Lovers Key State Park is a treasure in Fort Myers Beach. You can kayak a mangrove-lined trail and stroll an unspoiled 2.5 mile beach. The park has recovered from Hurricane Milton and its devastating storm surge a year ago.
Best Florida Beaches
Best Beaches in Florida
Florida Rambler’s full catalog of stories about our favorite Florida beaches, many of them hidden treasures where you can find solace and sun, surf and sand, or excellent fishing. Family beaches to play and hidden gems you can only reach by kayak.
Browse our beach stories below…
Stump Pass Beach State Park reopens 11 months after Hurricane Milton
Discover a less well-known string of islands — Gasparilla Island, Don Pedro Island and Manasota Key. Each holds a spectacular state park with top beaches.
John D. MacArthur Beach Park: Perfect blend of kayaking, snorkeling, beach
John D. MacArthur Beach State Park has almost two miles of beach, lined with sand dunes covered with native vegetation. A summer treat: There can be good snorkeling from the beach.
Cayo Costa: A wild island with spectacular beach you can visit by boat
Cayo Costa, a wild island with nine miles of pristine beach, can be reached for day trips and there are two companies that offer cruises. The lucky few who visit can explore a slice of paradise.
Surf fishing is a fun family outing — or a quiet escape
There’s no better time for surf fishing than late summer and fall, when the mullet run down the coast. Here’s the gear you need and how to fish from shore.
Discover Hobe Sound’s ‘secret’ wild beach and wildlife refuge
Secret beaches are the stuff of vacation dreams. But I found one — more than 5 miles of wild, broad unspoiled sandy shore, lined with thick native vegetation and without a condo or T-shirt shop in sight.
Florida A1A: Best section for superb views & intriguing history
Florida A1A stretches the whole length of the state’s Atlantic coast. But the can’t-miss part is this 30 miles in Northeast Florida. Here are the best stops along that route, some you might miss without our tips.
Best lil’ beach towns
The best Florida beach towns are cozy and quaint, reflecting an Old Florida ambience. Here are seven of our favorites, all small enclaves worth discovering.
Wind-swept Huguenot Park: Pristine beach with camping on a Jacksonville sandbar
This sandy campground near Jacksonville is a beach lover’s dream.
Open again! Caladesi Island is pristine beach and cool kayak destinaton
After a long closure from hurricane damage, one of the best beach in America has reopened. Caladesi Island State Park off Dunedin is a perfect kayak destination too.