Best Florida Beaches

When you head down south this summer, make sure you take our list of the best Florida beaches along with you. Florida is well-known for its sunny waterfronts where ocean-goers routinely chill out and party until they totally forget their troubles back home. We've organized this list based on some pretty common standards so that your next vacation is smooth sailing.

1. Miami Beach - "Miami Vice" aside, this is one of the most frequented commercial areas on the East Coast, especially considering it contains the internationally popular hot spot South Beach. Located on a small island just on the other side of a picturesque lagoon, Miami Beach should be on any young wanderer's Florida Beach itinerary as it may very well be the best Florida beach in existence. As the city is located on the southern end of the state, the Keys are only a short hop away.
2. Daytona Beach - In addition to being home to a number of great speedways, Daytona beach is a huge family destination on the Atlantic Ocean. A number of golf courses, arena football, minor league baseball, and of course, as many palm trees as you can shake a stick earn Daytona a top ranking in the best Florida beaches.
3. West Palm Beach - Waterparks, safaris and zoos are just a few of the good reasons to visit West Palm Beach. The area is known for its huge shopping districts and malls, and as one the most populated city in Palm Beach County, it's well worth the visit. While we don't really expect you'll get tired of hanging out by the water at any of these Florida beaches, it is nice to have something else to do every now and then during your vacation. For those on a budget, the daily Amtrak train stops and, trolleys and busses really help reduce the cost of travel.
4. Cocoa Beach - Only fifteen miles south of NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center, Cocoa Beach is a popular tourist destination. Though you'll probably be better off avoiding Cocoa during shuttle launches and other high-profile events when crowds and prices both increase drastically, it's not a bad spot normally. The area is usually a retirement area, meaning that you can generally find a quiet spot to hunker down and catch some rays for a while.
5. Fort Lauderdale - For decades a major Spring Break stop, this Florida Beach has branched out a bit since the 1980s and now welcomes a wider range of regular tourists. As traveling goes, the markedly cheaper airfares here make it a wiser landing point than nearby Miami. Even after the city's more recent attempts to rewrite its image, there are still enough bars, beaches, nightclubs and party spots to keep the nickname "Fort Liquordale" in classy style.
6. Destin - One of Florida's best beach secrets, this tiny white-sand beach is nestled in the Western regions of the Panhandle. Although it becomes a tourist haven during certain times of year, Destin is mostly quiet, especially considering its close proximity to the Pensacola Naval bases.