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.
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…
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.
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.
Underwater parks: 5 Florida wet and wonderful getaways
Florida’s underwater parks preserve exceptional bodies of water, from shipwrecks to spring-fed caves. They are among the most unusual parks in the US.
Discover the beaches of Venice, ‘shark tooth capitol of the world’
There are 14 miles of fabulous beaches in Venice, including Sarasota County’s only dog beach. The big attraction is ancient shark’s teeth that continuously wash ashore to the delight of beachgoers.
Two Florida Keys parks offer old-fashioned swimming holes and recreational features
These new Florida Keys parks take refreshing swimming holes popular with locals and upgrade them with picnic tables, kayak launches, restrooms and parking. Both of these new parks are perfect stops along the scenic Overseas Highway.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park: Towering dunes, perfect beach, rare lakes
Topsail Hill State Park preserves 3 miles of pristine beach, magnificent white sand dunes and sparkling coastal lakes. With lots of camping and cabin sites, it’s a gem in the Panhandle. The park is one targeted for development by the state with the addition of a 350-room hotel.
Where can you go snorkeling in Florida if you don’t own a boat?
I have long enjoyed snorkeling from shore to see colorful sealife. Over many years, I’ve scouted these great places to snorkel and see fish from the beach.