Florida Beaches and Info
Grab your swimsuits, lawn chairs, snorkel gear and beach umbrella - get ready for an unforgettable day or stay at the beach in Florida! Beautiful beaches, clear blue water, sunshine and sand. With picture-perfect weather, white sand and crystal blue waters, Florida's beaches are rated as some of the best in the world.
Find Your Place in the Sun on a Florida Beach
Your Place in the Sun – From any point in Florida, a beach is no more than 60 miles away, and sandy beaches make up 1,200 miles of the state's 1,800 miles of coastline.
From surfing, sailing and snorkeling to boating, bronzing and basking, Florida beaches offer activities for all ages. Sand beaches, a Florida signature, account for 1,100 miles (1,770 km) of the state's 1,800 miles (2,898 km) of coastline. Actually, Florida has more than 8,460 miles (13,620 km) of tidal shoreline, second only to Alaska in that category.Florida's beaches are rated among the finest in the U.S. by Florida International University professor of environmental studies, Stephen Leatherman, who researches and rates the nation's beaches on everything from water and sand quality to temperature and beauty. In fact, in 2002 St. Joseph Peninsula State Park in Northwest Florida was rated the number one beach in America!
Click the following for more Florida Beach information and hotels near many of the best beaches and coastal cities:
Florida's East Coast Beaches: The Gold Coast or Space Coast (click here)
Florida's West Coast Beaches and Florida Keys: "The Suncoast"
About Florida's Weather: (why we're one of the best beach areas in the world)
Sunshine - a year round pleasure as Florida's comfortable climate has lured vacationers for more than a century.
Average annual temperatures:
Summer: 80.5 (F) degrees (26.9 C) in north Florida and 82.7 (F) degrees (28.2 C) in south Florida.
Winter: 53.0 (F) degrees (11.7 C) in north Florida and 68.5 (F) degrees (20.3 C) in south Florida.
Coastal winds provide pleasant breezes during summer months.
Florida Beaches Fact Sheet
Sandy beach accounts for 1,200 miles of Florida shoreline. Two distinct waterfronts -- the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico – mean sharp diversification that is furthered by other factors, including latitude that varies 6 degrees from northernmost to southernmost beaches.Vegetation, population, dunes formation, sand composition, wave action, and other natural and social influences serve up Florida beaches in many flavors. Here we have divided Florida’s beaches into packages according to beach-goers’ interests and activities, listing some of the best in each category. A * denotes beaches accessible only by boat. For more information on Florida’s beaches, visit www.VISITFLORIDA.com and www.floridastateparks.org.
Hall of Fame Beaches – These beaches have placed #1 on Dr. Beach’s annual Best Beaches listings (see www.NHBC.fiu.edu for more information on the listing).
• 2005, Fort DeSoto Park (877-352-3224, www.floridasbeach.com)
• 2002, St. Joseph Peninsula State Park (800-482-4853, www.visitgulf.com)
• 1995, St. Andrews State Park (800-327-8352, www.thebeachloversbeach.com)
• 1994, Grayton Beach State Park (800-822-6877, www.beachesofsouthwalton.com)
• 1992, Bahia Honda State Park (800-275-5397, www.fla-keys.com)City Beaches – Metropolitan area beaches are big on bustle, shopping, dining, nightlife, and sophistication.
• Delray Beach (800-833-5733, www.palmbeachfl.com)
• Fort Lauderdale Beach (800-22-SUNNY, www.sunny.org)
• Hollywood Beach (800-22-SUNNY, www.sunny.org)
• South Beach, Miami Beach (888-76MIAMI, www.gmcvb.com)
• St. Pete Beach, St. Petersburg (877-352-3224, www.floridasbeach.com)Undiscovered/Secluded Beaches
• Playalinda and Klondike Beaches, Canaveral National Seashore, Titusville (800-93-OCEAN, www.space-coast.com)
• Walton Rocks Beach, Hutchinson Island (877-585-0085, www.goodnature.org)
• Johnson Beach on Perdido Key, Pensacola (800-874 1234, www.visitpensacola.com
• Cayo Costa State Park, Fort Myers* (800-237-6444, www.FortMyersSanibel.com)
• Anclote Key, Tarpon Springs* (877-352-3224, www.floridasbeach.com)Dunes Beaches – North Florida beaches generally claim better, higher dunes formations.
• Fort Clinch State Park, Amelia Island (800-2-AMELIA, www.ameliaisland.org)
• Guana River State Park, Ponte Vedra Beach, (800-418-PLAY, www.getaway4florida.com)
• Opal Beach, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Pensacola (800-874 1234, www.visitpensacola.com)
• Deer Lake State Park, Seagrove Beach (800-822-6877, www.beachesofsouthwalton.com)Family (with Tots) Beaches – Gentle waves and sea bottom slope make the safest environment for tiny ones. Others mentioned here provide fun activities for kids.
• Bathtub Reef Park, Hutchinson Island (877-585-0085, www.goodnature.org)
• Crandon Park, Key Biscayne, Miami (888-76MIAMI, www.gmcvb.com)
• Quietwater Beach, Pensacola Beach (800-874 1234, www.visitpensacola.com)
• Sand Key Park, Clearwater (877-352-3224, www.floridasbeach.com)
• Siesta County Beach, Siesta Key (800-800-3906, www.sarasotafl.org)
• Bonita Beach, Bonita Springs (800-237-6444, www.FortMyersSanibel.com)Family (with Teens and ‘Tweens) – Kids looking for action and the extreme will like the water sports, volleyball, and action at these spots.
