conde nast traveller florida

Condé Nast Traveler names four Florida beaches as best in the U.S.

Aerial View of Miami Beach, South Beach – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Mia2you

Summer officially comes to an end on September 22, but all Floridians know that there’s really no such thing as “the end of summer.” Summer in the Sunshine State lasts year-round.

With that being said, it comes as no surprise that we have some beautiful beaches. In fact, not one, or two, but four of the nation’s top beach destinations are located right here in Florida!

According to a new list by Condé Nast Traveler , 4 of the 19 beaches in the United States who made the cut are located in Florida.

“It should come as no surprise that some of the best beaches in the U.S. can be found in Florida,” says Caitlin Morton of Condé Nast Traveler.

So, which beaches earned a spot? Grayton Beach State Park, Caladesi Island State Park, Bowman’s Beach, and last, but not least, South Beach.

Grayton Beach State Park, Florida

Facing the Gulf Coast and located right on the panhandle of Florida, Morton writes “Grayton Beach State Park, found on the lovely Gulf Coast, is one of our favorites, with more than 400 acres of fine, white sands and a wildlife-rich coastal dune lake.”

Besides visiting the gorgeous white-sanded beach, she added that beachgoers can explore the underwater reefs or camp in the park. “The state park happens to be home to the Underwater Museum of Art (UMA), the nation’s first permanent underwater sculpture exhibit, which lets travelers snorkel and scuba dive around seven larger-than-life pieces of artwork.”

Grayton Beach State Park is located at 357 Main Park Rd., Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459. For more information, click here .

Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin, Florida

This hidden gem is located just north of Clearwater on the west coast of Florida. Morton writes, “accessible by pedestrian ferry boat, private boats, or a long walk from Clearwater Beach, Caladesi is well-worth the trek. The untouched, 3.5-mile-long island dazzles with its soft, crystalline quartz sand and cerulean waters, but visitors should also make time for kayaking and canoeing through the mangroves—the birdlife here is quite prolific.”

Caladesi Island State Park is located at 1 Causeway Blvd, Dunedin, FL 34698. For more information, click here .

Bowman’s Beach, Sanibel Island, Florida

Right under Captiva on the west coast of Florida sits a “remarkably undeveloped” beach that transports guests to paradise. Morton writes, “easily accessible off the main Sanibel-Captiva Road yet remarkably undeveloped, this family-friendly beach lacks the crowds of neighboring stretches but promises all the pastel-hued sunsets and excellent shelling for which Sanibel Island is known.”

The spot is known for its dense collection of seashells. “Pack a picnic, refreshments, and a bucket—and perhaps an aspirin or two to alleviate any aches and pains from doing the ‘Sanibel Stoop’ while collecting seashells along the sand.”

Bowman’s Beach is located at 1700 Bowmans Beach Rd, Sanibel, FL 33957. For more information, click here .

South Beach, Miami

Last, but not least, is South Beach. Located on the east coast of the Sunshine State and in the lower half of Miami Beach, this tourist-filled beach is one of a kind. 

According to Morton, “The siren song of Miami’s South Beach is undeniable. Beautiful people, flashy cars, Art Deco architecture: It’s all here.”

She continues, “The busiest—and most touristy—section runs parallel to Ocean Drive (between 5th and 15th Streets), so locals tend to hang around the quieter patches of SoFi (South of Fifth). But we say those famous white sands are worth bumping elbows with a few fellows.”

South Beach sits along the east shoreline of Miami Beach between 5th and 23rd Streets. For more information, click here .

Make sure you are staying up-to-date with the latest and most important Florida news with Florida Insider . Whether you are interested in business , education , government , history , sports , real estate , nature , weather , or travel : we have something for everyone. Follow along for the best stories in the Sunshine State.

Chris began his writing as a hobby while attending Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. Today he and his wife live in the Orlando area with their three children and dog.

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What's hot in Miami for 2023? Where to eat, drink, stay and play in Florida's fun-loving city

By Condé Nast Traveller

Miami, for me, somehow never changes – just like the neighbourhood bakery with its ventanita where my family has ordered café con leche on Sunday mornings for decades. And yet every time I’ve come home since moving away, parts of the city look completely different. I never visit the same Miami twice. That is, unless I go to Miami Twice, a vintage-clothing store on busy Bird Road in South Miami, where I bought my prom dress back in the day. That street is also home to Bird Bowl, a gem of a bowling alley, and Playthings, an outré adult shop that took over where the laser-tag joint Ultrazone used to be. In my teen years my friends and I gutter-balled and pew-pew-pe-wed our weekends away before we were old enough to be admitted into the city’s storied nightclubs, so these establishments defined my youth.

Friends I’ve brought home have described Miami as loud, but as someone born and raised in the county of Dade, I’ll echo the rapper Trick Daddy, a fellow Miami native, in arguing that everywhere else is a notch or five too silent. This is a natural conclusion to draw when you’ve grown up with the ruckus of passing cars blasting stereos so loudly that the music rattled the windows of your childhood bedroom, the sound easing you into sleep every night: Miami’s own bass-bumped lullaby.

I’ve always thought myself extremely lucky to have been born and raised in Miami, but also lucky to have left. It is in the leaving that I learned to see my hometown’s influences on me and on the ways I experience the rest of the world. I used to attribute my preference for loudness in every aspect of my life to growing up Cuban . Admittedly, my version of Miami is a predominantly Cuban-American creation. But my husband, who is also Cuban, grew up in New Hampshire, and his fondness for grey sweatshirts and quiet mornings (as opposed to my wake-up alarm, which is set to blast a revolving soundtrack of Otto Von Schirach, Afrobeta and old-school Gloria Estefan) has revealed my preferences for what they are: relics of a Miami upbringing.

