As the only state with two coasts,
the Florida beaches are a dime a dozen. A beach in Florida
can be a bit of heaven. Many who visit Florida and Miami
Beach travel to enjoy the azure surf and palm beaches
that are like nowhere else on earth. From America’s #1
Best Beach to a nude beach favorite of supermodels, the
top beaches in Florida have it all.
Some of the top beaches in Florida are on the
East side of the state as Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and
Daytona Beach are located there. Known for its open and
uncluttered beaches, Fort Lauderdale offers a beach community
that is great for those who love to stroll on the beach
or lay on the sand.
Miami Beaches
The heart of Florida tourism is Miami Beach’s
trendy South Beach.
Supermodels and celebrities who visit Florida sunbathe
at Lummus Park Beach, a swath of star-studded white sands
from the city’s 5th to 15th Street. The 12th Street stretch
is a very popular gay and muscle beach area. To get an
all-over tan, head further north to the clothing-optional
Haulover Beach.
Key to Paradise
In Miami’s Key Biscayne you’ll find the key to
paradise at Bill
Baggs Cape Florida State Park, rated as one of America’s
top swimming beaches, with over a mile of beautiful sandy
beach, nature trails, and a historic lighthouse. The lighthouse
has a cultural complex that offers guided tours and other
activities for visitors.
Shoreline fishing from the seawall requires a
Florida license. Shaded picnicking is available under
covered pavilions, and you can moor your boat overnight.
Pets are restricted in some areas.
Nearby Virginia key is another secluded gem,
a deserted key where you can get away from it all.
However, don't dismiss the West Florida beaches.
The Florida Keys beaches are frequented by travelers around
the world and don't forget Clearwater.
Best Beach in Florida – and America
Dr. Stephen Leatherman, otherwise known as "Dr.
Beach" authors an annual list of America’s Best Beaches,
and at the top is North Beach at St. Petersburg’s Fort
DeSoto Park. This natural jewel is a long, wide, sugar
sand beach with great shelling and thriving natural dunes.
Along with being a wonderful place to swim, there's
fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, bird watching, biking,
walking, and even a dog park. The beach offers modern
changing rooms and restrooms and plenty of parking.
The free park, located on Mullet Key at the mouth
of Tampa Bay on the Gulf of Mexico,
is made up of five islands with a total of over 7 miles
of beaches, 4 miles of trails, a 2.25-mile canoe trail,
and a 900-acre bird, animal, and plant sanctuary.
Its namesake 105-year-old Spanish-American War-era
fort is listed on National Register of Historic Places,
and has a museum that's open daily from 9am to 4pm. Park
rangers conduct nature and history tours. You can also
rent canoes and kayaks to explore the winding mangrove
channels along the bay side. The park's campground sites
beside Tampa Bay are some of the most lovely in Florida.
Clearly Marvelous
North of Clearwater, Caladesi
Island State Park is on a 3.5-mile islet, accessible
only by ferry. The park is made up of soft sand dunes
covered in sea oats and palmettos, and is brimming with
wildlife. Offshore dolphins and sea turtles swim offshore.
On shore, where pets are restricted, you’ll find shore
birds, rabbits, raccoons, snakes, and armadillos from
the parks nature trail.
This is among the best beaches in Florida and
an ideal spot for bird watching, shell collecting, and
saltwater fishing. Amenities include picnic pavilions,
bathhouses, refreshment concessions, and an overnight
marina.
