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1 Florida Beach Made List Of Most Unique Beaches In America

Author Marija
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Each beach you visit has something about it that sets it apart from others, big or small, but only 1 Florida beach made a list of the most unique beaches in America.

When you think about the beach you find yourself at most often, what is it that sets it apart from others?

I live closer to Fort Myers Beach, but I find myself out on Sanibel more often than not. I used to love just going to the causeway beaches and really can’t wait until they reopen. Being able to pull your car in, pop the trunk and have tunes, food and a cooler in the back, was so convenient, not to mention the free parking. I go now most often to Algiers or Tarpon Bay, but the Lighthouse Beach is nice too. And the water out on Sanibel is so clear and blue, it’s just gorgeous. If you’re a sheller, that’s another thing about Sanibel that is unique, you can find some the best shelling in the world there.

1 Florida Beach Made List Of Most Unique Beaches In America

Florida as a whole has a lot of coastline and some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. In fact, 2 beaches here in Southwest Florida just recently made U.S. News’ list of the best in America. But are they the most unique? Not quite. Only In Your State put together a list of the 14 most unique beaches in the country. On it are those that offer guests a “one-of-a-kind” appeal.

The only beach in Florida that landed on that list is Dry Tortugas National Park. I still haven’t been, but it’s on my list because it really does offer an experience different from other beaches, seeing that it is comprised of 7 islands and the only way to get there is by seaplane or boat. Fort Jefferson also looks absolutely amazing.

Dry Tortugas National Park. Florida's deadliest of the national parks
Getty Images
Seaplane photography in the Dry Tortugas

What other beaches made the list? Here are the top 5:

  1. Kaihalulu Beach- Hawaii
  2. Papakolea Beach- Hawaii
  3. Singing Beach- Massachusetts
  4. Bowling Ball Beach- California
  5. Secret Beach- Oregon

Going through the list could give you some great vacation ideas if you’re on the hunt for something a little different. There’s a few on here that I’d love to check out!

For the full list, click here

Marija is a morning show host on WXKB/B1039, midday host on WRXK/96KRock and night show host on WPBB/98.7 The Shark. She loves to write about food, travel, and things to do around the state of Florida.

Underrated Florida Beaches That Are Filled with Beauty

Florida is known for its beautiful beaches and resorts. After all, Florida is the Sunshine State. But, if you’re looking for some more underrated, and less busy, Florida beaches, then you also have some options. The major beaches are often filled with tourists, so finding some of the more underrated Florida beaches may be just what you need for a quiet getaway.

Most Underrated Florida Beaches to Visit

Before we get to the most underrated Florida beaches to visit, let’s talk about the amazing water areas that Florida has to offer. Florida is one of the boating and fishing capitals of the world. As VisitFlorida.com points out, the state has more than 7,700 lakes, 11,000 miles of rivers, 2,276 miles of tidal shoreline and has been home to more than 900 world fishing records. That tops any other state or even country. How wild is to to think that Florida has created more fishing records than even any other country? It shows just how rich the state is when it comes to our water.

Florida also has more than 700 freshwater springs, and 27 are classified as first-magnitude springs, which is more than any other state. A few other special things about Florida is that John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park on Key Largo was America’s very first underwater state park. Also, the fishing village of Cedar Key is known for having the best clam chowder in America. So, if you have a craving for clam chowder, that’s the place to go.

A separate article from VisitFlorida.com notes that Florida beaches are known for being very clear, but “it varies from week to week, and even from day to day depending on the amount of sunlight, the temperature, the amount of rainfall, the wind speed and direction, water currents and surf.” They add that Florida has some very clear and beautiful beaches on the Gulf of Mexico and on the Atlantic Ocean. For clear water ost days, try “northwest Florida beaches in and around Panama City Beach, Destin, Fort Walton Beach, and Pensacola; southwest Florida beaches on Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key and Siesta Key.”

I love that fact that you can enjoy Florida beaches any time of the year. I mean, contrary to what people outside of the state think, it can get cold here in the winter. But, it’s rarely too cold to sit on the beach with a sweatshirt on and watch the sunset. Read on for underrated Florida beaches to get on your radar.

  • Fort Myers Beach

    Fort Myers Beach still has a good amount of damage from the hurricane, but Margaritaville is open, so you’ll find plenty to do there. Situated on Estero Island, Fort Myers Beach is one of the state’s most underrated beaches. At Fort Myers Beach, you’ll find beautiful, white-sand beaches and gorgeous sunsets.

    Fort Myers beach.

    Getty Images / benkrut

  • Sarasota

    Make sure to visit Siesta Key here, as well as Sarasota Gay Beach and Crescent Beach. Just south of Tampa Bay, Sarasota is a lovely beach town that is especially popular during the holidays. You’ll find lots of local shopping opportunities here.

    Sarasota

    Getty Images / Sean Pavone

  • St. George Island State Park

    St. George Island State Park is located on a barrier island fronting the legendary Apalachicola Bay. It’s a great place to gaze at the stars. Note that starting March 1, 2025, the campground at Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park will be closed for an expansion project.

    St. George Island State Park

    Getty Images / Liene-Helmig

  • Santa Rosa Beach

    If you head to Santa Rosa Beach and want to find some really special, and secret, beaches, try Blue Mountain Beach and Grayton Beach State Park. This beach town is less crowded than most, which makes it a low-key getaway.

    Santa Rosa Beach

    Getty Images / krblokhin

  • Pensacola Beach

    Pensacola Beach is located on a 40-mile barrier island, Pensacola Beach, and has beautiful, translucent waters. It’s a really small town, so it’s much less crowded than other beaches. It’s a hidden gem.

    Pensacola Beach

    Getty Images / Ben Oldaker

  • Discover Your Own New Favorite

    If you don’t want to go too far, do some digging and visit one of the closest beaches to you, that you haven’t visited yet. This is one of my favorite things to do. Maybe you’ll find a new favorite beach super close to home.

    Discover Your Own New Favorite

    Getty Images / Sergey Dementyev

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