Living in Miami also taught me to have very strong opinions about the quality of tropical fruits, beaches and the acceptable temperature of ocean water (slightly below warm bath, please), and the number of accessories deemed appropriate to wear pretty much anywhere (answer: there is no limit). Thanks to Miami, I’ve never met a heel too high, a teal too bright or a traffic scenario too terrifying.

I recognise another quality in myself that I trace directly back to Miami: a propensity for affection. I give out easy hugs, perhaps inspired by the humidity that envelops me in a warm embrace the minute I step off the plane or out of my car, back on home turf. That feeling of the air’s potential for closeness finds me in my dreams even now. Every greeting in my Miami comes with a kiss on the cheek and a term of endearment: “mamita”, “mi amor” or “mi cielo”, sweet nicknames bestowed upon me even if the speaker is a stranger. Especially if they are a stranger. Who wouldn’t miss a city where you were consistently called someone’s love, someone’s heaven? Jennine Capo Crucet

Where to see art

Miami has become an authentic cultural hub to rival New York and Los Angeles , driven by more affordable art spaces and new tech and cryptocurrency money. Design editor and podcast host Dan Rubinstein shares the latest must-visits.

Kimberly Grant

Olivia Morelli

Connor Sturges

This massive experiential gallery, which opened last year in the predominantly Latin American Allapattah district, combines a fun-house vibe with installations by blue-chip artists and similarly blue-chip backing from New York mega gallery Pace. The sheer square footage of the space would be impossible to find in New York, but here it’s readily available. After walking through a puff of smoke or gazing in awe at a James Turrell light installation, visitors can eat at the rainbow-hued café by the cult British-Nigerian designer Yinka Ilori, itself a permanent installation worthy of a visit.

Address: Superblue Miami, 1101 NW 23rd Street, Miami, FL 33127, United States Website: superblue.com  

Rubell Museum

Across the street from Superblue is the new location of the splashy Rubell Museum, which opened in 2019 in a former industrial space that was transformed by renowned gallery architect Annabelle Selldorf. It’s a prime example of what the art world calls the Miami Model: private museums built by high rollers to exhibit their own collections, in this case more than 7,000 works by just about every contemporary-art big-hitter you can think of, from giant early Basquiats to a mirrored room of Yayoi Kusama’s steel balls via works by Hirst, Koons and the rest. 

Address: Rubell Museum, 1100 NW 23rd Street, Miami, FL 33127, United States Website: rubellmuseum.org

Oolite Arts

This cultural organisation, which already facilitates exhibitions, classes, public programmes and studio residencies in Miami Beach, is preparing its new home in the Little River, north of the arty Wynwood district. When the space opens in 2024, it will do so with a war chest filled primarily by the £78 million the institution pocketed by selling its former South Beach site. This will go towards increasing visitor activities, such as workshops in printmaking, painting, and photography; more exhibitions using local talent, for example its recent show with photographer Roscoé B Thickè III; and growing a collection focusing solely on Miami artists.

Address:  Oolite Arts, 924 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, FL 33139, United States Website: oolitearts.org

The buzziest stays

Miami’s hotel scene takes in everything from A-list hedonism to Damien Hirst mammoth sculptures and lacquered nautical elegance. Dan Rubinstein on where the excitement is.

Faena Hotel Miami Beach

As Miami has become an art hub, few places epitomise the idea of the hotel-as-gallery like the Faena Hotel . The Art Deco-influenced establishment, overseen by guru-like, Panama-hatted Argentine hotelier Alan Faena and designed by film director Baz Luhrmann, feels eminently theatrical, with regular cabaret shows in the red-velvet auditorium. There’s art everywhere too, with a Damien Hirst sculpture of a mammoth skeleton on the way to the beach and rolling exhibitions in the various Faena-branded spaces around the hotel. Photographer Tony Kelly’s sexy, saturated images of Miami Beach recently showed in the Faena Art Project Room.

Address:  Faena Hotel Miami Beach, 3201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33140, United States

The Goodtime Hotel

Although it only opened in 2021, the 266-room Goodtime Hotel already feels like a South Beach party institution. Owned by Pharrell Williams and local magnate David Grutman (the man behind the Fontainebleau Hotel’s money-spinning nightclub Liv), the venue hosts weekend pool parties that are one of the hottest tickets in town, where even the great and good queue to listen to the likes of Steve Aoki spinning around the water surrounded by retro pink cabanas. The overall aesthetic by San Francisco maximalist Ken Fulk, including a workspace-library worthy of Wes Anderson, dials up the sense of splashy youthful hedonism.

Address:  The Goodtime Hotel, 601 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139, United States

The Ritz-Calton, South Beach

A crisp South Beach classic designed by Miami Modern legend Morris Lapidus in 1953, The Ritz-Carlton had an extensive white-and-cerulean renovation just prior to the pandemic and now feels livelier than ever. The buzz has been helped by the arrival of an outpost of St Tropez mainstay Bagatelle, where lavish French dinners are punctuated by popping Champagne corks, sparklers and tabletop dancing.

Address:  The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, 1 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, FL 33139, United States

Mr C Miami Coconut Grove

While Miami can overwhelm with its more-is-more spectacle, a recent entrant into the scene runs delightfully in the opposite direction. In the largely residential Coconut Grove neighbourhood, Mr C hotel, from the group behind the Cipriani restaurants and designed by the ever-elegant Martin Brudnizki with local architecture firm Arquitectonica, combines old-fashioned nautical themes with a certain lacquered elegance. 

