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18 BEST NORTHEAST FLORIDA TOWNS AND CITIES

By   Mike Miller  Updated December 17, 2023

These Northeast Florida towns are in the region of the state that includes Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and a lot of towns on the Atlantic Ocean and St. Johns River.

The Northeast Florida counties are Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam, and St. Johns.

Clicking through to the individual town pages will give you information about the town's history, what it's like today, real estate, things to do, local government, lodging and restaurants.

American Beach

This historic Amelia Island community was founded by an early African-American insurance executive as a resort for black Floridians during the segregated Jim Crow era. Today there are many nice beach houses and a historic museum.

Crescent City

This small city is located on Crescent Lake.  The lake, noted for its excellent bass fishing, is actually an arm of the St. Johns River. The lake and the river are connected by a large creek, Dunn's Creek.  There is a nice downtown restaurant on the waterfront.

This small village west of the mega-community of Palm Coast has a historic brick road.  Known as the Espanola Old Brick Road, it extends through the unpopulated pine woods along what was once the path of the original Dixie Highway that connected Chicago to Florida.

Fernandina Beach

Fernandina Beach is as far north as you can go on Florida's Atlantic Coast.  It is located at the mouth of the St. Marys River and is one of the state's oldest cities.  It was a major port in the early days and the beginning place of the state's first railroad. Fishing and tourism are major industries today along with paper mills.

Flagler Beach

The historic pier here was badly damaged by a recent hurricane, but the restaurant at the land side is still open. This beach town is unique in Florida because there are no high rises directly on the ocean.  The route of State Road A1A does not leave enough room for that between the road and the beach.

Glen St. Mary

This tiny town was once the headquarters for a major 1600 acre nursery company.  They grew Satsuma Oranges, Temples, Kumquat and Magnolia.  Today it is a quiet little place that was named "Rural Community of the Year" in 2004.  Not much has changed since then.

Green Cove Springs

This bustling small city is on the St. Johns River.  At the close of World War Two it became home to a major U.S. Navy "Mothball Fleet".  The fleet is now gone, but major docks and shipyard activity remain.  Downtown is a quiet community between US-17 and the river.

Interlachen

More than a century ago, the historic town of Interlachen was a significant citrus growing center.  Back to back freezes near the end of the nineteenth century ended that era.  Today this quiet little place is a residential town with many old buildings, some of which have been restored. 

Jacksonville

Jax is the largest city by land area in the United States and the most populous in Florida.  It is a major shipping port, and has more industry than most Florida towns. 

Its downtown is along the St. Johns River and the city has all of the amenities and services of most large cities. The city has two major universities:  Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida.  The Mayo Clinic has a large hospital here.

Keystone Heights

Like so many Florida towns, Keystone Heights began as a resort oriented land development project back in the day. Today it is a quiet place with a strong sense of community and several small businesses typical of a rural town.

Macclenny is the first major city west of Jacksonville.  It is a historic community with many well preserved older buildings and a busy downtown business district.  Glen St. Mary is its quiet little neighbor next door to the west.

Mandarin was named for the oranges that once grew here in the days before the big freezes at the end of the 1890s.  It is surrounded now by subdivisions but has retained its quiet charm.  It was the winter home of Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin."

Marineland is not only a historic tourist attraction that dates back to 1938, it is an incorporated village and one of the smallest in Florida.  Today it is a minor attraction and is still an active marine research center. It is on the barrier island that separates the Atlantic Ocean from the Intracoastal Waterway.

Mayport is a fishing village east of Jacksonville near the mouth of the St. Johns River.  It is a small community with a good seafood restaurant, and is also the location of a car ferry across the river to Fort George Island and the extension of State Road A1A north to Fernandina.  It is also the location of a major U.S. naval air station.

Palatka is located at a strategic bend in the St. Johns River that marks the end of deep water and the beginning of shallower waters south of town.  This made Palatka a major early deepwater port when the river was the main transportation route along eastern Florida.

Penney Farms

J. C. Penney did well enough with his stores that he decided to start a large farming community on acreage he bought west of Green Cove Springs.  The Great Depression hurt him financially and he sold most of the land.  Some of it he dedicated to what is now the Penney Farms Retirement Community.

St. Augustine

Known as the Ancient City, St. Augustine was established by the Spanish in 1565 and has been continually occupied ever since.  The city centerpiece is the historic Castillo San Marcos, and it is a treasure trove of ancient well preserved buildings.  It is loaded with great beaches, fine hotels, many restaurants, and Flagler College located in what was the historic Hotel Ponce de Leon.

This tiny village on the east bank of the St. Johns River is a quiet place for relaxing and fishing.  It has largely escaped the busy pace of many of its Northeast Florida neighbors.  There are a couple of small resorts here and at least one good restaurant.

There are a lot of interesting scenery and places to visit in Northeast Florida.  Check out our recommendations at:

Northeast Florida Day Trips and Scenic Drives

Jacksonville Florida Attractions Within 100 miles

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19 Best Things to do in North Florida You Must Do!

By: Author Florida Vacation Expert

Posted on November 16, 2022

Categories North East Florida

Home » North East Florida » 19 Best Things to do in North Florida You Must Do!

Looking for the Best Things to do in North Florida?

When you think of Florida, most people think of beaches and Disney. But there is so much more to the sunshine state! Shopping, dining, beaches, and hiking- the list could go on with all that there is to do in North Florida. If you’re just starting to make your vacation itinerary, it might feel a little overwhelming. So if you need some help, here’s a list of the 19 best things to do in North Florida.

They’re split up into categories to help make your vacation planning that much simpler. Don’t get too focused on that itinerary, though. Some of the best memories are made spontaneously!

19 Best Things to do in North Florida

St. augustine lighthouse & maritime museum.

Since St. Augustine is one of the oldest towns in the nation, it’s no surprise they have an abundance of museums. The Lighthouse and Maritime Museum is a fun and educational activity for the whole family to enjoy. There is so much to explore as they have archeology displays, hand-on exhibits, summer camps, different daily activities, and nature trails to hike.

The kids will have a blast climbing through the shipyard play area, looking through the viewfinders, and going on a scavenger hunt. You can climb to the top of the lighthouse, but be warned- it’s an intimidating 165 feet tall with 219 steps! But if you’re up for the challenge, the view is worth all that exercise.

All of this is included in the affordable admission fee of $15 per adult and $13 for children 12 and under. They also offer three different guided lighthouse tours for an additional fee.

100 Red Cox Rd., St. Augustine FL, 32080  

St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum/ Flickr

North Florida Kiteboarding

Bored of sitting on the beach, baking in that hot Florida sun? Tired of standing in the ocean with nothing to do? Then call North Florida Kiteboarding and learn how to surf or kiteboard! Kiteboarding is an exciting activity that combines paragliding and windsurfing.

But if that seems too extreme for you, they also have normal surfing lessons. They offer both private and group lessons with knowledgeable instructors to not only show you how to surf, but also how to stay safe. All ages and all experience levels are welcome and gear is provided.

If you have a party of three or more, they are willing to travel to your location. If not, you will have to travel to them in Huguenot Memorial park. If you’re already a pro, they sell surfboards, landboards, kiteboards, paddle boards, and apparel. They also offer kite repairs for any accidents that might happen.

10980 Heckscher Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32226

North Florida Kiteboarding/ Flickr

Lightner Museum

If you don’t have kids and are looking for a romantic date, St. Augustine has a museum that has the perfect atmosphere for that. The Lightner Museum has many antiques and art pieces, most of which come from the American Gilded Age.

If you’re interested in architecture, the building has some history with a Spanish Renaissance style building that housed a hotel in the late 1800s. One of the more interesting things to do there is to have lunch in what used to be a large indoor pool.

There are multiple floors full of paintings, statues, antique furniture, and glass art. If you’ve already looked through their multiple exhibits, they offer different events like yoga in the garden, painting workshops, and markets. It’s an affordable way to keep yourself busy, with general admission tickets only costing $17 for adults and $10 for kids 12-17 years. Children under 11 get to enjoy the art and history for free.

75 King St, St. Augustine, FL 32084

Lightner Museum/ Flickr

Cade Museum

Is your family full of creative minds? Then be sure to take them to the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention located in Gainesville Florida. They have plenty of hands-on activities for kids and teens, but adults can also have fun discovering their creative side! Everyone is welcomed here, no matter how talented or inventive you may be.

The building is very eye-catching with its modern design. They have different weekly activities like junior inventor nights and a robotics class. They also have multiple camps where kids can learn about the human body, DNA, the environment, comics, and aviation.

No matter what their interests are, there’s a camp for them. The camps are a little on the pricey side, being either $179 for half days or $349 for full days. The admission into the museum is more affordable with a $15 ticket for adults or $10 ticket for kids aged 5-17 years. Kids under 4 years are able to create for free!

811 S Main St, Gainesville, FL 3260 1

Cade Museum/ Flickr

Florida Museum of Natural History

If you’re on a tight budget, North Florida offers plenty of things to do that don’t cost much. Their Natural History Museum, located at the University of Florida in Gainesville , has free admission for any age.

They do have special exhibits and a butterfly garden that costs extra, but remains under $20. They also offer different events and kids camps throughout the year. You can spend hours here as your family walks through displays of fossils, views wildlife and plants native to Florida, and inspects a mammoth skeleton! If you have a Little Einstein, they will love the Discovery Zone, where they can have a hands-on learning experience.

The Butterfly Rainforest is a must and one of the most popular attractions. You get to walk among some of the most beautiful creatures on earth and watch them interact with their environment. When you’re done, you can visit the Indoor Butterfly Exhibit that gives you the chance to look at specimens up close. They have 100,000 collection drawers full of butterflies. You will have a full day of exploration and learning at the Natural History Museum.

3215 Hull Rd., Gainesville, FL 32611  

Florida Museum of Natural History/ Flickr

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

Looking to have a zoo visit while you’re in Florida? Then Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens needs to be on your list. They are a part of the American Association for Zoo Keepers and have a focus on conservation, so you can be assured that you’re supporting an ethical zoo.

They have over 2,000 animals to learn about and watch. But, they offer so many things to do besides that! One of their newer features is the Nature Agents activity where kids can have an interactive scavenger hunt through the zoo using a Smart Compass and a phone. While exploring, keep an eye out for the botanical gardens spread among the animal exhibits.

If you plan on staying in Florida for a while, teens can join the W.I.L.D. program and become ambassadors for the zoo. Anyone is welcome here, as they offer mobility and stroller rentals. General admission tickets will cost around $20 for kids and $25 for adults. They also have the “total experience” option for tickets, costing an extra $10.

370 Zoo Pkwy, Jacksonville, FL 32218

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens/ Flickr

Tomoka State Park

If you’re interested in the outdoors, Tomoka Park is the perfect thing to add to your vacation bucket list. The whole family will find something to do here. Tomoka Park is only a 30 minute drive from Daytona, which is perfect if you’re looking for a day trip to enjoy some nature. They offer a campground, biking and hiking trails, fishing spots, bird watching, and kayak/canoe rentals.

You can even try to spot some of the endangered West Indian manatee that reside here. Located on the Tomoka River, you can boat, kayak, or fish. Just watch out for any alligators or bottlenose dolphins that might make an appearance!

One of their most memorable displays is that of Indian Chief Tomokie. Be sure to ask one of their knowledgeable park rangers all about his story. This park is top of the list for the best and most affordable things to do in North Florida, as the entry fee is only $5 per vehicle.

2099 N. Beach St., Ormond Beach FL, 32174

Tomoka State Park/ Flickr

Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park

Looking for a unique and memorable state park? Devil’s Millhopper Geological Park is waiting for you! Located in Gainesville Florida, this park provides a rainforest hiking experience like no other. They are home to a large sinkhole that you can safely view and learn about through their interpretive displays, or stop at the visitor center and check out their audiovisual program.

There is a lot to learn about this sinkhole, as the further you go into it, the older the rocks become. There is also a set of stairs you can climb to explore the sinkhole up close and listen to the waterfalls. The hiking trail is not too difficult, but make sure to wear appropriate shoes! Dogs are welcomed, too, just make sure they are on a leash and clean up after your pup.

Once you’re done exploring, there are multiple places you can enjoy a picnic with your family. This is one of the cheaper things to do in Florida, as the entrance fee is only $4! Not bad for an educational and beautiful experience!

4732 Millhopper Rd, Gainesville, FL 32653

Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park/ Flickr

Best Food in North Florida

Black sheep restaurant.

If you’re looking for a modern, upscale restaurant for breakfast, lunch, or dinner then you have to add Black Sheep to your list. Located in the historic Five Points neighborhood of Jacksonville, this restaurant serves southern classics with a gourmet twist.

Try their Shrimp & Grits or their Chipotle Blueberry Ribs for dinner with a side of their Pimento Cheese Hush Puppies. If you have little ones to bring along, they offer a kids menu with all their classic favorites. If you’re looking for a relaxing vibe, you can enjoy a Pink Flamingo cocktail while you sit in the sun on their rooftop dining area.

Expect the best of the best service and high quality food, because that’s what Black Sheep prides themselves on. All products served are locally sourced from either Florida or Georgia, which means you’ll be getting the freshest meal possible. Black Sheep will surely make your vacation a delicious one.

1534 Oak Street, Jacksonville FL, 32204

Black Sheep Restaurant/ Facebook

If you’re in downtown Jacksonville and want a restaurant with a modest and trendy atmosphere, be sure to stop at Bellwether. Known for their farm-to-table idea, Bellwether is a casual restaurant that offers a variety of lunch or dinner dishes.

You will get a modern, fresh meal for a decent price. Their lunch menu consists of a variety of different salads, unique appetizers, and a long list of sandwiches, all under $20. Their dinner menu is a little more pricey, but it’s worth the extra cost. They also offer vegan and gluten free options on their menus.

If you have a sweet tooth, check out their dessert menu that offers unique treats like cheesecake rangoons and a key lime piesicle. Just be cautious as parking can be a struggle since they are located in the heart of downtown Jacksonville. Bellwether is aware of this, though, and provides parking instructions on their website!

117 W. Forsyth St., Jacksonville, FL 32202

Bellwether/ Facebook

The North Beach Fish Camp

If you have a craving for seafood while relaxing on Neptune Beach, stop in at The North Beach Fish Camp. They provide a lively, beach atmosphere in a two story restaurant that overlooks the city of Neptune Beach. As soon as you walk in, you’ll be greeted by fresh caught fish on display before being seated.

They have an assortment of lunch and dinner seafood options, but if you’re looking for something less fishy they also have beef and chicken on the menu. For the adults, they have their own specialty drink menu with beach themed cocktails.

Check out their online website to see their full menu and explore their blog with different articles from how to improve your cooking skills to ways to refresh your leftovers!

100 First St., Neptune Beach FL, 32266

The North Beach Fish Camp/ Facebook

Columbia Restaurant

This restaurant fits in well in the St. Augustine Historic District. It may not be as old as the city, but it has a history of its own with multiple locations around Florida. Columbia Restaurant first appeared in 1905 and has been serving customers ever since. At the St. Augustine location, you will receive amazing service and a stunning atmosphere, plus they provide free parking. The interior is decorated with a Spanish flair and their menu consists of Spanish and Cuban meals. You will feel like you’re dining in a museum with all of the hand painted murals, exoctic plants, and mosaic tiled flooring. They proudly serve fresh caught fish from the Gulf of Mexico, but if seafood is not appealing, they also have many beef and chicken, vegan, or gluten free options. Between the decor and menu, you will not be disappointed at this time capsule of a restaurant!

98 St George St, St. Augustine, FL 32084

Columbia Restaurant/ Facebook

If you’re spending time in Daytona Beach , you have to check out the famous Ocean Deck bar and restaurant. They are one of the few restaurants located directly on the beach and welcome people no matter what they’re wearing. Their slogan “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem” pretty much sums up their dress code. Ocean Deck has a unique history of originally being a hotdog stand back in the 1950’s, but upon new ownership they became the hotspot for tourists and locals.

They widened their menu, added a bar, and have live music and events throughout the year. You can eat some fresh caught Mahi Mahi or a lobster tail while you watch the volleyball tournaments.

Or maybe try their Island Dragon or Nectar of the Gods drink while you jam out to some live reggae music. Either way, you’ll be having the best vacation you’ve ever dreamed of having.

127 S. Ocean Ave., Daytona Beach FL, 32118

Ocean Deck/ Facebook

Dimitris Bar, Deck, and Grill

Ormond Beach is a gem of a beach town but is often overlooked due to Daytona Beach being right next door. Ormond Beach offers so many things to do along with some of the best dining experiences. Dimitris Bar is one of the more unique restaurants that will catch your eye as you cruise down Atlantic Ave.

They have a large upstairs deck where you can enjoy Greek or seafood dishes while looking at the ocean. They offer both lunch and dinner menus and usually have deals going for any alcoholic drinks. The staff is friendly and definitely adds to the “surfer” atmosphere Dimitris provides.

An only downfall is the large number of stairs you will have to climb in order to dine on the deck. They do offer indoor, main level seating, but it’s advised that you try to sit upstairs. The view and experience is worth the climb!

790 S. Atlantic Ave., Ormond Beach FL, 32176

Dimitris Bar, Deck, and Grill/ Facebook

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Northeast Florida

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Things to Do in Northeast Florida

When driving through the elongated state of Florida, many people make the grave mistake of speeding through the Northeast without as much as a single stop beyond the Cracker Barrels, Denny's, and gas stations lining the highways. Thankfully, Juan Ponce de León made the fortunate mistake of discovering just how magnificent the northeast part of the state is. You would do well to follow in his footsteps.

Northeast Florida traces its roots back to 1513, when the wandering de León, who later undertook a misguided quest for the Fountain of Youth, landed somewhere between present-day Jacksonville and Cape Canaveral. (He was a bit off course -- he meant to land in what is now Bimini -- but who can blame a guy who didn't have GPS?) Observing the land's lush foliage, he named it La Florida, or "the flowery land."

In 1565, the Spanish established a colony at St. Augustine, the country's oldest continuously inhabited European settlement. Not much, if anything at all, has changed in St. Augustine (in a wonderful way). The streets of the restored Old City look much as they did in Spanish times.

Not everything in Northeast Florida is antiquated, however. To the south, there's the "Space Coast," where rockets blast off from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral. In Cocoa Beach, you can watch surfers riding the rather sizable waves. In Daytona, brace yourself for the deafening roar of the stock cars and motorbikes that make this beach town the "World Center of Racing." And don't blink, because you wouldn't want to miss Daytona's other pop-cultural phenomenon, known as Spring Break. In recent years, it has dwindled from a whopping 400,000 party-hearty kids down to a crowd so tame, the Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau no longer maintains student visitor estimates!

Going north along the coast, you'll come to a place that's a far cry from being populated with Spring Breakers on a budget: the moneyed haven of Ponte Vedra Beach, where golf takes precedence over manual labor. In Jacksonville, Florida's largest metropolis and a thriving port city and naval base, you can get a taste of city life before retreating to the beach.

Up near the state line, cross a bridge to Amelia Island, where you'll discover exclusive resorts that take advantage of 13 miles of beautiful beaches. Amelia's Victorian-era town, Fernandina Beach, is another throwback to the past, helping to further render the northeast region a fascinating juxtaposition of the old, the new, and somewhere in between.

