I took a sunset walk on St. Pete Beach yesterday. Sitting in front of a computer all day requires that I spend some time every day either at the gym or involving myself in some other physical activity to stay healthy, so a long walk on the beach was my choice last night.

The air was a bit cool and breezy so I put on a pair of jeans and a light fleece jacket and drove to Upham Beach. As I came to the end of Pasadena Avenue, where road meets water, I was stunned to see the local waterfront restaurants absolutely packed with diners. Philthy Phils, Woody's, The Oystershucker—all full of hungry visitors. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised. After all, it is spring break, and it isn't just college students that come to the beach during spring break. This is a time when families bring everyone down for a week away from the snow while school's out.

Out on the beach you'd think it was a warm day in May or June, even though the temperature was in the mid 60s. The sky was clear and there were plenty of people in bathing suits, and even swimming in the 67 degree Gulf. The hotels were full of happy vacationers and ‘70s rock and roll was emanating from Johnny B's on the beach. The smell of dinner cooking wafted up and down the beach from Crabby Bill's Restaurant.

I walked all the way south to the Don Cesar hotel and back. Probably about 4 miles. The sunset was beautiful and I found lots of live olive shells on the beach. A very low tide made it easy to spot them inching along in the soft wet sand.

The weather is forecast to be very mild with sunny skies for the next week or so. If you're lucky enough to be in Florida right now, you're in for some fine beach weather.

A few of the more popular hotels on St. Pete Beach: