In his past reviews of the beach for his Dr. Beach list, Stephen Leatherman, the Director of Florida International Universitys Laboratory for Coastal Research said Siesta Beach in Sarasota boasts that it has the finest and whitest sand in the world, and I cannot argue with this claim. Many beach destinations in Florida in the south are lined with high-rise condos and hotels, but little Lauderdale-By-The-Sea is a throwback to another era. Huguenot is the last beach in Jacksonville where you can drive your car onto the hard-packed sand. What his camera captured from those places in the video he made, which you can watch below, is as heart-breaking as it gets. With a $6 admission and ample parking, its a Key West bargain. Which of the Florida Keys for a (older) guys' weekend? There are hiking trails plus shelling, surfing and fishing are all good. Honeymoon Island has a spectacular beach that can draw crowds. 2 Siesta Beach in Siesta Key, No. The pier also has a small caf which is popular for its stunning views. 6 Henderson Beach State Park in Destin, No. 14) and Clearwater Beach (No. If you like spotting wildlife, the beach atLovers Key State Park is a good choice. Weak points in the Keys are poor beaches, not as lush as Hwaii's prettier areas, less to see and do vs. Maui or Oahu. 1 Kaanapali Beach in Maui, Hawaii, No. 1 in the U.S. twiceby Stephen Dr. They're right here in Florida. Weak points in the Keys are poor beaches, not as lush as Hwaii's prettier areas, less to see and do vs. Maui or Oahu. Look out for our newsletters with travel tips and special offers. This is a great beach to visit to enjoy the sunset; theres usually a mellow crowd. But those in the know consider the beach at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park the best in Key West. Walk south on this beach and youll soon find solitude its 2.5 miles long and most people cluster around the large picnic area and lifeguarded swim zone. Its not just a beach on an island; it offers two Florida beach destinationson five islands. Any thoughts? Perdido Key is home to part of this Seashore. Between Ocean Drive and the wide swath of sand, Lummus has a grassy palm-tree-filled park. It has a broad hard-packed beach made of the sort of fine white sand you see in an hourglass. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.What are forum guidelines? In the clear water you can spot horseshoe crabs, live shells, and stingrays. Ranked 13th was St. Augustine Beach, 14th was St. Pete Beach, 18th Panama City Beach, 20th Pensacola Beach, 22nd Sombrero Beach on Marathon Key I'm in the midwest, and have to say I prefer Key West to Hawaii. A promenade winds through the landscaping; its a favorite for bicycling skating and strolling. Why? If you hop into the waters of the pass you are gently swept by the tides. 10 Sneaky Travel Mistakes You're Probably Making Right Now. You can rent bikes and ride them on the hard-packed sand beach. Beach Leathermanand appeared in aWall Street Journal story in 2022about the best beaches in Florida. Sombrero Beach was the only new entrant for 2023 while Fort Lauderdale Beach and Treasure Island Beach fell out of the Top 25. more information on NYC scams with short term apartment rentals. You wont find many who disagree:Caladesi Island State Park is paradise. There has been a flurry of social media posts as beach goers see the shocking carnage and post the horrible images. It got is name because for years it was reachable only by boat, and only lovers seeking seclusion went to the trouble to go here. Rankings are based on the quantity and quality of reader reviews in the TripAdvisor community. 23). Privacy Statement - The Florida Keys - Key West or elsewhere? East Beach is more popular for swimming and has a spectacular view of the Skyway Bridge. It was one of two Sunshine State beaches in the Top 10 with Henderson Beach State Park in Destin in the Panhandle coming in at No. Ticket NewsletterSign up to receive restaurant news and reviews plus info on things to do every Friday. nearby in Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice area. To explore the beach at Peanut Island you must arrive by boat. Tripadvisor bills itself as "the world's largest travel guidance platform." Got a few questions before I dig in! Siesta's wide public beach features soft sand made almost exclusively of pure quartz, which remains cool on the feet even when baked in the Florida sun. 2 among the Top 10 Beaches in the U.S. If you love Hawaii, you'll find the Keys very different. Combine those qualities with the parks two jetties and you also get excellent snorkeling. At low tide the beach expands dramatically. Follow him onTwitter,FacebookandInstagram. 6. All rights reserved. Naples is renowned for its beaches, including award-winning Barefoot Beach. Driving from Miami to Key West in a Convertible! Siesta Beach on Siesta Key ranked No. Ka'anapali Beach in Maui, Hawaii, topped the U.S. list while Baia do Sancho in Fernando de Noronha, Brazil, ranked No. This is a great trip and you can enjoy Miami's South Beach shopping, beaches, and nightlife, and see some wonderful sites on the way to Key West. Here we take a closer look at the top 10 beaches in the U.S. ranked among the winners of 2023 Travelers' Choice Awards for TripAdvisor. 6. In 2022, Tripadvisor also named Siesta Beach No. This region is home to Gulf Islands National Seashore, which encompasses miles of beaches from Floridas border to the eastern tip of Santa Rosa Island. Sarasota County's most popular beach has again been ranked among the best in the country and world by a national website. