The world renowned beaches of Florida offer locals and visitors alike an opportunity to relax and soak up the sun almost any time of year. The mild climate, white sandy beaches and warm waters allow for an assortment of activities such as swimming with the Manatees, snorkeling, kayaking, boating or exploring the Everglades. By staying at a vacation rental in Florida, guests can experience all the amenities of home while on a holiday.

Beaches of Florida

East Central Florida

• Cocoa Beach - Located on a barrier island nestled between the great Atlantic Ocean and the Banana River Lagoon on Florida's central east coast.
• Daytona Beach - 3 miles of sandy, white beaches are open to the public, free of charge 24 hours a day. Beach chairs can be reserved at no cost, enabling visitors to experience the beautiful beaches and sparkling waters without having to haul around their own equipment.
• New Smyrna Beach - New Smyrna Beach prides itself on being a laid-back coastal town, free of the crowds, pollution and noise that plague other Florida beaches.
• Melbourne Beach - Brevard County’s oldest beach community, it is situated on a barrier island that separates the Indian River Lagoon from the Atlantic Ocean. This island, approximately 35 miles (56 km) in length, stretches from Cape Canaveral to the north to the Sebastian Inlet to the south.
• Sebastian Inlet State Park - 3 miles of Atlantic Ocean beach and offers sufing, swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, shelling and sunbathing. Beach wheelchair is available upon request. Paved paths run through the park for bicycling or there are three mountain bike trails within the park. A boat launch is open 24 hours every day.

Northeast Florida

• Amelia Island - 13 miles of beautiful and tranquil beaches.
• Fernandina Beach - Situated on Amelia Island, Fernandina Beach is notable for its Victorian houses and makes a charming getaway.
• Ponte Vedra Beach - Close to St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra Beach is affectionately known as the "Palm Beach of North Florida". Golf, tennis and boating are among the popular activities here.

Northwest Florida

• Inlet Beach - This area is framed by white sandy beaches, freshwater lakes, forest and wetlands. The route itself is comprised of beach communities including WaterColor, Seaside, Carillon Beach, Dune Allen Beach and nearby Rosemary Beach. Approximately 25 miles east of Destin and 10 miles west of Panama City Beach.
• Navarre Beach - Located on Santa Rosa Island, Navarre Beach is a perfect vacation destination on Florida's Panhandle. Sugar white beaches are bordered by the Gulf of Mexico.
• Pensacola Beach - Whether you are seeking activities like charter boat fishing, sailing, golfing or parasailing, the Pensacola Beach, Florida area has a lot to offer! If you love the great outdoors, you might want to spend the day on a charter boat from one of our many area marinas for some of the south's finest saltwater fishing.
• Seacrest Beach - Located in South Walton, Seacrest is a quiet community with some of the highest sand dunes on the scenic Highway 30-A. So high that visitors can easily view dolphins swimming in the distance.

Southeast Florida - Everglades and Coral Reefs

• Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park - Visitors come to the park to sunbathe, swim and picnic on more than one mile of sandy Atlantic beachfront. Biking and kayaking are popular activities. Anglers can throw in their lines from the seawall along Biscayne Bay for some of the best shoreline fishing in the region.
• Dania Beach - Dania Beach is the location of one of the largest jai alai frontons in the US. Waterways and canals delight boaters, while antiques treasures draw crowds of a different kind.
• Fort Lauderdale Beaches - There are seven miles of beaches along the Fort Lauderdale coast. The Fort Lauderdale waterways are awe-inspiring. Find a perfect Fort Lauderdale Beach vacation rental with Owner Direct.
• Haulover Beach - A public nude beach. The park has a mile-and-a-half long beach, a marina, six tennis courts, and a nine-hole 27-par golf course. On the southern end of the park and east of the A1A highway are several picnic and barbecue areas.
• Hobe Sound - Centrally located between Jupiter and Stuart, Hobe Sound is home to some of the most beautiful nature spots in the state.
• Hollywood Beach - Hollywood vacation rentals provide a haven for families vacationing in the area. There is a convenient trolley service from the beach to downtown Hollywood which allows you to explore both the town and beach with relative ease. By the beach, boat and jet ski rentals can be arranged. Cruises, fishing tours and boat charters are also available.
• Hugh Taylor Birch State Park - Located in Fort Lauderdale, visitors can rent a canoe and paddle along a mile-long freshwater lagoon or fish from the seawall. Nature lovers can hike along two short trails and learn about local plants and wildlife while bicyclists and skaters glide along the paved park road.
• Hutchinson Island - A long barrier island that is known for its amazing 16 miles of beachfront areas as well as the beautiful views of the Indian River.
• Jensen Beach - Jensen Beach is a part of the Treasure Coast which derives its name from the ships that wrecked during the 17th century because of coral reefs in the shallow waters. Artifacts and treasures from these ships of Spanish origin can still be discovered today.
• John D. MacArthur State Park - Park visitors can participate in a variety of recreational activities, including kayaking, fishing, bird-watching, and snorkeling. $5.00 per vehicle entry fee.
• John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park - America's first undersea park, glassbottom boat tours, snorkeling tours, and scuba trips depart daily. Land based facilities feature motor boat and kayak rentals, gift shop, and snack bar. Find a nearby Key Largo vacation rental for your stay.
• Looe Key - A coral reef Sanctuary Preservation Area offers fabulous snorkeling and scuba diving.
• Miami Beach - A trend setting beach area, this city is the place to be seen - day or night. Shopping, sunbathing and clubbing can keep visitors busy around the clock. Waterfront Miami Beach accommodations abound.
• Smathers Beach - Smathers Beach is the largest public beach in Key West, Florida. Balmy weather and crystal blue skies, the island is famous for its golfing, diving, fishing and water sports on the half mile beach.
• Sunny Isles Beach - Located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, just north of Miami Beach, 2 ½ mile-long fine sand beach and outdoor amenities such as water sports, boating, fishing, and tennis as well as the abundant shopping, dining and entertainment options are nearby.
• West Palm Beach - West Palm Beach, also known as West Palm, is the largest and most populous city in Palm Beach County. Golf, music, theater, zoos and a science center will keep most visitors too busy to hit the beach.

