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Where is the best Florida beach? Try the Gulf Coast for your Florida beach vacation.
I am constantly asked where to find the top Florida beach. Finding the best Florida beach for your Florida beach vacation should not be a hit-or-miss thing. The Gulf Coast tops our recommendation for the best Florida beaches. People want to know where to go for the best sand, the most seclusion, the most fun, ease of parking, closeness of local beach bars, upscale places to eat, inexpensive accommodations, full-blown luxury amenities...well, you get the idea. I'm sure if you posed this question to a group of travel writers, Internet bloggers, marine biologists, or college fraternity brothers you'd get quite a varied response. Each of us has our expectations about what lifestyle we want to pursue on the beach and each of us will have our biases of what we absolutely DO NOT want. To me, the best beaches in Florida for quality lifestyle or a memorable Florida beach vacation are found on the Gulf Coast...on the southern part of the Pinellas County Barrier Islands, particularly
Madeira Beach,
Treasure Island Beach,
St. Pete Beach,
and Pass-A-Grille Beach.
(Indian Rocks Beach is a bit to the north, but it makes my list too.)
It's true the entire length is overbuilt, however the Gulf Coast beaches themselves are nice and well-maintained. Plus, all of those condos/time-shares/hotels are never even close to being full at the same time (well, not counting the month of March which is pretty much Spring Break for every college in America.) I can always find a large area for myself to read and snooze. * Here's an interesting local fact: The 14-mile barrier island, from Clearwater Pass (the waterway between Sand Key Park and Clearwater Beach) down to John's Pass (the waterway between Madeira Beach and Treasure Island Beach), with all of these little community beaches in-between is called Sand Key. However...when locals use use the term "Sand Key" it is in reference to the northern tip right above ritzy and privatized Bellair Beach where Sand Key Park edges against Clearwater Pass. Even if you decide you do not want to stay on one of the Gulf Coast barrier islands, it's no problem. They are all within easy driving distance (10 miles) from the quaint and beautiful city of
St. Petersburg
...known as the Sunshine City and Gateway to Florida's Gulf beaches.
In your own hunt for the best Florida beach, you'll need to establish your own criteria. It's helpful to zero-in on your lifestyle where you are, right now. A young professional person will no doubt have a completely different idea about the best Florida beach for them as compared to a retired nurse.
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I like the different personalities of each Gulf Coast beach community, the uncrowded parts of each, the variety of activities, and the lazy feeling you get when you close your eyes and just listen to the waves come in.