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. Best waterfront restaurantswith outdoor seating in Sarasota and what to eat, drink there! The isolated beach, located off the urban coast of Clearwater Beach and Dunedin was named the No. Florida. The Great Florida Birding Trail even distinguishes Bahia Honda State Park as the best birding habitat in the Florida Keys. Even small kids can snorkel here, as the western jetty creates a calm protected area where snorkelers spot sting rays, fish, sea urchins and starfish. What will I find in the Keys? A regular double-occupancy room in Hawaii costs $331 per day. In addition to Siesta Beach, Tripadvisor's Top 10 Beaches in the U.S. list for 2023 included Henderson Beach State Park in Destin at No. Both are so much different. The average hostel charge is $166 per person per In addition to dolphins, the park attracts all sorts of birds pink roseate spoonbills, magnificent frigates overhead, and ospreys. California came away with just one spot for the 3 I still say Hawaii though -the landscape and beauty and climate beat Florida completely -especially if you're going in the summer. Your browser is not supported for this experience.We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari. If the tide is coming in, you float into a shallow mangrove-fringed lagoon. 14) A great walking beach with white quartz sand, clear calm water, and seashells by the truckload," one of TripAdvisor's reviewers said. These conditions are most common in winter. Owned and managed by the Nature Conservancy, Blowing Rocks Preserve on Jupiter Island is as wild and natural as a beach can get. This is a beach where you can walk from one-story open-air cafes and storefronts directly onto the sand. Thanke everyone for your help. A bonus for families: A large pond that attracts ducks and turtles. Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. 11. Florida has no shortage of stunning coastlines, ranging from secret hideaways to family-friendly beaches. 3 Driftwood Beach in Jekyll Island, Georgia, No. Though its easy to reach, Barefoot Beach makes you feel miles away from highways and high-rises. Its three miles of beach arent even the most popular thing here there are seven miles of bike trails, two fishing piers, camping, picnic pavilions, playgrounds and a historic fort. 4:55 a.m. ESPN Formula 1: The Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain. Located on the barrier island between the Intracoastal and the Atlantic Ocean, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea limits buildings heights and thus maintains its charming old-time beach town atmosphere. Want to visit 8 of TripAdvisor's Top 25 Beaches in the US? www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Beaches, Reports: 3 children dead, 2 wounded in attack at Texas home, Kellyanne Conway, George Conway To Divorce After Decadeslong Marriage: Report, School punished teen girl for working out in sports bra in 100-degree Texas heat, ACLU says, U.S. court won't require FAA to make airplane seat size, spacing rules, 'Extremely dangerous': Spike in illegal crossings at Canada-Vermont border has feds sounding alarm, South Florida snubbed on best beaches list, Siesta Key Stars Garrett Miller and Makenna Quesenberry Get Married in Romantic Sunset Wedding, Several arrests made in series of Long Beach burglaries, Is red tide present at your favorite Florida beach? The beach at Lummus Park is what people think of when they say South Beach. Siesta Beach with its quartz sand that makes it cool to the feet even in the blaring sun has been named the best beach in the U.S. twice in the annual Dr. Beach rankings that come out around Memorial Day. In a region with miles of sandy beach destinations in Florida, Blowing Rocks Preserve is unique: Its craggy limestone shore looks like it belongs in Maine or Hawaii. Who lives here?21 celebrities with homes in Sarasota and Manatee, Wade TatangeloisTicket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida-Georgia Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. How to check for red tide, What to know about red tide in Sarasota, Manatee this weekend. 7 Cannon Beach in Cannon Beach, Oregon, No. 7. Another red tide outbreak in Southwest Florida is killing a wide-range of marine life. You can take a shuttle from Sailfish Marina (98 Lake Drive Palm Beach Shores) or a water taxi from Riviera Beach Marina (Slip 522 200 E. 13th St. Riviera Beach.) With 825 miles of beaches, there are Florida beach destinations for every need and desire great snorkeling vs. good surfing; quiet and hidden vs. social and action-packed; sugar-like sand vs. dramatic craggy rocks. Here's what West saw at the beach and from a boat on Sanibel near the lighthouse, and in New Pass near Lovers Key, and in Estero Bay in Bonita: This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Southwest Florida red tide outbreak has people dodging dead fish, Mark H. Bickel and Andrew West, Fort Myers News-Press, Dead eels are washing up on Fort Myers, Naples beaches. Florida and Hawaii dominated the list this year, with eight locations each. In 2018, Southwest Florida experienced one of its worst red tide outbreaks ever. 22) bring Florida's total to eight. The sand spit extends into the Gulf of Mexico and the farther you walk the more stunning the scenery and solitude. After registering, I can manage my newsletter subscriptions by visiting my Profile Settings page. Top 10 Beaches in the U.S. Kaanapali Beach Located where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Gulf of Mexico, Fort Zach, as locals call it, has clear water, a shaded picnic area, and very good snorkeling around rocks not far offshore. White Sand White sand beaches are typically composed of quartz Even if you cannot tell the difference between the cultures of Hawaii and Florida, the weather easily sets the two apart. They're right here in Florida. Florida and Hawaii took 9 of the 10 top spots for the best U.S. beaches in the awards announced Wednesday. Barefoot Beach, a Collier County park just north of Naples, was named the sixth-best beach in America in 2013 by Dr. Named Americas top beach in 2009, Fort De Soto Beachdeserves all sorts of superlatives. Do Not Sell My Personal Information -, Fodor's may use your email address to send you relevant information on site updates, account changes, and offers. 