8 Secluded Beaches to Discover in Florida

Longboat Key is the under-the-radar sister island to the wildly popular Siesta Key, offering the same spectacular natural location facing the sparkling Gulf of Mexico, but without the wild MTV crowds. Among the highlights of this blissful island oasis near Sarasota is a beach so smooth and white it looks like a crisp new sheet and agate water that offers gentle swells and warm tides, but never has an undertow.

The views from this west facing perch on the Gulf are epic and worth arranging your evening around so you don’t miss the glowing sun setting into the waves. For the perfect perch to watch the technicolor sunset, sit outside at the Dry Dock Waterfront Grill, named one of the most scenic dining spots in all of America by OpenTable.

Thirteen miles of golden sand beaches await on quiet Amelia Island nestled in the most northeast corner of Florida. Amelia Island offers great weather year round and temperatures in the summer are some of the most pleasant in the state. Average ocean temps hover in the mid-80s, ideal for boogie boarding, surfing, paddle boarding, biking and hiking.

Another special aspect of Amelia Island: it’s one the last Florida beaches with horseback riding, so don’t miss your chance to gallop over private trails leading to isolated beaches where you can ride under the watchful eyes of experienced guides.

Just south of perennially popular St Petersburg on the Gulf Coast is the flour white sand of Pass-a-Grille Beach – a favorite of locals, though little known to visitors. Enjoy the 4-mile stretch of natural, undeveloped shoreline; go on a shelling or snorkeling excursion to Shell Key, an uninhabited barrier island, or watch the dolphins play and enjoy gentle sea breezes on a sunset cruise.

Eighth Avenue is the epitome of old Florida charm, equipped with a local vibe. Saunter to small art galleries, boutique shops, and restaurants, including the rooftop bar at Hurricane Seafood Restaurant – the town’s iconic spot to savor a drink along with the area’s spectacular sunsets.

Caladesi Island State Park is a sugar white barrier island beach reached only by boat from Dunedin on Florida’s west coast. The beach here has reached the top spot on coastal expert Dr. Beach’s coveted “America’s Best Beaches” list. To reach the secluded sand, hop the ferry from Honeymoon Island, which allows you to spot dolphins and osprey along the way.

In addition to swimming, sunbathing, and beachcombing, the island features abundant wildlife; nature enthusiasts can spot wildlife while hiking the three-mile nature trail through the island’s interior or paddling a kayak three-miles through the mangroves and bay.

Bahia Honda State Park is one of the northernmost beaches of the Florida Keys. It’s also one of the most serene and unvisited, although its easily reachable from nearby Islamorada. For those who have been to the Florida Keys, there are several surprises: first, how much the tiny islets feel like tropical islands in the Caribbean, and conversely, how few natural sand beaches there are as you traverse the Keys. The best beaches are actually within Florida State Parks, such as Bahia Honda State Park.

Because the island chain is bordered on the ocean side by a living coral reef, the reef creates a natural barrier that both protects the shoreline and creates a perfect environment of fishing; in fact, nearby Islamorada, where you’ll find the area’s lodging and dining options, is known as the Sportfishing Capital of the World.

St. George Island is one of the most secluded beaches in Florida, nestled on a 22 mile barrier island off the “Forgotten Coast” in the northwest corner of the state. The uncrowded beaches are perfect for swimming or just relaxing on the sugary sand. Fishing and kayaking in the clear Gulf waters are popular pastimes as well.

If you’re looking for a spot to bring Fido on vacation, St George Island should be at the top of your list – it’s one of the most dog friendly beaches in the whole state. Furry friends are even welcome at local restaurants and shops, including the Apalachicola Seafood Grill, home of the “world’s largest fish sandwich” (good to know in case your pup wants a bite, too).

If you thought of National Parks as vast inland areas, you may be surprised to discover the breezy barrier island of Canaveral National Seashore – a sanctuary of soft white sand between Daytona and Cocoa Beach.

The 24-mile stretch of pristine shoreline feels like an unspoiled paradise and the out-of-the-way beach is a refuge to both visitors and native wildlife, including nesting sea turtles. In fact, CNS is home to 15 different endangered species, five of which are sea turtles. Nesting season is October to April, when you have a good chance of looking down and spotting the slow but steady pace of one of the gentle giants coming ashore to lay its eggs.

Don’t just look down while you’re visiting though – CNS provides a unique perspective for watching rocket launches from Cape Canaveral just south. In fact, when the timing is right, you can lounge on the beach and watch the rockets blast off while you relax.

Perdido Key Beach is tucked into a secluded barrier island near Pensacola, on the Alabama and Florida border. Perdido means “lost” in Spanish, and this hidden beach will make you feel like a modern day Robinson Crusoe. The wetlands and national parks feel like a hidden retreat

With an average temperature of 75 degrees and 343 days of sunshine, it’s always a good time to paddle a kayak, go boating, hike nature trails, or spend time on the beach swimming in the jade water that earned the area its Emerald Coast moniker. Keep an eye peeled for marine wildlife while you traverse the beach dunes on the wide boardwalks and you may spot the tiny Perdido Key Beach Mouse, nesting sea turtles, and wide-winged Anhinga birds.