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Explore Arts and Culture in Northeast Florida

Marsha Adelson

• Amelia Island , Art Galleries & Museums , Gainesville , Jacksonville , North Florida , Northeast Florida , St Augustine

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This is the area of the oldest settlement in the United States, St. Augustine, as well as the shrimping capital of the world! There’s lots of things to see and do in North Florida.

St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum

The St. Augustine Lighthouse stands 175 feet tall on Anastasia Island, situated between the Matanzas River and Salt Run. Built over 100 years ago, the lighthouse is still an aid to boaters.

Visit the lighthouse and climb to the top of the tower. Check out exhibits in the four additional historic buildings. See demonstrations on boat building, lighthouses and maritime archaeology. View articles from shipwrecks. Enjoy with a walk along the park’s nature trails.

The Lightner Museum, St. Augustine

The Lightner Museum is located in the 1888 Alcazar Hotel. The beautiful hotel now houses the Victorian-era antique collection of Otto Lightner.

Every room of the five-floor building has been restored to its original elegance. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Amelia Island Museum of History, Fernandina Beach

The Amelia Island Museum exhibits 4,000 years of local history. Learn about the Timucuan Indians to more modern history. The museum is housed in the former Nassau County Jail. The museum also offers a Veterans History Project, ghost tours, and other themed events each year.

They are affiliated with the Fernandina Beach Marine Welcome Center & Shrimping Museum . Fernandina Beach is known as the birthplace of the shrimping industry. Learn about net-making, ship building, and the history of the industry.

Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, St. Augustine

The area that is now St. Augustine was first explored by Juan Ponce de Leon in 1513. Settled in 1565 by Pedro Menendez de Aviles in 1565, it is the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the United States. With over 500 years of history, this “Old Town” has some great stories to tell.

Although Ponce de Leon didn’t really go looking for the Fountain of Youth this spot has become an archaeological gold mine.

In 1874 the first artifacts were unearthed here. In 1985 archaeologists discovered a Spanish well filled with 16th century artifacts. Foundations of some of the first Spanish structures were identified on the site.

Just in case you  do believe, be sure to visit the Spring House and take a sip from the Fountain. Who knows? You may be right!

Museum of Science and History, Jacksonville

The Museum of Science and History is filled with interactive exhibits that bring northeast Florida’s past to life. There’s something for explorers of all ages.

Get up close to coastal marine creatures in the tidal tank. Reveal the secrets of the galaxy at a planetarium presentation. Learn how various systems in your body work.

Discover how the first Native Americans in the area lived. Explore over 12,000 years of Northeast Florida history. Take a stroll through the Hixon Native Plant Courtyard. There’s even a special “Kid Space” for children under 5 to enjoy.

Art Museums and Galleries

The museum of contemporary art, jacksonville.

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) is collection of modern and contemporary art. MOCA provides the Jacksonville community with a high-quality arts and education programs.

It’s a cultural institute of the University of North Florida in 2009. They host special lectures and present college-level art courses. They also exhibit work through special faculty and student exhibitions.

University of North Florida (UNF) Queer Art Gallery, Jacksonville

The University of North Florida’s LGBT Resource Center’s Queer Art Gallery offers rotating exhibits by LGBT students, faculty and staff. The Gallery uses art to highlight queer expression and expand artistic and cultural dialogue.

The artworks express the many sides of the LGBT experiences. The art also brings awareness to LGBT issues and to contemporary artists in the LGBT community.

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, Jacksonville

The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens  engages and inspires through the arts, gardens, and education. Ninah Cummer established the art collection in 1958. She left her collection of 60 pieces, plus her home, and gardens to create a museum.

Today, it’s home to over 5,000 works of art. The historic gardens are also worth a stroll.

St. Augustine Art Association

The St. Augustine Art Association , established in 1924, is located in the Historic District. It began as a winter art colony where artists from the Northern U.S. would gather in the cold months to continue their work.

The gallery also produces monthly juried exhibits of art by emerging and professional artists, as well as an annual Thanksgiving Art & Craft Festival. The gallery serves as a cultural hub for the community and a gathering place for workshops, lectures, concerts, and other special events.

Performing Arts

Hippodrome theatre, gainesville.

The Hippodrome (locally referred to as “The Hipp”) is the region’s only professional theatre and has been Gainesville’s most acclaimed performing arts center for over 40 years. They present high-quality productions of musicals, comedies, dramas, and holiday productions. They also offer art-house cinema, a visual arts gallery, theatre education classes for children, and full-service facility rentals.

Ritz Theatre and Museum, Jacksonville

The Ritz Theatre and Museum was built in 1999 on the site where the 1929 Ritz Theatre was located, in the historic African American community of La Villa. The area was known as the “Harlem of the South” during its heyday from the 1920’s to the 1960’s. The Ritz is reaching out to the community to highlight the past, present and future contributions of African American arts and culture in Jacksonville, by influencing, educating, empowering, and encouraging current and future leaders.

The Ritz presents concerts, films, lectures, music, dance performances and shows, while the museum strives to connect and celebrate the rich African American heritage of Florida through its exhibits and recordings. For a truly exceptional treat, attend a concert by Ritz Voices , a group of middle and high school students receiving a musical education by developing their vocal abilities and showmanship, and by learning the value of community involvement. The group has won numerous awards, performed at major events, including Super Bowl XXXIX, and performed with musical legends like Dionne Warwick, Barry Manilow, and John Secada.

Players by the Sea Theatre, Jacksonville Beach

For more than 50 years, the Players by the Sea Theatre (PBST) has enhanced the community by their excellent productions of live and innovative theatre. This community theatre provides educational and creative opportunities for local collaborators.  The venue has two performance spaces which host a large range of performance types.

If you enjoy these locations, check out other fun destinations in Northeast Florida .

**Disclaimer: There is a good chance that this post contains affiliate or sponsor links. If you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you (for which we are extremely grateful).

Also, while we do our best to highlight LGBTQ-friendly destinations and businesses, info provided is based solely on personal experience and recommendations by community partners. We hope that nobody experiences discrimination or homophobia while visiting Florida and beyond, but we make no guarantees. Please inform us if you experience discrimination or homophobia while visiting any destination so we can make updates to our recommendations.

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april, 2024

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Entertainment

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Amelia Island

Central Florida

Fernandina Beach

Florida Keys

Fort Lauderdale

Gainesville

Jacksonville

North Central

Northeast Florida

Panama City

South Florida

Southwest Florida

Space Coast

St. Augustine

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Event Location

(Online) Stonewall National Museum, Archives, & Library

100 Coronado Dr

1100 Seabreeze Blvd, Fort Lauderdale

1111 Lincoln Road

2010 Republica de Cuba

2200 & 2300 Blocks of Central Ave St Pete

2320 East Mallory Street Pensacola

3 Daughters Brewery

301 E. Las Olas Blvd.

47th Street in Downtown Cape Coral

5100 Leesway Circle, Pensacola, FL 32504

600 Central Avenue

646 48th Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33703

7th Avenue, Ybor City

7th Son Brewery

7venth Sun Brewery

81Bay Brewing Company

Aaron Bessant Park

Ace Cafe Orlando

Achieva Headquarters

Acropolis Greek Taverna – St. Petersburg

AHF – Fort Lauderdale Downtown

AIDS Healthcare Foundation Healthcare Center

Al Lang Stadium

Al Lopez Park

Albert "Ray" Massey (Westside) Playground

Albert Whitted Park

Alewife Craft Beer Bottle Shop & Tasting Room

Alexander's Guesthouse Key West

Alfred “Al” Barnes Jr. Park

Allendale UMC

Aloft Orlando Downtown

Alpha Pizza House

Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts

AMC Sundial 20

America's Backyard

American Legion Post 40

Amway Center

Apollo Beach south basin

Arcade Monsters – Lido Beach St Armands Circle

Arlo Wynwood

Armature Works

Art Center Sarasota

Art Deco Museum

Art Outfitters USA

Art Ovation Hotel, Autograph Collection

Artisan Alley

Artisan's Table

Arts Garage

Aspirations Winery

Avalon Event Center

Avanti Palms Resort

Awakening Into Wellness

AxelBeach Hotel Miami

B Resort & Spa at Disney Springs

Bahama Breeze Oakland Park

Ballroom City Sarasota

Bamboo Room

Bambu Eco Salon

Bambusa Bar & Grill

Barley Republic Public House

Barry University Shepard & Ruth K. Broad Performing Arts Center

Bass Pro Shops

Batch New Southern Kitchen and Tap: Fort Lauderdale

Bayboro Brewing Co.

Baycare Ballpark

Bayfront of Naples

Bayfront Park Miami

Bayshore Boulevard Tampa

BBX Capital

Beacon Hill Fellowship

Bella Cucina Italian Restaurant

Berkshire Hathaway Florida Properties Group

Bicentennial Park

Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation

Bilmar Beach Resort

Biltmore Hotel Miami Coral Gables

Black Box Media Miami

Blackwater Sound

Blitz Event Center

Blue Iguanas Bar & Grill

Blur Nightclub

Blush All Inclusive Event Center

Bo Diddley Plaza

Bobby Jones Golf Club

Bobby Jones Golf Course

Boca Ciega Bay near Gulfport Pier

Born Free Pub & Grill

Botanical Brewing Taproom

Bourbon Street Pub

Bowlero Gulf Gate

Boynton Harbor Marina

Bradenton Beach

Bradenton Downtown Riverwalk

Bradenton Riverwalk

Brandon Hamburger Mary's

Brannon Center

Brew Bus Brewing

Brewlands Bar & Billiards

Broward Art Guild

Broward Center for the Performing Arts

Bryan Glazer Family JCC

Bryant Park

Bryant Park @ Lake Worth Lagoon

Busch Gardens

Caddy’s Treasure Island

Caddy's Gulfport

Caddy's Indian Shores

Caddy's On The Beach

Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention

Cady Way Park

Cafe DaVinci

Calvary Orlando

Cambiar Park

Cambier Park

Cambria Park

Camping World Stadium

Campo Felice Living

CAN Community Health Ybor City

Canal Street Historic District

Canvas Event Venue

Cape Coral Entertainment District

Cape Coral Yacht Club

Capt'n Fun Beach Club

Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce

Carrollwood Cultural Center

Carrollwood Players

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

Catherine Hickman Theater

Cavo Lounge

Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens

Celebration Gardens

Celebration Park Naples

Centennial Park Station

Centennial Park Venice

Center for Spiritual Living Fort Lauderdale

Central Avenue

Central Florida Fair

Central Panhandle Fairgrounds Bay County

Central Park

Central Park Fernandina Beach

Central Park Palm Coast

Central Park Winter Park

Centre Club

CerealHolic Cafe and Bar

Chihuly Collection

Chipley Park

Christmas Lane

Church of the Trinity MCC

City Side Lounge

Clearwater Garden Club

Clevelander South Beach Hotel and Bar

Close 104th Avenue & Gulf Boulevard

Club Colette

Club Colette on Palm Beach

CMX CinéBistro Siesta Key

Coachman Park Clearwater

Coastal Creative

Cocktail St Pete

Cocoa Beach

Cocoa Riverfront Park

Coconuts On the Beach

CocoWalk Miami

Coffee Butler Amphitheater

Community Cafe

Community Roots Collective

Compass Community Center

Congregation B'nai Israel

Cooters Restaurant and Bar

Copperpoint Brewery

Coquina Coast Brewing Co.

Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ

Coral Gables Museum

Cordova Square in East Hill

Corey Ave, St. Pete Beach

Costas Restaurant

Courtyard by Marriott Amelia Island

Cowboy Up Saloon

Cox Science Center and Aquarium

Cranes Roost Park

Creative Loafing Space

Creative Soul Studio

Credo Conduit Coworking Space

Crooked River Lighthouse

Crowne Plaza

Crowne Plaza Fort Myers

Crowne Plaza Orlando-Downtown, an IHG Hotel

Cruiser's Lounge – Cape Coral

Cruisers Cape Coral

Crystal Bay Hotel St. Petersburg

Cucu's Nest Lounge

Cultural Council for Palm Beach County

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens

Curtis Hixon Park

Dania Beach

Dart Bar & Games

Days Inn St. Petersburg North

Deering Estate

Deland Chisholm Center

DeLand Social

Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park

Demen's Landing

Depot Pavilion

Design Center of the Americas

Destin Commons

Destination Panama City Visitors Center

Dezerland Park Miami

Disney World

District Tavern

Domain Home Accessories & Gallery

Don Ramon Restaurante Cubano

Donnelly Park

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Orlando at SeaWorld

Doubletree by Hilton SeaWorld

Downtown Avalon Park

Downtown City of Oakland Park

Downtown Crystal River

Downtown Dunedin

Downtown Fort Lauderdale

Downtown Gulfport Florida

Downtown Hollywood

Downtown Improvement Board

Downtown Jacksonville

Downtown Lakewood Ranch

Downtown Melbourne

Downtown Pensacola

Downtown Punta Gorda

Downtown St. Pete Waterfront Area

Downtown Tarpon Springs

Downtown Waterfront Area

Dr. Michael Wasylik’s office

Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

Dr. Phillips Splash Pad & Park

Dream South Beach

Duncan McClellan Theater

DUNE by Laurent Tourondel

Dunedin City Hall

Dunedin Lanes

Dunedin Marina

Duran Golf Course

East Naples Community Park

Eastside Branch Library

Eckerd College – Fox Hall 4200

Eden Downtown Tampa

Eden Roc Miami Beach Hotel

Eden, A Show Bar

EDGE Rooftop Cocktail Lounge

Edgewater Park Dunedin

Edward B. Knight Pier, Key West

El Prado Park

Element Tampa Midtown

Embassy Suites by Hilton Deerfield Beach Resort & Spa

Emerald Bar

Emerson's Bar and Grill

Empath Partners in Care

Enander's Winter Wonderland

Enchanted Place

England Brothers Park

Enoch D Davis Center

EPIC St. Petersburg Campus

Epic Theatres

Epicurean Theatre

Euclid Oval

EVE Orlando

EverBank Stadium

Everglades City Hall

Exchange Miami Club

Eyz Wide Shut Nightclub

Fairgrounds St. Pete

FAU Living Room Theatre

Felicitous (on 42nd)

Fenway Hotel

Fergs Sports Bar

Ferguson Hall

Ferguson Plumbing Supply

Fernandina Beach Pride Parade &Festival at Central Park

Festival Park

First Baptist Church of Apopka

First Baptist Fort Lauderdale

First Love Brewing

First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Palm Beaches

First Unity Spiritual Campus

Fisherman's Village

FIU Biscayne Bay Campus

FIU Campus Recreation

Flamingo Gardens

Flamingo Resort

Flora-Bama Lounge, Package and Oyster Bar

Florida Botanical Gardens

Florida Museum of Photographic Arts

Florida Strawberry Festival

Florida Studio Theatre

Flounder's Chowder House

Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center

Fontainebleau Miami Beach

FORT LAUDERDALE / WILTON MANORS, FL

Fort Lauderdale Beach

Fort Lauderdale Beach Park

Fort Meyers

Founders Park Islamorada

Frances T. Bourne Jacaranda Public Library

Francis Field

Frank Brown Sport Complex

Frankin Manor

freeFall Theater

Fringe Theater Key West

Front Street Park Melbourne

FSU Dunlap Champions Club

Ft. Myers Regional Library

FunDimension

Funky Rooster Coffee & Wine Bar

Gadsden Park

Gainesville Woman's Club

Galaxy Skateway & Play Zone

Galleria Fort Lauderdale

Gasparilla Knight Parade

Gasparilla Music Foundation

Gatsby's

Gay Street St Pete House

GayStPete House

Gem Station

General Provision Downtown

George C. McGough Nature Park

Georgie's Alibi Monkey Bar

Gigi's Music Cafe

Gilbert Park Mt Dora

Give Kids The World Village

Glenridge Performing Arts Center

Grand Central Brewhouse

Grand Central District

Grand Prix of Gulfport

Grantham Pointe (Light House)

Graphi-ko Gallery/Jewelry

Grassroots Kava House

Greater Ft. Lauderdale / Broward County Convention Center

Green Bench Brewing Company

Green Light Cinema

Grimes Family Agricultural Center

Grind Gastropub & Kona Tiki Bar

Gulf Coast LGBTQ Center, Inc.

Gulfport Casino Ballroom

Gulfport Historical Society

Gulfport Nutrition

Gulfport Public Library

Gulfport Public Library & The James Museum

Gulfport Senior Center

Gulfport Veterans Park

Gulfport Yacht Club

Gulfstream Park Village

Hagen Park Community Center & Pavilion

Haiku Tampa

Haile Village Center

Halifax River Yacht Club

Hamburger Mary’s Clearwater

Hamburger Mary’s Orlando

Hamburger Mary's Wilton Manors

Harbor Park

HarborWalk Village

Hard Rock Cafe Key West

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach

Hard Rock Live Hollywood FL

Harriett Coleman Center for the Arts, Lake Highland Preparatory School

Harriett's Orlando Ballet Centre

Harry P. Leu Gardens

Hart Memorial Central Library

Hart's Landing

Haulover Canal

Havana Cabana Key West

HAVANNA CAFE

Hawthorne Bottle Shoppe

HCC Mainstage Theatre

HCC Ybor Campus

HCC Ybor City Performing Arts Building

Henry B. Plant Museum

Henry’s depot

Heritage Park

Hertz Arena, Everblades Parkway

Herzog & de Meuron Parking Garage

Hialeah Park

Hialeah Park Ballroom

Hideaway Cafe

Higgs Beach Dog Park

Hillsborough River State Park

Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront

Hilton Garden Inn Tampa Suncoast Parkway

Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort and Spa

Hilton Tampa Downtown

Historic 8th Ave – Passagrille

Historic Dubsdread Ballroom

Historic Gulfport Casino Waterfront

Historic Haile Homestead at Kanapaha Plantation

Historic Kenwood, St Pete

Historic Palm Cottage

Historic Roser Park Neighborhood

Historic Thomas Center Gardens

History Fort Lauderdale

HoB Brewing Co

Holden Heights Community Center

Holiday Inn Celebration SW

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Naples Downtown

Holiday Inn Melbourne-Viera Conference Ctr, an IHG Hotel

Hollander Hotel

Holy Cross Hospital Women’s Health Center

Homestead-Miami Speedway

Honeymoon Island State Park

Hope CommUnity Center

Hôtel Gaythering

Hotel Melby

Hotel Melby Downtown Melbourne, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

Hotel Sheldon

Hotel Tampa Riverwalk

House of Henry

House of Jason

Hunters Nightclub Wilton Manors

Hurley Park

Hurricane Seafood Restaurant

Hyatt Place Downtown St Pete

Hyatt Regency Orlando,

Hyatt Regency Orlando, Windermere Ballroom 9801 International Dr., Orlando, FL 32819

Hyde Park United Methodist Church

Hyde Park Village

Iberian Rooster

ICE HOUSE – Chalk Festival '3D Illusion Museum'

ICEBAR Orlando

Illusions the Drag Queen Brunch Key West

Immokalee First Street Plaza – Zocalo

inclusivitea

Independent Bar

Independent Bar and Cafe

International Market World

International Polo Club Palm Beach

Intracoastal Waterway, Palm Coast, Florida

Intuition Ale Works

Iron Oak Post

Island City Cultural Center

Island City Park Preserve

Island City Stage

Island Vibes Kava Bar

Italian American Club-Naples

Italian Club

Italian Club Tampa

Ivanhoe Park Brewing Company

J. D. Hamel Park

Jaeb Theater

Jannus Live

JD Hamel Park

Joe Chillura Courthouse Square

John Ringling Bridge

John's Pass Sandbar

Joy Metropolitan Community Church

Juan Pablo Duarte Park

Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park

Jungle Island

Jupiter Beach

JW Marriott Tampa Water Street

Kane Center

Karma Hollywood

Kava Culture Clearwater

Kava Social Club

Kennedy Space Center

Key West Marriott Beachside Hotel

Key West Theater

Kiki’s Sandbar

Kilted Mermaid

Kimpton EPIC Hotel

Kimpton Hotel Zamora

Kimpton Palomar Rooftop Pool

King of Peace MCC

Kissimmee Civic Center

Kleeman Plaza

Kleman Plaza

Kozuba & Sons Distillery

Kozuba and Sons Distillery

L.A. Lee YMCA/Mizell Community Center

La Empanada Loca

La Herencia De Ybor

La La's Sangria Bar

Laishley Park

Lake Dora Waterfront

Lake Eola Amphitheater

Lake Eola Park

Lake Ivanhoe Boat Dock Orlando

Lake Park Black Box Center for the Arts @ The Kelsey Theater

Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards

Lakes Regional Library

Lakewood Center (In the Education Building)

Land O' Lakes Heritage Park

Largo Central Nature Perserve

Largo Central Park

Las Olas Oceanside Park

Las Olas Promenade Park

Le Bone Temps

Le Rouge Miami – Night Club

Lee County, FL Library (Fort Myers Regional Downtown)

Legacy Ale Works

Leon County Clerk of Courts and Comptroller

LGBT Visitor Center on Miami Beach

LGBT Welcome Center

Lgbt+ Center

LGBT+ Center Orlando

LGBT+ Center Orlando – The Center

LGBTQ Center of Bay County Inc.

