Accessible only by boat or ferry, Cayo Costa State Park encompasses an unspoiled barrier island with nine miles of pristine beaches and 2,500 acres of wilderness. The park is renowned for exceptional shelling with numerous rare specimens found along its shores. Primitive cabins and tent camping sites offer an authentic island wilderness experience. The interior […]
Beaches for Swimming
Crandon Park Beach
Crandon Park Beach on Key Biscayne features two miles of pristine beach with calm, shallow waters and swaying palm trees. The beach was formerly a coconut plantation, giving it a tropical oasis feeling despite proximity to downtown Miami. The offshore sandbar creates exceptionally calm, shallow waters ideal for families. The Crandon Park Nature Center offers […]
Clam Pass Beach Park
Clam Pass Beach Park offers a unique beach experience with a three-quarter mile boardwalk winding through a mangrove forest before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The narrow tidal pass creates interesting water currents and a small lagoon area popular with families. The mangrove estuary is excellent for kayaking and wildlife viewing including herons, egrets and […]
Lowdermilk Park
Lowdermilk Park combines beach access with excellent park amenities including concessions, gazebos, and a duck pond. The beach offers some of Naples’ best sunset views with a convenient western exposure. The park is family-friendly with playground equipment and volleyball courts. The beach is known for cleanliness and good facilities with restrooms and showers. The shallow […]
John D. MacArthur Beach State Park
John D. MacArthur Beach State Park offers the rare combination of an unspoiled tropical coastal habitat in the highly developed Palm Beach area. The beach is reached via a 1,600-foot boardwalk that crosses a picturesque lagoon lined with mangroves. The offshore Anastasia rock reef provides excellent snorkeling opportunities with abundant marine life. The park’s Estuary […]
St. George Island State Park
St. George Island State Park encompasses nine miles of undeveloped shoreline on the eastern end of this barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico. The park features pristine beaches with sugar-white sand, emerald waters, and majestic dunes. The area is excellent for birding with migrating species visible throughout the year. Due to minimal light pollution, […]
Fernandina Beach
Fernandina Beach is the northernmost beach on Florida’s Atlantic coast, combining beautiful shoreline with Victorian charm in the historic downtown district. The main beach area features wide sands with ample facilities and lifeguards during summer months. The downtown area is on the National Register of Historic Places with 50+ blocks of historic buildings now housing […]
Melbourne Beach
Melbourne Beach offers a quiet, residential beach experience in contrast to busier Space Coast beaches. The area is significant for sea turtle nesting, with loggerhead, green, and leatherback turtles laying eggs between May and October. The beach’s unspoiled stretches are ideal for long walks and collecting sea glass and shells. Historic points of interest include […]
Wiggins Pass
Located where the Cocohatchee River meets the Gulf of Mexico, Wiggins Pass offers excellent fishing and boating opportunities with diverse marine habitats. The beach at Barefoot Beach Preserve features natural surroundings with sea oats, sand dunes, and nesting areas for sea turtles and shore birds. The shallow, clear waters are ideal for families and provide […]
Bowditch Point Park
Located at the northern tip of Estero Island, Bowditch Point Park offers beach access on both the Gulf and back bay sides. The park combines recreational beach areas with a 17-acre restoration zone featuring native coastal vegetation and wildlife habitats. Walking trails wind through the preservation area with interpretive signs about local ecology. The location […]