What is the best beach in Florida?

Everyone knows that Florida is a state with spectacular beaches; however, with more than 1300 miles of sandy shores and several hundred beaches to visit, how could one pinpoint which Florida beach to choose? Below are some of the best beaches in Florida as well as the aspects that make them unique.

Siesta Key Beach

Of course, one beach that traditionally wins the award for Florida’s best beach is none other than Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota. On this beach, Siesta Key is particularly notable for the fact that it boasts some of the finest white quartz sand that is not only abrasive and hot to the touch. It is derived from the Appalachian Mountains and is finer than normal sand, more likened to powdered sugar. Siesta Key Beach was ranked by Dr. Beach, TripAdvisor, and other travel-related organizations as having the best sand in the USA.

The other important aspect of Siesta Key Beach is the clear aqua-colored water and gentle slope to the sand bar to allow anyone to walk into flat water. It is also very safe for swimming and snorkeling as well because the gradient of the beach is gentle and there is no very strong undertow. It is 825 ft wide, so even if it is packed on some occasions, people can always get their own space. A range of facilities such as playgrounds, volleyball nets, picnic tables, and shops for tourists are available near the stretch of the beach of Siesta Key.

Clearwater Beach

Among the most popular Florida’s Gulf Coast beaches is Clearwater Beach, which can be often found on the lists of both the best Florida beaches and the best American beaches. There are several factors as to why Clearwater Beach is so popular; one of them is its fine white sand and clear, turquoise water in which many species of sea creatures can be observed. In the water along the beach, you can find starfish, and shells such as conches, hermit crabs, and many other things. Snorkeling or boating tours are available to view dolphins manatees and stingrays swimming gracefully through the harbor.

Clearwater Beach is probably one of the most active beaches due to the numerous restaurants, lodgings, shops, and other forms of entertainment within reach immediately after leaving the beach. Those strolling on the beach can view the structures from the heritage site of the Clearwater Beach pier. Children enjoy the kids’ splash playground and the rooftop climbing wall facing the sand area. And sun severs devotees assemble every evening to witness the nightly carnival of colors over the Gulf of Mexico. The beach sunsets here have their hashtag: Well done that clear water at the beach.

Cape Florida State Park

One of the best beaches in Florida does not fit in this list because it is off the beaten path and a bit less crowded than the other ones mentioned above: Cape Florida State Park is situated on the southern tip of Key Biscayne, an island south of Miami. Here you will be able to swim one over a one kilometer of otherwise crowded sandy beach on weekdays. The water here is shallow and rather transparent which will make it good for swimming, boating, or even in search of some beautiful sea shells such as the cockles and the jingles. This is because there are few high-rise buildings to obscure the horizon views making them uninterrupted.

Although the beachfront has not been commercialized, there are facilities such as restrooms, picnic tables, a café, and parking space for the car as well provided for free. Inside the state park, there is a replica of the 1825 lighthouse that overlooks the Miami skyline or a natural trail through mangrove and coastal areas or one could even take a guided tour from the rangers to familiarize oneself with the status of this park. It even provides overnight camping a few minutes walk from the Beach for the natural Beach experience.

Fort De Soto Park

Fort De Soto Park is possibly one of the most popular beaches in the United States and is located at the southeastern corner of the beginning of Tampa Bay on five connected islands. It covers an area of 1,116 acres as well as the seven miles of beaches such as North Beach, East Beach, and the popular East Beach. All offer ample opportunity to lounge on fine sand just meters from the water’s edge and with tame waves.

This is not entirely true, especially for those who have been to Fort De Soto’s beaches where the beaches are lined with mangroves instead of busy roads giving a feel of a natural environment. Coastal sea-grass beds nearby are a good feeding ground for juvenile fishes and crustaceans that in turn are favorite foods for our egrets, herons, and other wading birds. You might also observe manatees feeding in the sea around these uninhabited barrier islands.
Fort De Soto Park, though having beautiful beaches, offers much more than beaches to its visitors. Bird watchers and anyone interested in wildlife will appreciate the opportunities of hiking and canoeing or kayaking through the interior scrub, which is a very rare coastal type of vegetation. Other attractions include walking out to the old Spanish fort or climbing up one of two original battery gun placements built in the 1890s for the defense of Tampa Bay. They add that for the convenience of the guests after the day at the beach, they offer the possibility of renting a campsite or a beach cabin with a view of the sunset upon the Gulf of Mexico.

Just as the name suggests, Caladesi and Honeymoon Islands State Parks are two separate but equally appealing parks.

Two beaches on the barrier islands of Florida’s central coast that have been featured on lists of the top beaches in Florida are the Caladesi Island State Park and the neighboring Honeymoon Island in Dunedin. The general thing that can be said about them is that they are endowed with stunning natural attributes.

There are no cars on Caladesi Island because the only way to access the area is by water transport to ensure the area remains crowded. While Honeymoon Island is a few minutes’ causeway drive, there is no business access to the island. Therefore, these side-by-side state parks provide the best features of the shorelines, including pristine beaches of white sand, crystal waters, and wildlife. They both offer enough space to look for that long empty sandy beach and feel like we are the only ones on this island.

The state park beaches have simple facilities for children and adults such as picnic shelters, snack bars, and equipment for kayak rental as well as beach wheelchairs. There are also nature trails for those who enjoy hiking, which pass through mangrove forests, oak hammocks, and virgin slash pine flatwoods. Avid swimmers and surfers have noted that Honeymoon Island provides some of the best waves in West Central Florida to those who wish to spend more on beach activities. There are possibilities for snorkeling if the weather allows for it and the offshore reefs can be quite stunning.

Whether you are planning your next Florida vacation to one of these beaches or you are just daydreaming about visiting Florida’s best beach, I hope you get to enjoy yourself and create fun memories. As rightly said, the Sunshine State does hold something for every flavor that a beach lover can imagine.