Address:  Mr. C Miami - Coconut Grove, 2988 McFarlane Road, Miami, FL 33133, United States

New restaurants

Once defined by Cuban staples and imported food concepts, Miami is now developing a playful and diverse homegrown food culture that’s mushroomed alongside the art and design scenes. Local writer Nila Do Simon charts the best of the new crop.

Peruvian-born Nando, Valerie and Fernando Chang (brother, sister and father) started out serving beloved Nikkei dishes at a tiny stall in a Design District food hall. Now the family have expanded the concept into an unfussy, mostly outdoor 58-seat restaurant in the same area, where they work quietly behind the terrazzo bar to create magical dishes, from bluefin tuna tiraditos with avocado and capers to sea urchin with Peruvian ají amarillo pepper and bronze fennel.

Address:  Itamae, 140 NE 39th Street Suite 136, Miami, FL 33137, United States Website: itamaemiami.com  

Young guns Luciana Giangrandi and Alex Meyer had a taco cart before opening their standout 27-seat restaurant Boia De in the artsy Buena Vista neighbourhood. The duo describe their food as Italian, with air quotes. Their innovations are subtle yet memorable, playing with traditional Italian dishes to create novel concoctions like lamb ribs served with a classic fra diavolo sauce alongside spicy yoghurt and pickled cucumbers.

Address: Boia De, 5205 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33137, United States Website: boiaderestaurant.com  

Following a similar trajectory, 30-something Matteson Koche, the owner of El Bagel, began by delivering hand-rolled bagels by car in Wynwood. After upgrading to a food truck in 2018, he opened a full-on bageleria a few years ago to meet demand in MiMo (the Miami Modern area northeast of the Design District). The promise of a chewy sesame bagel with cream cheese and guava marmalade means that it’s more than bearable to stand in the ever-long queue.

Address:  6910 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, FL 33138, United States Website: elbagel.com  

The Big Names

The success of these small-scale restaurateurs has attracted attention from more established players. Today it’s not uncommon to see unusual collaborations, such as the forthcoming brunch team-up of chef Akino West from Rosie’s, a modest joint serving Southern cuisine in Little River, with glitzy Italian Osteria Morini Miami Beach, part of the Altamarea Group, which includes restaurants such as New York’s Marea. And while other big-name imports continue to set up shop in Miami – Carbone, Red Rooster and Cote Korean Steakhouse have all opened outposts within the last three years – they’re now doing so with a clearer eye on Miami design, flavour and feel.

Places to Party

Having been ruled by South Beach and then Mid-Beach, Miami’s nightlife has spread to new pastures including the Wynwood Art District and Downtown. City resident Paul Rubio picks out some old and new favourites.

Dante's Hifi

A standout among a new breed of Wynwood hangouts, the lounge-like Dante’s HiFi, with its wall of vinyl, can squeeze in no more than 50 people. There tends to be an intimate, private-party atmosphere as everyone sips mezcal cocktails and listens to DJ Rich Medina pull from his 8,500 strong record collection. 

Address:  Dante's HiFi, 519 NW 26th Street, Miami, FL 33127, United States Website: danteshifi.com  

Freehand Miami

Along with the nearby Edition and Faena hotels, “luxury hostel” the Freehand Miami has been a major part of the Mid-Beach renaissance that began in the early 2010s. Entertainment is the thing here, with pumping bar The Broken Shaker, whose cocktails are much-loved, as well as a massive courtyard and performance space.

Address:  Broken Shaker at Freehand Miami, 2727 Indian Creek Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33140, United States Website: brokenshaker.com  

Miami specialises in restaurant-club hybrids that promise both fine dining and all-out throwdowns until the wee hours. The apex of these split-personality venues – and the hottest table in the 305 – is Downtown’s Sexy Fish, which is even more dazzlingly OTT than the brand’s original London venue. Marine-themed and seafood-centric, the Miami outpost is decorated with aquatic-imbued glass mosaics and sculptures by Damien Hirst and Frank Gehry that are matched by theatrical cocktails. As the DJs crank up the volume, mermaid dancers emerge, costumed performers shake it and the crowd joins in. The net effect is one big, fabulous party under the sea – and somehow very Miami.

Address:  Sexy Fish, 1001 S Miami Avenue, Miami, Florida 33130 Website: sexyfishmiami.com  

Twist South Beach

Celebrating 30 years in 2023, this iconic South Beach haunt is the city’s longest-running gay bar. To visit is to travel back in time to the city’s 1990s LGBTQ+ heyday. With no cover (and almost no dress code), the house is always packed with shirtless muscle boys, towering drag queens and curious admirers.

Address:  Twist, 1057 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139, United States Website: twistsobe.com  

Mac's Club Deuce

If all the glitzy, doof-doof fabulousness of South Beach gets too much, there’s always the smoky, neon-lit Mac’s Club Deuce, a proper dive bar with a tangible soul. Until his recent passing it was run by Mac Klein, who bought the bar in 1964 and lived past 100. It still feels defiantly old-school, from the legendary happy hours at the curved, cash-only bar to the neon signs that were left over from a Miami Vice wrap party. macsclubdeuce.com

Address:  Mac's Club Deuce, 222 14th Street, Miami Beach, FL 33139, United States Website: macsclubdeuce.com  

The best beaches in Florida, from Miami mainstays to unsung island spots

By Paul Rubio

Between its Gulf shores and Atlantic coastlines, the best beaches in Florida have no shortage of powder-fine sand, national and state beach parks, marine biodiversity, and scenes that are both cocktail- and kid-friendly. From the siren song of South Beach and the unexpected surf town of New Smyrna to the natural wonders of Dry Tortugas National Park and Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, here are our picks for the 20 best beaches in Flordia – from the Panhandle to the Keys, each with its own distinct personality.