LGBTQ Resource Center Gulfport Public Library: Catherine Hickman Theater

Lido Key Beach

Lightner Museum

Lincolnville Community Garden

Lincolnville Museum & Cultural Center

Linda Pedersen Park

Little Havana/ Calle Ocho

Little Red House

Living Room at W FORT LAUDERDALE

Los Cocos Bar Restaurant

Lucky's Market Naples

Lummus Park

Mad Beach Boatstock

Mad Hatters Ethnobotanical Tea Bar

Madeira Beach

Madeira Beach Recreation Complex

Maggiano's (Tampa)

Mahaffey Theater

Main Beach Park Amelia Island

Main St. Sarasota

Main Street Food Park

Manatees on the Bay

Mangoes Restaurant

Margaritaville Resort Orlando

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Downtown

Marina Jack

Marina Jack Boat Cruise

Markham Park

Mary's Pub House

Maximo Presbyterian Church

McKenzie Park

Mellow Mushroom Sarasota

Metro Inclusive Health

Metro Inclusive Health (Tampa, FL)

Metro LGBT Community Center

Metro LGBTQ Welcome Center

Metro Tampa

METRO Tampa Youth Center

Metro's Ybor Location

Metropolitan Community Church of Tampa (MCC Tampa)

Metropolitan Park

Miami Beach Bandshell

Miami Beach Botanical Garden

Miami Beach City Hall

Miami Beach Convention Center

Miami Beach Regional Library

Miami Shores Country Club

Miami South Beach

Michael's on East

Mickee Faust Club

Mickel Park

Mickey Byrnes Irish Pub

MIDFLORIDA Event Center

Millennial Brewing

Miramar Regional Park

MIZE Gallery

Molly’s Pub

Moonflower Essentials by May Reign

Moxy South Beach Hotel

Muddy Water Kava & Tea

Museum of Discovery and Science

Museum of Discovery and Science Fort Lauderdale

Museum of Fine Arts

Museum of Fine Arts of St. Pete

Myth Nightclub

Naples Botanical Garden

Naples City Dock

Naples Price Center

Naples Pride Center

Naples Women's Club

Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens

National Polo Center

Nauti Parrot Oasis

Nauti-Nancy's

New River and Inttacoastal Waterways

New River Fine Art

New River Inn

New World Center

Nights of Lights

North Beach Miami

North Collier Regional Park – Athletics

North Lido Beach

North Palm Beach

North Port City Center Front Green

North Straub Park

Nova Southeastern University – Orlando Campus

NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale

O'Maddy's Bar & Grille

Oasis Restaurant

Oasis Restaurant & Bar Sarasota

Oasis Wynwood

Ocala Downtown Historic Square

Ocean Blue Galleries

Ocean Drive Miami Beach

Okeeheelee Park

Old Key West Bar & Grill St. Petersburg

Olympia London, Hammersmith Rd, London W14 8UX UK

Olympia London, London, UK.

One Magical Weekend

Online Facebook Event @ DTSP:Saved by Streaming

OptiView – Immersive Art Museum

Orange Blossom Miami

Orange County Convention Center – North Hall B

Orlando City Hall

Orlando Family Stage (Orlando Repertory Theatre)

Orlando Fringe ArtSpace

Orlando Jewelers

Orlando Museum of Art

Orlando Repertory Theatre

Orlando Science Center

Osceola Arts

Osceola Arts Theatre

Osceola Street Cafe

Osteria Morini Miami Beach

Out of the Closet

Out-n-About Bar

OUTshine Film Festival

Overseas Highway Key Largo

Oxford Exchange

Painting with a Twist

Palm Beach Dramaworks

Palm Beach International Boat Show

Palm Coast Waterfront Park

Palmer Park South Miami

Panama City Beach

Panera Bread

Paper Crane

Paradigm Cinemas: Gateway Fort Lauderdale

Paradise Coast Sports Complex (PCSC)

Park & Rec DTSP

Parliament House Orlando

Parrot Lounge Fort Lauderdale

Patrick’s 1481

Pegasus Lounge & Niteclub

Pelican Beach Park

Pensacola Beach – Park East

Pensacola Beach Boardwalk

Penthouse at Riverside Wharf

Pepperz Night Club

Perspective Rooftop Pool Bar

Pesky Pelican

Pharaoh’s Event Venue

Phillippi Mansion

Pier Park, Aaron Bessant Park

Pilar's Loft

pin Art Ovation Hotel, Autograph Collection

Pin Chasers Midtown

pin Island Flavors And Tings

pin Reitz Union Rion Ballroom

pin Show Map Hideaway Cafe

pin The Barrel Room at Twisted Vine Bistro

pin Vanbarry's Public House

pin Ybor City Chamber of Commerce

Pinecrest Gardens

Pinellas Ale Works Brewery

Pinellas Arts Village

Pioneer Park

Pirate Water Taxi

Playalinda Beach/Holiday Inn Titusville-Kennedy Space

Plaza de la Constitución St. Augustine

Poinciana Golf Club

Polk Theatre

Pompano Beach Fisher Family Pier

Port Tampa Bay

Postcard Inn

Postcard Inn on the Beach

Powerstories Theatre

Prairie Creek Lodge

Pride Cape Coral

Pride Park Miami

Promenade at Sunset Walk

Prudential Building

Punky's Bar and Grill

Push Push Hair Salon

Quench Lounge

Quinteassence

R House Wynwood

Railroad Square Art District

Rainbow Crosswalk on Duval Street

Rainbow Room at the Nauti Parrot Dock Bar

Rapp Brewing Company

Raymond James Stadium

Raymond James Theatre

RC Cola Plant

Rebellion Wine Bar

Rec Room Lakeland

Red Mesa Cantina

Regal South Beach ScreenX, IMAX & VIP

Renningers Mount Dora Flea Market and Antique Center

Residence Inn Fort Lauderdale Intracoastal/Il Lugano

Richardson Historic Park & Nature Preserve

Ride’em Cowboy

Ringling Blvd & Legacy Trl

Ringling College of Art and Design

Riverfront Park Apalachicola

Riverfront Plaza

Riverside Park

Riverside Park Jacksonville

Riverside Park New Smyrna Beach

Riverview Park & Civic Center

Robert Saunders Public Library

Rooftop Cinema Club South Beach

Roots Shoppe

Rosemary District Boulevard of the Arts

Rosemary District Sarasota

Rosen Event Center on the Rosen JCC Campus

Ruka Winewood

Rusty Anchor Mount Dora

Ruth Eckerd Hall

S/V Argo Navis

Sabal Palm Bank

Saint Johns County Fairgrounds

Saint Petersburg

Sally's Ice Cream

Salty Paws Dunedin

Salty Sam's Marina

Salty Shamrock

Salty's

Sand Point Park

Sandhill Crane Park Port St Lucie

Sandrell Rivers Theater

Sands of South Beach at 10th Street

Sanibel Harbor Resort

Santa Barbara Lake

Sarasota Art Museum on the Ringling College Museum Campus

Sarasota Bayfront Park

Sarasota Gay Beach

Sarasota Municipal Auditorium

Sarasota Opera House

Sauvignon Wine Locker & American Trattoria

Savant on Second

Savor Cinema

Savoy Orlando

Sawmill Campground

Schooner Wharf Bar

Scott Galvin Community Center

Scottish American Society of Dunedin

SE 47th Terrace

Sea Dog’s Cantina

Sea Isle Marina & Yachting Center

Selby Five Points Park

Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood

Seminole Park

Seminole Park St. Petersburg

Senior Friendship Center Sarasota

Seven Sisters Campground

Seville Quarter

Shaded Keg Pub

Sharky's On the Pier

Shephard's Beach Resort

Sheraton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort

Sheraton Orlando North

Sheraton Tampa Riverwalk

Shops at Merrick Park

Sidecar Home Market and Bar

Sidney & Berne David Art Center

Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center

Siesta Key Beach

Silverspot Cinema

Silverspot Cinema – Downtown Miami

Sims Park New Port Richey

Sip Shop Hooray

Sirata Beach Resort

Sistrunk Marketplace & Brewery

Skate World Lakeland

Skaters Choice

SkateWorld Tampa

SkateworldTampa

Skipper's Smokehouse

Sloppy Joe's on the Beach

Sloppy Joe's Restaurant on the Beach

Sombrero Beach

South Beach

South Cape Entertainment District

South Straub Park

Southeastern Livestock Pavilion – Marion County, FL

Southern Nights

Southernmost Beach Resort

Space Coast Lightfest

Spain Restaurant & Toma Bar

Spanish Marie Brewery

Sparkman Wharf

SPC- Allstate Center

SPCA Brevard

SPEKTRUM Health – Melbourne

Spellbound Cafe

Spitfire Theatre

Splash Bar Florida

SpringHill Suites By Marriott Amelia Island

St Mark’s Episcopal Church

St Pete Hamburger Mary's

St Pete LGBTQ+ Community Center

St Petersburg Shuffleboard Club

St Petersburg Yacht Club

St. Armands Circle

St. Lucie Cultural Alliance Gallery

St. Matthew's Tavern at the Orlando Beer Garden

St. Pete Beach

St. Pete City Hall

St. Pete Pier

St. Petersburg College Allstate Center

St. Petersburg Marriott Clearwater

Stadium, Arena & Sports Venue

Stafford House

Stageworks Theater

Stageworks Theatre

Stardust Lounge

State Theater St. Petersburg

Station House

Staybridge Suites

Steinmetz Hall

Step Out Tampa Bay

Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park

Stetson Mansion

Stetson University College of Law

Stillwaters Tavern

Stonewall Bar

Stonewall Beach

Stonewall National Museum, Archives, & Library

Straz Center for the Performing Arts

Studio Flava

Studio Grand Central

Studios at 5663

SubCentral at Iberian Rooster

Suncoast Cathedral Church

SunCoast MCC

Sunken Gardens

Sunrise Civic Center Theatre

Sunset Beach Pavillion

Sunset Green Event Lawn at The Keys Collection

Sunset Green Lawn

Sunset Pier

Sunshine Cathedral | SunServe Youth

Sunshine Cathedral Center for the Performing Arts

Sunshine Senior Center

Supernatural Haus

SWFL LGBTQ+ Community Center

Swingers Patio Bar & Grill

Tahitian Resort

Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay History Center

Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa Convention Center

Tampa Convention Center (PWT Stop #7)

Tampa Funnybone (formerly The Tampa Improv)

Tampa Garden Glub

Tampa Improv

Tampa Museum of Art

Tampa Pride Cuban Club Main Stage

Tampa Riverwalk

Tampa Sailing Squadron

Tampa Theatre

Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks

TD Ballpark

Temple Israel of Greater Miami

Ten Pin Lanes

TENN Nightclub

Tennessee Williams Theatre

Tennessee Williams Theatre at the College of the Florida Keys

Tequila's

Thanksgiving Art & Crafts Festival Tarpon Springs

The 808 Island Pub

The 808 Orlando

The Addison

The Alliance for The Arts

The Angeles

The Apopka Amphitheater

The Art Institute of Tampa

The Art Lofts of St. Petersburg

The Art Village Courtyard

The Attic Cafe

The Avenue Eat + Drink

The Bazaar on Apricot & Lime

The Ben Hotel

The Birchwood

The Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater

The Brass Tap

The Bread & Board Downtown

The Brown Boxer South Beach

The Cabaret

The Casino @ Dania Beach

The Casino at Dania Beach

The Chattaway

The Cider Press Cafe & the Emerald Bar

The Circus Arts Conservatory

The Club at Treasure Island

The Coliseum

The Colony Hotel

The Conmy Center

The Cottage on Lake Fairview

The Create Space

The Cuban Club

The Dali Museum

The deck on 13

The Don CeSar

The Dreka Theater

The Dunbar Wine Bar

The Dunes Cocoa Beach

The Easton Rooftop Pool & Lounge

The Esplanade

The Event Space at Bulge

The Factory St. Pete

The Fenway Hotel

The Florida Aquarium

The Florida Capitol

The Floridian Social

The Foundry

The Foundry Theater

The Franklin Manor

The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale

The Garage On Central Avenue

The Garden Club of DeLand

The Geek Easy

The Getaway

The Gin Joint

The Golden Host Resort

The Grand Orlando Resort

The Grand Orlando Resort at Celebration

The Harvest Sarasota

The Hillsborough County Fair

The Island Resort – Aruba Ballroom

The Jacked Up Bean

The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art

The Joinery

The Laboratory Theater of Florida

The Lady's Room

The Mahaffey Theater

The Manor Complex

The MAR St. Pete

The Movement Sanctuary

The Naples Players

The Neapolitan Pizza Company

The Norris Center

The OneBlood Bloodmobile

The Out-of-Door Academy

The Out-of-Door Academy – Middle & Upper School – Lakewood Ranch

The Palladium Theater

The Palmetto Club

The Parched Oak

The Park at JM Family Enterprises

The Parker (Parker Playhouse)

The Players Centre for Performing Arts

The Plaza Live

The Portico

The Potion Portal

The Pride Center

The Pride Center at Equality Park

The Pulse Interim Memorial

The Queens Head

The Reserve Retreat

The Reserve SRQ

The Revue Cinema

The Ritz Ybor

The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburon

The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island

The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota

The Rusty Pelican

The Salty Hobo

The Sanctuary Church

The Seaside Succulent

The Skull Dogs r.c.

The Social NPR

The Sound Clearwater

The Spice & Tea Exchange (St Petersburg)

The Spring of Tampa Bay

The St. Petersburg Coliseum

The Standard Restaurant Downtown

The Studio Public House

The Studio@620

The Studios of Key West – Helmerich Theater

The Veranda

The Village Courtyard

The Village of Baytowne Wharf

The Vinoy® Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club

The Warrior on the River

The Werk Gallery

The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort

The Wharf Fort Lauderdale

The Wharf Miami

The Woodshed Orlando

The Wreck Bar

The ZOO Studios & Event Space-Us Artists Group,LLC

Third Street South

Thistle & Thorne

Thistle & Thorne lounge

Thomas Jefferson High School

Thornton Park

Thornton Park District

Tin Roof Orlando

Tioga Town Center

Titusville Playhouse

Tom Brown Park Tallahassee

Tombolo Books

Topgolf Lake Mary

TopSecret Resort of Orlando

Tower Club Fort Lauderdale

TPepin Hospitality Centre

Tradewinds Park North

Treasure Bay

Treasure Bay Golf, Tennis & Recreation Center

Treasure Bay Recreation Facility

Treasure Island Beach

Treehouse Miami

Treehouse West Palm Beach

Tri-Rail’s Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport Station

Tribeca Color Salon

Trinity Lutheran Church

Tropicana Field

Truman Waterfront Park Key West

Trustco Bank

Tulua Bistro

Tuscawilla Park

Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa

Twin Brooks Golf Course

Twisted Rooster Bar

UCC – Ft Lauderdale

UCF Downtown

UF IFAS Extension Orange County

UNF Albert W. Herbert University Center

Union Kitchen & Bar

Unitarian Universalist Church of Clearwater

Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota

United Church of Christ

United Skates of America

Unity of the Keys Spiritual Center

Universal Flight Training

University of Miami Shalala Student Center

University of North Florida

University Student Center of USF

University Town Center Sarasota

Urban Comfort Restaurant & Brewery

USF Multicultural Affairs

USF St. Pete

Valencia College East Campus

Velvet Lounge & Cafe

Venice Airport Festival Grounds

Venice Intercoastal Waterways

Venice Theatre

Venice Wine and Coffee Company

Venue on 6th

Vertical Ventures

Veteran's Park

Village of the Arts Bradenton

Vizcaya Museum & Gardens

W Miami Downtown

Wadeview Park

Walt Disney World

Walton Rocks Dog Beach

Washington & 19th Street, Miami

Washington and 19th Street in Miami

Water Street Tampa

Water Works Park

Waterfront Commons

Waterfront Park on St. Pete Pier

Waterfront Playhouse

Waterworks Park

Waves at Bilmar

Weddings on the Bay at Tampa Bay Watch

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park

Wena's Nightclub and Show Bar

West Boynton Park and Recreation Center

West End Trading Company

West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach Lake Pavilion

Westfield Brandon

Weston Town Center

Whiskey Exchange

Wickham Park

Williams Park

Wilton Drive

Wilton Manors City Hall Parking Lot

Wine Bar at Stirling

Wine Madonna

Winter Park Library

WJCT Soundstage

Woodfield Fine Art

Wooten Park In Tavares

Wooton Park

World Fusion

Wyndham Orlando Resort International Drive

Wynwood Marketplace

Xtreme Action Sports

yatt Regency Sarasota

Ybor City Saturday Market

YES Institute

Your Turn – A Board Game Cafe

Yrbor Historic District

Zipperz Bar

Zoies on Central

ZooTampa at Lowry Park

Past and Future Events

Only Past Events

Only Future Events

18 apr All Day 28 26th Annual OUTshine LGBTQ Film Festival Miami

18 apr All Day 12 may World Premiere of “Family Tree”

19 apr 7:30 pm 9:30 pm ArtsUnited Presents: Jazz Under the Stars with Karina Iglesias

20 apr 12:00 pm 5:30 pm Tallahassee Pride in the Plaza

20 apr 8:00 pm 10:00 pm OUTshine LGBTQ Film Festival Miami’s Latin Films Spotlight Night

22 apr 7:00 pm Miss Treasure Coast “Pink Treasures”

24 apr 7:00 pm 9:00 pm OUTshine LGBTQ Film Festival Miami’s Centerpiece Film – “Sebastian”

27 apr 6:00 pm 10:00 pm A Celebration of Prince

27 apr 7:00 pm 9:30 pm OUTshine LGBTQ Film Festival Miami’s Men’s Spotlight Film – “F.L.Y.”

