Award-Winning Beaches in Florida:
The state of Florida is an absolutely incredible beach vacation destination. There are more than 1,300 miles of coastline and an abundance of gorgeous beaches scattered throughout the state. The possibilities almost seem endless.
But where are the best beaches in Florida located?
Where should you go? And how do you decide between them all?
If these are the questions you are asking, then this quick Florida Beach Guide is the perfect post for you.
Knowing where to go and how to get the experience you’re looking for, with so many miles of coastline, can get tricky.
This is where I’d like to help. As a native Floridian, I’ve had the opportunity to explore beaches all over this incredible state and I’d love to share with you not only the top award-winning beaches and some of the most popular, but also a few of our favorite beaches that are complete hidden gems.
This list of the best beaches in Florida covers every part of the state, so that no matter where your travel plans may take you, you will hopefully be able to find a gorgeous beach that you can relax and enjoy your vacation on.
Northwest Florida
Santa Rosa Island and Beach
- Location: Between Pensacola and Panama City along the Gulf Coast
- Why Go: Santa Rosa Beach is located on a 26 mile stretch of Northwest Florida’s famed Emerald Coast, where the beaches have pristine white-sand and the waters are a gorgeous emerald-blue.
- Santa Rosa beach is a true treasure because it lies away from the crowds that are found at the nearby award-winning and entertainment-filled bustling beaches of Destin and Panama City.
- Favorite Island Spots: Grayton Beach State Park, Fort Walton Beach and Navarre Beach.
- Nearby Top-Rated Beaches: Pensacola Beach (which lies west of Santa Rosa Island), Henderson Beach State Park (by Destin), and Panama City Beach (which lies to the east of Santa Rosa.)
- Top Activities in the Area: Destin Harbor Boardwalk, Village of Baytown Wharf, Deep Sea Fishing, Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park, Take a Dolphin or Snorkeling Cruise, Gator Beach – The World’s Greatest Alligator Park, Air Force Armament Museum, Wild Willy’s Adventure Zone, Destin History and Fishing Museum, The Track-Destin, and Big Kahuna’s Water and Adventure Park
West/Central Florida
Clearwater Beach
- Location: Clearwater Beach is located on a barrier island across from the city of Clearwater, in the Tampa Bay area, of West Florida.
- Why Go: Clearwater Beach has 2.5 miles of gorgeous, soft powdery-white sand and gentle waves that are perfect for families. It also lies next to a fun little beach town that offers laid-back delicious dining, great accommodations and a ton of water activities for all ages.
- At Clearwater Beach you’ll love simply digging your toes into the powdery white sand, walking out onto Pier 60 to look for dolphin or even fish from this long pier.
- You can also take a relaxing stroll down the fun Beach Walk, go on a fun Dolphin Cruise, take a ride on a Pirate Boat, set sail on a Schooner, and so much more.
- Favorite Spots: Pier 60, the nearby Sand Key Beach
- Nearby Top-Rated Beaches: Caladesi Island State Park is an award-winning uninhabited, pristine island that lies only a few minutes north of Clearwater Beach. St. Petersburg Beach lies about 45 minutes south of Clearwater Beach, is award-winning, close to a lot of entertainment, world-class art museums and trendy restaurants. And just 1 hour south of Clearwater Beach is the award-winning Fort De Soto Park with a fantastic beach, camping, hiking, biking trails and a historic fort!
- Top Activities in the Area: Pier 60 Park, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, The Dali Museum, Florida Botanical Gardens, Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks, Kayak the Mangrove tunnels of Weedon Island , Busch Gardens (which lies only 1 hour away in Tampa) and so much more.
Learn more in my post on The Top Things to Do Near Clearwater.
I have been fortunate to have the Clearwater area as my home for almost my entire life. This destination is truly amazing, and I would love to share more with you on our family’s favorite local things to do, great places to eat, incredible hidden gems and some personal tips for visiting the gorgeous beaches in the Clearwater area.
Read More: 10 Gorgeous Beaches near Clearwater Beach + Tips for Visiting
Siesta Key Beach
- Location: Sarasota area along the Gulf Coast of West Florida
- Why Go: Siesta Key Beach has 8 miles of bright-white sand and gorgeous crystal-clear waters that is close to great dining, shopping and entertainment.