Prepare to throw down a towel, soak up the sun in South Florida, and explore the excitement surrounding both land and sea.

Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin

This untouched, 5.6-kilometre-long island feels like a giant sand bar reserved for the lucky few who visit. It dazzles with its pristine environs – vast stretches of radiantly white sands, cerulean waters, beautiful seashells, and prolific bird life. Access the island by ferry from nearby Honeymoon Island State Park or enter on foot via neighbouring Clearwater Beach from the south (a major hurricane in 1985 dredged up enough sand to create a link between Caladesi and Clearwater). Even better? The more adventurous can kayak their way to Caladesi, renting from local outfitters on Honeymoon Island.

Clearwater Beach

This Gulf Coast beach is a magnet for tykes and tots (and their parents), thanks to its clear, shallow waters, pillow-soft sands, playground, and Beach Walk Promenade, ideal for bike rides and rollerblading. When sun fatigue strikes, consider a respite inland at Clearwater Marine Aquarium to ogle the spectacular dolphin complex, home to multiple rescue dolphins, plus sea turtles, river otters, stingrays, and nurse sharks. Stay for the nightly, festival-style sunset celebration at Pier 60, where street performers delight as the sun sets.

Marco Island Beach

The western perimeter of Marco Island is marked by stunning, wide white-sand beaches idyllic for ambles and shelling. At low tide, wade out to sandbars to collect sand dollars and other sea treasures. Toward the north of this barrier island, Tigertail Beach Park is popular for its tidal lagoon, where paddleboarders can take advantage of the ultra-calm waters. Further south, the beaches are busy with families vacationing at beachfront properties like JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort and Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort and Spa . They’re also busy with seabird activity, as Marco Island is a preferred nesting ground for least terns and black skimmers.

Fort Lauderdale Beach

Forget what you think you know about Fort Lauderdale: The Pabst Blue Ribbon-strewn sands, Hawaiian Tropic oil slicks, and packed motels of yesteryear’s spring break capital have gone away. Now, uncluttered stretches of sand, sparkling blue waters, upscale resorts, and mega-yachts are rewriting this beach’s story. Billions in economic development have gone into erasing the Where the Boys Are vibe, restructuring Fort Lauderdale Beach as an unfussy yet refined alternative to neighbouring Miami’s beaches.

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne

This 1.6-kilometre, undeveloped beach on the southern tip of Key Biscayne regularly receives accolades as one of the top beaches in the country, and it’s not hard to see why. The quiet shores and light waves are idyllic for languid days. But there’s also an extensive network of biking and walking trails with superb Miami skyline views worth exploring. Take a peek inside the Cape Florida Lighthouse (South Florida’s oldest, built in 1845), and look to the horizon for a glimpse of Stiltsville, a collection of historic homes that appear to float atop Biscayne Bay. Consider combining a trip to Bill Baggs with a stay at The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami , a luxe yet unpretentious island retreat nearby with its own 1,200-foot-long golden sand beach.

Fort De Soto Park, Tierra Verde

With a whopping 1,136 acres spread across five islands, this beach park impresses with its powdery white sands, nature trails, and patchwork of mangroves, ideal for kayaking, canoeing, and fishing. It’s not uncommon to see bottlenose dolphins skirting the shoreline and manatees bobbing up and down in the water. Families should head to the sprawling natural tidal pool on the park’s North Beach, an excellent spot for kids to collect seashells and splash around. Those travelling with pets can explore the Dog Beach, where dogs have free reign over the Gulf’s cerulean waters. This swathe is part of a larger “Paw Playground,” which also houses two grassy dog parks (one for larger pooches, another for smaller), water fountains, and hoses to rinse off the sand.

Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge

About mid-state along Florida’s east coast, Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge is 33-kilometres of beach and shoreline habitat, situated between Melbourne Beach and Wabasso Beach and designated for sea turtle conservation. It happens to be the world’s most significant area for loggerhead sea turtle nesting and North America’s most significant area for green turtle nesting. Secure your spot far in advance to participate in naturalist-led nighttime turtle walks during nesting season (June-July annually) with Friends of the Carr Refuge . During this time, you’ll witness the spectacle of a nesting sea turtle laying her eggs, covering her nest, and returning to the ocean. Once the hatchlings start emerging from the nests in August and September, embark on a guided daytime dig turtle watch to view hatched sea turtle nests.

Amelia Island

Discover classic family fun on this barrier island in the state’s northeast reaches, with 21 kilometres of coastline and 40 public access points. Unfold a beach chair (or get cozy in a lounger), swap the cocktail for an ice cream cone, and watch the kids build sandcastles and cavort across uncongested beaches. Wheelchair users will appreciate the ADA-compliant Mobi-mat draped over the boardwalk ramp at the Main Beach access point, providing a safe way to reach the sand. Three upright beach wheelchairs and one Mobi floating beach wheelchair can be reserved in advance from the Atlantic Recreation Center so wheelchair users can continue to have fun in the sun.