27 apr 7:15 pm 9:30 pm OUTshine LGBTQ Film Festival Miami’s Women’s Spotlight Film – “Backspot”

28 apr 6:00 pm 8:00 pm OUTshine LGBTQ Film Festival Miami’s Closing Film Afterparty – “Mascarpone: The Rainbow Cake”

Places To Go In Northeast Florida

North Florida is filled with the trails leading to Florida’s past through its oldest historical town, native and European history, indian mounds, crystal blue springs, a river running north, charming small towns, old forts, the sparkling blue Atlantic Ocean, cracker homes, ranches, lakes and colorful lighthouses.

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31 Amazing Art Festivals in Florida (January – May 2024)

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A Florida Mardi Gras Festival and Parade Guide (2024)

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We’ve narrowed our list of Florida Festivals in March to a few of our favorites you won’t want to miss. … Read more

28+ Florida County Fairs to Visit This Year (2024)

From the Panhandle to South Florida, Florida County Fairs come alive with the spirit of tradition, agriculture, and entertainment.

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The Save Manatees stamp is not just a postage stamp; it’s a symbol of hope and a call to action. 

A Road Trip to the Best Bakeries in Florida

45 Top Florida Events in December 2023

There’s no shortage of fun Florida events in December. We’re sharing the top ones.

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Are you looking for the best Florida corn mazes? We have found some you won’t want to miss. Corn mazes … Read more

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Are you searching for the best pizza in Florida? We are sharing our list of the best pizza you can … Read more

21 Best Places to Find Sand Dollars in Florida (2024)

Are you looking for the best places to find sand dollars in Florida? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Did … Read more

10 Top Florida Events in September 2024

There’s no shortage of fun Florida events in September this year. Football season is back, but the month is packed … Read more

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The history of Marineland, Florida is a fascinating story that began in the 1930s. It first opened as Marine Studios … Read more

14 Top Florida Events in August 2024

We’ve gathered our favorite Florida events in August, which include some pretty cool experiences and activities. Enjoy these festivals celebrating … Read more

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Putting Fourth of July events aside, we’ve narrowed our list of Florida events in July to 14 of our personal favorites … Read more

A Guide to Florida Pride 2024

From Miami to Orlando to St. Petersburg, the Sunshine State is gearing up to embrace and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community.

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On Memorial Day Weekend, across Florida (and the entire United States), friends and family enjoy backyard barbecues, pool parties, picnics, … Read more

11 Best Immersive Experiences in Florida 2024

Immersive experiences in Florida have become increasingly popular in recent years. They are typically carefully curated activities in venues designed … Read more

32 Places to Celebrate Florida Fourth of July Events in 2024

Florida Fourth of July Events in 2023 fireworks

Kate Abroad

9 Best Beaches in Northeast Florida for 2024

While you’ll find plenty of beautiful vacation spots in the sunshine state the beaches in northeast Florida along the Atlantic coast are truly some of the best in the USA .

Each of the Northeast Florida beach spots on this list has a unique vibe and plenty of interesting attractions and great restaurants to keep you entertained on your Northeast Florida beach vacation.

If you’re travelling from Georgia, the Northeast part of Florida is very convenient, Fernandina Beach, the northernmost beach on this list, is practically on the state border. Or you could stop here on an East Coast road trip on the way to Orlando or Miami .

The Roundup: Top Northeast Florida Beaches

While Southern Florida and the Gulf of Mexico are incredibly popular, the above table shows you just a few of the unique areas in Northeast Florida! My favorites are the St. Augustine area because of the rich history and convenient access to a lot of beaches.

I’ll talk a little more about each of these beaches and some of the best activities to enjoy in the area!

Map of Florida First Coast Beaches

Rundown of Beaches in Northeastern Florida 

1. jacksonville beach.

Jacksonville Beach is the perfect place for a family vacation! A short drive from Downtown Jacksonville, these white sandy beaches are a wide open expanse.

The sheer size of Jacksonville Beach is one of its biggest draws, as you’ll find plenty of open spots on the beach.

You’ll have 22-miles of shoreline here with easy access to the warm waters. The pristine beaches are generally uncrowded and a popular destination for shelling too! 

Other fun things to checkout include:

• Jacksonville Beach Boardwalk and Fishing Pier: 1,300 ft. long and a favorite spot for locals and tourists alike
• Oceanfront restaurants and shops
• Adventure Landing water park
• South Beach Park and Sunshine Playground
• Cradle Creek Preserve – 45 acre preserve along the salt marshes. Nature trails that are great for wildlife viewing (alligators, turtles, and more!)
• Little Talbot Island State Park – enjoy campgrounds and serene beaches! 

2. Neptune Beach

This beach community is a little north of Jacksonville Beach on the way to Atlantic Beach. Neptune is the smallest beach in the Jacksonville Beach area. However, there’s still plenty to explore! 

Highlights include the area’s oldest bar, Aqua East Surf Shop for learning to surf, and a variety of local boutique shops!

3. Ponte Vedra Beach

This area is known throughout North Florida for its golf and luxury resorts. Located in St. Johns County. As one of the wealthiest counties in Florida, some of the most popular resorts include:

• The Lodge & Club at Ponte Vedra Beach
• Ponte Vedra Inn and Club
• Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa
• The Ocean Course at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club
• The Lagoon Course at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club

You’ll also find plenty of fine dining experiences here such as Ruth’s Chris Steak House – Ponte Vedra Beach, Palm Valley Fish Camp, Aqua Grill, Seahorse Grille and more!

3. Mickler’s Landing Beach

Head a little further south and you’ll arrive at Mickler’s Landing Beach. At this point, you’re not far from St. Augustine!

At Mickler’s Landing, there’s an amazing public beach! Other highlights include:

• Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve: A National Estuarine Research Reserve of 76,000 acres. There’s also a Visitor Center with exhibits, an aquarium, working laboratories, and classrooms!
• Bird Island Park: If you want to relax and stroll through a park, this may be the spot for you! Dedicated to preserving the native fauna and flora, you can go bird watching or just relax at the gazebo.
• Shopping at Sawgrass Village

4. Amelia Island Beaches (Fernandina Beach and American Beach)

Fernandina Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in northeastern Florida! 

This beach, along with American Beach, is located on the barrier island of Amelia Island. You’ll have plenty of public beach access points along the Atlantic coast here. 

There are 13 miles of natural beauty, white sand, and clear waters! Here are 40 public beach access locations on the Fernandina Beach website.  

In addition to the Atlantic beach water sports and scenic views, check out some unique historic sites and state parks!

Fort Clinch State Park is home to a Civil War-era coastal fort that can be toured!

Amelia Island State Park has over 200 acres of unspoilt land to see! You can also explore the park activities like biking the paved Timucuan Trail, birding, renting a kayak or canoe at Kayak Amelia, picnicking and then shelling!

5. St Augustine Beach, Anastasia Island

St. Augustine Beach is in the nation’s oldest city – St. Augustine, Florida. This historic city is a short drive south of Jacksonville and is worth visiting if you’re passing through Jacksonville already!

Apart from the beaches, it’s a good time for history buffs. The Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is one of my favorite places.

The fort was built in 1695 and boasts stunning views of the ocean. Castillo de San Marcos is close to the old, colonial quarter as well. Explore the art galleries and small shops here! Aside from the stunning beach, check out:

• Anastasia State Park
• Some championship golf courses
• Delicious seafood

6. Vilano Beach

North of St. Augustine, you’ll find Vilano Beach. This is an amazing spot for those who want to enjoy a more chill time on the Atlantic coast. The Vilano Beach Pier is a great spot to take a casual walk and enjoy the sea breeze.

Afterwards, check out the local restaurants. They are mostly casual pizza and burger joints, with some good seafood as well!

7. Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach is called the “World’s Most Famous Beach” and is the  closest beach to Orlando!  Daytona Beach is a perfect spot for those who enjoy Disney and want to learn more about racing.

Beaches. Daytona has 23 miles of white sands with scattered palm trees and picnic areas.

Racing. The area is also one of the best places for speed racing fans. Every year, millions visit for events like Bike Week and NASCAR’s Daytona 500 at the Daytona International Speedway.

For a quieter time, try visiting Breakers Oceanfront Park  ! This spot is near the Daytona Pier and has a lot to offer the entire family like:

• a splash pool
• beach volleyball courts
• handicapped pier and beach access 

8. Flagler Beach

Flagler Beach is a popular destination that’s close to Orlando! This small town is located between Ormund Beach and St. Augustine.

It’s the perfect place for a relaxing weekend. Here, you can find surf shops, waterfront cafes, and some of the best beaches in the United States! 

Some amazing spots to visit are:

• The Flagler Beach Historical Museum
• The Flagler Beachfront Winery
• Down to Earth Potter
• Oceanside Beach Bar & Grill 

9. Ormond Beach

Ormond Beach has a sleepy beach town feel. It’s a much calmer spot than nearby Daytona Beach. 

After checking out the gorgeous beach, check out its charming downtown district. You will find amazing seafood restaurants, an art museum, gift shops, riverfront parks and historic landmarks.

Also, pictured above is Tomoka State Park, which is well worth a visit for it:

• Hiking and Bike Trails
• Canoe and Kayak Rentals
• Paddleboarding
• Wildlife viewing: gopher tortoises, bobcats, white-tailed deer, and more

Bonus: Fort Lauderdale Beach

Further down the Florida coast, you’ll find Fort Lauderdale. About an hour north of Miami, this beach has a relaxed vibe and some of the best waves of the east coast beaches.

As one of the warmest Florida beaches , Ft. Lauderdale’s water temp averages 76.3 F in December. 

Explore nature and outdoor activities at places like Bonnet House Museum & Gardens and Marti’s Meditation Garden.

And don’t forget to explore some local favorite restaurants like Dolce Salato Pizza & Gelato, Tinta- Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach, Coconuts, and more!

Northwest Florida Beaches Along the Gulf Coast

If you want to explore the Gulf Coast, you’ll need to go west! 

Here’s a list of a few beaches in the Florida Panhandle that are worth visiting! One of my favorites has always been Pensacola Beach!

• Navarre Beach
• Panama City Beach
• Pensacola Beach
• Grayton Beach
• Fort Walton Beach
• Henderson Beach State Park

In Short: Best Beaches in Northeast Florida

Northeast Florida has some amazing things to explore! Whether you’re looking for beautiful beaches and warm waters, exploring America’s oldest fort and historical sites or enjoying the hustle and bustle of Daytona there is a beach vacation in Northeast Florida to suit your taste.

Northeast Florida has some of the best beaches along the east coast and has plenty for the whole family to enjoy!

USA Travel Resources

• Find the best prices on hotels with flexible cancellation at Booking.com
• Find tickets for attractions and awesome day tours on Viator
• Save $$$ on attractions in NYC, LA, Miami and more with a Go City Pass
• Compare prices on cars and campervans at RentalCars.com
• Sort your US dollars with a Wise currency card

Kate is the founder of Kate Abroad. She has travelled to nearly 40 countries from Austria to Vanuatu, and lived in 3. She's on a mission to empower other Gen Zs and Millenials travel affordably by sharing helpful travel guides, stories and tips to over 200,000 readers.

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Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list.

11 Amazing Things to Do on the East Coast of Florida | Places to Visit and Activities To Enjoy

Felix Mizioznikov / Shutterstock

• Destinations
• United States

Note: The Travel Awaits team regularly updates content to provide the latest, and most accurate information to our readers. The updated content in this article may not reflect the views or opinions of the original author.

Living in Vero Beach, I am surrounded by incredibly interesting and beautiful towns running up and down the coast that are so close in mileage yet so far away otherwise. I am continually taking road trips to visit and discover as many as I can. From beautiful beaches to one of the most historical cities in America, the pride of the space program to hidden gems, here are eleven beautiful towns you must visit on Florida’s East Coast apart from Vero Beach.

My list runs north to south, so you could easily get in your car, make St. Augustine your starting point and Miami your final destination, and see them all in one fell swoop.

Disclaimer: I participated in a few of these stays/meals/activities on hosted press trips over the years. All opinions are my own.

Vlad G / Shutterstock

11 Amazing Things to Do on the East Coast of Florida

1. st. augustine.

Explore Florida’s Historic Coast, home to St. Augustine , one of the favorite and most visited Florida cities. The Fountain of Youth Archeological Park has beautiful grounds to see, costumed interpreters in action, and, of course, the waters from the Fountain of Youth. You can even watch the cannons being fired into the Matanzas River daily. Keep the history lesson going with a visit to Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States.

Dining in St. Augustine is phenomenal, with Cuban cuisine at the Columbia Restaurant, great Southern appetizers from The Floridian , amazing seafood creations at Catch 27, and gourmet burgers at Michael’s Tasting Room. Save room for incredible ice cream sandwiches from Peace Pie.

Stay at the St. Francis Inn bed and breakfast, the oldest inn in Florida, where you’ll enjoy cozy, comfy rooms, an afternoon social, and free breakfast (that’s delicious, I might add). They have a fabulous pool and are within walking distance (or use one of the guest bikes) of most St. Augustine attractions .

18 Gorgeous St. Augustine Vacation Rentals Perfect For Your Next Getaway

Melody Pittman

2. Titusville

Titusville is an underrated Florida East Coast Town that is often overshadowed by the cities on its north and south sides. There is a cute downtown in Titusville, a fantastic brewery ( Playalinda ), pristine parks, and many reasons to stop for a visit.

Titusville is also home to the iconic Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Visitor Complex, the best place in the world for learning about the space program, astronauts, and rockets. You can dine with an astronaut, my favorite offering at KSC. You’ll learn firsthand about his/her career, space missions, and personal life. The food is good, too. Be sure to schedule several hours for your visit to the center; the exhibits are numerous, and you’ll get sucked in looking at everything and learning.

Aside from dining at the Space Center, you can eat at one of two iconic places in Titusville : Dixie Crossroads Restaurant, known for fresh seafood, corn fritters, and themed dining rooms, or Loyd Have Mercy Restaurant, delicious soul food in a cute space with the best fried chicken and collard greens outside of Mississippi.

3. Sebastian

Sebastian is a small town on Florida’s East Coast that is gaining popularity — and fast. Stay in unique and stylish waterfront cottages at Island View Cottages. These gorgeous units have a historic backstory with a modern-day facelift, free use of bicycles and kayaks, and are the perfect get-away-from-everything place to stay. Sebastian is also a great place to drop a line and catch snook, flounder, snapper, and Spanish mackerel.

Enjoy sweet and savory crepes for breakfast at Hen House Eatery and Florida’s best hot peel-and-eat shrimp from Blackfins at Captain Hirams for lunch or dinner.

A fun and free (donations accepted) attraction in Sebastian is LaPorte Farms , a private animal encounter with tropical birds, llama, zebra, and tortoises. You can also choose a free book from the massive Little Free Library on the property.

4. Fort Pierce

Just south of where I live, Fort Pierce is my new stomping grounds. Here, you’ll find a laid-back Old Florida town with modern-day amenities and fantastic restaurants. For the best seafood choices, 12A Buoy and Cobb’s Landing are both excellent.

I recommend visiting the A. E. Backus Museum and Gallery (named after and dedicated to the works of the Florida landscape painter) and then crossing the street for the $1-admission Manatee Observation and Education Center, which focuses on manatee education and coastal awareness and has a cute gift shop. Then, step outside to see the manatees, weather permitting, as they are temperamental if the weather is cold. Sip a tasty craft beer at Sailfish Brewing Company, only a few blocks away.

If you are visiting on a Saturday, enjoy one of Florida’s biggest farmers markets at Marina Square on the waterfront from 8 a.m. until noon. Also in Fort Pierce: one of our picks for the nine best hikes in beautiful Florida .

5. Jensen Beach

Jensen Beach is a lesser-known treasure on Florida’s East Coast. Go out on the water by pontoon, airboat, sailboat, or kayak for an ecotourism jaunt around the Indian River Lagoon to learn about the unique landscape (the most bio-diverse lagoon ecosystem in North America). Rental and tour companies are plentiful.

Jensen Beach was the biggest pineapple supplier in the world at one time, so naturally, there is a Pineapple Festival to honor that heritage. You can enjoy live music, great food, carnival-style rides, and crafts for sale the next time this fun-filled event is hosted.

A great place to stay is the Jensen Beach Inn , situated in the cool downtown area. Eat breakfast at Jan’s Place, go to Crawdaddy’s for Cajun and creole cuisine, and try Sauder’s Landing for fine-dining and dinner classics. Jensen has a dynamic downtown with lots to see, including an arts enclave with working artists and fantastic gifts.

6. Palm Beach

Palm Beach is a small area on Florida’s East Coast with one of its wealthiest zip codes. You’ll find shopping comparable to Rodeo Drive or Worth Avenue. This is the place for upscale boutiques, dining, and extraordinary art galleries.

My favorite attraction in Palm Beach is the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum . Called Whitehall, this Gilded Age winter estate of the railroad baron has room after room (75 in total) of beautiful antiques, art, and treasures. Stay for a proper afternoon tea at Cafe des Beaux-Arts (currently closed for the season) with panoramic views of Lake Worth and the West Palm Beach skyline. West Palm Beach is separated from neighboring Palm Beach by the beautiful Lake Worth Lagoon.

Escape to paradise at the fantastic Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort and Spa on nearby Singer Island. Rooms are stylishly decorated and have everything you could want, while the outside patio has inviting fire pits that invite you to sit and relax.

7. Delray Beach

Delray Beach — one of seven magical U.S. towns to visit during the holidays — is one of Florida’s most talked about artsy towns. Atlantic Avenue is the main thoroughfare lined with swaying palms, high-brow art galleries, unique boutiques, and fantastic restaurants. For lunch or dinner, try Vic and Angelo’s orecchiette with Italian sausage or Rocco’s Tacos yummy Austin Queso and guacamole. Order a hibiscus-flavored margarita if you’ve never tried one.

Delray Beach is home to a historic treasure, the Colony Hotel . Stay at the downtown location, which is brimming with Old Florida charm. It has private beach access, cabanas, and a saltwater pool at the Colony Cabana Club just 2 miles from the hotel, plus, it’s pet-friendly.

While in Delray Beach, consider taking a Taste History food tour to learn the area’s history and sample four to five local eateries. You can also play your favorite games and old-school pinball machines at Silverball Museum Retro Arcade.

8. Hollywood

In Hollywood, my top-rated attraction is the Broadwalk, a 2.2-mile pedestrian boardwalk along the Atlantic Ocean and Hollywood Beach with ice cream and souvenir shops and impeccable views. You can rent low-riders, adult tricycles, surreys, bikes, and special needs equipment at Sun and Fun Cycles to explore the Broadwalk differently.

The Downtown Hollywood Mural Project is incredible. I think Hollywood has the best murals in all of Florida, with jaw-dropping artwork all through the town. Art-lovers will also appreciate Hollywood’s Art and Culture Center.

Stay at the mammoth Margaritaville Beach Resort with eight dining options and the FlowRider surfing simulator in the front of the Broadwalk. You’ll have access to great pools with excellent sunbathing and tropical cocktails to enhance your vacation.

