Top 10 Florida Gulf Coast Beaches You Must See
Once you start researching Florida Gulf Coast beaches, you may realize
that you have far more selection than you initially expected. Perhaps
you’ve heard of the most popular options like Clearwater Beach, but
there are many others that are just as beautiful and entertaining.
Our Top Picks for Florida Gulf Coast Beaches:
Your
goals for your upcoming vacation will determine which one of the Florida Gulf Coast beaches is right for
you, and the following options may suit you perfectly.
- Indian Shores:
You’ll find this beach tucked between Clearwater and St. Petersburg on a
barrier island in southern Florida. If you enjoy nature or you’re a
birdwatcher, you must visit Town Square Nature Park and the Suncoast
Seabird Sanctuary. You may also want to head out on the water for a day
of boating or fishing.
- Pass-A-Grille Beach:
If you follow the Gulf Coast south of Indian Shores, you’ll find this
small beach at the end of the barrier island, just south of St. Pete
Beach. There are some fun inns in this area, and bottlenose dolphins are
known to play close to shore for easy viewing. Fishing is a popular
activity here, and this is your access point to the Shell Key Preserve.
- Fort De Soto Park:
There is a small, family-friendly beach located in this state park in
the city of Tierra Verde. The park covers five islands, and this is
where many local boat enthusiasts spend most of their time. You can
visit the beach’s historic fort or rent a bike and head off in the
scenic trails. Most visitors simply lounge on the beach or spend their
time fishing and boating.
- Redington Beach:
This town is located just north of Madeira Beach on a barrier island in
southern Florida. You could visit Redington Beach, Madeira Beach, and
North Redington Beach in one vacation. Redington has some
family-friendly restaurants and a small park for younger children in
addition to a beautiful beach for swimming and relaxation.
- Treasure Island:
This is a three-mile beach with soft white sand. You can walk along the
one-mile Treasure Island Beach Trail to find a variety of shops,
hotels, bars, and restaurants. This is considered a good option for
family vacations.
- Clam Pass Park:
This is a family-friendly beach park located in the Naples area. It
features a nice boardwalk with spectacular views and a trolley that
every member of the family will enjoy riding. You can also rent a
catamaran or kayak to explore the water.
- Marco Island:
This is a beautiful island with miles of sandy beaches that are perfect
for romantic vacations as well as family vacations. While you can rent
equipment to enjoy a variety of water sports, there are also some
unusual beach activities to enjoy. For instance, don’t forget to walk
through the butterfly garden before you leave. There are some private
beaches on the island, so make sure to discover the public access points
before heading out for the sand.
- John Beasley Park:
This is one of the public beaches near the city of Destin, and it’s
positioned right off the boardwalk with beautiful clear green water
stretching alongside sugar-white sand. Surfing, snorkeling, and fishing
are popular activities here, but you can also take advantage of the
volleyball court or let your kids run on the playground. You’ll find
this beach on Miracle Strip Parkway in the Fort Walton Beach area.
- Henderson Beach State Park:
Access this beach from Emerald Coast Parkway in Destin. It’s the
perfect pick for a fall visit because the white sandy beach has added
color from morning glories and other wildflowers. Make sure to walk
along the nature trail, and you can camp at this beach for if you’re
traveling on a budget.
- Anna Maria Island: For crystal clear
waters and miles of soft white sand, this is the island that you want to visit.
For a quiet spot that’s hard to find but worth the effort, find Bean Point. You
enter off of Gladiolus Avenue and head in the opposite direction of the walkway
leading to the beach. There are many shells at this point, and the sand is
incredibly soft.
You can still consider Clearwater, St. Petersburg and other
well-known Florida Gulf Coast beaches good options for your trip, but you don’t want to
miss out on other options either. Do your research into these beaches and
others, and you’ll find the right beach for your goals.
Do you want to relax, or are you out for romance? Do you
need family-friendly attractions, or are you a food lover ready to taste the
Gulf Coast? Your answers to those questions will point you to the best Florida
Gulf Coast beach.
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