• Main Beach, Fernandina Beach (800-2-AMELIA, www.ameliaisland.org)
• Daytona Beach (800-544-0415, www.daytonabeach.com)
• Sea Turtle Beach, Jensen Beach (877-585-0085, www.goodnature.org)
• Carlin Park, Jupiter Beach (800-833-5733, www.palmbeachfl.com)
• Haulover Park, North Miami Beach (888-76MIAMI, www.gmcvb.com)
• Main Beach, Pensacola Beach (800-874 1234, www.visitpensacola.com)
• Manatee County Park, Anna Marie Island (800-462-6283, www.floridaislandbeaches.org)
• Chadwick Park, Englewood Beach (941-743-1900, www.pureflorida.com)Beaches for Couples/Romance
• Peter’s Point Beach Front Park, Amelia Island (800-2-AMELIA, www.ameliaisland.org)
• Seaside, South Walton County (800-822-6877, www.beachesofsouthwalton.com)
• Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin* (877-352-3224, www.floridasbeach.com)
• Captiva Beach, Captiva Island (800-237-6444, www.FortMyersSanibel.com)
• Lovers Key State Park, Fort Myers Beach (800-237-6444, www.FortMyersSanibel.com)Beaches with History – Forts, lighthouses, and other historic buildings deepen the beach experience on these sands.
• Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, Miami (888-76MIAMI, www.gmcvb.com)
• Fort Pickens National Park, Pensacola Beach (800-874 1234, www.visitpensacola.com)
• Egmont Key, St. Petersburg* (877-352-3224, www.floridasbeach.com)
• Gasparilla Island State Park, Boca Grande (800-237-6444, www.FortMyersSanibel.com)Beachcombing/Shelling Beaches – There’s treasure on every beach, but some are known for their abundant shells, shark’s teeth fossils, and even gold doubloons.
• Pepper Park, Fort Pierce (800-344-TGIF, www.visitstluciefla.com)
• Shell Key, St. Petersburg* (877-352-3224, www.floridasbeach.com)
• Casperson Beach, Venice (800-800-3906, www.sarasotafl.org)
• Manasota Beach, Englewood (800-800-3906, www.sarasotafl.org)
• Bowman’s Beach, Sanibel Island (800-237-6444, www.FortMyersSanibel.com)Hiking Beaches – These are long beaches with minimal human impact.
• Avalon State Park, North Hutchinson Island (800-344-TGIF, www.visitstluciefla.com)
• Johnson Beach on Perdido Key, Pensacola (800-874 1234, www.visitpensacola.com)
• South Lido Beach, Sarasota (800-800-3906, www.sarasotafl.org)Surfing Beaches – The East Coast has the best waves.
• Sebastian Inlet State Park, Sebastian (800-93-OCEAN, www.space-coast.com)
• Cocoa Beach (800-93-OCEAN, www.space-coast.com)
• Fort Pierce Inlet State Park, Fort Pierce (800-344-TGIF, www.visitstluciefla.com)Fishing Beaches – These beach parks have piers to cast fishing success your way.
• Jacksonville Beach (800-733-2668, www.jaxcvb.com)
• Lauderdale-By-the-Sea (800-22-SUNNY, www.sunny.org)
• Pier 60 Park, Clearwater Beach (877-352-3224, www.floridasbeach.com)
• Lynn Hall Memorial Beach, Fort Myers Beach (800-237-6444, www.FortMyersSanibel.com)Natural Beaches – Minimally developed beaches where nature has its way.
• Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park, Jacksonville (800-733-2668, www.jaxcvb.com)
• Frederick Douglass Memorial Beach, Hutchinson Island (877-585-0085, www.goodnature.org)
• Stump Pass State Park, Englewood Beach (941-743-1900, www.pureflorida.com)
• Gulfside Park, Sanibel Island (800-237-6444, www.FortMyersSanibel.com)
• Bowditch Point Regional Park, Fort Myers Beach (800-237-6444, www.FortMyersSanibel.com)Pretty, Groomed Beaches – Beautifully landscaped and meticulously maintained.
• Treasure Shores Beach, Vero Beach (772-567-3491, www.indianriverchamber.com)
• South Beach Park, Boca Raton (800-833-5733, www.palmbeachfl.com)
• James W. Lee Park, Destin (800-322-3319, www.destin-fwb.com)
• Lowdermilk Park, Naples (239-403-2384, www.paradisecoast.com)Snorkeling Beaches – Bring your mask and fins along when you hit these beaches.
• Shell Island, Panama City Beach* (800-327-8352, www.thebeachloversbeach.com)
• Point of Rocks, Siesta Key (800-800-3906, www.sarasotafl.org)Camping Beaches – Pitch a tent with a view.
• Long Key State Park, Florida Keys (800-275-5397, www.fla-keys.com)
• Henderson Beach State Park, Destin (800-322-3319, www.destin-fwb.com)
• St. George Island State Park, Apalachicola (850-653-9419, www.baynavigator.com)Wildlife Beaches – See birds, sea turtle nests, gopher tortoises, nature centers, and more.
• Little Talbot Island State Park, Jacksonville (800-733-2668, www.jaxcvb.com)
• Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge, Hobe Sound (877-585-0085, www.goodnature.org)
• Loggerhead Beach, Juno Beach (800-833-5733, www.palmbeachfl.com)
• John D. Macarthur Beach State Park, Palm Beach Shores (800-833-5733, www.palmbeachfl.com)
• St. Vincent Island National Wildlife Refuge, Apalachicola* (850-653-9419, www.baynavigator.com)
• Honeymoon Island State Park, Dunedin (877-352-3224, www.floridasbeach.com)
• Barefoot Beach Preserve, Naples (239-403-2384, www.paradisecoast.com)
• Tigertail Beach, Marco Island (239-403-2384, www.paradisecoast.com)
