It’s easy to find a beach in Florida. It’s harder to find a hidden beach, a beach where you experience a sense of discovery and delicious isolation. Here, however, I share my favorites, discovered over many years.
Recent Articles
Favorite places to paddleboard near Tampa Bay
For paddle boarding, it would be hard to find a better destination than Tampa Bay. In addition to beaches and bays, you can paddle amid mangrove islands, in tannic rivers with alligators and, within a two hour drive, one of the most spectacular clear spring runs in Florida.
Beach camping in Florida: Living the dream
What could be better than this? Camping within earshot of the surf, soft breezes and soaring seagulls. If you insist on camping in a Florida summer, then you might find the answer here…
Visiting Jacksonville: This neighborhood is a charming getaway
Just five minutes off I-95, we discovered the perfect stop on a roadtrip or weekend getaway destination: a lovely and intriguing historic district in Jacksonville.
Florida spiny lobster season opens August 6
The annual two-day lobster sport mini-season is history as the Keys turns its attention to the regular season, which opens on August 6.
The Essential Milepost-to-Milepost Guide to the Florida Keys
Our Florida Keys Overseas Highway Mile-Marker Guide is your travel companion across these islands with notes on things to do, historic points of interest, tiki bars, restaurants and places to launch a kayak or take a hike.
6 ways to experience Key West, Hemingway style
Ernest Hemingway’s stay in Key West is the stuff of legends, and we can all revel in his spirit when we visit.
Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, Key West gem with seaweed-free beach
As Florida’s Keys suffer their worst seaweed inundation in years, the beach at Fort Zach in Key West is refreshing clear and welcoming.
Sebring showcases downtown HGTV makeover
Central Florida’s ‘City on the Circle’ is enjoying a rebirth with a renovation boost by Erin and Ben Napier of HGTV’s ‘Home Town Takeover.’
Lake Placid charms with murals, clowns & caladiums
Lake Placid has quite a few stories to tell, and they are told in murals. On the walls of 50 buildings. All over town. A good time to see them is during the annual Lake Placid Caladium Festival, July 24-26.
Florida Keys and Key West
6 ways to experience Key West, Hemingway style
Ernest Hemingway’s stay in Key West is the stuff of legends, and we can all revel in his spirit when we visit.
Springs
Favorite places to paddleboard near Tampa Bay
For paddle boarding, it would be hard to find a better destination than Tampa Bay. In addition to beaches and bays, you can paddle amid mangrove islands, in tannic rivers with alligators and, within a two hour drive, one of the most spectacular clear spring runs in Florida.
Best Beaches
The best little beach town
Travel and Leisure magazine calls New Smyrna Beach “Florida’s most underrated seaside city”. We think it is “Florida’s best little beach town.”
Go Snorkeling!
Peanut Island is an exceptional park for snorkeling, camping, kayaking
Peanut Island, reached only by boat in Riviera Beach, has clear turquoise water full of visible sea life. It’s great for a picnic at the beach — even camping. It’s an exceptional county park.
Florida’s Panhandle
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.
