East Coast
There are a seemingly endless beaches up and down Florida's east coast. On this coast they are quite varied and many are among the most popular in the state.
- Northeast - The beautiful barrier island of Amelia boasts 13 miles of lovely beaches including beautiful Victorian Fernandina Beach and rugged Fort Clinch State Park. Below Amelia Island, the city of Jacksonville has four family-friendly areas. Below that, St. Augustine ? a very charming and historic town ? also boasts a handful, including pretty Anastasia State Park, a lovely natural area with lots of dunes, nature trails, and campsites for visitors, especially those who enjoy deep-sea fishing. Finally, Daytona Beach ? a destination for racing enthusiasts ? is home to 24 miles of hard-packed sand and a famous boardwalk that's almost always crowded. For a quieter option, try Ponce Inlet at the southern end of town. Yes, you can drive on certain portions of Dayton Beach for a fee, but you'll need to watch out for tides! Note: Many of the northeastern waters are too cold for swimming during the winter months and are most popular between April and November.
- Southeast - The beaches of South Florida are among the most famous in the state and remain quite popular with visitors and locals. Vero Beach boasts an affluent population and surfers are attracted to the area due to the excellent waves. Fort Pierce and Port Saint Lucie provide pristine areas too. in a quiet setting. Below that, Florida's so-called Gold Coast ? Boca Raton, Jupiter, Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Beach ? offers 60 miles of shoreline. They are lovely and clean, but can get very crowded and raucous in a hurry during Spring Break time. Finally, southernmost Miami is home to a ton of beaches of different shapes and sizes. The most well-known is probably glitzy, trendy South Beach, the place to see and be seen. As a matter of fact, that's the case with many in and around Miami. For something more low-key, head to nearby Key Biscayne and the Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park and enjoy a dose of nature. In addition, these are popular with surfers. Haulover Beach is the best for traditional surfing and windsurfing is king at Hobie Beach.
Panhandle
If you prefer less crowded spots than what you might find on Florida's peninsula, the Panhandle is the place for you. Certainly, some of these here are fairly crowded and continue to grow in popularity, but overall - with the possible exception of Panama City - you'll find that these beaches are much more peaceful than many others on the east and west coasts. Many of these towns are favorites with Canadian snowbirds as well as visitors from the Midwest, since driving distance is less from the centrally-located states.
- Destin and the Ft. Walton area - These two make up what tourism officials are touting "The Emerald Coast." It's not unusual to find smaller sea cottages here rather than large opulent homes. Visitors especially love "Seaside", a Victorian-style community that's actually only about 25 years old but looks quaint and old fashioned. Also check out lovely Grayton Beach State Park, popular with those who enjoy a natural setting.
- Pensacola - One of the Panhandle's prime vacation locations. A small beach situated on narrow Santa Rosa Island, Pensacola has a vibrant "downtown" area with lots of shops, restaurants, and nightclubs. Or if you prefer quiet, visit Gulf Islands National Seashore for a chance to enjoy just a portion of the 150 miles of protected seashore that makes up Gulf Islands NS, complete with white sands and hundreds of species of birds.
- Panama City - An area that many view as up-and-coming, some are calling Panama City the "new Miami". The beaches are spectacular, there's a variety of accommodations, and it has been dubbed one of the best diving locations in the U.S. ?But it does get rather loud during Spring Break!
West Coast
The west coast of Florida is extremely popular with retirees, but Tampa one of the fastest growing cities in the state - is also home to a younger population who frequents the shores on weekends. The waters of the Gulf of Mexico are warm and welcoming and many of the west coast locations boast powdery white sand that's soft to the touch and never gets hot.
- Tampa Bay area - Stretching from Clearwater down to Sarasota are some of the best in the state, a number of them receiving top awards from well-known travel publications and The Travel Channel. Along this stretch of the Gulf of Mexico, you'll find pretty Clearwater Beach; elegant St. Pete Beach; the beaches of 3.5-mile-long Treasure Island such as Madeira Beach, Redington Shores, and Indian Shores; the award-winning natural beaches of Fort De Soto and Caladesi Island State Park; and the white sand of the Sarasota region, including Longboat Key, Siesta Key, Lido Key.
- Southwest - The bottom half of the Gulf Coast boasts a number of excellent places as well. Sanibel and the Captiva Islands are calm and pristine, sans the trappings of many beach towns. Trees are abundant, shops and restaurants are less so, and half of Sanibel is a protected nature preserve. Further south, Fort Myers Beach sits on Estero Island and is less expensive that its neighbors to the north. The island is a mix of bustling and peaceful; head to the south end for a quiet vacation. Even further south is Naples, a popular retirement enclave. A swanky, upscale area with plenty of large homes, Naples offers quiet areas amidst an old-fashioned setting. Marco Island, south of Naples, is also full of quiet retirees, mostly from the Northeast. Many on Marco are private but guests not staying there can check out family-friendly Tigertail Public Beach.
Florida Keys
There aren't a lot of really impressive beaches in The Keys, mostly because of wear and tear from hurricanes and other natural forces. However, visitors to the region can check out the few in Key West, the southernmost island; those of Bahia Honda State Park in Big Pine Key; and Sombrero Beach on Marathon Key.
In Florida, it seems like there are two major "attractions". One is the magical land that's home to a famous mouse and a host of other characters. But for many people, Florida's real stars are the magnificent beaches that line the state's coast. They are second-to-none in the U.S. and each year, tens of thousands of individuals head to them for a relaxing vacation, or make their way to Florida for the winter, content to be dubbed a "snowbird".
With nearly 1,200 miles of coastline, Florida has a beach for everyone. Which you choose may depend on a number of factors, including which part of the state you prefer, what kind of waters ports you enjoy, and what time of the year you are visiting. Some are family-oriented. Others are geared more towards singles or young couples. Some are favorites with retirees who live in or visit the state.
Some basic information about the beaches of Florida can help visitors make a decision on which would best fit their needs. This list is by no means a total list of the beaches in The Sunshine State. However, it will provide an idea of what is available in different areas of the state offer to residents and visitors.