Barefoot Beach, a Collier County park just north of Naples, was named the sixth-best beach in America in 2013 by Dr. Honeymoon Island has a spectacular beach that can draw crowds. Siesta Beach was also the states only entrant into the global best beach list coming in at No. Naples has plenty of great Florida beach destinations, butClam Pass Park has a special twist. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. In the United States, Hawaii proved the strongest with three beaches in the top 10, while Florida and California both had two. Most of the time, however, Blowing Rocks is a beach for wading, sunbathing, and admiring the unique rock formations. Ranked 13th was St. Augustine Beach, 14th was St. Pete Beach, 18th Panama City Beach, 20th Pensacola Beach, 22nd Sombrero Beach on Marathon Key and 23rd Clearwater Beach. 2 among the Top 10 Beaches in the U.S. It's not a big deal, FTL is only 25 miles to the north of MIA but if you are making car reservations, make them out of Ft. Laud. Canals in the park also attract manatees in winter. 21 celebrities with homes in Sarasota and Manatee, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Snorkeling is best at high tide. Another red tide outbreak in Southwest Florida is killing a wide-range of marine life. 18), Pensacola Beach (No. 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. A promenade winds through the landscaping; its a favorite for bicycling skating and strolling. But Hawaii commonly tops Leatherman's list. The isolated beach, located off the urban coast of Clearwater Beach and Dunedin was named the No. 10 best places to visit in Sarasotaand what to do when you get there! Siesta Beach on Siesta Key ranked No. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park, Fort Pickens Area - Gulf Islands National Seashore. Its a lovely beach, but whats special is the pass itself, a narrow river-like opening in the mangroves, shallow enough that an adult can stand at the center except at the highest tide. Here are 17 beach destinations in Florida worth finding, This beach qualifies as a hidden gem often overlooked by visitors because its tucked away on a less-visible part of the island. Sarasota County's most popular beach has again been ranked among the best in the country and world by a national website. 11 for 2023. I'll PM you a couple of ideas. 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. If you love Hawaii, you'll find the Keys very different. It has a broad hard-packed beach made of the sort of fine white sand you see in an hourglass. WebHawaii vs. Florida Vacation: Which Is Better? From this jetty, you can watch 20-story-high cruise ships or tankers a block long come and go. This guide highlights the most common mistakes many travelers make so you can "Travelers have been raving about the white powder sand in Tripadvisor reviews,calling it a 'great beach for people watching, sunsets, breakfast/morning walk on the beach and finding sand dollars,'" aTripadvisor spokespersonsaid in an email issuedto the Herald-Tribune in 2022. 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. 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. Naples is renowned for its beaches, including award-winning Barefoot 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. 10 La Jolla Cove in La Jolla, California. In 2018, Southwest Florida experienced one of its worst red tide outbreaks ever. In the clear water you can spot horseshoe crabs, live shells, and stingrays. Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida. When molten lava cools rapidly in seawater, it shatters, forming the black sand that is washed onto the shore. These conditions are most common in winter. The Florida Panhandle has spectacular state parks, including Topsail Hill, one of the major state land purchases of its ambitious purchases of cons East Beach is more popular for swimming and has a spectacular view of the Skyway Bridge. Here's the rest:Want to visit 8 of TripAdvisor's Top 25 Beaches in the US? 4 Hanalei Beach in Kauai, Hawaii, No. 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. Then enjoy the laid back experience of Key West for a few days. -- Hawaii's beaches are unlike any others in the world; they're made of coral sand, lava rock, erosional runoff and calcareous matter, which means exoskeletons of Florida. Would like to use the tickets to go east. Tripadvisor announced its Best of the Best Beachesfor 2023 lists as part of its annual Travelers' ChoiceAwards. In Florida, though the heat and humidity is almost unbearable. Which of the Florida Keys for a (older) guys' weekend? Siesta Key Village and a bunch of popular restaurants, bars and nightclubs. If you love Hawaii, you'll find the Keys very different. 6. Its one of the last undeveloped barrier islands on Floridas southwest coast. 20) and Sombrero Beach in Marathon (No. The famed Sarasota County beach just missed the Top 10 on Tripadvisor's list of Top 10 Beaches in the World, placing No. