bonfire on beach near Longboat Key, FL
 

Hey you geniuses,

We're staying on Longboat Key in Florida for 8 days the last week of October and would love to have a bonfire on the beach, but according to Longboat Key's website, no fires are allowed. Does anyone know of nearby beaches where bonfires are permissible?

Thanks!
Sharie

Well, you are in the Keys, not the California Coast. Who needs a fire when it is 80 degrees ?

Longboat Key isn't in the Keys. It's near Tampa and Sarasota. The average lows in late October is in the low 60's... perfect for a bonfire for us!

I've never seen a bonfire on any beach in Sarasota. Did a little research, and it appears you must obtain a permit, and the permits are only available to recognized groups such as schools, scouts, church, etc.

Thinking further north and south along the Gulf Coast, my guess is that this might be pretty much the same everywhere. These are pretty manicured as beaches go, and I doubt they would let you mess them up with a bonfire. Maybe on Sanibel?

Thanks... I guess beach bonfires are a Pacific Coast thing? (which we did a year ago in Monterey, CA)

Couldn't find any info about a bonfire on Sanibel either.

Maybe we could start a new trend?!

To really mess up the beaches? Beautiful sand?

Smoking isn't allowed on beaches in Sarasota so bonfires surely aren't.

No, of course we wouldn't want to "really mess up the beaches."

We'll save our beach fires for California and Oregon.