Miami is home to all walks of life, visitors from all over the world, the best Cuban offerings outside of Cuba, and second-to-none people-watching opportunities. Start your Miami experience at the Lincoln Road Mall, South Florida’s premier open-air shopping, dining, and entertainment complex. It features pedestrian-only streets with sidewalk cafes down the center. Have a coffee and pastry at Paul Bakery Cafe or enjoy shopping at 80+ stores.

My favorite thing to do in Miami is to take a Bike and Roll Miami Segway ride around South Beach. If you’ve never tried it, riding a Segway is easy and great fun. Learn how during a 10- to 15-minute crash course (don’t worry, you won’t tip over), then zip along Collins Avenue and Ocean Drive amid the priceless antique and import cars. Take in the art deco capital of the world’s stunning architecture, waterfront, parks, and local neighborhoods.

Conclude your Miami visit with a stop in Little Havana, the Miami neighborhood that is as Cuban as it gets. Feast on a Media Noche sandwich and cortadito (a Cuban coffee with a little milk) at Versailles Restaurant , an authentic eatery. While you’re there, make time for Maximo Gomez Park on historic Calle Ocho, where you can see the dozens of domino players, then browse the shops for Little Havana souvenirs and apparel.

12 Luxurious Miami Vacation Rentals From Midtown To South Beach

10. Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach , nestled on the vibrant East Coast of Florida, captivates with its iconic sandy shores and lively atmosphere.

Attracted by Daytona Beach’s East Coast charm, visitors relish the sun-soaked shoreline, creating cherished memories in this unforgettable East Coast destination.

The rich history of Daytona Beach, diverse entertainment options in the city, and bustling East Coast cultural scene further enhance the attraction, ensuring a truly immersive experience for every Daytona Beach visitor.

11. Fort Lauderdale

Located about 25 miles north of Miami and dubbed ‘‘The Venice of America’’, Fort Lauderdale is famous not only for its beautiful beaches and waterways but also for being a huge cultural hotspot. Much of its economy is based on beach tourism and nightclubs.

One of the most iconic landmarks of Fort Lauderdale is The Strip, a stretch that runs along the ocean, lined with an array of restaurants and bars that offer stunning views, premium boutiques, and luxurious resorts. 

But Fort Lauderdale is not just The Strip. It’s an eclectic mix of art galleries, museums, and cultural landmarks like NSU Art Museum and Bonnet House Museum and Gardens which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Fort Lauderdale serves up tantalizing dishes, so after a day full of activities, snap some of the award-winning grub at seafood havens like the legendary 15th Street Fisheries in Lauderdale Marina or head to Steak 954 for upscale delights.

From there, brace yourself for a night of lively live music. From Revolution Live which has hosted some of the biggest names in music today to the increasingly popular Elbo Room hosts amazing acts, as well as Blue Jean Blues, Fort Lauderdale will not leave you disappointed.

What Is the East Coast of Florida Known For?

The northeast region of Florida, also known as Florida’s First Coast, is home to Jacksonville, the largest city in the U.S. by area. East Coast of Florida is also known for multiple military bases, beautiful white sand beaches, and the mystical Fountain of Youth.

What Is the Oldest City on the East Coast of Florida?

Founded in 1565, St. Augustine is regarded as the oldest city not just on the East Coast of Florida but also in the U.S. Its Spanish colonial architecture testifies to its origins. Namely, the Spanish established a settlement at St.Augustine fifty-five years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.

Which City on the East Coast of Florida Has the Clearest Water?

Palm Beach, one of the easternmost towns, offers some of the clearest water on the East Coast of Florida. It is a boating paradise due to its offshore fishing, diving, and recreational boating locations. One of the most popular destinations is Peanut Island.

When Is the Busiest Tourist Season on Florida’s East Coast?

Peak tourist season on the East Coast of Florida starts right after Christmas and lasts until May. There’s minimal rainfall, and the temperatures usually hover in the 70s, but that pleasant weather comes with high prices and crowds.

Which City on the East Coast of Florida Is the Most Expensive?

Palm Beach is the most upscale place to live in Florida’s East. With premium designer boutiques and an upscale shopping experience, Worth Avenue is known to be one of the most famous shopping strips in the country.

Melody and her daughter Taylor run both Wherever I May Roam and Travel The South travel blogs. She is a digital influencer, freelances for both print and online publications, and hosts an annual travel conference, Southern Travelers Explore. Melody has been traveling her entire adult life and has visited 49 states and 49 countries. She loves cruising, small towns, historical sights, and National Parks.

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23 Best Northern Florida Beaches

By Lisa Wells February 6, 2022 Updated: February 5, 2024 · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

From the white, powdery sands of Amelia Island to the wide, flat stretches of Panama City Beach, Florida is home to miles of sunny, sandy shores. Here's a list of the top beaches in North Florida.

Florida has a reputation for gorgeous sandy beaches and year-round sunbathing weather. But there's even more to your seaside exploration than lounging; these North Florida beaches have plenty of adventures to offer, too. There are many Florida cities with beaches, and these are some of the best.

Northeast Florida Beaches Near Jacksonville

Gulf coast beaches near destin, west coast florida beaches near tampa, east coast florida beaches near orlando, northern florida beaches have so much to offer.

How far is the beach from Jacksonville, Florida? Just far enough that it feels like an adventure, but not so far that it will take an hour's drive. If you're venturing seaward for Jacksonville, FL beaches, aim for one of these destinations. 

Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island

Located on the beautiful Island of Amelia off Florida's Atlantic coast, Fernandina Beach is a top destination. This north Florida beach town has many historic attractions and festivals to choose from. 

The northernmost beach on Amelia Island is in Fort Clinch State Park . Distinguished by its remarkable sand dunes, plains, tidal marsh, and magnificent views from the historical fort, the park includes a beautiful Atlantic beach with plenty of parking and boardwalks for easy access to the beach.

Main Beach, Amelia Island

Main Beach is an excellent escape for sunbathing, birdwatching, outdoor games, and even beachside crab racing. Its sand is soft yet compact, making it easier to take long strolls on the beach. 

Considered one of the most popular beachfront parks on Amelia Island, Main Beach offers visitors access to volleyball courts, picnic shelters, and a skate park. Main Beach offers both pristine water and grassy areas ideal for picnicking.

Amelia Island State Park, on the south end of the island, is the only Florida state park where you can go horseback riding on the beach. Other recreational activities on Amelia include fishing, paddling, biking, shelling , and wildlife viewing.

Jacksonville Beach

Jacksonville Beach is a coastal resort city full of surf, sand, and sun. Located on Florida's northeast end, this beautiful and expansive beach is famous for its fishing pier and redesigned golf course. From beach volleyball to surfing some of the best waves in the area, the north side of the pier is where most water sports take place.

This is a great spot to get a hotel room with a balcony overlooking the beach and soak up the view 24/7 during your vacation.

Atlantic Beach

Atlantic beach is a mixture of beach life and big-city energy. Beach Town Center is right in the heart of Atlantic Beach, offering oceanfront hotels, boutiques, restaurants, and lovely ocean breezes. Oceanana Fishing Pier is the perfect place to dine in for fresh seafood on the pier with a beautiful view.

Hanna Park, an oceanfront city park on Atlantic Beach's northern border, is a haven for all outdoor lovers. Hanna Park has 1.5 miles of white-sandy beaches where you can experience some of the best waves in Florida all year round. 

Micklers Beach

South of Jacksonville Beach is quiet Mickler's Beach. This is a local favorite for shelling and especially for hunting shark teeth. It's an easy drive from Jacksonville Beach to spend that afternoon exploring Mickler's and nearby Ponte Vedra.

Mickler's Beachfront Park has beach parking, including parking for horse trailers. Horseback riding on the beach is allowed with a permit.

St. Augustine Beach

You'll find St. Augustine beach just a short drive from the historic city of St. Augustine. There are 42 miles of shoreline and several beaches to choose from, including Anastasia State Park. 

The area is packed with history and countless dining and shopping options. Take a self-guided tour at The Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest masonry fort located on the Western shores of Matanzas Bay. This well-preserved fort is loaded with information on St. Augustine, its people, and history.

If you're looking to stay nearby, St. Augustine-area resorts offer everything from easy beach access to deluxe accommodations with full-service restaurants, ocean views, and more.    

Crescent Beach

Perhaps the most unique of northern Florida beaches, the aptly-named (and shaped) Crescent beach is a family-friendly shoreline with sand that lends itself for fun-filled activities like volleyball and bike rides. 

If your family prefers to steer clear from big crowds and high rises, Crescent beach is the perfect place to lodge and enjoy the simple things in life like the crystal white sand, dunes, and serene ocean waves. 

Visitors are drawn to Crescent beach as it is generally not as congested as other beaches. The beach has hard-packed sand that is perfect for walking or bike riding.

If your northern Florida beach destination needs to be nearer to Destin, these panhandle-area spots might fit the bill. Florida beaches in Destin include plenty of picturesque places for beach days.

Destin Beaches

Nestled against the Gulf of Mexico in Northwest Florida, Destin is known for its crystal sand beach and emerald crashing waves. A popular destination for family vacations, Destin Beach offers activities that appeal to diverse interests. Try your hand at fishing in the "world's luckiest fishing village," and you may reel in a trophy saltwater fish.

The sparkling blue water and fine powdered sand are a favorite for many on the Emerald Coast. There are many beach access points in Destin. Try the popular James Lee Park or June White Decker Park. Or if you prefer something laid back, check out the beach sanctuary at Henderson Beach State Park.

Henderson Beach State Park

Henderson Beach State Park offers white dunes, shady palms, and the warmth of the Florida sun that make it the perfect relaxation destination. You can immerse yourself in the wildlife watching experience and see everything from migrating butterflies and birds to bobcats and gopher tortoises.

A great mix of beach life and nature, Henderson Park has sixty campsites with water, electricity, picnic tables, and grills on site. Nature hikes lead you through the coastal scrub and maritime forest, making Henderson one of the best northern Florida beaches for those with an adventurous spirit.

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

Home to towering dunes that rise above the emerald waters, Topsail Hill Preserve State Park offers 3.2 miles of clear water for paddle boarding or kayaking. 

Dolphins and other shorebirds are common along the water's edge, and whitetail deer are a common sight as they browse for food in the coastal dunes. This state park is a hiking paradise with many outdoor activities like bird watching and fishing from one of the three coastal lakes housing freshwater fish.

The Gregory E. Moore RV Resort on site has all the amenities to accommodate your stay in the wilderness. Equipped with shuffleboard courts and heated swimming pools, this resort also has fully furnished bungalows with full kitchens for those who want to feel more at home.  

Pensacola Beach

Pensacola's beach has crystal clear waters and white sands making it a perfect beach escape . Located on the border between Florida and Alabama, this beautiful barrier island offers a range of experiences like dolphin tours and unique shopping at the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk. 

Lively crowds are typical around Pensacola's main beaches, so if you are looking for something more secluded near the west coast of Florida, head on over to Gulf Islands National Seashore. 

Or head out to Fort Pickens National Park. Named after a Revolutionary War Hero, Fort Pickens is a historical fort where you can take a self-guided tour and cool off while walking through its different tunnels.

Panama City Beach

Panama City is a stunning resort town on the Gulf of Mexico coast. Its sugary white sandy beaches have earned it a reputation as one of the most beautiful locales in northern Florida. Hop on the catamaran cruise from Treasure Island Marina and enjoy the sunset views. 

Vacation rentals feel just like home at Panama City Beach. Beach houses are readily available for those who want to be right on the water and wake up to golden sunrises. Alternatively, St. Andrews State Park provides camping and RV amenities if you prefer BBQs and bonfires.

Grayton Beach

Grayton Beach is a little paradise nestled right along the Gulf of Mexico between Pensacola and Panama City. Swimming, surfing, and sunbathing, and excellent dining options are among the best things to do in Grayton Beach, Florida . Visit the famous Red Bar for great food and fun décor.

Grayton Beach State Park is abundant in wildlife and trails. While Western Lake offers fishing and many other water activities, the park provides four miles of trails, campsites and cabins. 

Fort Walton Beach

Wedged in between Pensacola and Panama City, Fort Walton Beach is a family favorite. Fort Walton is a natural playground for snorkeling, paddleboarding, and swimming with 24 miles of pristine white sands and emerald waters. 

The Boardwalk on Okaloosa Island across the bridge has dining options from all-you-can-eat shrimp dinners to Cajun chicken Pasta. Fort Walton has plenty of diverse attractions, making it the perfect beach getaway.

Navarre Beach

Relaxation is the main attraction at Navarre beach. Located between Gulf Islands National Seashore and the Navarre Beach Marine Park, Navarre Beach is a veritable paradise.

Away from all the crowded attractions, embark on a journey to uncover an underwater world full of fish, coral, and sea turtles.

Family-friendly attractions like the Panhandle Butterfly House are ideal spots for children or any animal lover who wants a hands-on learning experience with wildlife. 

St. George Island

Just off North Florida's Gulf Coast, St. George Island rates at the top of the list as one of the best beaches in the U.S. St. George Island is a tranquil escape with clean Gulf waters perfect for fishing, swimming, and wildlife viewing. 

Take the bridge from Eastpoint across Apalachicola Bay to reach this 22-mile long barrier island. With no high rises in sight and minimal light pollution, the skies are prime stargazing. St. George Island is a laid-back community with no commercial development; however, charming cottages and luxury beach homes are available for rent.

Tampa is a destination of its own, but if you're hoping for a unique beach spot to relax at, find the best beach near Tampa, FL here.

Clearwater Beach

Off the Pinellas County shorelines, Clearwater Beach is one of the most famous barrier islands. Here you can enjoy the beaming rays of the sunshine state, clear gulf waters, and white sand beaches. 

If you want to capture Clearwater's beauty in full effect, visit the 'Sunsets at Pier 60.' Here, you will experience what is truly a sunset celebration while artists and street performers put their talents on display.   

Take the walkway from the pier to find your perfect stretch of sand. Stop at one of the beachside restaurants for lunch, or shop along the way. There are many hotels and attractions on the beach or within walking distance.

Sand Key Beach

If you're looking for a quieter alternative to Clearwater Beach, venture just across the bridge to neighboring Sand Key Beach . The beach at Sand Key State Park is absolutely gorgeous.

This beach is laid back, without the crowds you'll find at Clearwater. But with these windswept white sand beaches, you won't find a better view. The park has plenty of parking and easy access to the beach.

St. Pete Beach

Stretching nearly four miles in length, St. Petersburg is one of the longest northern Florida beaches. The sugar-white sand is soft on your toes, and the beach has plenty of benches for visitors to sit and enjoy the sunset.  

St. Pete's beach is a low-key family destination surrounded by great sites to dine, drink, and shop 'til you drop! 

This northern Florida beach has many full-service resorts, so your family can enjoy all of St. Petersburg's offerings in comfort.

On the southernmost end of St. Pete's beach, you will find an easy-going beach town named Pass-a-Grille. Here you will find all sorts of great entertainment, including an immersive experience at Rumfish, where you and your kids can snorkel with fish and stingrays.

Passe-a-Grille Beach

Surrounded by the breathtaking Gulf of Mexico, Passe-a-Grille Beach is a popular destination for beachgoers who love fiery sunsets and scenic walkways over the dunes. Passe-a-Grille has trendy restaurants offering rooftop views of the Boca Ciega Bay and the Gulf lined with sea grapes and sea oats along the shorelines.

Known for having almost no buildings on the sand, visitors can find small boutique hotels just steps away from the beach. 

Passe-a-Grille town is charming with its local art galleries and historical artifacts at the Gulf Beaches Historical Museum. There is no absence of adventure as you'll quickly discover a surplus of water activities at the Historic Merry Pier. 

Check out the boat excursions and fishing destinations, as the redfish, flounders, and snappers are just some of the great catches you will come across. And don't miss the grouper sandwich at the Hurricane!

Fort De Soto Beach

Fort De Soto has been named one of America's Top Beaches by Trip Advisor. The Pinellas County park has beautiful nature trails to explore along with more than six miles of beachfront. Its five keys offer opportunities for kayaking, fishing, boating or just relaxing on the beach.

The park also includes the historic fort itself, which you can explore on a self-guided tour. The campground includes picnic areas, grills, modern showers, and special pet-friendly campsites. This is an excellent park for a family vacation!

Orlando has a lot going for it, including the classic beach experience within driving distance. Check out these beaches near Orlando, Florida for your next trip.

Cocoa Beach

Cocoa Beach is one of the best beach towns and is located an hour east of Orlando, midway along the east coast. If you are an outdoor enthusiast, Cocoa Beach's natural resources make it the perfect destination for you. Here you can get up close and personal with wildlife on one of their eco-tours. Take a peaceful kayak trip and soak in the manatee, dolphin, and sea turtle nesting views.

Just minutes away from Cocoa Beach is Port Canaveral, from which you can depart on any number of exotic (or even local) cruises. If you want to extend your adventure beyond northern Florida beaches, a cruise from Port Canaveral may be just the ticket.

Daytona Beach

Entertaining more than 10 million visitors a year, the infamous Daytona Beach is one of the most notable Florida east coast beaches that many come to for relaxation and fun. There are plenty of things to do in Daytona Beach , whether you want to relax, explore, or experience an adrenaline rush.

With plenty of elbow room to spread out, this magnificent beach has over 23 miles of white sandy beaches on Florida's Atlantic coast. Perfect for running, cycling, or just catching some sun rays. You can even drive on Daytona Beach!

The Daytona International Speedway and Daytona Beach Pier and Boardwalk are arguably the most popular attractions. Stretching 1,000 feet into the Atlantic, the Daytona Beach Pier attracts anglers and families to see its famous fighting fish. 

The World Center of Racing offers an all-inclusive NASCAR Racing experience as well as luxury suites and delicious venues to refuel while you watch the race cars on the track. 

Flagler Beach

Twenty miles north of Daytona Beach on A1A, Flagler Beach brings about an eclectic vibe thanks to beachside restaurants like High Tides at Snack Jack. Their trendy dishes like fried gator tail and flounder Reuben sandwiches are big hits.

A trip to Flagler Beach would not be complete without checking out the eclectic local shops, the fishing pier and of course, the gorgeous views. This is also a great spot for sunning, surfing and walking the pet-friendly beaches.  

Given Florida's reputation for gorgeous sand and pristine water, it's not surprising that the northern Florida area has a nearly endless list of beaches to enjoy.

Whether you're looking to relax and sunbathe, get active with your family, or visit historical spots and dive into the past, north Florida's beaches have you covered.

Looking for more Florida beaches? Check out these south Florida beaches perfect for your next vacation getaway.

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Learn how to easily plan your dream trip to Florida!

14 Beautiful Florida East Coast Beaches

January 5, 2021 //  by  Florida Trippers

Wondering which of the Florida east coast beaches to visit? The Atlantic coast of Florida has some great beaches to offer including the world-famous Daytona and Cocoa Beach to the iconic South Beach in Miami.

The Beaches in east Florida are all unique each offering the discerning traveler something different. In this article, we will walk you through our favorite Atlantic beaches in Florida. We will give you all the information you need so you can decide which beaches on Florida’s east coast you would like to visit.

So are you ready for us to take you through our picks of the best Florida east coast beaches?