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity.What are forum guidelines? Both are so much different. Your browser is not supported for this experience.We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari. It became a global story. This northern beach wont win awards for its sand -- its studded with rocks and seashells -- but it goes on for three miles. North Beach faces the Gulf of Mexico and is popular for shelling strolling and sunset views. As much as I would like to head back to Hawaii, Southwest Air doesn't fly in that direction. Key West is a FUN town. I already know about the beaches, I just can't help thinking how much I would rather be in Hawaii instead. At low tide the beach expands dramatically. The beach itself is about a mile long, and at several points youll find benches and showers. He did the same when he was on a boat. I've been to Oahu and The Big Island a few times, prefer Oahu. 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. Bucket list100 fun things to do in Sarasota County including restaurants, bars, beaches and more! Hawaii is more dramatic - but Key West has it's own since of charm. The massive stretch of sugar-white sand that is part of a county park with ample parking and facilities was previously named TripAdvisors top U.S. beach in 2020 and came in 2nd last year. 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. When Sarasota landed on Time magazines list of The Worlds 100 Greatest Places of 2021, the blurb ran with a Siesta Key sunset photo and a subhead that read The growing Gulf Coast scene.. The beach and town radiate out from Anglin's Fishing Pier, open 24 hours a day, where fishermen catch snapper and snook, and others pay a small admission for a scenic stroll. 3 Driftwood Beach in Jekyll Island, Georgia, No. I'm in central Texas so even This beach also offers a thrill you wont find at any other Florida beach: a long fishing jetty adjacent to the busy Port Everglades channel. Florida has no shortage of stunning coastlines, ranging from secret hideaways to family-friendly beaches. Advertising - This is a great beach to visit to enjoy the sunset; theres usually a mellow crowd. To explore the beach at Peanut Island you must arrive by boat. One thing I will give the Keys over Hawaii is that I think the snorkeling is 100 times better then Maui. The 2.5 mile beach is lined with trees and natural vegetation that is full of bird life, including two bald eagle nests and many more osprey nests. Tips: The park gets busy on weekends and think about the high-tide line before you park your car! Owned and managed by the Nature Conservancy, Blowing Rocks Preserve on Jupiter Island is as wild and natural as a beach can get. 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. In the United States, Hawaii proved the strongest with three beaches in the top 10, while Florida and California both had two. | Contact Us. As far as tropical locations go, many people expect the weather to be warm and sunny, looking for a perfect day to go to the beach and relax next to the ocean. The top 10 in the U.S. are No. no problem whatsoever, can always use a good laugh 03-18-2012, 12:58 PM I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. Even if you cannot tell the difference between the cultures of Hawaii and Florida, the weather easily sets the two apart. The 385-acre park has three distinct beaches one thats close to parking and concessions, a dog beach, and the northern sand-spit beach. Florida and Hawaii dominated the list this year, with eight locations each. The surfing is good and fishermen have luck casting from shore or from the fishing jetty. Another important aspect to consider when choosing to There is plenty to do and a great place to relax if you've a mind to! Its easy to spend the whole day here. There are hiking trails plus shelling, surfing and fishing are all good. A shuttle service connects the two. 6 Henderson Beach State Park in Destin, No. Florida and Hawaii took 9 of the 10 top spots for the best U.S. beaches in the awards announced Wednesday. What we know. 14) A great walking beach with white quartz sand, clear calm water, and seashells by the truckload," one of TripAdvisor's reviewers said. Thanke everyone for your help. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. The Caladesi Island Ferry (727) 734-1501 departs from Honeymoon Island, and the trip often includes spotting dolphins along the way. Top 10 Beaches in the U.S. Kaanapali Beach Also, Hawaii has the nicer backdrop with all the mountains. Follow him onTwitter,FacebookandInstagram. Cookie Policy - 2 Siesta Beach in Siesta Key, No. The beaches there are off the chain! The Great Florida Birding Trail even distinguishes Bahia Honda State Park as the best birding habitat in the Florida Keys. Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Named Americas top beach in 2009, Fort De Soto Beachdeserves all sorts of superlatives. I think if you visit our beaches with the idea that it is nice but will be different than Hawaii you will be happy. It will not have mountains and Archive - It has big sand dunes and is full of wildlife gopher tortoises, sea shells and shore birds. Between Ocean Drive and the wide swath of sand, Lummus has a grassy palm-tree-filled park. By continuing on our website, you consent to our use of cookies. Cost of Living Index: Destin, FL: Hawaiian Beaches, HI: Difference: Transportation: 93.3: 103.1: 9.80 (10.5% more) 100 = US Average. Ka'anapali Beach, Driving from Miami to Key West in a Convertible! 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?