Siesta Key Beach, Sarasota

This incredibly wide beach along the Gulf of Mexico has what it calls the world’s finest, whitest sand (it’s more than 99 per cent pure quartz, which keeps it cool even under blazing temps), and there’s plenty of it to go around. It is not the drama-filled splash ground portrayed on MTV’s popular reality show Siesta Key , but rather a kid-friendly expanse teeming with sand sculpture artists, hippies, and families basking in the sun.

Grayton Beach State Park, South Walton

On land, this Gulf Coast beach impresses with more than 400 acres of fine, white sands and a wildlife-rich coastal dune lake, a geographical feature unique to a handful of destinations on Earth. Under the sea, snorkel or scuba dive at 58 feet deep around dozens of larger-than-life works at the Underwater Museum of Art, the nation’s first permanent underwater sculpture exhibit – and part of South Walton’s more extensive artificial reef programme. New installations are added annually, branding this an extraordinary gallery you’ll want to visit multiple times.

Garden Key, Dry Tortugas National Park

Reached exclusively by seaplane (with Key West Seaplane Adventures) or ferry (on the Yankee Freedom III), the main island of North America’s most inaccessible national park houses Fort Jefferson, a circa-1846 coastal fortress, and some mind-blowing marine life off its coast. Snorkel among seahorses, sea turtles, and rainbow-hued tropical fish, or head toward the west moat wall in search of moray eels and nurse sharks. There’s limited shade and facilities, so bring plenty of water and sunscreen.

Mid-Beach, Miami

A raised boardwalk separates the beach from hotel-lined Collins Avenue between 23rd Street and 46th Street, an area collectively referred to as Mid-Beach. Home to Miami’s most stylish hotels, like Freehand Miami , Faena Hotel Miami Beach and Nobu Hotel Miami Beach — which ranked, respectively, as the three top Miami hotels in the 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards — this area caters to a cool crowd that considers South Beach passé. Anticipate a lounge-y vibe, both day and night, with plenty of beach and pool clubs to choose from, as well as Miami’s most buzzed-about nightlife.

South Beach, Miami

Beautiful people, flashy cars, lycra bathing suits, Art Deco architecture: It’s all here on the 3.5-kilometre white sand stretch that makes up Florida’s most famous beach. The busiest — and most touristy — section runs parallel to Ocean Drive (between 5th and 15th Streets), so locals tend to hang around the quieter patches south of Fifth Street. In this area, South Pointe Beach is particularly popular, thanks to minimal development (read: less shadows from high rise hotels) and easy access to the walking trails and sunset views within adjacent South Pointe Park. Hotel beach clubs dominate the shoreline from 15th Street to 22nd Street, but there’s still plenty of space for anyone to throw down a towel.

Bowman’s Beach, Sanibel Island

Easily accessible off the main Sanibel-Captiva Road yet remarkably undeveloped, this family-friendly beach lacks the crowds of neighbouring stretches but promises all the pastel-hued sunsets, excellent shelling, and gentle waves for which Sanibel Island is known. It’s also one of the best beaches in Florida for windsurfing, sailing, and even canoeing, thanks to inland waterways to the west of the beach. However, our favourite pastime here is a barefoot walk through the white sand, admiring the Gulf views and picking up more shells than we can carry along the way.

Blowing Rocks Preserve, Hobe Sound, Jupiter Island

Natural splendour takes centre stage at this Nature Conservancy preserve on Jupiter Island. The beach is anchored by an ethereal 100,000-year-old Anastasia limestone shelf — the largest on the Atlantic coast — and the greater, untouched surrounds are considered a major success story in native coastal habitat restoration. Don’t expect to sunbathe and chill here; do expect to stroll the 1.6-kilometre-long beach, marvel a glimpse of natural Old Florida, view sea turtle tracks in the sands, and perhaps catch a shot of water plumes through the rocks, which are known to reach as high as 50 feet.

Bahia Honda, Florida Keys

Sitting at the confluence of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico is a 524-acre beach park with some of the finest stretches of sand in the Florida Keys. At mile marker 37 of US-1/Overseas Highway, Bahia Honda is an essential stopping point on any road trip between Miami and Key West. There are both secluded and more trafficked spots for sunbathing and excellent opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and snorkelling. On the beach, be sure to look up: The largest intact section of Henry Flagler’s elevated overseas railroad is an eye-catcher.

Henderson Beach State Park, Destin

A series of 30-foot white sand dunes underscore the natural beauty of this Panhandle beach. It’s one of the most picturesque stretches of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, an exquisite mosaic of barrier islands stretching 257 kilometres across the Gulf of Mexico, from Mississippi to the Florida Panhandle. Note that this beach park isn’t just popular with humans — it’s also a favourite nesting ground for green and loggerhead sea turtles, a known hot spot for dolphins, and a feeding ground for brown pelicans and black skimmers.

Jupiter Dog Beach

Expect paw prints of every shape and size along this off-leash beach in northern Palm Beach County. At four kilometres long (from Beach Marker #26 Marcinski Road to Beach Marker #57 at the Carlin Park property line), it is the largest dog-friendly beach on the East Coast. Doggie bags are provided at multiple sites on the beach, and four-legged beachgoers are expected to abide by the beach’s social code of conduct: behaved, obedient, and well-socialised.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

The best way to experience the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States is a trip to this popular state park, which extends 4.8 kilometres into the Atlantic Ocean from its Key Largo shoreline. Strap on a snorkel and wade into the water at Far Beach for a quick fix of marine biodiversity. Or go deeper with an organised snorkeling tour (currently operating at five per day) or twice-daily diving tours.

