Florida, best West Coast beaches
Siesta Beach, Siesta Key, near Sarasota, central-west Florida
Siesta Beach on Siesta Key, a barrier island 8 miles long, is not only one of Florida's best beaches but America's best [Travel Channel, best sand beach 2008] and claims to have world's finest, white powder sand that does not heat up, washed by the warm, translucent waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Siesta is a public beach with full facilities, activities and numerous choices of accommodation, very commercialised and built-up but a terrific, safe, kid's destination with gradual slopes, shallow waters, lifeguards and gentle waves. Siesta is also the habitat of a wide variety of fish and is the best snorkeling beach on the west coast of Florida.
Travellers who prefer less busy sands should check the Siestsa Key's Crescent Beach, Turtle Beach or the more remote Palmer Point Beach at the south end of the island.
Pensacola Beach, NW Florida
Pensacola Beach, Santa Rosa Island, Florida
Santa Rosa is a large and dazzling, white sand, barrier island south of Pensacola city, scattered with dunes, grasses, sea oats, monstrous hotels and other tourist trappings and connected via bridges to the Fairpoint Peninsula. The beach is washed by the clear emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico; in summertime it becomes a very busy place. If you're in search of solitude, this is not for you.
On the north, Santa Rosa Sound side of the island is a boardwalk lined with shops, restaurants, clubs and - in season - enlivened by street musicians and sidewalk artists.
Possible activities include surfing, swimming, biking, hiking, fishing, sailing and noisy marine sports such as jet skis and para sailing, so this is hardly a tranquil paradise but well suited to families and young party people.
The city of Pensacola is tourist-oriented too, with many festivals, a couple of interesting museums and a zoo.
Sea turtles lay eggs in the dunes May - August and babies hatch from mid-July thru October.
Perdido Key, NW Florida
Perdido Key, near Pensacola, north-west Florida
Perdido is one of the few unspoilt areas of the Florida Panhandle [the top left curve of the state, adjoining Alabama] and offers 52 miles of famously white sand beaches, many backed by rolling, partially grassed dunes and a climate that averages more than 340 days of sunshine a year.
The key features several nature parks including Big Lagoon State Park, Gulf Islands National Seashore and Perdido Key State Park - terrific for outdoor recreation activities such as hiking, fishing, sailing, diving and wildlife watching [many birds, osprey, dolphin and various sea turtles].
Turtles lay their eggs May-September and babies hatch two months later, heading for the bright horizon. Sadly many mistake the lights of hotels and stores for their marine destiny and end up going the wrong way. Only 1% of hatchlings survive these days.
The wide and dazzling beaches are washed by clean, clear waters that make excellent swimming, sunbathing and occasional body boarding. There is plenty of accommodation and facilities nearby.
Perdido Key State Recreation Area is on the Gulf Beach Highway, 15 miles southwest of Pensacola, off S.R. 292.
Grayton Beach, NW Florida © Larry D. Moore
Grayton Beach on the 'Emerald Coast' between Panama City beach and Destin, NW Florida
This fine, white sand beach and emerald Gulf waters provides excellent swimming, sunbathing, fishing, kayaking and boating.
Hikers and cyclists can enjoy over four miles of trails through pine flatwoods around Western Lake or on a nature trail winding through a forest of oaks and magnolias, bent and twisted by salt winds, with an eerie 'Middle Earth' look.
Modern cabins and a full-facility campground are available.
Located near the town of Grayton Beach on County Road 30A, south of U.S. 98.
Fort De Soto Park and fine beaches, centre-west Florida © Sting
Fort De Soto Park, near St Petersburg
The park comprises five islands covering 1,000+ acres, with shallow waters and three miles of soft white sandy beaches, attracting more than 2.7 million visitors annually. It offers two main swimming centres at North Beach and East Beach, with modern facilities, as well as a dog beach. Dogs can roam freely along a prime stretch of beach near the park's pier. There's also an adjacent fenced field complete with dog facilities – fire hydrants and garden hoses with spray nozzles.
The park is well supplied with outdoor activities as it embraces a 6.8 mile walking trail, a 2.5 mile canoe trail, several nature trails, a boat launching facility and a large camping area.
Get there via I-275 south to exit 17 [Pinellas Bayway] and west at the second stop light. 3500 Pinellas Bayway South.
Caladesi Island State Park, near Dunedin
This 3 mile length of wide, flat and undeveloped white sandy beaches is a no-vehicle area, just grassy dunes, birds and calm Gulf waters, excellent for swimming, kayaking, snorkelling and shallow-frying yourself.
Get there
via a ferry from Honeymoon Island SRA, 30 miles west of Tampa.
Clearwater Beach, north of Dunedin is another splendid beach on the Gulf Coast.
See bugbog's America's best beaches page as well as dedicated California and Hawaii pages
Florida Travel Guide | Florida East Coast | USA Map |
