The Emerald Coast

Stunning scenery and a wide range of activities draw tourists to the coast of northwest Florida
徜徉綠寶石海岸 絕美的景色與五花八門的活動,吸引遊客前往佛羅里達西北海岸

Florida boasts almost 700 miles of sandy beaches that are perfect for swimming. But for fine, white sand, nothing beats Florida's northwest coastline. The Emerald Coast delights visitors with sugar-white shores.

The emerald green waters that wash those shores give the coastline its name. In years past, just a few villages dotted the area. Today, tourists from around the world arrive to see what USAToday.com called "the best beach in the United States." The friendly, small-town atmosphere still exists along with luxury hotels and five-star restaurants.

The sands of time
Everyone visiting the region for the first time is amazed by the color and texture of the sand. Many beaches have coarse, hot sand, which makes walking on them difficult. But the famous sand of the northwest Florida beaches is  powdery fine and cooler than most.

The sand started out as quartz from the Appalachian Mountains and traveled down streams into the Gulf of Mexico. Over time, the pieces were broken up, bleached and polished, and covered the trademark beaches of the Emerald Coast. 

The "World's Luckiest Fishing Village"
One of the most popular activities along the coastline is fishing, and Destin, Florida, is world-renowned for the sport. The small coastal town claims the title of "The World's Luckiest Fishing Village." Of the 4.5 million people who visit the Emerald Coast each year, over 80 percent travel to Destin. For those who plan to fish, endless opportunities await them there, both from the shore and on a boat.

Destin is best known for deep-sea fishing, with a fleet of more than 140 fishing boats to choose from. The boats offer half-day or full-day fishing trips, many providing, snacks, bait and free lessons, if needed. Most of the boats can carry 25 to 105 people, and everyone onboard is hoping to snag a 400-pounder! As they say in Destin, "you'll come for the beach, but you'll be back for the fishing!"

"Here comes the bride"
The Emerald Coast is also a popular destination for weddings. Many consider the ocean backdrop and the pure, white sand under their feet the perfect setting for an unforgettable wedding day!

Dolphin watch

All along the Emerald Coast, dolphin watching ranks as one of the favorite activities for visitors of all ages. Numerous dolphin cruises are available, or you can sometimes spot the friendly mammals at dusk, playfully swimming close to share.

Sampling the local fare
Everyone agrees that the local seafood is not to be missed. The Emerald Coast offers over 100 restaurants, many with waterfront views and delicious seafood caught daily. After the BP Oil Spill in 2010, many feared that northwest Florida's seafood industry would be ruined forever. But today, extensive tests have shown the seafood to be safe, and customers are once again flocking to the area's restaurants.

Something for everyone
No matter what your favorite activity happens to be, you'll probably find it on the Emerald Coast. The family-friendly region provides amazing golf courses, great shopping, fun-filled water parks, museums, marine life shows and more! But maybe a relaxing walk on the beach is your preference. If so, the clear waters and the white sand await. Why not make the Emerald Coast your next vacation destination!