New Smyrna Beach

When one thinks of surfing in America, towns along the California and Hawaii coastlines quickly come to mind. But Florida has a surf scene, too. Case in point: this East Coast surfers’ paradise, which promises prolific breaks, thanks to some massive rock ledges four to five miles offshore. Hang ten or simply immerse yourself in the surf culture of this small stretch of Florida, which often receives accolades as one of the top surf towns in the US.

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Condé nast’s gold list names best florida hotels.

By Kara Franker  

Wondering where to go for your next Florida vacation?

Condé Nast Traveler revealed 14 of the best Florida hotels named to their Gold List. A few of my favorite properties made the list, including Little Palm Island Resort & Spa in the Keys, The Breakers and The Brazilian Court in Palm Beach and Ocean Key Resort & Spa in Key West.  

Number one reason to add Little Palm Island to your must-go list? Besides being uber-exclusive and luxurious, they have friendly Key Deer the size of large dogs roaming the property . No, seriously! Check out the video and see for yourself:

There are a few hotels on Condé Nast's Gold List that I have yet to visit and can’t wait to see. Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater Beach is a property that I’ve heard so much about and that I’d love to visit in 2014. The Ritz-Carlton in Naples is also very high on my list. 

From Condé Nast's Gold List , best Florida hotels listed by Reader’s Choice Rating: 

• The Brazilian Court, Palm Beach: 94.3
• Little Palm Island Resort & Spa, Little Torch Key: 93.8
• The Setai, Miami Beach: 93.5
• Pillars Hotel, Fort Lauderdale: 93.3
• Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando: 92.6
• Mandarin Oriental, Miami: 92.5
• WaterColor Inn & Resort, Santa Rosa Beach: 92.4
• King & Grove Tides South Beach: 92.3
• The Ritz-Carlton, Naples: 92.2
• Ocean Key Resort & Spa, Key West: 91.5
• The Breakers, Palm Beach: 91.4
• Sandpearl Resort, Clearwater Beach: 91.3
• The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island: 91.0
• Marquesa Hotel, Key West: 90.6

Fort Lauderdale

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Conde Nast Traveler: Top 12 resorts on Florida gulf coast

Conde Nast Traveler recently announced its 2016 Readers’ Choice Awards , and Southwest Florida made a splash on one prized list.

Readers of the upscale publication named six Fort Myers- and Naples-area resorts among the 12 best properties along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

The resorts and their rankings follow, with Southwest Florida hotels in bold:

• 1.  The Gasparilla Inn & Club , Boca Grande
• 2.  Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina , Fort Myers Beach
• 3. LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort , Naples
• 4. Sandpearl Resort, Clearwater
• 5.  Naples Grande Beach Resort , Naples
• 6.  South Seas Island Resort , Captiva
• 7. The Resort at Longboat Key Club, Longboat Key
• 8. WaterColor Inn & Resort, Santa Rosa Beach
• 9. TradeWinds Island Grand Resort, St. Pete Beach
• 10. The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club, St. Petersburg
• 11.  The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort , Naples
• 12. The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota

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• World's Best

The Top 15 Resort Hotels in Florida

The 2021 World's Best Awards survey was open for voting January 11 through May 10, 2021, as destinations around the world were lifting COVID-19 restrictions. Survey rules have always allowed readers to reflect on their travel experiences over a three year period. We hope that these honorees will inspire your own travels as you get back out into the world.

Each property we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.

If you ask T+L readers, the best resorts in Florida are the ones situated on the coast . (Proof: 12 of the 15 properties on this year's list can be found along a seashore.) From the tropical islands in the Keys to the golf course-studded retreats by the Gulf of Mexico, the voters' hearts are with the water.

Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels were rated on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties were classified as city or resort based on their locations and amenities.

Located in a sleepy barrier-island town on the Gulf Coast, Gasparilla Inn & Club (No. 4) balances the easygoing vibes of the Sunshine State with the elegant, old-world spirit of its historic building, which dates from 1913. "The décor and atmosphere of this hotel make it so special," said one reader. "The bar is one of my favorite places on earth. It all feels like you've gone back in time." Another reader exclaimed that the hotel is "absolutely first-rate in all categories."

A handful of family-friendly properties impressed readers specifically for the wealth of activities on offer. One reader who stayed at No. 6 Oceans Edge Key West Resort & Marina loved the free Jet Ski rentals, but there's also snorkeling, kayaking, and fishing charters to enjoy. And at No. 8 LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort, options include dolphin cruises and paddleboarding.

One exception to this beach-heavy list is No. 3 Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort. "We have stayed at hotels in many places but keep going back to this one," explained a reader. "There's a great bar on the top level, fun splash pools and lazy rivers, and it is just so creative, fun, and attentive." Another reader especially appreciated the "fantastic service," which started with the valet parking at check-in.

Read on for more of this year's best resorts in Florida, including No. 1 Sunset Key Cottages, in Key West.

1. Sunset Key Cottages, Key West

Situated on a private, 27-acre island just off Key West, Sunset Key Cottages is "absolute paradise," according to a reader. The property's 40 stand-alone bungalows offer the kind of privacy not easily found at other Florida resorts, and all of them come with wraparound verandas and Adirondack chairs, a fully equipped kitchen, and bright interiors in shades of blue and white that reflect the sea and sky outdoors. On-site activities include treatments at the spa, swimming in the pool under the shade of palm trees, tennis on one of two full-size courts, and yoga sessions on the beach. Another reader summed up the overall experience as "secluded and quiet. Picturesque and quaint. Elegant and tropical."

