Clearwater Beach is the sunniest beach in Florida and nearby St Pete Beach most likely follows. Clearwater Beach averages 361 days of sunshine per year. It also holds the record for consecutive days of sunshine at a whopping 768.
The gulf coast is a great place for a vacation and yes there are good beaches all around the state. I will save the best for last and right now cover some lesser known but absolutely stunning beaches. Let's start off with the Florida beaches located on the Florida Panhandle.
Grayton Beach State Park
Santa Rosa Beach
Henderson Beach State Park
Destin & Fort Walton Beach ( Crystal Beach & June White Decker Park )
Panama City Beach
Blue Mountain Beach
Definitely in that order are what I consider the best beaches in Florida that you will find in the panhandle especially in South Walton County. Sugar white sand and the sun tracking in front of you all day long. These amazing white sand beaches are vast and often overlooked as they are somewhat rural compared to the major cities and their associated beaches. One thing that hurts them is these are not the warmest beaches in Florida to visit in the fall and winter weather as it gets fairly cold and so does the water.
When people in Georgia think beach vacation they usually think Jacksonville or Saint Augustine Beach for nearby beautiful beaches. Amelia Island State Park is not for everybody. Although these are not the warmest Florida beaches they do have pristine sand and if your from Georgia you probably think it is soft white sand at least compared to the lakes in Georgia.
The downfall of this beautiful area is the distance to the gulf stream. Even deep sea fishing charters take longer. However, if your looking for a Florida beach with gorgeous water, palm trees and cities this is a great area and full of history. Overall many will have a memorable beach vacation here, and I lived here for over a year and had a blast.
Headed Southward in the Sunshine State along A1A or Interstate-95 (fastest) you will come to an endless list of competitor's for the best beaches in Florida along the Atlantic Coast. A1A is the best way to go is you don't mind taking it slow. Along the way you will be able to see beach volleyball, picnic tables and more than one beach chair. Not to mention smell that salt water on more than 1 occasion.
All I have to say is don't miss these two. Daytona Beach has the speedway, a water park and a very nice pier adjacent to the water park. How often do you see that? Bike Week is held there and this spot is definitely a great beach area and beach town. New Smyrna Beach is immediately south and a little less trafficked. You are starting to reach the latitude where you can swim in Florida in December and January if your skin is a little thick.
Beautiful sandy beaches and that barrier island feel of the Florida Keys or even Key West. Best of all about one hour from Orlando Florida and of course that means Walt Disney World etcetera. Immediately north is the Kennedy Space center and Port Canaveral.
The sun wakes you up and slowly tracks over your head as you bask in one of the warmest beaches we have covered so far. Get in all of the bird watching and tranquility you can because it gets a little more hectic as we head south.
Jupiter Island is gated, guarded and for the super rich who get invited. It is an interesting place you may want to look into. Just to the south of it is West Palm Beach. While you are there try to visit South Inlet Park and Red Reef Park both of these are rarely as crowded and offer all those traditional beach activities and beautiful shallow waters.
We are actually from Boca Raton and know this area very well. Parking is kind of tough but we could ride our bikes to the beach years ago. Delray Beach and Atlantic Dunes Park is where you should start your drive and head southward down A1A. You will drive by many a main beach park along the way as well as have some amazing views of the beaches. Park when you can and expect to pay. The best beach scenery is just over the dunes and past the palm trees.
We never liked the beaches in Fort Lauderdale although many love them. They have just been to commercialized and in our opinion are not that family friendly anymore. The city has in a way sold its soul and lost its way for profit. However, the airport is amazing, you can catch a cruise here and the beach is massive, just very crowded. My mother-in-law works with a legal version of turtle rescue in Delray Beach.
If you like Florida in December and want to wet your toes or lay in the sun then South Beach may be the right fit for you. South Beach has no more famous or infamous beach and this among the warmest beaches in Florida. The thing about South Beach is getting to and from it and the crowds. If you are willing or have not experienced it then the white sand beaches and Florida sunshine await you. Just tell your wife your bird watching. For people watching this is one of the best beaches in Florida.
Don't get you hopes up. I don't have a lot of great things to say about beaches in the Florida Keys. The best way to enjoy the outdoors here is in the state park or on a boat. Most people and myself on many occasions anchor up on the reef/sand bars and just hang out. This is also very common in Destin by the inlet and everywhere else with crowded or no beaches and a sandbar. Locals use it as a getaway. Key West? Meh, Been there done that and found it overrated.
Clearwater Beach and St Pete Beach are the best beaches in Florida year round. The Gulf coast has the best beaches in Florida and every true Floridian knows that. Cut out the hype and you will always end up along the gulf coast and gulf coast's beaches.
Dis you know the water on the east coast and the west coast are the same waters? Yes both are considered the Atlantic Ocean and the gulf stream constantly stirs both pots with one another. In addition any gulf coast beach will have whiter sand and some of that white sand is unique from anywhere else in the world.
Clearwater Florida and St Petersburg are probably the best beach towns in the state. No hype, just designed for the residents and tourist to get the most out of life. You name it and you can find it from the culture of the fine arts to a corny pirate ship cruise. Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Bars, restaurants and still family friendly that is what Central Florida Tampa Bay beaches are all about.
Ever hear of Siesta Key Beach? Crescent Beach, Siesta Beach and Sarasota Beach are all on Siesta Key in Southwest Florida just north of Marco Island and Cape Coral. Siesta Key Beach was voted the best beach in America in 2020. A must see if you like glittering sugar white sand. When you are ready for the total package drive just to the north into Tampa Bay for the best beaches in Florida.
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