8 Coronado Beach in Coronado, California, No. North Beach faces the Gulf of Mexico and is popular for shelling strolling and sunset views. Gstaad is the lair of the billionaire, a little Alpine nirvana so saturated with wealth that even the prices for fondue are faintly heartbreaking. Florida has more sandy beaches than any other state, a year-round climate to enjoy them, and a seemingly unbounded appetite for growth, all of which makes beach access a chronic flashpoint. Shopping? It has big sand dunes and is full of wildlife gopher tortoises, sea shells and shore birds. Plenty of colorful fish are viewable in waist-deep water, making it particularly popular with families. West has seen his share of red tide outbreaks during his career. Today we discuss my two recent trips to beach locations: Maui, Hawaii vs Fort Myers Florida. I would try southwest Florida. Florida is pretty and cheaper than Caribbean. I would also recommend other places in the south, like Georgia or Caro The state ended up with eight U.S. beaches in the Top 25, one down from the 2022 ratings, with entrants from along the Gulf Coast near Tampa Bay, the Panhandle, the Atlantic coast and the Keys. Support local journalism bysubscribing.. But if you want a long wild beach lined with sea grass and sea grapes all to yourself then head 15 minutes south of Fort Lauderdale toVon D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park in Dania Beach. Its easy to spend the whole day here. Here are 17 beach destinations in Florida worth 1. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. (Also: the fort itself is very neat.). 5 Hookipa Beach Park in Maui, Hawaii, No. Ka'anapali Beach, Just an FYI - Southwest flies into Ft. Lauderdale, not Miami. How about a trip to San Diego or Orange County? Then from the shady mangrove tunnel you emerge to a beach with blindingly white sand and turquoise water. RankedatNo. The state of Florida had eight beaches in the top 25, tying the Sunshine State for most beaches with Hawaii. I already know about the beaches, I just can't help thinking how much I would rather be in Hawaii instead. Take some extra time in Florida and discover a beach waiting for you. Floridas many wide, sandy beaches are lined with fantastic restaurants and offer many activities. The 385-acre park has three distinct beaches one thats close to parking and concessions, a dog beach, and the northern sand-spit beach. The oft-lauded public beach on Siesta Key that has in the past claimed the travel websites top U.S. ranking for the TripAdvisor Travelers Choice Awards, came in at No. One of my dreams! 21 celebrities with homes in Sarasota and Manatee, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. WebAnswered: I grew up in Hawaii and we try to visit every year. You can swim in the more protected inlet side of the island vs. the rougher Atlantic side. In contrast, Hawaiis beaches are more scenic but scattered among It has been a long time since I have been to Destin, but I remember it being one of the nicest beach areas that I have gone to in Florida. The prob Night & Day. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Beaches? Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park, Fort Pickens Area - Gulf Islands National Seashore. I just enjoy the laid back almost Caribbean feeling of Key West. It all depends. What about flying into Miami, renting a car and driving to Key West? Canals in the park also attract manatees in winter. In addition, Siesta Beach is conveniently located less than a mile away from bustlingSiesta Key Village and a bunch of popular restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Fortunately, thats easy and fun. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. Theres no shortage of great beaches near Jacksonville, but theres one out-of-the-way beach known mostly to locals thats worth finding Huguenot Memorial Park on Fort George Island. What we know, Southwest Florida red tide outbreak has people dodging dead fish, Reports: 3 children dead, 2 wounded in attack at Texas home, Kellyanne Conway, George Conway To Divorce After Decadeslong Marriage: Report, School punished teen girl for working out in sports bra in 100-degree Texas heat, ACLU says, U.S. court won't require FAA to make airplane seat size, spacing rules, 'Extremely dangerous': Spike in illegal crossings at Canada-Vermont border has feds sounding alarm, Tracking red tide along Southwest Florida's coast, Heading to the beach this weekend on Floridas Gulf Coast? Agreed, Hawaii has some very dramatic mountains. The beaches there are off the chain! I have lived in both places and I think you should experience the Keys at least once but if you are looking for wide, sandy beaches and decent surf you went in the wrong direction. The top 10 in the U.S. are No. Called Langdon Beach, this beach on the Santa Rosa barrier island has sand as white as snow, composed of fine quartz eroded from granite in the Appalachian Mountains. St. Augustine Beach (No. I haven't been to Hawaii but beleive us to be totally different. no problem whatsoever, can always use a good laugh 03-18-2012, 12:58 PM From this jetty, you can watch 20-story-high cruise ships or tankers a block long come and go. The beach itself is about a mile long, and at several points youll find benches and showers. Gopher tortoises and their burrows are plentiful along the nature trail that runs between the sand dunes and the hammock.