Florida's Major Coastal Cities, Ranked

Oh , Florida , you beautifully weird creature you!As a state , you have one of the worst repute in America , but you make up for it with your near - sodding weather , your screaming bacchanal , and of path , your merriment and beautiful beach townsfolk – all of which are packed throughout the year . As a Florida aborigine who make out to travel , ca n’t keep up with the M - I - A , and always choose a day at the beach over being an grownup with “ responsibilities , ” I lovea good road tripto another part of the Sunshine State . So , Florida , this one ’s for you – a all objective ranking of your good beach metropolis from a Miami indigen who loves to chew the fat them .

12. Jacksonville Beach

pro : It can be as expensive or inexpensive as you require it to beCons : It ’s … really snug to Jacksonville

In my impression , there ’s no licit reason to inspect Jacksonville proper for a vacation ( a Jags game , maybe ? ) . I feel like the majority of the population are either from the area , have move there for oeuvre , or are glide by through because vanish into Jacksonville was the cheapest way to get to their eventual destination , which is plausibly St. Augustine . Jacksonville Beach , on the other hand , has some street cred . Called the “ River City by the Sea , ” it sit down on the longest stretching of St. Johns River – the long river in Florida – and has 20 mile of beach , cheap hotels , and loads of laid - back “ artsy ” folks . So in all fairness , visiting Jacksonville is n’t a entire deprivation – but stay tight to the beach .

11. Daytona Beach

Pros : Spring break and NASCARCons : Only having Spring Break and NASCAR as reasons to chaffer .

Daytona Beach earned a higher ranking than Jacksonville Beach because of NASCAR . I ’m not a huge devotee of people drive at breakneck speeds only to turn left , but 75 million other hoi polloi seem to be . And I care staring at Jimmie Johnson , so I ’m supportive . Daytona Beach is n’t a bad place to go per se , but it ’s a seaport for other Floridians look to leave their less - playfulness towns . So alternatively of a melt can of tourer from Ohio and Illinois , you ’ll be hanging around with group of masses from Orlando … and Jacksonville . That said , visiting in February forDaytona 500with your biker uncle whilst savour conditions in the ' seventy is something that ca n’t be all in . And if you get sick of the Speedway , hop in your elevator car and drive onto the beach . Literally . you could actually drive on the backbone there . Another cause this place outflank J - Ville Beach .

10. Panama City Beach

Pros : Giant tiki drinksCons : Spending all your money on giant tiki beverage

I was there for a fraternity beach weekend , and it seemed like everyone else there was also credibly part of a fraternity beach weekend . Or maybe a bachelorette weekend . Anyway , PCB has 27 mile of white - Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin beach that would be easier to delight if the grouping tanning next to you was n’t an felon biker gang . Much like Daytona , weekends here do n’t have set boundaries , but that ’s not to say it is n’t a perfectly proficient beach pickup for people who are not in an outlaw biker crew . The immense sign of the zodiac right on the beach make for great places for sept to host reunion weekend , and if you ’re there in the natural spring , you might even catch Spring Jam – a immense area fete in the sand with big names like Rascal Flatts , Thomas Rhett , Sheryl Crow , Darius Rucker , and more .

9. West Palm Beach

pro : CityPlace , yachts , Worth Avenue , and fetching landscapingCons : A lot of Botox and a lot of ex - New Yorkers

West Palm Beach is what befall when sometime Manhattanites get sick of the cold weather and decide the only coherent answer is to corrupt a mansion in Florida . This have in mind that there ’s no famine of beautiful neighborhood in the area … but if you ’re younger than 70 , expect to be stopped by security measure and conduct back to Downtown . Go there for the sunlight , Worth Avenue , Clematis , and the 8 million oceanfront planetary house . It ’s also the 4th wettest city in the country , so do with that menial small beer what you will !

8. Naples

pro : A moderately solid date poolCons : Everything close early , even on the weekend

Less than two hours from Miami , but on the West seacoast of Florida , Naples give you the feeling that you ’ve leave the Sunshine State altogether . Almost everyone who lives there is a Northern transplant who decide to bribe a “ wintertime condominium , ” like to wear lots of J. Crew , represent golf game , “ do ” boutique shopping , and have early wine dinners so they can be in bottom by 10 pm . This can be a detriment to some , but after spending a weekend in Daytona , Naples is the pristine escape you ’ll be glad you decided to check out .

7. Fort Lauderdale

pro : It ’s not MiamiCons : It lets masses recollect it ’s Miami

Fort Lauderdale is where you go when you need to tell your admirer you went to Miami . But in reality , Miami was too expensive – or too much for you to handle – so you picked the next best matter . In Fort Lauderdale ’s defending team though , there are better ( read : cleaner ) beaches , people who wo n’t strain to get you to place in their pyramid scheme 10 arcminute after meeting you , asexy restaurant and nightlife scenery , and an mean yearly temperature of 75 degrees .

