crystal River, where I had previously watched the sunset. It was difficult to find a pet-friendly location and also difficult to find somewhere open that hadn’t been impacted by back-to-back hurricanes Helene and Milton.
We struck out on our attempt to visit Fort Island Beach, which is currently closed, then turned our attention to a park an hour south. Robert J. Strickland Memorial Park in Hudson looked like it was open, dog-friendly and right on the water.
The 6-acre site didn’t offer much of a beach for watching the sunset, but it proved to be exactly what we needed at the right time. As the sun began to inch closer to the horizon and a chilly breeze raked across the water, we enjoyed the last fading rays of daylight on the first full day of a new year as a busker played his guitar and sang covers behind us from a picnic bench.
Even after the sun went down, the natural spectacle continued to get even better with deep oranges illuminating the clouds on the horizon, meanwhile the sky above our heads turned deep blue as a small crescent moon appeared.
Our first dinner of 2025 came in the form of blackened mahi-mahi and an ahi tuna poke bowl at Ollie’s on the Beach, a laid-back watering hole with friendly patrons and inexpensive drinks. As we basked in the afterglow of a day filled with sun-soaked splendor, I couldn’t even begin to think of a better way to start the new year.
Find me@PConnPie on Instagramor send me an email:pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com.
