Does Florida Have Sugar Sand? Where & Why?

Yes Florida has sugar sand except softer and much cooler on those sunny days. There are scientific reasons for those claims. Where are the sugar sand beaches in Florida? Let me show you where the best and least known beaches are.

Florida Beaches

The White Sand Beaches In Florida The Sunshine State

From Perdido Key & Gulf Islands National Seashore to the white sand beach of Cape Romano quartz sand from the Appalachian Mountains separates Florida's gulf coast beaches from any competitor. That quartz sand was delivered during the last ice age.

Yes there is a well established link between quartz sand and being both cooler during the day and softer on your bare feet than coral sand beaches in Florida or god forbid the sand along the shores of lakes. Fun fact, many cities and counties in Florida forbid the import of white sand because it harms the local ecology.

A Florida Beach Can Be A Unique Beach With Fun Activities & Crystal Clear Waters

Ever thought of searching for seashells? Maybe a sharks tooth or fossils? Maybe strolling down beautiful powdery soft white sand beaches and finding a sand dollar? Believe it or not there are locations that your odds of success are much higher and if you read on you will drastically increase your chances as most beach sand will not have these hidden gems. Lets go from north to Southwest Florida.

Gulf Islands National Seashore and Pensacola Beach are just about as far to the west as you can go in Florida. The tip so to say of the Florida Panhandle or, lower Alabama as some call it. Most of the nearby beaches like Navarre Beach, Fort Walton Beach and Destin Beach are pretty much barrier islands. That limits access to them compared to other beaches along the Emerald Coast but these are among the prettiest white sand beaches in the world.

The World's Luckiest Fishing Village, Destin Florida

White sands are just some of what awaits you in Destin. I lived in this area for 15 years and have fished everywhere within 50 miles of the Destin Pass (some say inlet). The perk of this area is the actual ability to get in and out. Santa Rosa Beach is also found here.

Much of the barrier island to the west toward Pensacola Beach 50 miles away you cannot pass through. It is covered with relatively boat-less traffic. Destin also provides scuba diving, a great boardwalks and a fantastic nightlife. As for fishing, the blue water is typically 40 miles offshore from Florida's Emerald Coast.

Henderson Beach State Park, Miramar Beach, Grayton Beach And Panama City Beach

These beautiful beaches round off the most well known gulf coast beaches. All are beautiful beaches with soft sand and a great experience waiting for you. Of these I prefer Grayton Beach for many reasons privacy being one. Panama City Beach is infamous for it's Spring Break period and traffic bacs up for miles and miles along the beach. Worth experiencing, if your 20 years old or less.

Caladesi Island State Park & Honeymoon Island A Secluded Beach Paradise

On the northwest side of Tampa Bay a secluded beach vacation paradise awaits. That is if you like seclusion, sugar white sands and the Gulf of Mexico. Lots of nature trails and the perfect spot for a tranquil walk along the soft beach sand in the Florida sun. Other than wading and swimming not much else but many love it here.

Clearwater Florida and St Pete Beach Fun In The Sun In Tampa Bay Florida

I believe the most beautiful beaches on the Gulf of Mexico are from here and southward. My favorites are these two because of all they offer nearby not just the fine grained soft sands. Jet skiing and many other water sports and the ability to rent equipment are all part of a beautiful beach and great beach town. Florida beaches should all mimic Clearwater beach in this area. Those perks of Clearwater Beach do not take away one bit from the enjoyment of the actual beach itself.

Clearwater Beach is a barrier island loaded with those same quartz particles that make St Pete Beach and all the others in between amazing. As we go south we will discover the hidden gems for those who just focus on not so famous white sand beaches.

The Many Beaches Of Southwest Florida From Bean Point on Anna Maria Island To Marco Island

When the high tide line is just right Venice Beach and Casper Beach offer a unique experience. Powdered sugar gives way to many fossil fragments, shell fragments and even the more than occasional sharks tooth. The beached still contain the same quartz sand but they are mixed with so many fossil fragments that sometimes the beach even appears to be black. A real unique experience to say the least.

Siesta Key Beach & Florida's Southwest Gulf Coast

Swimming or taking a walk on a barrier island and its soft sand has never been more enjoyable. At least if you walk on the damp sand. These beaches are only lacking the sweetness to be considered pure sugar sand. Powdery soft and brilliant white no other Gulf of Mexico beach can compare. Certainly no Atlantic Ocean beach like Cocoa Beach or Miami Beach. It is completely different here. On the northern tip you will find Sand Dollar Beach where my wife used to go as a little girl. Yes, they can still be found there.

South of Siesta Key Beach is a long list of beautiful locations with glistening white sugar white sands. Roads can be taken to many of them including the not so famous although it should be, Marco Island. To the south are countless islands many of which you can actually enjoy a beach on. You will need a boat but the privacy of these gorgeous quartz sands will make it worth it. The best sugar sands in the world await you.