Clearwater Beach is the best beach town in Florida. Siesta Key would probably be the second best. Florida beach towns are well thought out and designed to keep both the local residents and frequent tourist very happy. A great tourist destination results in returning tourism.
When you visit small beach towns you can sense it. If not you can certainly tell when you are in a large city or an overcrowded one. Th gulf coast has a lot of small beach towns with pristine beaches from Navarre Florida all the way around the coast to Amelia Island on the northern east coast. To me beach towns in Florida should offer a wide variety of entertainment and attractions. To be honest for most of us 4 to 6 hours a day on the beach is more than enough. Then what?
It is just really tough to beat these two towns. Everything you need or would want in a beach town can be found in them. Even the Clearwater Marine Aquarium is nice and within just a short walking distance from the beach. Dining, white sandy beaches, vacation rentals, deep sea fishing and all kinds of boat cruises to enjoy the marine life from. You can even ride on a pirate ship.
When it gets later in the afternoon there are a wide variety of restaurants, a beautiful boardwalk and you will hear live music as you get out and explore. There are nightly events around the pier and this quaint barrier island will make you want to return. Best of all, it is great year round.
Anna Maria Island is the quintessential beach town and it to is an island. Connected only to Bradenton FL and Longboat Key is does qualify as one of the beach towns. Just remember the smaller the Florida Beach towns the more you will pay for groceries etcetera. That is why I mention Bradenton where things are less expensive.
Siesta Key is in South Florida on the west coast. It's sandy coastline if near perfect and so it the amazing white sand here. The natural beauty is on display throughout the day but peaks at sunset. The soft sand is well known for not getting hot during the day and being a brilliant white. It is nearly 100 percent quartz from the Appalachian Mountains and for whatever reason Siesta Key got the best dose of it. As for the small town Siesta Key Village could be described as the heart of it.
Fort Myers On Florida's Gulf Coast is next to Cape Coral and Sanibel Island. Fort Myers actually sets a ways off of the coast and Cape Coral is the more coastal town. from Cape Coral you reach Sanibel Island which is amazing. You will need Cape Coral on occasion because the island is somewhat rural but it has beautiful beaches
Marco Island is a great beach town as well. It is a rather large barrier island and keeping true to the island town theme it is quite a ways from civilization off the island. You need not worry because everything you need is right here. Not to mention almost 7 miles of the whitest sand beaches you can imagine. As you walk along the seashore you will at times here the sand squeak with pleasure, kind of.
In Northwest Florida there are some great beach towns. I have selected two of my rural favorites which are Seaside Beach and Grayton Beach which lie just west of Panama City Beach and east of Destin Florida. These are high end areas with the yet to be developed feel.
I know that sounds odd but actually it is just unique. We used to drive our trucks down these beaches between the cottages an nobody complained. Nearby Destin FL a historic fishing village also has beautiful beaches but is a little to developed. The only downside here is called winter time.
A great beach town but meh, beaches for the most part. I actually love Key West but I recognize what it is there for. If there was a beach worth visiting on Key West it would be Florida's beach diving capital and Lauderdale By The Sea to the north would need a new name. Another downside is there is only one roadway in. Only one way in means only one way out after the winds pick up. I would love to call this one of the best beach towns, but the beaches fall short.
Wow, that is a stretch. Talk about a crowded place with a barely over average beach. Poor parking, hart to reach and living on a reputation is how I would describe this part of Florida's east coast. Crime? Check for yourself and then you will see what I mean. I checked today and it was one of the highest in the nation. Pass, then head north.
Yes nesting sea turtles are along the sand dunes and beaches. My wife was raised here and my mother-in-law is still part of a turtle rescue organization. To be honest there is not a real small town along this part of the Atlantic Coast but there are some still relatively unspoiled beaches thanks to the efforts of a few.
West Palm Beach is one of the relatively quiet beach towns with gorgeous beaches that you can still find parking around. Jupiter and West Palm Beach are both still relatively small beach towns as most overlook them and head further south.
Cocoa Beach is only about an hour or so from Walt Disney World. The Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Are only about 10 minutes away for Cocoa Beach Pier. Why does that matter? Well from Cocoa Beach Pier you can watch rocket launches.
East Coast surfing is also a thing here at this beach. You knew there had to be a hot spot in the Sunshine State and it certainly is not Clearwater Beach. There is a Ron Jon Surf Shop on the north end of the beach and it is pretty hard to miss. If you tire of the local scenery there are several other beaches to the south but they are not white sand beaches. More of a pink color or tan. still some of the Atlantic Coasts best.
Daytona Beach has not only the raceway but an amusement park right on the water next to the pier. No wonder so many events are held here throughout the year. Daytona Bike Week should not deter you from thinking this is a family friendly beach because 90% of the year it very much is. New Smyrna Beach to the south is also a viable alternative. To the north toward St Augustine Beach you will pass the Golf Hall Of fame and several World Class Golf Courses all right off the interstate.
Just about as far north and east as you can go in Florida is where you will find these areas. Fernandina Beach and Main Beach Park are actually on the north side of the Island. Yes this is an amazing location for most of the year. There is even a Ritz Carlton here. Like Pensacola Beach and Santa Rosa Beach the only problem is winter. A great beach town should be fun in the sun all year round. After all this is the Sunshine State.
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