Vocabulary Tips:
emerald - a deep bright green color, a bit transparent.翡翠
coastline - the edge line of the coast .海岸线。
*The beautiful coastline of California has always been one of photographers' favorite sites.
* We drove slowly along the rugged coastline.
wild-range of activities : golf, scooters, snorkeling, scuba diving, banana boat, jet-ski, parasailing etc.
coarse - rough, not soft, not comfortable when people walk on it.粗劣，粗躁的。
*The carpenter is sanding the coarse surface of this piece of wood.
*The jacket's coarse fabric made it uncomfortable to wear.
coarse -粗俗的.
*His coarse language offended everyone present.
quartz- a type of rock. 石英石。
delight - pleasant. joyful. (n) 喜悦，愉快, (v) 使开心，使高兴。
*The comedian's humorous performances always delight his audiences.
*Tod's good grades at school delighted his family.
bleach - take all color away. (n)漂白剂，  (v) 使退色，漂白。
*Mom bleached all our white socks yesterday.
*The bleached wood gave the living room a clean look.
*Household bleach is good at removing mold.
world-renowned - very famous, is known by all the world. well-known and respected.
coastal (adj)- describe that the area along the coastline.
await /wait :等待，期待.
await - is waiting for someone.不及物动词，后面不需加"”介系词，。wait -是及物动词，后面 要加 "for"， 再加“受词”。"wait for" ="await"
*Wesley was anxiously awaiting his physical exam's results.
*The long awaited album will be released next month.
*Josh was waiting for his mom to pick him up.
shore- the edge of the coast, (ocean).岸边。
endless - so many that never end.
deep-sea fishing - go far to the ocean to fishing in a deep water. 深海钓鱼。
fleet - a group of boats. (Navy in the army), sometimes use on other vehicles, but mainly use on the "a group of boast".
snag - to get or to caught something by acting very quickly.抢到，抓到机会。
snagged/ snagging -
*Steve snagged the contract from his competitors.
*Joe snagged the ball and passed to his teammate.
400-pounder - weight about 400 pound fish. pounder refer to how much in weight.
"Here comes the bride" - a song, here refer to wedding.
backdrop - a setting of the background. 背景
setting - a location or a place with beautiful landscaping or background.布景。
dusk- refer the time when is from sunset to the dark. 薄暮， 黄昏 (at)
*Many fishermen come back to the harbor at dusk.
*Dad works from dawn till dusk everyday.
*The zoo closes at dusk, so we'd better hurry up.
waterfront - build next to the water, lake, ocean. waterfront view. 水边，频临水区，湖边，海边。
*The hotel on the waterfront is a popular site for tourists.
*The cabin was built on the lake's waterfront.
*Those high-rise buildings on the waterfront are very expensive.
extensive - effect to big. do more extra of something. 扩大，广泛的，广大的. "ex" -向外之意。
*The earthquake caused extensive damage in this area.
*The professor is conducting extensive research into the impacts of global warming. 温室效应的影响。
BP Oil Spill - refer to BP deep oil machine spill and ruined the ocean and sea creatures event.
sampling - taste, try something.
flock - refer to a large group of bird. describe that people like a large group of bird toward a place.
region - area, place. 地区，范围，境界，领域，行政领域管区。区块。身体的一部，某部位。
marine life show - like SeaWorld,  tons of see animals trained to performing specialties.
marine (adj) -海的，海生的，海产的。航海的，航舶的。海上的，海军的，海运的。海军陆战队
marine (n)-海军陆战士兵，海军部，舰队。海运业。海景区，
rugged - 崎岖不平的。


Word / idiom Tips:
sand (n) -砂 （不可数名词）当要用数时，要说“grain"
When you would like to mention how many sands, you need to say "grain".
a grain of sand.-一粒砂
The sands of time - 古老文明用法，指“时间，光阴，岁月”。refer to time,  is running and is running out.Carpe Diem -（拉丁文）
The sands of time are running out.长日将尽，时间剩下不多了
hourglass - 砂漏 .
seize the day -， 把握时间，不要浪费了。
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tourist/vacationer -游客，离家到外面旅游的游客。
tourist -指那些游客，旅游者通常拿着照像，时间安排得很紧凑，到处跑，看， 及拍照。
vacationer -休闲的游客，通常只在一个定点呆下来，放松自己，悠闲享受当地的实景， 或躺在休闲椅上看书。不急不忙着去到处走，到处看，到处拍照。
*Stunning scenery and a wide range of activities draw tourists to the coast of northwest Florida.
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user-friendly - friendly to users that let user easy to use it. 对使用者很方便， 很友善。
environmentally friendly -对环境友善。
eco-friendly -很环保。
family-friendly - suitable for whole family, don't have to worry about any bad behavior or bad language against family value. It's safe for any age of people, and small children. 适合全家大小的，对家庭友善的。