Southwest Florida

• Bahia Honda State Park - Located at mile marker 37 in the Florida Keys, Bahia Honda State Park is a state park with an open public beach. The concession service provider offers a complete gift shop, snack bar, kayak rentals and daily snorkeling tours to the fabulous Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary.
• Captiva Island - Named the most romantic beach two years running, it's no wonder Captiva is a popular wedding and honeymoon destination. It is also once said that pirates roamed here and the mystery and adventure still abound.
• Crescent Beach - An eight-mile-long barrier island that is popular with artisans and writers.
• Fort Myers Beach - This beach gained a reputation as the World’s Safest Beach because of no undertow and shallow water. People can walk the entire 7-mile length of the island along its sandy shores
• Lovers Key State Park - A Florida wedding and honeymoon hotspot, nature lovers will appreciate the unspoiled beaches and the native wildlife.
• Naples Beach - Naples Florida offers exquisite sunsets, incredible shopping, championship golf, and white sand beaches while being home to some of the most luxurious waterfront accommodation and vacation rentals in the world. The beach on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico is more than 10 miles long, and is noted for its cleanliness and pristine white sand.
• North Lido Beach - North Lido Beach is located on Lido Key, one quarter mile northwest of St. Armands Circle, off of John Ringling Blvd. The beach is easy to get to and very private. Please note that there are no lifeguards on duty at this beach and the currents are very swift.
• Marco Island - Marco Island is graced with miles of white-sand beaches, luxurious lodging and villas, beautiful year-round weather, sumptuous restaurants, fine shopping, dining, lively entertainment, attractions and plenty of recreational activities from boating and fishing, to golf and tennis, and more.
• Punta Gorda - An enchanting historic waterfront town where royal palms line cobblestone streets.
• Sanibel Island - Often voted one of the best beaches in the world, what makes Sanibel unique is that it lies East to West instead of North to South. This makes it one of the best shelling beaches in the world, as it acts as a scoop and gathers shells of all shapes and sizes along its beaches.
• Siesta Key - Siesta Key beaches are mong the finest in the world. With powdery white sand stretching for miles, it is a breath-takingly beautiful sight.

West Central Florida

• Apollo Beach - A beautiful waterfront community. It is a year-round haven for boating and fishing enthusiasts, with its many miles of canals and inlets. Lifeguards, restrooms and boardwalk access.
• Caladesi Island State Park - Six islands covering 2000 acres provide nature lovers with mangrove forests and sea life. Culture vultures will love the cool jazz and musical offerings of Tampa's nearby Latin Quarter.
• Clearwater Beach - Known for its white-sand broad beaches and popular watersports such as jet skiing, parasailing, and water biking. Nightly sunset festivals.
• Egmont Key - An island with an odd history and is accessible only by boat. Egmont Key is a State Park and a Wildlife Refuge. It can get very busy on weekends and holidays, but during the week is a very quiet place. It is not a really large island, but is plenty big enough to keep you busy exploring all day and wanting to come back for more. The water is particularly beautiful, especially during the spring and early summer. Snorkeling is popular around the submerged remnants of old Fort Dade.
• Fort De Soto Park - Seven miles of undeveloped beaches and over a thousand acres of untouched land make this a nature lover's dream. Kids and adults alike will love to explore the ecological wonders both onshore and off.
• Honeymoon Island - Sun-drenched gulf beaches, mangrove swamps and tidal flats, this state park boasts several nature trails and bird observation areas. Visitors can swim, fish, and snorkel in the warm waters or picnic while enjoying beautiful scenery. Shelling is particularly good here.
• Pass-A-Grille - Experience the sun, surf and fun of this tropical paradise. Visit our shops, galleries, restaurants, and more. Explore the Shell Key to collect shells, bird watch, picnic and spend a all-round relaxing day.
• St. Pete Beach - Continuous action and plenty to do both on and off shore make this locale a magnet for beachniks of all ages. Close to some of Florida's biggest attractions, quieter beaches are nearby if you need a rest.

Daytona Beach
Condo with Ocean View
ID 150912

Anna Maria Island
Family Vacation Home
ID 201945

Other Central Florida & Disney World Area Travel Articles:

• Disney World Map of Rental Communities and Sectors
• Disney World Area Travel Guide
• Florida Travel Guide
• Things to Do in Florida
• Disney World Area Map of Rental Communities and Sectors
• Disney World Parks and Florida Theme Parks
• 40 Years of Disney World Ticket Prices – A Cost Comparison
• Kissimmee Travel Guide