Best Florida Beaches
by America's Best and Top Ten

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    Florida's Top 10 Beaches

1. Bahia Honda State Park, Florida - Map, Info
   Bahia Honda has several white sandy beaches for you to enjoy. Calusa is the smallest beach; it is located on the northwest side of the island. There are several small pavilions in this area and a bathhouse with outdoor, fresh water showers. Loggerhead is the shallowest beach and is located on the south side of the island. It is known for the large shallow sand bar just a few feet offshore. It shares the same bathhouse with the Calusa beach. Sandspur is the largest beach; it is located on the southeast end of the island. There are three large pavilions in the Sandspur area and a bathhouse with outdoor, fresh water showers.

2. Fort Desoto Park, Florida - Map, Info
   Fort Desoto is located in the southwest corner of Mullet Key, at the entrance to Tampa Bay. The entire island is now Fort De Soto Park, a Pinellas county park which offers fine beaches, fishing, nature trails, camping, boating, and much

3. St Joseph Peninsula State Park, FL (Cape San Blas) - Map,  Info
   This state park has miles of white sand beaches, striking dune formations, a heavily-forested interior and a favorable climate for year-round outdoor recreation characterize this peninsular state park. The 2,516-acre park is bounded on three sides by the waters of St. Joe Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

4. Caladesi Island State Park, Florida - Map, Info
   This Florida state park has 3 miles of nature trail and 108-slip marina. Caladesi Island has something for everyone. Picnic pavilions, bathhouses, and a park concession all make the visit more comfortable. Fishing, shelling, and nature studies are all ways to enjoy a visit.

5. Cape Florida SRA, Florida  - Map, Info
   Whether it's relaxing day at the beach, visiting a historic lighthouse or fishing in the ocean, Cape Florida SRA offers visitors an outstanding, outdoor recreational experience. The park has a beach that's 1.25 miles of wide that offers visitor swimming year-round. The Lighthouse Cafe offers visitors casual oceanfront dining in a relaxed open-air setting and offers a variety of rentals including bicycles, Hydrobikes, rollerblades, ocean kayaks, windsurfers, beach chairs and umbrellas.

6. Captiva Beach, Florida - Map, Info
   Captiva Island is a barrier island on Florida's Gulf Coast near Fort Myers, FL. The beach is situated at the north end of Captiva Road. This beach is noted for its laid back easy lifestyle, breathtaking sunsets, and wonderful shelling. The beach has white sugar sand, speckled by pretty and unusual shells. The island has lush tropical vegetation and is cooled by gentle sea breezes.  Dolphin, Manatee and waterfowl sightings are common.

7. Perdido Key SRA, Florida - Map, Info
   Perdido Key  is a 247-acre barrier island near Pensacola. Florida. The white sandy beaches and the rolling sand dunes covered with sea oats make this a pristine oasis.

8. Sand Key Park, Florida - Map, Info
   Sand Key Park was opened in 1984. 95 acres are located on this barrier island. Clearwater Pass, leading from the Gulf to the Intracoastal waterway, separates the park from Clearwater Beach.Sand Key Park houses the base of operations for the artificial reef program. Sand Key Park’s natural communities include a beach where sea turtles annually deposit eggs.

9. Grayton Beach SRA, Florida - Map,  Info
   Grayton Beach SRA neighbors the township of Grayton Beach, one of the oldest townships along the Gulf of Mexico. This 400- acre park offers rolling sea oat-covered dunes with white sand beaches and emerald green waters of the Gulf. Thirty-seven campsites are equipped with picnic tables, grills, water and electricity. Park rangers provide campfire programs seasonally. A large picnic pavilion overlooking the Gulf waters may be reserved for groups.

10. St. Andrews SRA, Florida - Map,  Info
    St. Andrews State Recreation Area is located three miles east of Panama City Beach. Travel Magazine named St. Andrews as "The World's Best Beach," in 1995.  This beach is well known for its sugar white sands and crystal-clear emerald green water. You can swim in the shallow, protected pools behind the jetties and can relax while snorkeling is an adventure in either swimming area. The shoreline and rock jetties offer an excellent place to study marine life.

Dr. Beach Listing of Previous Winners of
             "Best Beach in America"

2005 Fort DeSoto Park - North Beach, St Petersburg, Florida
2004 Hanauma Bay, Oahu, Hawaii
2003 Kaanapali, Hawaii
2002 St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, Florida
2001 Poipu Beach Park, Hawaii
2000 Mauna Kea Beach, Hawaii
1999 Wailea Beach, Hawaii
1998 Kailua Beach Park, Hawaii
1997 Hulopoe, Hawaii
1996 Lanikai Beach, Hawaii
1995 St. Andrews SRA, Florida
1994 Grayton Beach SRA, Florida
1993 Hapuna, Hawaii
1992 Bahia Honda SRA, Florida
1991 Kapalua Bay Beach, Hawaii