Miami South Beach

We couldn’t talk about the Florida east coast beaches without including Miami South Beach. It has all the hallmarks of the beautiful Floridian beaches, sugary white sands, and crystal-clear turquoise however it also has something else. It has a vibe, a culture that is rarely experienced anywhere else. This place is just alive.

Known by locals as SoBe this was the first section of Miami Beach to be developed. Now the white sands are surrounded by pastel art deco masterpieces and the sight is truly breathtaking. All topped off with the iconic colorful lifeguard stands designed by William Lane who donated his design services after Hurricane Andrew hit.

Some say that South Beach glitters and we couldn’t agree more. South Beach is glamourous, beautiful, and lively. There is never a dull moment here.

Be prepared for crowds as it does get busy but believe us this is an experience you don’t want to miss.

20 Fun Things To Do In Miami You Can’t Miss

Saint Augustine Beach

If you have never been to Saint Augustine you are in for a treat. It has a distinctly Spanish feel and is known as the oldest city in the U.S.

When it comes to the Florida east coast beaches this area has a lot to offer. St. Augustine boasts 42 miles of beautiful beaches so there are plenty to choose from. Here though we will focus on St. Augustine Beach.

St. Augustine Beach is located on Anastasia Island and you will find plenty to do there. There is a pier, a playground, fishing, volleyball courts, restaurants, shopping and you can even drive onto the beach.

It’s a lively area in a beautiful location full of charm. If you like beauty, charm, and history then this beach is for you.

14 Best Things To Do In Saint Augustine You Can’t Miss

Jacksonville Beach

Jacksonville Beach is one of the Florida east coast beaches located in northeast Florida’s “First Coast. This beach has it all including a newly redesigned golf course and a famous fishing pier.

You will also find vast stretches of beautiful white sand, 22 miles in fact. This area has something to offer everyone and is a great place for families. Jacksonville is a unique blend of history, leisure, and recreation.

This beach also offers some of the best waves in the area for the surfers out there and dolphin sightings are pretty regular.

There is so much to see and do around this area. Little Talbot Island State Park for example also has an incredible beach. Take a look at our 14 Fun things to do in Jacksonville post to plan what else to do in the area.

Amelia Island -Fernandina Beach

The Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Awards panel consistently rank Amelia Island among the Top 10 U.S. Islands. With 13 miles of pristine white sandy beaches, it’s not hard to see why. Of all the Florida east coast beaches we think the beaches of Amelia Island are well worth a visit.

This area is known for its unspoiled natural habitats, uncrowded beaches, history, and luxurious hotels and resorts. When it comes to the Atlantic coast of Florida, beaches don’t get better than this.

There are two main beaches on the island, Main Beach and Fernandina Beach. We love Fernandina Beach, it’s a great family beach and also good for shelling.

Amelia Island is on our list of 12 Prettiest Islands in Florida to Escape to . Take a look to see our other picks.

Daytona Beach

Perhaps the most famous of all of the Florida east coast beaches Daytona beach is known as “The World’s Most Famous Beach”.

This beach has a wide expanse of beautiful sugary white sand and the waves and cooling breeze make it a perfect location. Perhaps what Daytona is most famous for though is the fact that you can drive down it. During Spring Break Daytona beach turns into a hive of activity and the cars can be something else.

It is a busy beach but due to its size there always seems ample space and you can find quieter locations if you don’t like being in the action.

It’s also a great place to learn to surf as the waves never get above 5 ft and the sandbar break means the surf is quite consistent.

If you are after a beach with all the amenities and a lot to offer then this beach is definitely for you. We feel it’s a beach that everyone should experience at least once and there are lots to do in the surrounding area too.

17 Fun things to do in Daytona Beach Florida

Cocoa Beach

Cocoa Beach is somewhat of a Florida east coast beaches legend. As well as been a great beach close to Orlando its also home to 11-times World Surf League #1 pro, Kelly Slater, and the world-famous Ron Jon Surf Shop.

While it’s a great beach for beginner surfers and longboarders it also has a lot to offer none surfers too.

First is proximity to Orlando makes it a great break from the hectic theme parks. It’s also a very clean wide beach and the pier provides great fishing. You will find everything here including beach volleyball, wind and water sports, surf rentals, and paddleboarding to name but a few.

We feel that Cocoa is like a baby Daytona in a way but with a more laid back vibe.

Let’s get a few things straight first West Palm Beach and Palm Beach are not the same. West Palm Beach does not in fact have a beach and is on an Intracoastal Waterway. Palm Beach is separated from West Palm Beach by three bridges and is on the ocean.

Now we have that straight let us tell you Plam Beach is a total gem. It’s a pristine picture of pure groomed heaven with some of the most amazing houses, clubs, and shopping areas. It also has the honor of been voted as one of the safest places in the world to live or visit.

Some of the beachfront is private but you have access to some parts. In the hurricane season, the waves here can reach up to 15 ft and it has some of the biggest waves in Florida.

There is also lots to do in the West Palm Beach area. Take a look at our article 16 Fun Things To Do In West Palm Beach Florida to get some ideas.

New Smyrna Beach

If you are looking for some Florida east coast beaches with consistent waves then New Smyrna Beach is the one for you. Known by locals as ‘the wave magnet’ there are 13 miles of beach here ripe for surfing.

Of all the east coast beaches New Smyrna Beach has the most biologically diverse estuary in North America. It is home to some 400 species of birds, dolphins, manatees, alligators, turtles, and many more. It’s a great beach for wildlife lovers. This diverse wildlife has earned it the name of ‘The Shark Bite Capital of the World’. Just be aware of whom you might be sharing the waters with here.

This is a beach that offers something different than the Florida norm.

Vero Beach is a haven for good watersports and fishing. On the area known as the treasure coast, the beaches are peaceful and surrounded by nature.

The best beach in the area is South beach about 10 minutes from the shopping district. Sexton Plaza Beach is the closest to downtown and Jaycee Park Beach has a much more relaxing. The boardwalk here is also great for an evening stroll.

Whichever beach you choose you won’t be disspainted.

14 Fun Things To Do In Vero Beach Florida

Fort Lauderdale Beach

Fort Lauderdale has more than seven miles of beautiful beaches and Ocean Rescue supervises two miles of it with 15 year-round, permanently staffed lifeguard towers. It’s a very safe family beach with an award-winning wave wall and signature beachfront promenade.

There is a lot to do here Including boating, windsurfing, jet-skiing, and volleyball. For the more adventurous try snorkeling, scuba diving, or deep-sea fishing. All topped with a variety of sophisticated hotels, delicious restaurants, and lively bars.

A beautiful beach with lots to do.

If you love snorkeling just north of Fort Lauderdale Beach you will find Lauderdale-By-The-Sea. It is considered one of the best beaches in the area for snorkeling and diving and there is a reef within swimming distance.

The Space Coach is also a great place to go stargazing.

Melbourne Beach

On Florida’s Space Coast Melbourne has miles and miles of unspoiled beaches.

Situated on the barrier island just across the Indian River from Palm Bay it’s within an easy drive of Kennedy Space Center. You will find undeveloped stretches of beach, good waves for surfing, and all the beach amenities you would expect.

However, the reason to really come here is the sea turtles. The barrier island is a vital part of the local ecosystem and is the nesting ground for sea turtles. If you visit during nesting season ( summer months) take a night tour to see them you won’t regret it.

One of the Florida east coast beaches that is pretty unspoiled.

If you are looking for other places to see sea turtles take a look at our article 7 Best Places To See Wild Sea Turtles In Florida . Also, this area is great for horseriding .

Delray Beach

Once named as the “Most Fun Small Town in the USA” the Delray Beach area is a fun-loving seaside village with a lively main street.

Nestled between Boynton Beach and Boca Raton It’s a hidden gem of Palm Beach County. Winning several other awards such as Coastal Living Top 10 Happiest Seaside Towns and 3-time winner of the coveted All-America City award. Some describe this area as a mix between South Beach and Key West.

The beach is stunning like most Florida beaches but you come here for the vibe. This a beach with a thriving art scene, a lot of culture, and interesting history. There are so many great Restaurants in Delray Beach you need to check out too!

If you are a surfer you might want to check out Boynton Beach which is close by.

Jupiter Beach

Named by Coastal Living magazine as one of the Top 10 Happiest Seaside Towns in the USA Jupiter has a lot more to offer than it’s the beach, however, the beach is something special.

At the confluence of the Loxahatchee River, Intracoastal Waterway, and the Atlantic Ocean it’s a great beach for watersports. Here the Gulf Stream flows nearest to the United States making the water a comfortable 78 degrees which is a bonus.

It’s also a great beach for children to swim safely too. Jupiter itself is also a great place to visit the lighthouse is well worth a peek.

Jenson Beach

Tucked away between Fort Pierce and West Palm Beach is Jenson Beach. Once known as the “Pineapple Capital of the World” the area still holds an annual pineapple festival and you will find carved pineapples on the white picket fences.

The area has earned a reputation for its seafood fine dining and this charming area also several species of endangered sea turtles during nesting season.

Boating, sailing, fishing, skiing, surfing, and scuba diving are all popular and some say this area has a laid back Key West feel.

Every Thursday head downtown for Jammin’ Jensen a lively live entertainment and food event.

While you are here why not take a visit to the Manatee Observation and Educational Center it’s not too far away.

Whichever of these Florida east coast beaches you choose to visit we know you will have a great time. Florida Atlantic beaches always tend to have more breeze and more waves than the Gulf Coast and we find ourselves not getting as hot on the east coast of Florida.

We are aware we have missed some great beaches out of this too so if you would like to add any mention them in the comment so others can see them too. We hope this article convinces you to visit the Atlantic coast of Florida.  

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The 21 Wildest East Coast Beaches

Not all stretches of sand are created equal. These are the Atlantic’s best, most adventurous shorelines, from Maine to Florida.

Heading out the door? Read this article on the Outside app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

If you’ve ever lived along the East Coast, there’s a secret that all curious, outdoorsy people soon discover: the wildest, most deserted places are often those abutting the Atlantic. That’s right, the best East Coast beaches can be every bit as remote-feeling as Western landscapes. This is easier to comprehend when you realize that the East Coast has roughly 30,000 miles of coastline. (The entire Pacific Coast, by contrast, has 7,863.)

This revelation came to me early, while exploring New England in my twenties, and re-confirmed it in my 30s and 40s, as I looked to escape New York City on weekends. Since then, I’ve driven as far as Maine and North Carolina’s Outer Banks—roughly eight hours in either direction—from NYC to explore an “undiscovered” beaches and maybe catch a fish or two. I’ve also road tripped all over the south’s Lowcountry looking for an empty stretch of sand, and have spent way too much time on Florida’s Atlantic Coast trying to to catch a redfish or bonefish on a fly rod.

Look, I’m not foolish enough to think anyone can be an “expert” on 30,000 miles worth of barrier islands, salt marshes, and tiny beachside communities. But I’ve explored enough to say with confidence that there are some wild damn places out there, and I’ve been lucky enough to discover a few that are well worth a visit.

Here are just a handful of my favorites. This list also includes a mix of both remote, undeveloped gems and impossible-to-ignore standbys that are great simply because of their, well…beach vibes. It’s a whole thing, and any town that has it, like Cape May, New Jersey, or Folly Beach, South Carolina, is worth a look-see, too. Trust me, you can’t go wrong with any of these beaches, as long as you’re packing some sunscreen (and maybe a bottle of bug spray for the real remote ones).

Best Beaches in Maine

Sand beach, maine.

Location: Twelve miles south of Bar Harbor Why We Love It: Soft sand surrounded by the coniferous forest of Acadia National Park

This is probably Maine’s most iconic beach —a pocket of white sand framed by rocky shorelines and wind-flagged trees—and one of the most beautiful beaches in U.S. National Parks . For New Englanders, Sand Beach is well-known—for good reason. It’s one of the few sandy beaches in this part of the state (hence the name), and it’s sheltered just enough from the wind that it’s often perfect for sunbathing on a warm day. In the summer months, there’s even a lifeguard on duty. This all means that it’s popular and you can expect crowds in July and August. Even then, only a handful of people venture into the water, because its temperature usually peaks south of 60 degrees Fahrenheit. But if you’re willing to brave the cold Atlantic, swimming here can be good. Despite its popularity, it can even feel secluded on the right day. There’s also hiking and paddling in nearby Acadia. One of the more difficult and popular treks is Beehive Trail , a 1.4-mile loop that ascends 450 feet and offers stunning views of the below.

Know Before You Go: Even though it’s inside Acadia National Park, there is no fee to access the beach. The parking lot, however, occasionally fills up on busy weekend days, so it’s best to arrive early.

Bonus Beach: Roque Bluffs State Park, Maine

Location: In the heart of Down East Maine, eight miles from the small town of Machias Best For: A choose-your-own-adventure swim, either in the cold ocean waters or in a freshwater pond

The bulk of this 274-acre park is a half-mile crescent of sand and pebbles that divides the shallow waters of 60-acre Simpson Pond from Englishman Bay. In the heat of summer, it’s possible to swim in either—or both, a plunge in the brisk saltwater followed by the comparably warm waters of Simpson Pond. While it’s great for a plunge, this is not a lounging beach, to be clear, as the pebbles make laying on a beach towel uncomfortable. But Roque Bluffs does offer a relaxing stroll with dramatic views of rugged islands jutting out of the ocean waters. There’s also a series of short trails in the fields and woodlands inside the park, with an excellent vantage point of Pond Cove and Great Cove. If you’re in the area, it’s worth a dip.

Best Beach in New Hampshire

Seabrook beach, new hampshire.

Location: 15 miles South of Portsmouth, near the border with Massachusetts Why We Love It: A quieter alternative to its more bustling neighbors, with pristine sands

New Hampshire has the shortest coastline in the U.S. at just 18 miles, but it packs some excellent beaches into that stretch. Its most famous is Hampton Beach, a classic New England destination with white sand, long boardwalks, and a circus-like atmosphere, thanks to its string of arcades. Much better is Seabrook Beach, across the inlet from Hampton, with impossibly white sand, consistent waves, and none of the crowds. By comparison, it feels hidden, serene, and impossibly quaint. There’s a reason for this: parking is nearly impossible to find because it’s prohibited without a resident parking permit. But if you make it here, you’ll have a wide expanse of sand to stroll along or set up an umbrella. The surfing is good here, and the dunes make it seem wild, even if you’re only a few minutes to the Hampton Beach circus.

Know Before You Go: To get around the parking, take an Uber or ride a bike from the town of Seabrook, less than 5 miles away. You can also pay for parking at Hampton Beach and walk across Hampton Bridge, then down to Seabrook, a little over a mile walk.

Best Beaches in Massachusetts

Cape cod national seashore, massachusetts.

Location: The Outer Cape, roughly 90 miles from downtown Boston Why We Love It: Unparalleled, wide-open stretches of soft sand and wind-swept dunes

No list like this would be complete without including Cape Cod National Seashore , 40 miles of pristine beaches, freshwater ponds, and high dunes interspersed by lighthouses, cranberry bogs, and hiking trails. The recreational opportunities are practically endless, and whole books have been written about how to make the most of the beaches here. But if you want a down-and-dirty guide for newbies, this is it. Coast Guard Beach, in the town of Eastham, is one of the most popular beaches because it’s great for lounging and swimming on the Atlantic side, and it also offers paddling in nearby Nauset Bay or Salt Pond Bay. If you want to feel like you’re walking off the Eastern Seaboard, head to Marconi Beach, with sweeping Atlantic views. Hiking along the bluffs here will make you feel as if you could see a white whale at any moment.

Know Before You Go: Traffic headed to the Cape is infamous on summer weekends, so if you go during peak times, it’s best to stay overnight or through the weekend. (Or instead, go during the week.) If you do stay overnight, Provincetown, despite its crowds and high price tags, is worth the added cost. This artist colony and LGBTQ+ capital is brimming with verve and quirkiness and the energy it adds to a vacation is a perfect complement to days spent in the salt and sand.

Bonus Beach: Crane Beach, Massachusetts

Location: Five miles from the town of Ipswich, 30 miles north of Boston Best For: Escaping the crowds and enjoying a slice of bucolic New England on your way to the beach

Cape Cod gets nearly all of the beach attention in Massachusetts, but this one, on the North Shore, features four miles of pristine shoreline backed by tall dunes and salt marshes. It can get busy on a summer weekend, but otherwise offers a peaceful opportunity for walking on the sand, hiking five miles worth of trails through the dunes, birdwatching, and paddling in the nearby Ipswich River or Essex Bay. Beach passes are required and can be purchased in advance . If you come, don’t leave before checking out Castle Hill on the Crane Estate , a palace-like summer estate built for industrialist Richard Teller Crane Jr., with impeccably maintained gardens and a rolling grass lawn stretching to the water.

Best Beach in Rhode Island

Sachuest beach, rhode island.

Location: In Middletown, next door to Newport Why We Love It: A city-person’s beach that has a good hike within walking distance

Locals call this mile-long stretch of sand on the southeastern shore of Aquidneck Island Second Beach , but it is anything but secondary. Not only does it have great swimming and sunbathing, the western flank of Sachuest, called Surfer’s End, is known for its consistent swells. If you get bored sunbathing on the beach, you can also easily walk to the eastern end, which is the beginning of Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge , with three miles of trails. Birdwatchers are common here because of the diversity of species, including the second largest wintering population of harlequin ducks on the Atlantic coast. It also has great fishing from shore, including an active night fishing permit system for striped bass.

Know Before You Go: This is a full-service beach, with concession stands, bathrooms, grills, etc., so don’t expect pristine wildlands—or to be by yourself. Rent a surfboard from the rental area and, after your session, check out Gilded Age mansions in Newport.

Best Beaches in New York

Ditch plains park beach, new york.

Location: Two miles east of Montauk Village, on the far eastern end of Long Island Why We Love It: It’s home to one of the best surf breafks on the East Coast.

For many New Yorkers trekking out to the Hamptons, this two-mile beach is as much a part of summer weekends as Hampton Water rosé. That’s, in part, because Ditch Plains is such a great place to set up for a day in the sun, thanks to its swim-friendly waters  (depending on conditions) and lifeguards on duty from Memorial Day to Labor Day (roughly). There’s also a food truck next to the beach, called Ditch Wich , that serves up some of the area’s best poke bowls and wraps. But the reason this beach is on this list is because of the surf break just offshore, which offers good waves in just about any swell direction. The lineup is notorious for getting crowded, but there are definitely days in the fall when, midweek, you can find yourself sharing swells with only one or two other surfers—or even snagging them all for yourself.

Know Before You Go: Parking in the lot next to the beach requires an East Hampton permit (available to residents only). In the summer, take an Uber/Lyft or, better yet, rent a cruiser bike in Montauk and ride here.

Bonus Beach: Napeague Beach, New York

Location: Between Amagansett and Montauk, on the east end of Long Island Best For: Getting a taste of what Long Island beaches felt like before the crowds invaded

Tucked off Highway 27 between the prim and proper Hamptons and the bustling beaches of Montauk lies one of the area’s great secrets: a two-mile stretch of sand that even locals overlook. Technically, it’s part of 1,364-acre Napeague State Park , but the beach here feels private, in part because it’s sandwiched between two neighborhoods who guard their sand with zeal. Napeague Beach is, however, open to the public, and it’s popular with 4x4ers that have beach driving permits . You can easily walk to the sand, however, by parking at a small, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it spot on the south side of Highway 27. This is where 4x4s access the beach, and you’ll have to walk from here through the dunes. Doing so only makes the empty beach feel that much more rewarding once you get a full view of the wind-swept dunes, with the occasional surfcaster chucking rigs far out into the ocean. Thanks to its remoteness, this beach is also popular with the endangered piping plover, so it’s often closed during summer nesting season. When it’s open, however—especially in fall—it can feel downright abandoned.