6. Sanibel

Pros : Bowman ’s Beach , Sanibel Lighthouse , the only fast food or chain eatery are Subway and DQCons : It ’s tranquil and expensive , and there ’s no Taco Bell or Dominoes for your recent - dark munchies

Ah , Sanibel . The prized jewel of Florida ’s southwest coast . I swear if hoi polloi from other DoS never catch the news , finish Googling “ Florida , ” and only visited Sanibel , Florida would be known for innumerous things other than “ Florida Man , ” random horror stories of giant reptiles , andall of these crazy things that actually find . Low - key , gorgeous Sanibel is our classiest asset , and we Floridians care for our weekends there . That is … if we can give it . Also , it ’s a immense hook for families as it ’s not insanely crowded and pretty quiet in general . So while it ’s worth every centime , you should REALLY want to go there .

5. Key West

Pros : Duval StreetCons : Duval Street

I sleep together what you ’re thinking : “ Why is n’t this No . 1 ? This should be No . 1 ! " And that ’s on the nose the issue . For most of us Floridians , Key West is the Vegas of Florida – not for clubs or cassino , but in appeal . It ’s one of those iconic destinations that you have to go to at least once , and though you ’ve likely had the best weekend of your life there and will always say you need to go back … you wo n’t die if you never do again . The put down - back people and vibes are awesome , the sunset views from Mallory Square are Instagram gold , the Key lime Proto-Indo European is a must - eat , and for the most part , there are no formula . Seriously , the last sentence I was there , it was St. Patty ’s Day weekend and I saw a group of college bozo – in lime gullible tutus – deal shots off of a mom while wear a full gorilla suit and belting out some Jimmy Buffett .

4. Sarasota/Siesta Key

Pros : The sorcerous shops , pristine bloodless - sand beach , and St. Armands CircleCons : A LOT of retired people , family unit , and yoke in la - la - kingdom

I have intercourse this part of Florida because it ’s dependable . You know you ’re always give out to get good beach , good sunset , stiff beverage , and a good crowd . That state , the dealings is horrendous during season , parking on Siesta Key is a myth , and be inclined to listen to a lot of Sublime covering fire . For a good choice to hanging on the Key after sundown , nous into a local bar Downtown or in the Gulf Gate territorial dominion . A personal favorite is West End Pub – you’re able to play corn hole there while mingle with the locals .

3. St. Augustine

professional : The lighthouse , the old - timey city center with the old - timey lamppost , bed & breakfast spots , andPizza TimeCons : There are St. Bridget everywhere . Everywhere .

You need a debaucherous beach weekend but you ’ve lately hit 30 , so “ debaucherous ” means “ bespoke craftsmanship cocktail bar ” and “ beach weekend ” translates to “ somewhere nice with some sand . ” Where do you go ? St. Augustine , of track ! Just in the south of Jacksonville , it ’s a beach town where you may last out at B&Bs , exhaust baked Gallic toast and Butterfinger Bites for breakfast alternatively of your common IHOP special , go to the beach , go war forts , or shop on one of the last remaining pedestrian - only street in the US : St. George Street . St. Augustine is a huge finish for both weddings and eighth - grade chronicle field trips , so when you go for those craft cocktails we talked about , render not to crash a receipt . You ’ll in reality have to attempt to avoid them .

2. Miami

pro : You get to tell people you go to MiamiCons : Your luck of getting reach in the fount with a chancleta , seeing old men in banana hammocks , and having the best Cuban food for thought of your life are about the same

There ’s no denyingMiami is a grand place , and as a Magic City aborigine , not putting it as No . 1 in all likelihood means I will be subjected to defective karma later in life and end up living in Davie ( noooo ! ) . That said , in addition to its A - list beach , mad food scenery , “ anything goes ” cabaret , and , you bang , its beautiful hoi polloi ( ahem ) , Miami also has horrifying traffic , really expensive drinks , and sweltering weather . We throw said weather in everyone ’s face from December to March , but then from April to November , we despise everyone else for having good weather than we do . Either agency , we literally “ live where you vacation , ” and for good reason . We ’re not called the Magic City for nothing .

1. St. Pete Beach

Pros : Laid - back people , packed beaches , excellent beach barsCons : Your lifetime flash before your eyes every time you have to cross Skyway Bridge to get there

St. Pete Beach is a sorcerous place , both because it establish you feel like you ’re not in Florida and because the multitude / vibes are ridiculously coolheaded . I was there during a Category 3 hurricane once , and away from the crack , you would have never known you were in a Category 3 hurricane . Everyone was busybodied crapulence rum runners at a beach bar , totally incognizant of the fact that said legal community was flooded up to their ankles . Also in St. Pete – not during a family 3 hurricane – I took “ froot loop topology ” dead reckoning with a guy from Hells Angels who later gave me a skull necklace ( he was quite well-disposed ! ) . Anyway , St. Pete Beach is No . 1 on my list because it can be anything you want it to be : unruffled , a non - stop bacchanal , a foodie pickup , a house reunification smear , a romantic escape , a knight bachelor / bachelorette party destination , or just a weekend trip to get some R&R. And while you ’re there , do n’t draw a blank to stop by the unquestionable Italian sandwich shopMazzaro ’s , the Chihuly crank artistic creation exhibit , or theDali museum . Hey , who know , you might even suffer a friendly Hell ’s Angel who ’ll grease one’s palms you " froot loop " shots and give you a skull necklace .

St. Petersburg, Florida