Score: 96.00

2. The Alfond Inn, Winter Park

Score: 95.40

3. Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort

Score: 95.37

4. Gasparilla Inn & Club, Boca Grande

Score: 95.19 More information: the-gasparilla-inn.com

5. Opal Sands Resort, Clearwater Beach

Score: 93.16 More information: opalsands.com

6. Oceans Edge Resort & Marina Key West, Stock Island

Score: 92.97

7. Little Palm Island Resort & Spa, Little Torch Key

Score: 92.96

8. LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort, Naples

Score: 92.95

9. Pelican Grand Beach Resort, Fort Lauderdale

Score: 92.83

10. Ocean Key Resort & Spa, Key West

Score: 92.29

11. The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes

Score: 92.10

12. The Resort at Longboat Key Club, Longboat Key

Score: 92.00

13. The Henderson Beach Resort & Spa, Destin

Score: 91.92 More information: hendersonbeachresort.com

14. Isla Bella Beach Resort, Marathon

Score: 91.83 More information: islabellabeachresort.com

15. Playa Largo Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection, Key Largo

Score: 91.60

See all of our readers' favorite hotels, cities, airlines, cruise lines, and more in the World's Best Awards for 2021 .

Related Articles

Palm Beach resorts, hotels get nod in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards

The Four Seasons Resort in Palm Beach and Manalapan’s Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa are among the best resorts in the world, according to Condé Nast Traveler’s 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards announced Wednesday.

The two resorts also are the top two in Florida, according to the coveted awards.

More: Business Notes: Eau Palm Beach names new spa director

Other Palm Beach resorts and hotels — The Breakers, The Colony Hotel and Brazilian Court — also earned honors in the 2023 Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Awards.

The awards are based on 2023 surveys taken by 500,000-plus Condé Nast Traveler magazine readers who rated their travel experiences in many categories — from best hotels and resorts to best cruise lines.

Of the 50 global resort properties in the awards’ “Best Resorts in the World,” the Four Seasons Palm Beach came in at No. 20 and Eau Palm Beach was No. 44.

Both topped the awards’ Top 10 Resorts in Florida category.

The Four Seasons earned the No. 1 position in that category with Conde Nast noting that it’s a “six-acre spread that has it all,” while Eau Palm Beach was No. 2 with its “pampering” and “Capri-meets-Santorini-meets-Palm Beach vibe.”

The Four Seasons Palm Beach’s General Manager Mazen Saleh said, “Being the first place our guests think of when reflecting back on their fondest vacation memories — it symbolizes our purpose behind every stay so beautifully. We hold a recognition such as this very close to our hearts."

More: 15 beloved Palm Beach restaurants that have closed during the past 25 years

In the Ten Best Hotels in Florida category, The Breakers, which Conde Nast also called a “resort,” took the No. 3 hotel spot with kudos for being “luxurious.”

The Colony Hotel, noted as “the buzziest place to stay in Palm Beach,” came in at No. 6, and The Brazilian Court earned the No. 8 position. 

“By staying true to our mission, honoring the past while welcoming the future and leading with a people-first mentality, I believe we have accomplished much of what we set out to do,” the Colony’s president and CEO Sarah Wetenhall told the Daily News in an email, noting the hotel was “proud” to be recognized by the Conde Nast awards.

The Brazilian Court’s sales director, Stacy Lee, told the Daily News the hotel’s team was “honored” to be named among the best hotels in Florida.

“The service and comfort of our guests are our top priority and we continuously strive to surpass expectations,” Lee said. “We are grateful and humbled by their support.”

For more information about the Conde Nast Readers’ Choice Awards, visit www.cntraveler.com/inspiration/readers-choice-awards .

Announcing the Hot List Winners of 2024

By CNT Editors

It’s inevitable: Every spring when we pull together the Hot List , our annual collection of the world’s best new hotels, restaurants , and cruise ships , a staffer remarks that this latest iteration has got to be the best one ever. After a year’s worth of traveling the globe—to stay the night at a converted farmhouse in the middle of an olive grove outside Marrakech, or sail aboard a beloved cruise line’s inaugural Antarctic voyage—it’s easy to see why we get attached. But this year’s Hot List, our 28th edition, might really be the best one ever. It’s certainly our most diverse, featuring not only a hotel suite that was once Winston Churchill’s office, but also the world’s largest cruise ship and restaurants from Cape Town to Bali. We were surprised and inspired by this year’s honorees, and we know you will be too. These are the Hot List hotel winners for 2024.

Click here to see the entire Hot List for 2024 .