Best Beaches in New Jersey

Island beach state park, new jersey.

Location: Barnegat Peninsula, south of the town of Seaside Heights Why We Love It: White sand beaches in a wild landscape that feels frozen in time

Many New Jerseyans have never even been to this park, with 10 miles of sand dunes, maritime forests, and freshwater wetlands. That’s because this place is as far from the manicured sand, boardwalks, and hotdog stands as it gets. Island Beach State Park is proof that remote-feeling beaches can exist anywhere, even in New Jersey. In addition to being home to the state’s largest osprey colony, it’s frequented by peregrine falcons, waterfowl, shorebirds, and migrating songbirds. Fishermen flock here, too, whether they’re targeting the surf on the Atlantic side or casting in Barnegat Bay. There’s a designated swimming beach (called Ocean Swimming Beach), surfing, an area for kitesurfing, and even eight miles of trails. Sunbathing is really the only thing you shouldn’t do here, because you’ll be missing out on so much else.

Know Before You Go: One of the best recreational opportunities may be paddling from Island Beach into the Sedge Island Wildlife Management Area, one of New Jersey’s most productive wildlife habitats, with four different water trails to paddle through it.

Bonus Beach: Cape May Beach, New Jersey

Location: Cape May, on the far southern coast of the state Best For: Relaxing on manicured sand next to one of the most charming towns in all of New Jersey

This is the beach that many New Jerseyans will point to as their state’s best—and for good reason. The town of Cape May is lovely as hell, and downtown is adjacent to the main beach, with sugary sand that is raked cleaned nearly every day during summer, making it feel, well, pristine. It’s also welcoming, full of sunbathers and swimmers chilling out on the weekend, which is all part of the charm. This is a social beach, with the occasional fireworks show or movie on the beach night . If you want to sneak away from some of the crowds during the day, walk to the West, towards Cove Beach, which usually has more room to lay out an oversized beach towel (and great sunset views). There’s also plenty of activities nearby, including a few beach breaks good for groms, skimboarding, fishing, and paddling in the harbor.

Best Beach in Delaware

Delaware seashore state park beach, delaware.

Location: Seven miles south of Rehoboth Beach Why We Love It: Six miles of ocean-front sand and 20 miles of bay shoreline full of possibilities

This popular state park offers easy access to the junction of Indian River Bay, Rehoboth Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean. As such, it is overflowing with activities: swimming, surfing, fishing, sailing, windsurfing, hiking, paddling, crabbing, and camping, among others. There are two ocean swimming areas, patrolled by lifeguards during the summer season, and there’s a decent surf break at the Indian River Inlet , which can be great with some southerly wind protection (but is also challenging, thanks to its shallow water). If you want to stretch your legs, there’s a one-mile hiking trail through the adjacent Burton Island Nature Preserve , with raised boardwalks over the marshlands.

Know Before You Go: There’s a $5 daily entrance fee ($10 for nonresidents), but those fees help make this an extremely well-managed park, with great resources to help you plan practically any adventure, whether it’s birding, surfcasting, paddling, or something else.

Best Beach in Maryland

Assateague island national seashore, maryland & virginia.

Location: Maryland’s Eastern Shore, roughly 10 miles from Ocean City Why We Love It: 37 miles of remote dunes with herds of wild horses

There is no other place on the East Coast that demonstrates just how wild a coastline can be like this national seashore, which stretches across the Maryland and Virginia border. Assateague is one of the largest barrier islands on the eastern seaboard with uninterrupted coastal habitats, and it has become famous for its wild horses, which have been here for hundreds of years. If you want to see them, you’re probably better off  heading to the Maryland side or by booking a tour with a third-party organizer. There are two entrances, one in the north and one in the south, and there is no vehicle access between the two (other than by going back to the mainland). If you want to really explore the beaches—and you have a four-wheel drive rig—you can apply for and purchase an over-sand vehicle (OVS) permit , which allows you to access nearly the entire length of the beach . You can fish mile after mile of remote surf or just find an open stretch of sand to sit down and enjoy the ocean breeze.

Know Before You Go: Nearly every year, it seems, Assateague breaks its previous record for visitation, with 2.3 million people coming here in 2022 . So yes, expect to share the sand. The northern end of Assateague Island tends to be less busy than the southern end, but the surest way to get away from the crowds is with an OSV permit or by walking a few miles down the beach.

Best Beach in Virginia

False cape state park, virginia.

Location: Roughly 19 miles south of Virginia Beach Why We Love It: It remains one of the last undeveloped shorelines in this part of the Atlantic coast.

This is not the place to come if you’re hoping to lay out a towel and soak in some rays (there are no dedicated swimming areas, either), but it is one of Virginia’s most dramatic, and least visited, parks. Situated between Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and the North Carolina border, False Cape State Park offers excellent stretches of open sand that are accessible only by hiking, biking, or boating to them. The reward is stunning coastal views, good surfcasting, and on the bay side, a maze of water trails to paddle. There are a series of hiking trails to choose from, too, which total 15.3 miles. These include Barbour Hill, a 1.42-mile self-guided trek through the dunes to the ocean. If you’re committed, there’s even a primitive camping program, which requires a hike into your site of anywhere from five to nine miles. But you’re almost guaranteed to be all alone.

Know Before You Go: The park operates a tram ($8 per person) that offers a four-hour guided tour through Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park, which is a good way to see the wildlife here without committing to a longer hike or adventure.

Best Beaches in North Carolina

Cape hatteras national seashore, north carolina.

Location: On the Outer Banks, along highway NC-12 Why We Love It: Iconic lighthouses, unparalleled surf, and vast natural habitats

It’s hard to think of a better beach for a list like this. In reality, though, this is an entire ecosystem, with 70 miles and 30,000 acres of grass-covered dunes, wide sand beaches, marshes, and woodlands that are home to some 400-plus bird species, among other critters. Sure, there will be crowds and traffic in summer, but it’s hard to find a more alluring coastline with so many activities. Surfing is excellent here, with regular swells at a range of spots, including Canadian Hole and the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, both near the town of Buxton. It’s also very well established as a kite-surfing hotspot, with consistent winds blowing through Pamlico Sound (launch from Kite Point ). Fishing is great, too—both on the ocean and sound sides—and paddlers can explore the flat waters on the sound side as well, launching from the Oregon Inlet Kayak Launch. There are even three different hiking trails, including a nine-mile trek through the dunes and maritime forests on Hatteras Island. Frankly, it’s hard to imagine a better seashore for basically anything you want to do outside.

Know Before You Go : Cape Hatteras National Seashore is free to enter, but there are fees for just about everything else—off-road vehicle use, camping, and climbing the 200 steps to the top of Bodie Island Lighthouse, for example ( $10 per person ). Also, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, a highlight for many people, is closed for at least the next year or two as it undergoes repairs.

Bonus Beach: Ocracoke Island, North Carolina

Location: In the southern Outer Banks , across the channel from Hatteras Island Best For: Getting away from it all

Technically, this 13-mile-long barrier island is part of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, as most of it is managed by the park service, but it feels a world apart, thanks to its frozen-in-time quirkiness and just how raw the landscape feels. Ocracoke is also a testament to how going the extra mile is totally worth it. The island is only accessible by ferry , which makes the beaches here much, much less crowded. It can often feel as  if you’re alone, especially in early fall. For surfing, the beach near Ocracoke Inlet offers consistent waves, and fishermen can surfcast along the Atlantic shores or set up on the sound-side shoreline, like at South Point. Hammock Hills Nature Trail offers a good walk for hikers. There’s even a herd of ponies managed by the park service that are descendants of wild horses that have lived on the island since the 17th or 18th century, give or take a 100 years.

Best Beaches in South Carolina

Folly beach, south carolina.

Location: Twelve miles from downtown Charleston, on Folly Island Why We Love It: An eclectic mix of Southern charm and seaside cool that’s hard to find anywhere else

Folly Beach is no secret—tourists have been coming here for generations—but this 12-square-mile barrier island is the epitome of what a great seaside community should be. “Beaching” is just a way of life here, which makes the whole thing irresistible, even if you’re just walking down the fishing pier. Of course, there’s a reason people flock here: six miles of white sand, palm trees, and warm Atlantic waters ideal for sunbathing, swimming, and, of course, surfing. Folly’s most famous break is the Washout, known for kicking up some of the best waves on the East Coast. There’s also plenty of other outdoor activities, from kayaking and SUPing through the marshes on the Folly River side of the island to riding a cruiser bike around town. Folly Beach can be a bit of a scene at night, but that also makes it great for snagging some beach town energy and good eats, from fresh seafood to beachside tacos. There’s perhaps no better place to escape reality for a weekend (or two).

Know Before You Go: While surfing at Folly Beach is better in the winter, the summer months are the prime time for live music, festivals, outdoor movies, and crowds, making it the best time to experience its full intensity. Parking can be a challenge, so if you’re only coming for a weekend day, it’s best to rideshare.

Bonus Beach: Hunting Island State Park Beach, South Carolina

Location: 15 miles east of the town Beaufort, and roughly 90 miles south of Charleston Best For: A beach trip that’s as much about outdoor adventures as lying on the sand

Hunting Island State Park is South Carolina’s most popular park—5,000 acres of pristine Lowcountry that’s full of salt marshes, palmetto and live oak forests, and a four-mile-long stretch of white sand. Even with the crowds on a summer weekend, however, this barrier island feels pristine, as it’s almost totally undeveloped. And if you come on a weekday (or, better yet, in the fall,), it’ll feel downright remote. There are a number of great hiking trails in the park, including the 1.9-mile Diamondback Rattlesnake Trail and the easy-peasy Marsh Boardwalk , which might be the best spot along the coast for taking in the sunset. There’s a 950-foot fishing pier, and paddling in the marshes surrounding the island. As for the beach, it doesn’t disappoint either, and if you walk to the southern end you can see Little Hunting Island Boneyard Beach, where skeletal remains of dead trees dot the sand.

Best Beaches in Georgia

Sapelo island, georgia.

Location: Roughly 75 miles south of Savannah, near the tiny town of Darien Why We Love It: Untouched natural beauty and a rich history on the South’s most overlooked coastline

Sapelo Island, the fourth largest barrier island in Georgia, is one of the East Coast’s best-kept secrets. There are miles and miles of pristine beaches, maritime forests, and salt marshes across this 12-mile-long island, which has hardly changed since the 1980s—or even the 1880s. While the landscape here is unforgettable, the island is mostly known for its unique history, being home to the Hog Hammock community, one of the South’s few remaining Gullah Geechee settlements , descendants of enslaved West Africans brought to work on plantations along the Atlantic coast. Today, there are roughly 70 people who live in Hog Hammock. Each of the island’s two most famous buildings, the R.J. Reynolds Mansion and the Sapelo Island Lighthouse, have over 200 years of history on the island, too. In short, if you want a place that’s perfect for disconnecting from the modern world, this is it. You can ride a bike down the empty streets, kayak to Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge (of Blackbeard pirate fame) for bird-watching, or simply stroll along the untouched shores—all of which can be mind-blowingly deserted. Nanny Goat Beach, for example, is completely wide-open sand with hardly a soul on it. It’s hard to believe a place like this even exists today.

Know Before You Go: This is not the place to come if you’re looking for a quick getaway. The only way to arrive at Sapelo is via a 30-minute ferry ride, provided by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources ( $5 per person ). Planning ahead is essential, as you’ll likely need to stay the night and there are very few places to crash. AirbnB may be your best bet or reserve a spot at Cabretta Campground . Locals still protect this island and its heritage as if it’s their own—because it is. A little respect goes a long way to making your visit feel rewarding.

Bonus Beach: Cumberland Island, Georgia

Location: On the far southern coast of Georgia, just across the water from Fernandina Beach, Florida Best For: Camping in one of the South’s most serene, untouched landscapes

Cumberland is Georgia’s largest and southernmost barrier island, and it’s easy to add another superlative to this list: wildest. This national seashore stretches over 17 miles of empty beaches, framed by majestic live oaks and palmettos, and is home to a population of feral horses, which you can often see passing by on the unpaved roads. The island’s isolation is its appeal, but there is plenty to do, too. There are wide sandy shores to walk on, ruins from Dungeness Mansion to explore, and an extensive network of trails to amble around on. Access to Cumberland Island is controlled via the National Park Service, and the easiest  way to get here is via a 45-minute ferry ride (and you’ll need an advanced permit if you plan to camp here). There are no stores and very limited facilities, so you also need to be self-sufficient. But the experience of camping under the stars with the sounds of the ocean and the sight of wild horses is simply unmatched.

Best Beaches in Florida

Cocoa beach, florida.

Location: A little over an hour East of Orlando, just a short drive from Kennedy Space Center Why We Love It: A surfer’s paradise with a laid-back atmosphere on Florida’s “Space Coast”

Cocoa Beach, with its endless stretches of soft, sandy beaches, and consistent waves no matter the season, is one of the East Coast’s most iconic beach destinations. No other city on the eastern seaboard is so well-known for its surfing and surf culture (it’s the hometown of Kelly Slater, after all). It lives up to the hype. There are waves for beginners and seasoned surfers alike, with the iconic Cocoa Beach Pier providing the perfect backdrop for those looking to simply enjoy the view of the lineups. The area is also steeped in space history, being just 20 miles to the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral. You can even watch a rocket launch from the beach if you time it right (check out the rocket launch calendar at the space center’s website). If you’re looking for slower-paced activities, there’s decent fishing from the pier and the Banana River is great for paddling. Windsurfing is common here, too, so there’s plenty going on, even without rocket ships to the moon.

Know Before You Go: It may seem like cheesy activity, but the nearby Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is totally worth the trip. The same can be said of the Ron Jon Surf Shop , which bills itself as the largest surf shop in the world, at 52,000 square feet.

Bonus Beach: Sebastian Inlet State Park, Florida

Location: Florida’s central east coast, roughly 17 miles north of Vero Beach Best For: Surfing and fishing excursions

Sebastian Inlet State Park is well-known for its surf breaks and its fishing spots, which are both excellent on account of the park being situated where the Indian River flows into the Atlantic. The park’s First Peak and Monster Hole offer some of the best surf breaks on the East Coast and its waters are teeming with snook, redfish, and Spanish mackerel, making it a premier fishing destination. The Indian River Lagoon has calm waters that are good for paddling and there’s even a decent trail in the park to walk on, called Hammock Trail. There are, of course, long stretches of unspoiled sand great for sunbathing and shell collecting (this is a Best Beaches list, after all.) It’s a bit of an ordeal to drive to it, because the causeways accessing the barrier island are miles apart, but that also makes it less crowded. The best part, though, is that it’s far away from the hoopla of the Miami metroplex in the south and Daytona Beach in the north, meaning this beach is totally worth the extra effort to get to it.

Ryan Krogh lived on the East Coast for 12 years, split between Boston and New York City, and spent nearly every weekend finding the area’s best nooks and crannies for adventures. Among the many great ones was a day at Napeague Beach , reeling in striped bass on a fly rod. He now lives in Austin, Texas, where he spends much of his time exploring the Hill Country and the Texas coast while dreaming of getting on another fall striped bass blitz off the shores of Long Island.

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5 Lesser-Known Gems You Shouldn’t Miss on This Florida Barrier Island

From a guided backwater tour on mini catamarans to a stop on the florida distillery trail, amelia island is full of distinctive, off-the-beaten-path experiences—and some you won’t find anywhere else..

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Low dunes and seagrass frame one of Amelia Island’s serene beaches.

Courtesy of Amelia Island

While Amelia Island may be best known for its 13 miles of pristine beaches , this Northeast Florida destination is much more than its serene landscape of stunning salt marshes and unspoiled coastline. Yes, its tranquil, dune-lined shoreline is the perfect place to relax, whether you opt to spend the day out on the water or simply dig your toes in the sand. And you can expect an exciting mix of under-the-radar experiences that make Amelia Island an ideal vacation for all types of travelers, including adventurers, families, and nature lovers .

Zoom through the backwaters in search of manatees and dolphins. Sample the island’s award-winning restaurants and bars on an expert-guided tour. Spend the day at historic beaches. Whether you’re looking for a laid-back or thrill-packed getaway, here are five hidden treasures to explore.

Discover Amelia Island’s Black Heritage

Amelia Island holds an important place in history as the home of American Beach , a safe haven for Black beachgoers during the time of segregation and Jim Crow laws. Founded by African American businessman A.L. Lewis, American Beach and nearby Franklintown were highlighted in The Negro Motorist Green Book and the former served as a thriving resort town for Black Americans until Hurricane Dora hit the area in 1964. Today, visitors can stop by the A. L. Lewis Museum and learn more about Amelia Island’s African American roots with Coast One Tours , a Black historic touring company owned by local historian Ron Miller.

Savor handmade spirits along the Florida Distillery Trail

If you have a taste for fine liquor, be sure to head to Marlin and Barrel . Located in a charming old Florida home, the distillery features as a stop on the Florida Craft Spirits Association’s Florida Distillery Trail, a collection of the 39 best distilleries across the Sunshine State. Visitors can enjoy a tour and free samples of rum and vodka, all crafted and bottled by hand. Try Venture Craft Vodka, made from local molasses; smooth Bearing Light Rum; and Blossom Orangecello, starring Florida’s most famous fruit.

Have a backwater adventure

With lush forests, maze-like marshlands, and serene beaches, Amelia Island has plenty of nature to discover—and just as many ways to explore it. One of the best? Backwater Cat Adventure Tours . Often compared to waterborne go-karts, these two-person mini catamarans are thrilling and easy to use, allowing even first-time drivers to enjoy the ride during a guided tour of Amelia Island’s scenic waterways. Experience rich historic sites, a fun beach stop, and natural beauty, all while keeping an eye out for fascinating wildlife like manatees and dolphins.

Dig into a vibrant food scene downtown

Boasting more than 90 independent restaurants, Amelia Island leaves travelers spoiled for choice. Join Amelia Island Downtown Tasting Tours as they introduce you to the hottest restaurants and bars in the area, as well as the owners, chefs, and bartenders who shape the island’s vibrant culinary scene. Pick from the Booze & Bites Tour (during which guests visit two restaurants and two bars while learning about the history of the restaurant from the owner or chef) or the Cocktail Tour of four spots to taste craft cocktails from top bartenders.

Visit Fort Clinch State Park

Sunset at Fort Clinch State Park

Home to one of the most well-preserved Civil War-era forts in the country, Fort Clinch State Park provides a chance to step back in time to 1864 on the first weekend of every month when a soldier reenactment program fires cannons and demonstrates other battlefield skills. You can wander the rest of the fort’s extensive grounds and rooms on daily tours. Fans of the outdoors will also find plenty to enjoy in the 1,400-acre park, including hiking and biking trails under massive live oaks and three miles of shoreline for swimming, fishing, and fossil hunting.

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Northeast florida's best parks & preserves.

With outdoors destinations encompassing protected coastal lands, marshes, creeks and islands, northeast Florida is a nature lover’s dream.  

