Florida has beaches made of crushed quartz, beaches made of ancient seashells, and even beaches covered in massive coquina rock formations that look like another planet. If you are looking for more than just a place to park a towel, here are the 5 fascinating beaches you need to visit, and the science (or history) behind what makes them special.

Most people think of Florida springs as a summer destination—a place to cool off when the heat index hits triple digits. But if you ask a local, they will tell you the truth: Winter is the magic season.

In 1768, the ships arrived at the mosquito-choked inlet of Ponce de Leon. The reality hit them immediately. There was no housing. The land wasn't cleared. The provisions were short. The settlers were tasked with clearing dense palmetto scrub and pine forests to plant indigo, a cash crop the British desperate wanted. Conditions were brutal. The settlers died by the hundreds from scurvy, gangrene, and malaria. By some accounts, nearly half the population died within the first