The 19 Best South Florida Beaches
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1. Siesta Key Beach
© fotomak / 123RF Great for:- Family
- Swimming
Frequently cited as the USA's best beach on account of its brilliant white sand, turquoise waters and laid back feel, Siesta Key is a worthy contender for the title.
Located on the eight mile long Gulf Coast barrier island of Siesta Key the beach here is made from some of the finest sand on the planet; 99% quartz, the white sand is apparently unusually cool and soft - good enough in… read more »
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2. Barefoot Beach
© lunamarina Barefoot Beach is in Bonita Springs on the southwest side of Florida. It is made up of a long white expanse of sand that stretch out along the azure waters of the Gulf of Mexico. These waters are calm and warm, and the beach is set in a preserve surrounded by wildlife and greenery. The Barefoot Beach Preserve is 342 acres of land that is pristine and unspoilt.
The… read more »
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3. Miami South Beach
© sborisov / 123RF Great for:- Swimming
- Surfing
South Beach is perhaps the ultimate urban beach. It has it all; history, style, quirkiness, class and as much partying as you want, not to mention a vast swathe of white sand beach bordering clear blue ocean. This is where the beautiful and rich come to play in the sunshine before hitting the nightlife of Ocean Drive after dark. South beach is brash, colorful and even a little crazy -… read more »
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4. Fort Lauderdale Beach
DANIEL ALFARO C. Great for:- Family
Fort Lauderdale beach is a beautiful stretch of white sand that runs alongside the crystal clear blue waters of the ocean. It is quieter than Miami, with more of a family-friendly feel than a wild college party destination. The promenade that runs behind the beach is lined with palm trees and there is always plenty going on.
This beach at Fort Lauderdale is clean with generally calm waters that… read more »
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5. Caspersen Beach
Grendelkhan Great for:- Snorkeling
- Swimming
Florida's Gulf Coast has some of the best white sandy beaches in the world (with the awards to prove it) but Caspersen Beach is rather special. It is known as the "Shark Tooth Capital of the World" for reasons which are explained below.
Close to Venice, Caspersen Beach stretches along the Gulf of Mexico for 1.5 miles and is a great spot for shelling and spotting wading shorebirds and the… read more »
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6. Haulover Beach
Great for:- Swimming
- Surfing
White sand, clear turquoise sea - nothing unusual there for a Florida beach. Oh, and clothes are optional! That's right, the northern third of Haulover is an officially sanctioned nude beach.
But there is more to Haulover beach than getting naked - this beach has a fantastic array of amenities and things to do making it one of the best family beaches in the Miami area. Along with… read more » -
7. Bowman's Beach Park
Mark Sherman Great for:- Family
- Fishing
Several miles in length, Bowman's Beach sits on the Gulf of Mexico on the southern shores of Florida's Sanibel Island. Situated on one of the quieter parts of island, with just one main road heading north, Bowman's Beach is close to both JN Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge and the lagoon-like waters of Clam Bayou.
Roughly ten minutes on foot from the nearest car park, the path leads through the grassy… read more »
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8. Hollywood Beach
Tamanoeconomico Great for:- Family
- Swimming
With its gorgeous white sand reaching out to turquoise waters, Hollywood Beach is a South Florida gem. Located between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, the beach here stretches for 2.5 miles along the Atlantic Ocean. A boardwalk runs the length of the beach and is lined with all kinds of cafes, attractions and shops. If that isn't enough, then there is a trolley to take you from the beach… read more »
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9. Sanibel Island
© Noel Benadom / CC BY Sanibel Island is a barrier island on Florida's Gulf Coast. Whilst there are several other such islands in the vicinity, only Sanibel has an "east to west" orientation which apparently makes for sandy beaches and helps explain why this beach is considered a shell-seeker's paradise.
Until the 1960s Sanibel Island was only connected to the mainland by a ferry. These days a huge bridge connects Sanibel to the rest of Florida… read more »
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10. Boca Grande Beach
© dpexcel Great for:- Fishing
Boca Grande Beach is somewhat of an underrated beach destination on Gasparilla Island on Florida's west coast. Bathed by the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, this upmarket resort has a laid-back ambience and old-world charm that's great for families. Couples looking for a romantic escape with a difference will also enjoy time here.
The light-coloured sands of Boca Grande Beach are accessed via several points on 19th… read more »
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11. Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
Ebyabe Great for:- Snorkeling
- Fishing
- Swimming
This pristine tropical beach forms a mile long of a seemingly endless stretch of white powder sands which make up a barrier island off the coast of Naples in southwest Florida. With clear blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico to one side and tidal creeks and mangroves the other the 166 acre Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park is both a beachgoer's and nature lover's paradise.
This is the perfect Florida beach… read more »
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12. Crandon Beach
Paulkondratuk3194 Great for:- Family
- Swimming
- Kitesurfing
Crandon Beach is part of Crandon Park, a former coconut plantation, in the middle of exclusive Key Biscayne barrier island. It is frequently listed as one of the Top 10 Beaches in the USA.
The white sandy beach is truly idyllic, facing east and protected from the rough surf by an offshore sandbar. This allows the Atlantic waves to break gently along the shores of this 5-mile-long barrier island which backs… read more »
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13. Miami Beach
© Alex Gresbek Great for:- Swimming
Located on a barrier island, Miami Beach is a continuation to the north of the white sands that Miami's South Beach is famous for. Miami beaches are said to be the best in the USA, and arguably the most famous.
Miami Beach stretches from 21st to 45th Street and is a mecca for tourists, dog walkers, sunbathers and anyone wanting to see and be seen working on their tan..… read more »
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14. Cape Florida State Park
Tamanoeconomico Cape Florida beach is set within the greenery of Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park and has perfect white sand which stretches along the Atlantic coast. The waters here are warm, and this beach has often been listed as one of the top 10 beaches in America. You will have just over a mile of beach that is open for swimming, but there is no lifeguard.
Situated on the southern… read more »
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15. Marco Beach
© Joel Cocker Great for:read more »- Family
- Swimming
