The Best Spots To Hang Out!

The most beautiful Florida beaches, the ones with the turquoise gin-clear waters you see in brochures and on TV are located in South Florida from the Florida Keys North to West Palm Beach. Once you go further north, the water loses some of its clarity due to actuarial river deposits.

Sun worshippers who want a beautiful stretch of white sandy Florida beach to work on a killer tan can find one just about anywhere they travel in the state The Florida Keys, Miami Beach, Hollywood-Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Sanibel Island, Clearwater, Tampa or St. Pete. All these beaches are beautiful, have crystal clear water and plenty of sunshine year round. Each Florida beach, however, has it's own personality and amenities it offers sun worshipers.

People who want to work on their tan in a more laid back setting can choose from a number of beaches in the Florida Keys. Sand Spur Beach and Caloosa Beach located just off Overseas Highway Marker 37 are two of the Keys, most beautiful beaches. Part of the Bahai Honda State Recreational Area, these two Florida beaches offer soft white coral sand and great snorkeling. There are picnic tables, a few concessions and plenty of parking.

If you want to work on your tan in style and then show it off right away, Miami Beach's South Beach is the place. Not only is there a sunny, sandy beach that runs on for miles, but about 50 yards behind this Florida beach is Ocean Drive with it's small art deco hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars, clubs and shops. By day or by night this is where the world's tan and beautiful meet and mingle on and off the beach.

Looking for a complete, full body tan with no tan lines? About 10 miles up A1A from South Beach is Halouver Park Beach, a portion of which is reserved for nude swimmers and sun idols. There's plenty of parking. Just keep your clothes on until you enter the nude beach area.

Florida has an abundance of family friendly beaches that are perfect if you're traveling with young children or a large family group. Hollywood Beach on the South East coast offers a 7 mile stretch of palm fringed, white sandy beach with a "Broadwalk", a pedestrian promenade dotted with dozens of inexpensive restaurants. Whether you just want pizza, ice cream, a burger and fries, seafood or any of the world's more exotic cuisines, you'll find it all on the Broadwalk right on the beach. There's also playgrounds, a miniature golf course, go cart and bicycle rentals and plenty of other activities for the whole family. Hollywood Beach is great for just plain old people watching too- it's funky, laid back and fun.

About 2 miles up the road from Hollywood Beach is John Lloyd State Park. It's quiet and a little more pristine and laid back with no bars or restaurants. Just shaded picnic areas and a simple concession stand. There's plenty of parking and this Florida beach and the water is beautiful.

Fort Lauderdale Beach with its dozens of family friendly hotel's, motel's and efficiency apartments is another 5 miles up A1A or US 1 . Most of them are located directly on or across the street from the beach. The beach area near the hotel's have plenty of inexpensive restaurants, fast food chains, beach shops and boutiques, water sports concessions and other and other activities. Unless you're staying at a hotel on the beach, parking can be expensive and is usually at a premium especially during the peak season from November thru April, and on weekends throughout the year. Fort Lauderdale and Las Olas Beach are still popular spring break attractions with college students. Avoid the area completely during spring break.

Sanibel and Captiva Islands, about an hour's drive across Alligator Alley on Florida's Southeast Gulf Coast, offer beautiful sandy Florida beaches with calm crystal clear waters making them ideal for families. Both Florida beaches are noted for the incredible sea shell's that wash up on their shores. In fact, shelling is one of the most popular activities for children and grownups alike. This area offers a wide variety of lodging ranging from motels and efficiencies to 4 star hotel's. Accommodations tend to be expensive and book up quickly especially during the peak winter season and Christmas and Easter school breaks. They make an ideal day trip for visitors staying in the Greater Hollywood-Fort Lauderdale-Miami area.

 Florida beaches offering romantic sunrises and sunsets can be found along both Florida's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Sanibel, Captiva, Clearwater and Tampa Beaches offer incredibly colorful tropical sunsets, especially during the winter months. For beautiful sunrises and romantic strolls along the beach, Key Biscayne, South Beach, Hollywood Beach, Fort Lauderdale Beach and the beaches along Boca Raton and West Palm Beach are your best bets.

For snorkelers and divers, the Florida Keys offer the best beaches. Key Largo , located about an hour south of Miami, is one of the diving capitals of the world. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park offers great snorkeling and scuba divng. Sand Spur and Caloosa Beaches in the Bahia Honda State Recreation Area off Mile marker 37 on the Overseas Highway. Key Biscayne just off the Miami coast also offers some interesting beaches to dive or snorkel.

Florida without a doubt has some of the world's best beaches. The Caribbean island of Antigua boasts having 365 beaches one for every day of the year. Sorry Antigua, I've been there and Florida has more beaches and more interesting Florida beaches for visitors and locals alike. If you're looking for a beach, Florida's the place!