The Florida Supreme Court in 1974 expanded public access to the beach — in theory. The state’s high court said access exists under the “customary use” doctrine from English common law.

A small quantity of small dead fish are seen littering the beach at Gulfside City Beach Park on Sanibel on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. Red tide has been documented off the coast of Southwest Florida ...

As vacationers drive onto Florida’s 30A scenic highway from the East, they’ll soon approach the scrub oak trees and European-style architecture of Rosemary Beach.