- Local Tip: You can find Shark’s Teeth at this beach! Over the years we’ve found hundreds of them!
- Favorite Spots: Crescent Beach is great if you are looking for a quieter atmosphere along Siesta Key. Lido Beach is just north of Siesta Key and it is another gorgeous beach with less crowds.
- Nearby Top-Rated Beaches: Longboat Key (30 minutes north of Siesta Key), Anna Maria Island (1 hour north of Siesta Key)
- Top Activities in the Area: Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, Mary Selby Botanical Gardens, The Ringling Museum
Southwest Florida
Marco Island
- Location: Naples area along the Gulf Coast of West Florida
- Why Go: Marco Island is a pristine beach filled with high-end resorts, boating excursions, delicious dining and boutique shopping.
- Favorite Spots: South Beach
- Nearby Top-Rated Naples Beaches: Naples Municipal Beach (40 minutes north of Marco Island) and Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park (50 minutes north of Marco Island
- Top Activities in the Area: Everglades National Park, Big Cypress Preserve, local watersports (jet ski, mangrove kayak trails, paddleboarding, ets), Revs Institute, Naples Botanical Garden, Naples Zoo, Ten Thousand Islands
- Southeast Florida
Delray Beach
- Location: Delray Beach is about 50 miles north of Miami on the Atlantic of the East Coast of Florida.
- Why Go: Delray Beach is considered “Florida’s Village by the Sea” offering a small town atmosphere with big city entertainment.
- Nearby Top-Rated Beaches: A few miles north is the award-winning white-sand Palm Beach, located in a glitzy resort town with upscale dining, art gallerias and world-class golf. Also, there is the popular South Beach Park in Boca Raton.
- Top Activities in the Area: Butterfly World, Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, Shopping, Flamingo Gardens, Palm Beach Zoo, Manatee Lagoon, Lion Country Safari, let alone being close to Miami and all that it has to offer.
East/Central Florida
Cocoa Beach
- Location: Cocoa Beach is 1 hour east of Orlando, near Cape Canaveral, on the Atlantic Coast
- Why Go: World-renowned waves makes Cocoa Beach a popular place for surfers, and being close to Orlando makes it a great beach retreat for families.
- Top Activities in the Area: Kennedy Space Center, Brevard Zoo, Bioluminescence Kayak Tours, and Walt Disney World is only 1 hour away!
Northeast Florida
Amelia Island
- Location: Amelia Island is about 30 miles northeast of Jacksonville on the Atlantic Coast of Florida.
- Why Go: Enjoy 13 miles of relaxing beaches surrounded by old world charm, where you can even ride horses on the beach!
- Top Activities in the Area: Fort Clinch State Park, Amelia River Cruise, Big Talbot Island State Park, Kingsley Plantation, The Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
The many beaches that are listed above are just a few of the spectacular and award-winning beaches that you can find throughout the state of Florida. (This post would be really long if I tried to name them all.) So, hopefully you will find yourself near one of these great beach destinations. But even if you are not, try and check out any beach that you can. You never know what beauty you may find.
For example, one morning we happened upon Anastasia State Park’s beach, near St. Augustine. This beach is not on any list that I’ve seen of top beaches in Florida, but when we got there, it was truly a magical site.
Bucket List Ideas for a Beach Vacation:
Watch a Sunrise Over the Water
Watching a sunrise over the water is such an incredible experience. There’s nothing quite like seeing the first rays of the sun dance across the waves.
This is best experienced on the east coast of Florida.
Watch a Sunset Over the Water
Watching the sun set over the water is truly an awe-inspiring experience. The explosion of colors in the sky are many times, simply unreal and an event that you won’t want to miss!
This is best experienced on the West Coast of Florida.
And for a bucket list adventure: try watching the sun rise over the water in the morning on the east coast and then drive over to the west coast of Florida to catch a sunset in the same day!
Our Favorite Beach Gear:
Have a Great Trip to the Beach with Your Traveling Feet!
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