When it comes to places to play outdoors, these Northeast Florida parks have a little bit of everything. In this section of Florida it’s a breeze for nature lovers and outdoor recreation enthusiasts to find great birding spots hiking trails bike paths and scenic waterways. All packed up and ready to go? Here are several places you don’t want to miss on your next visit.

Anastasia State Park, St. Augustine

This park is a personal favorite and my wife and I go as often as we can. Although located just minutes away from all the action of St. Augustine it feels miles away. It has everything we look for in a coastal destination – history trails a beautiful beach with dramatic dunes a great full-facility campground and lots of birding and wildlife watching spots. Kayaks bikes and other watercraft can be rented at the park’s concessionaire. Click here to learn more.

Rice Creek Conservation Area, Palatka

Hikers this is where you want to be. Rice Creek is the site of a late 1700s rice and timber plantation and you’ll see remnants of the operation as the trail follows along ditches and dikes passing through a lush landscape of native bromeliads ferns and towering trees. In fact the eighth largest cypress tree in the state is located at Rice Creek which you can see along the trail. It’s a great place for a day hike – just remember the bug spray.

Talbot Island State Parks, Jacksonville

Seven Northeast Florida parks and preserves make up the Talbot Islands system giving visitors an in-depth look at the area’s history and natural beauty. Each park has its own special draw: Visit the Civil War ruins at Yellow Bluff Fort Historic State Park take a kayak trip at Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park or ride horses along the beach at Amelia Island State Park just for starters. The other four Northeast Florida parks in the system are Little Talbot Island State Park Big Talbot Island State Park Fort George Island Cultural State Park and George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park.

Princess Place Preserve, Palm Coast

Situated on 1 500 acres along the Matanzas River and Pellicer Creek Princess Place Preserve is the site of a real-life fairytale romance between the widow who once owned the property and an exiled Russian prince. The lodge was built in 1887 using local materials and constructed in the Adirondack camp style and is most likely the only example of this style in the state. Florida’s first in-ground swimming pool is here too drawing water from an artesian spring. Spend time kayaking birding hiking biking or camping at one of the many primitive sites on the property.

Pellicer Creek Aquatic Preserve, Flagler and St. Johns Counties

Both Princess Place and Pellicer Creek are part of the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (just call it GTM Reserve; it’s a lot easier) which protects over 73 000 acres of coastal habitat. At Pellicer Creek kayaking and birding are the biggest draws. You’ll find a state-designated paddling trail that’s great for folks just starting out. Get all the details and a complete list of GTM Reserve properties here .

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15 Most Beautiful Places to Visit on the East Coast

From Maine down to Florida, these are the best places to visit on the East Coast.

“ West Coast , best coast” has a nice sound to it, but the debate is far from over when it comes to which side of the country wins the ultimate showdown. Although California weather is lovely, and the Pacific Northwest’s vivid green forests and majestic mountain views are a sight to behold, the East Coast is a true four-season region with diverse landscapes, ecosystems, and climates — each as gorgeous as the next.

Have you ever experienced an East Coast autumn? There’s nothing quite as intoxicating as witnessing the foliage of the Appalachian Mountains turn into bright oranges and reds seemingly overnight. What about a New England summer, when the hydrangeas bloom all over Nantucket Island and Martha’s Vineyard? The cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C . draw crowds from around the world in the spring, and there’s a reason so many people can’t get enough of the South’s beaches in the wintertime.  

You could spend a lifetime exploring this section of the country, bookended by Maine and Florida, and still never witness all the glory of its many mountains, rivers, small towns, historic sites, national parks, and bustling cities — but it doesn’t hurt to try. While countless East Coast destinations can be described as “beautiful,” only a few made our list. From the glimmering waters of New York’s Lake George to the untouched wilderness of Cumberland Island, Georgia , here are 15 of the best places to visit on the East Coast.

Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia and North Carolina

The full Blue Ridge mountain range spans 550 miles from Pennsylvania to Georgia, but Virginia and North Carolina lay claim to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The meandering drive grants visitors access to over 200 scenic overlooks, where they can stop to take in the sweeping views accented by the blue haze that gives these mountains their name.

Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, North Carolina

Western North Carolina is home to more than 250 waterfalls, many of which are found in the breathtaking Highlands-Cashiers Plateau , a mountainous area 70 miles from Asheville. Whether you’re visiting during the lush summer or vibrant fall, a hike to nearby Dry Falls or Cullasaja Falls shouldn’t be missed.

Bluffton, South Carolina

You might expect Charleston to appear on this list, but the smaller coastal town of Bluffton with its moss-draped oak trees and location along the May River earn it the “most beautiful” spot. Montage Palmetto Bluff, named one of the best resort hotels in South Carolina in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards , is one of the area’s top highlights, but visitors should also explore downtown Bluffton and the surrounding Lowcountry. 

Acadia National Park, Maine

Coastal Maine’s Acadia National Park is open year round, but you’ll need to visit between October and March to experience the famous “first” sunrise from Cadillac Mountain. Summer trips are just as magical, though, especially at popular spots like Thunder Hole , Jordan Pond , and Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse . 

Siasconset, Nantucket

No other words describe Siasconset Village (more commonly known as ‘Sconset) better than “charming” and “photogenic.” A 40-minute bike ride from Nantucket’s downtown district, the village is popular for its two-mile public footpath, the Sconset Bluff Walk, which weaves between gray-shingled cottages and their accompanying flower gardens with views of the ocean down below. 

Cumberland Island, Georgia

One of Georgia’s best-kept secrets, Cumberland Island — and its uninterrupted white-sand beaches, marshes, and maritime forests — is only accessible by ferry or private boat. At 16 miles long, the barrier island has just one hotel, Greyfield Inn , a population of wild horses, a historic district with ruins of a Carnegie-built mansion, and 9,800 acres of Congressionally designated wilderness.

Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, New York

Now over 100 years old, Brooklyn Botanic Gardens is more than just a place within the Concrete Jungle to admire flowers and over 18,000 kinds of plants. It’s a 52-acre haven designed for inspiration, conversation, and education. Visitors can even take classes on floral design, pruning, propagation, and more. Walking through the different areas — including the Rose Garden, Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, and the Desert Pavilion — will leave you with a greater appreciation for the natural beauty found all over the world. 

Yale University, Connecticut

Like many New England college campuses , Yale University’s grounds carry that unique mixture of excitement, nostalgia, and general wonder you can’t help but want to experience. The university’s Old Campus is immediately recognizable with its distinct layout of lawns, trees, walkways, and impressive Gothic architecture. 

Vermont’s Covered Bridges

More than 100 covered bridges, dating from 1820, can be found in the state of Vermont. Their photogenic nature — especially during the peak of fall — is often the catalyst behind visitors exploring the Green Mountain State. Depending on which driving tour you embark on, you can see popular sights like Pulp Mill Bridge in Middlebury and Windsor Cornish Covered Bridge, the longest two-span covered bridge in the world.

Biscayne National Park, Florida

Travelers can explore the waters of South Florida’s Biscayne National Park in a variety of ways — kayak, paddle board, and sailboat among them — but it’s known as one of the best places to scuba dive in the U.S. The national park is over 90 percent water and home to a mangrove forest, coral reefs, sea turtles, manatees, and over 600 native fish species.

Lake George, New York

Upstate New York boasts one of the most beautiful lakes in the United States . Thanks to a watershed that doesn’t produce much pollution, Lake George’s waters are clear, clean, and safe to swim in. It’s a gem within the Adirondack Mountains that makes for the perfect summer getaway . 

Bushkill Falls, Pennsylvania

The self-titled “ Niagara of Pennsylvania,” Bushkill Falls is a series of eight waterfalls in the Pocono Mountains. Adventurous travelers can see them all — including Bushkill Falls (the main waterfall), Bridemaid’s Falls, and the Lower Gorge Falls — by setting off on a challenging two-mile, two-hour hike. 

Middleburg, Virginia

Signs you’ve reached Middleburg include rolling countryside outlined with stone walls, horses, farms, and a historic downtown district filled with antique stores, art galleries, and equestrian shops. The beauty of this Virginia town lies in both the bucolic landscape and its colonial architecture, as evidenced by the storied Red Fox Inn & Tavern , an 18-room hotel and pub first established in 1728. 

Block Island, Rhode Island

You’ll take a short ferry ride from the mainland to reach Block Island, a seven-mile-long and three-mile-wide coastal destination known for its historic lighthouses and stunning scenery. On the southern end of the island, you’ll find Mohegan Bluffs, a set of large clay cliffs that offer incredible Atlantic Ocean vistas and access to the secluded, rocky beach, reached by climbing down 141 stairs.

National Mall, Washington, D.C.

There’s hardly a more iconic spot in Washington, D.C. than the National Mall. Dotted with monuments — Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and the Washington Monument, to name a few — the area also has pedestrian-friendly lawns and walkways. Its true beauty, however, really reveals itself when the Japanese cherry blossom trees bloom in the spring. 

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• 8 Most Inviting Towns in Florida's Emerald Coast

Often overshadowed by the glamor of nearby vacation destinations such as Miami , Fort Lauderdale , and Tampa , Florida’s western coast spanning along the calm blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico , features some of the state’s best-kept secrets.

Florida’s Emerald Coast stretches approximately 100 miles from the Florida peninsula to that state’s border with Alabama . The Emerald Coast plays host to pristine beaches, charming towns, and hidden histories that await your discovery. So pack your bags and head out to the Sunshine State’s most inviting towns.

Seaside sits along the sugary white beaches of Florida’s emerald coast. The town is largely known as a vacationer's dream as the local community is used to having plenty of visitors to this coastal oasis.

The heart of Seaside revolves around its breathtaking beaches. Sink your toes into the soft sand at Seagrove Beach and wade into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The beach is the perfect spot to work on your tan or have a family outing, as there are numerous activities along the beach. If you prefer to be on the move, then hit the paved trails at Grayton Beach State Park, which proves to be the ideal place to enjoy the views while getting exercise.

Following a day on the beach, sit back, relax, and enjoy a performance at the Seaside Amphitheatre, which hosts everything from children’s book readings to local band performances. The town also has amazing culinary experiences. Visit local restaurants such as the Shrimp Shack or the Great Southern Café for delicious southern cuisine.

With consistent averages year-round, this oceanside town is the spot for a vacation regardless of the season. Whether you are planning a family vacation or a romantic getaway with that special someone, there is plenty to fill your itinerary.

Start your visit to Destin by getting up close and personal with the ocean’s greatest creatures at Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park. For a wilder experience, head out to sea and hop aboard the Dolphin Sunset Cruise which will take you to the heart of dolphin territory so that you can witness these intelligent creatures in their natural habitat.

After, take in the local attractions as you walk up and down the harbor boardwalk which not only offers stunning views of the ocean but excitement as well. There is also nautical history that can be explored, tour through the Destin History & Fishing Museum to see local records and tall tales of the sea.

Miramar Beach

Sitting atop the list of "must-visit locations" in the entire state is Miramar Beach. The town is an affordable retreat that prides itself on being a family-friendly destination.

Head to Miramar Beach and secure prime real estate as the Florida sun begins to soar. As temperatures climb, you won’t have to travel too far to cool off. Take a refreshing dip in the ocean, which also offers an opportunity for swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and jet skiing, ensuring endless hours of aquatic fun for visitors of all ages. If you prefer Florida’s favorite pastime, hit the links at one of the local courses. Raven Golf Club comes highly recommended for those who visit.

After obtaining vitamin D, head back into town, where the excitement never ends. Miramar Beach is known for its blend of cultural influences, explore them by visiting the Emerald Coast Theatre Gallery, which hosts everything from standup comedy to renowned Broadway shows.

Port St. Joe

Situated just outside the hotbed of spring break vacations, Port St, Joe is about a 45-minute drive down the coastline. If you are looking for all the excitement Panama City can offer without the crowded beaches and long lines, then head to Port St. Joe.

Without a doubt, the smooth sand of St. Joe's Beach ranks among the highest in Florida. This beach is the ideal spot for swimming and kayaking, as the outer peninsula around the town allows for calm waters without the crashing waves from the Gulf of Mexico. If you want to explore Florida’s rugged outdoors, then head over to St. Joseph Peninsula State Park. The park has plenty of walking trails and the lucky few might get to witness Florida’s wild animals in their natural habitats.

The town itself has a fascinating history. Dive into local legends, artifacts, and exhibits at the Constitution Convention Museum State Park, which proves quite popular among visitors. Also, the town always has something going on, so be sure to check local calendars for exciting events such as the iconic Sea Turtle Festival.

Fort Walton Beach

Protected by the outer layer of Florida’s emerald coast, Fort Walton Beach was once a fortified outpost and important stronghold for the Spanish Armada , English Army, and even the Confederate Army due to the town’s strategic location.

Today, Fort Walton has transformed into a relaxed seaside town, but the town’s legacy can still be explored by visiting the Heritage Park and Cultural Center, which showcases the town’s past dating back to 1528. To explore even further back in time, learn about the town’s Native American ancestry at the Indian Temple Mound, which is a historic landmark dedicated to the earliest inhabitants of the land.

Stroll through the downtown area and take your pick from restaurants, cafes, and shops as you approach Fort Walton Beach Landing Park. Located just outside the downtown core, the park provides an opportunity to enjoy the boardwalk, relax in the grass, or enjoy a show at the amphitheater inside the park.

While Crestview is not directly located on the Gulf, it is only 25 miles away and remains part of Florida’s Emerald Coast. The town has long been in the shadow of its coastal neighbors, despite having plenty of exciting attractions to share with its visitors.

Start your exciting visit to Crestview by getting up close and personal with nature's wildest animals, head to the Emerald Coast Zoo for your chance to see wild animals ranging from massive bears to huge sea turtles. Or simply relax in the Florida sun, enjoy a book, a family picnic, or a walk in nearby Twin Hills Park. To learn about the town’s origins, visit the Crestview Historical Museum, which hosts exhibits ranging from Native American artifacts to key figures who once called the town home.

Enjoy the warm gusts of wind rolling off the ocean as you begin your search to find that perfect patch of sand at Navarre Beach, or spend your day wandering throughout the town. Regardless of your decision, there is plenty for everyone in this hotspot.

As the sun rises, grab a freshly brewed coffee at Cactus Flower Café and head over to the Navarre Beach fishing pier, the 1,545 feet long boardwalk stretches out into the deep crystal blue water and is a great spot to soak in the ambiance of the town. After, go check out nature's most beloved creatures at the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center which allows visitors to gain a better understanding of these majestical animals.

Afterward, continue to learn about the complexity of earth’s last great frontier, the Navarre Beach Marine Science Station is an environmental research center that focuses on educating visitors on marine life through its exciting and interactive exhibits.

Rosemary Beach

Not often do towns end up being as pleasant as they sound, but Rosemary Beach will surely exceed your expectations as it possesses southern charm unlike any other.

One of the best aspects of Rosemary Beach is the feeling of community the town can provide. It hosts plenty of events aimed at bringing the residents and visitors together, so be sure to check local calendars not to miss special events such as live concerts on the beach or the Rosemary Beach Uncorked wine festival.

For a more adventurous excursion, schedule time to visit Eden Gardens State Park, which is home to a vast forest and features exciting attractions such as the historic Wesley House. If the beach is more your vibe, head to Rosemary Beach and enjoy fun in the sun. As the night sets in, keep the beach vibe going by scheduling a campfire on the beach, visitors can book this unique event through the Rosemary Beach Service.

As one of the premier vacation destinations in the world, it should come as no surprise that Florida has plenty of must-visit vacation destinations. But if you want to avoid the tourist gimmicks while enjoying the sandy beaches and vibrant sunshine, then the emerald coast is the place for you. So, lather on your sunscreen, it’s time to relax and enjoy the sense of community visitors often experience during their visits to these most inviting towns along Florida’s Emerald Coast.

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Here Are All the Michelin-Starred Restaurants in Miami for 2024

Miami adds three new one-Michelin starred winners to its roster

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The Michelin dining guide has officially announced its award winners for the third edition of its Florida Michelin Guide. Like previous two years, the list of places that took home the coveted star awards are comprised predominately of expensive, upscale, Eurocentric South Florida restaurants.

The guide is seen by many as the global standard of restaurant reviews with its up to three-star rating system with one-star considered “very good restaurant in its category,” two-star considered “worthy of a detour,” and three-star deemed a “special journey.” There is also the Bib Gourmand status, an unstarred category given to high-caliber restaurants that serve a two-course meal for around $50 a person.

Miami restaurants dominated the awards again for a third year in a row, receiving the most in the state. New one-star winners in Miami EntreNos , Ogawa , and Shingo . The Miami outpost of L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon maintained its two-star status for a third year in a row and still the only sole two-starred restaurant in the Sunshine State.

Ten one-star winners from 2023 retained their one-star status, including:

• Ariete , upscale American and Cuban cuisine in Coconut Grove.
• Boia De , an eclectic American restaurant with Italian influences just north of the Design District.
• Cote , a Korean steakhouse in the Miami Design District.
• Elcielo Miami , experiential Colombian cuisine
• Hiden , “hidden” omakase restaurant in Wynwood.
• Le Jardinier , a vegetable-focused restaurant by Joël Robuchon alumni in the Miami Design District.
• Los Felix , Mexican seafood and tacos in Coconut Grove.
• Stubborn Seed , an American tasting-menu-focused restaurant by a Top Chef winner in South Beach.
• The Surf Club Restaurant , American comfort food from Thomas Keller in Surfside.
• Tambourine Room By Tristan Brandt , a tasting-menu-only modern take on classic French cuisine with Asian influences.

Miami also had 18 restaurants receive a Bib Gourmand award including two new recipients. Returning to the Bib Gourmand list this year are Bachour, Chug’s Diner, Doya, El Turco, Ghee Indian Kitchen, Hometown Barbecue, La Natural, Lucali, Mandolin, Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink, Phuc Yea, Sanguich de Miami, Tinta y Cafe, Zak the Baker, Zitz Sum, Jaguar Sun, and Rosie’s. One new recipient, Tam Tam, was announced last week.

Not returning to the list this year are The Den at Sushi Azabu , omakase in Miami Beach, which previous held a one-star ranking and Lung Yai, which held a Bib.

The annual guide began as a free booklet in 1900 published by Michelin (yes, of tire fame) to help motorists find the best places to eat and drink throughout Europe. Over the past century, it has grown in prestige and expanded its footprint globally.

This Michelin Guide partners with Visit Florida , the state’s official tourism board, for the Sunshine State’s guide. The Michelin Guide doesn’t disclose how much it is paid to bring inspectors to those markets — price tags for the state have been reported to be well over seven figures, with Miami-Dade County paying $116,000 a year over three years to help offset the cost of producing of the guide — though the company has been candid in the past about its partnerships with those respective boards.

But not all chefs welcome the stars. Over the years, chefs have famously asked to “give back” their stars, citing the increased pressures that the award brings, especially for those awarded the much-coveted three-star recognition. Others have pointed out the guide's penchant for selecting primarily European and Japanese menus for stars at the expense of other worthy cuisines and cultural institutions like street food.

Stubborn Seed

Azabu miami beach, elcielo by juan manuel barrientos, los felix taquería, the surf club restaurant, l’atelier de joël robuchon, next up in michelin, sign up for the newsletter eater miami.

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