All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

North Island Okavango

Angama Amboseli

Jannah Lamu

Farasha Farmhouse , Marrakech

Kozo Kigali

Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island — Seychelles

SOUTH AFRICA

Nikkei Cape Town

Molori Mashuma , Mana Pools National Park

Pemako Punakha

Regent Hong Kong

Mementos by ITC Hotels, Ekaaya Udaipur

Naar , Darwa

Papa's , Mumbai

Cap Karoso , Sumba

Further , Bali

Locavore NXT Bali

Le Pristine Tokyo

The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza

Trunk(Hotel) Yoyogi Park , Tokyo

Shinta Mani Mustang - A Bensley Collection , Jomsom

SOUTH KOREA

JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa

Pot Au Phở , Ho Chi Minh

Le Foote , Sydney

Southern Ocean Lodge , Kangaroo Island

Sun Ranch , Byron Bay

MIDDLE EAST

Raffles Al Areen Palace Bahrain

SAUDI ARABIA

Six Senses Southern Dunes , Umluj

The St. Regis Riyadh

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

The Guild , Dubai

SIRO One Za'abeel, Dubai

Soul Kitchen , Dubai

The Lana, Dorchester Collection , Dubai

Koan , Copenhagen

Hotel Maria , Helsinki

1 Place Vendôme , Paris

The Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel , Cannes

Datil , Paris

Hôtel Le Grand Mazarin , Paris

La Nauve Hôtel & Jardin , Cognac

Rosewood Munich

Mandarin Oriental, Costa Navarino

Monument , Athens

One&Only Aesthesis , Athens

Highland Base Kerlingarfjöll

Bulgari Hotel Roma , Rome

Trattoria del Ciumbia , Milan

Hotel La Palma , Capri

La Roqqa , Porto Ercole

Nolinski Venezia , Venice

Palazzo Roma , Rome

Saporium , Florence

Hotel Violino d’Oro , Venice

Mamula Island

NETHERLANDS

De Durgerdam , Amsterdam

Canalha , Lisbon

Andreu Genestra , Mallorca

Barro , Ávila

César Lanzarote , Lanzarote

Hotel Corazón , Mallorca

Grand Hotel Son Net , Mallorca

Palacio Arriluce , Getxo

Son Vell Menorca , Menorca

The Peninsula Istanbul

UNITED KINGDOM

Broadwick Soho , London

Chishuru , London

The Devonshire , London

Chelsea Townhouse, London

Estelle Manor , Cotswolds

Fish Shop , Ballater

Raffles London at The OWO

Colima 71 , Mexico City

Maizajo Mexico City

Maroma, A Belmond Hotel , Riviera Maya

Riviera Maya EDITION

The St. Regis Kanai Resort , Riviera Maya

SOUTH AMERICA

Casa Lucía , Buenos Aires

Trescha , Buenos Aires

Oseille , Rio de Janiero

99 Restaurante, Santiago

Our Habitas Atacama , San Pedro de Atacama

Puqio , Arequipa

THE CARIBBEAN

Silversands Beach House

UNITED STATES

The Celestine , New Orleans

Dawn Ranch , Sonoma, California

The Fifth Avenue Hotel , New York

Fontainebleau Las Vegas

The Georgian , Santa Monica, California

The Global Ambassador , Phoenix

Hotel Bardo, Savannah

Ilis , New York

Kiln , San Francisco

Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort , Kona, Hawaii

Maty's , Miami

Warren Street Hotel , New York

Yess , Los Angeles

World Voyager, Atlas Ocean Voyages

CRUISE SHIPS

Silver Nova , Silversea

Norwegian Viva

Seven Seas Grandeur , Regent Seven Seas Grandeur

Oceania Vista

World Voyager , Atlas Ocean Voyages

Scenic Eclipse II

Emerald Sakara

Celebrity Ascent

Seabourn Pursuit

Icon of the Seas , Royal Caribbean

MSC Euribia

Viking Aton

Resilient Lady , Virgin Voyages

This story appears in Condé Nast Traveler's Hot List issue. Never miss an issue when you subscribe to Condé Nast Traveler.

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Reunion Resort in Condé Nast Traveler’s “Top 30 Resorts in Florida”

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• Reunion Resort

“Groups of all sizes will feel at home in a condominium, private villa, or vacation home at the Reunion Resort with onsite facilities to accommodate family gatherings and business meetings. With an “amazing water park,” three signature golf courses, “excellent, 5-star restaurants,” and an “all-around beautiful development,” there’s plenty for guests of all ages to enjoy.” – Condé Nast Traveler

Reunion Resort Has it All…

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Newport Is Among 14 Best East Coast Beach Towns: Condé Nast

NEWPORT, RI — Newport is among The 14 Best Beach Towns on the East Coast , according to a new list from Condé Nast Traveler.

"Like Oak Bluffs, Newport is a beach town known for its houses, though a very different sort," Conde' Nast Traveler wrote. "Ten enormous, historic mansions—once the summer homes of the Vanderbilts, Nevada silver heiresses, and other Westerners of unimaginable wealth—remain standing along the famous cliff walk. Today however, they are museums. The most famous two are The Breakers and Rosecliff. The Newport mansions famously earned the ire of writer Joan Didion, who wrote in her essay The Seacoast of Despair, “To stand in the dining room of ‘The Breakers’ is to imagine fleeing it, pleading migraine.” Today, in lieu of the Great Gatsby -esque lawn parties of yore where swans roamed the grounds, Newport attracts visitors of all stripes for events such as the Newport Folk Festival."

The luxury lifestyle and travel magazine said the beach towns along a stretch of coastline from Maine to Florida are summer hotspots for fun and entertainment, whether vacationers are seeking places teeming with crowds or a quieter, small-town atmosphere.

“From charming, historic New England towns to tropical Southern getaways, there is so much to explore this summer,” the magazine said.

Organized from the Northeast to the Southeast, the 14 beach towns on the list are:

• Bar Harbor, Maine
• Rockport, Massachusetts
• Oak Bluff, Massachusetts
• Cape Cod, Massachusetts
• Newport, Rhode Island
• Montauk, New York
• Cape May, New Jersey
• Chincoteague, Virginia
• Ocean City, Maryland
• Nags Head, North Carolina
• Pawleys Island, South Carolina
• Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
• Tybee Island, Georgia
• Siesta Key, Florida.

Have a news tip? Email [email protected].

The article Newport Is Among 14 Best East Coast Beach Towns: Condé Nast appeared first on Newport Patch .