The summer season is on the horizon, with many Floridians ready to soak up the sun at the beach. But are some beaches better than others along Florida’s roughly 1,350 miles of coastline?
Yes, according to Southern Living. Some are even the best in the entire South.
The lifestyle magazine recently released its list of the top 50 beaches in the South, with three from Florida appearing in the top 10 beaches. The rankings were based on 10,000 responses to a third-party survey conducted during the summer of 2024.
“These reader-selected beach towns are home to growing food scenes, colorful shopping districts, postcard-worthy views, and endless ways to frolic in the water,” Southern Living details. “Each one has its own unique feel and energy, but you’ll find that all are overflowing with charm.”
What is the best beach town in Florida?
Southwest Florida’s Sanibel placed sixth for the best Southern beaches, with Southern Living describing it as a “sunny slice of paradise.”
“With no stoplights or high-rises, the island is an old-school beach town at its best. Once you’ve come here, it won’t be long before you’ve adopted the Sanibel stoop, the well-known posture of serious shell seekers.”
Sanibel is an island off the coast of Lee County, roughly 23 miles from downtown Fort Myers. It’s neighbor, Captiva, placed 20th on the list.
Nearly 20 Florida beaches made the ranking. Any near you?
In total, 19 Florida beaches placed within the top 50:
Where is the best Southern beach in the US?
Georgia’s St. Simons Island took home the top spot for the best Southern beach. Southern Living highlighted the town’s scenery, history and activities as to why it was the best.
“Like the ebbing tide that reveals pluff mud speckled with oyster beds, visitors come in waves to this alluring town where the peel ’n’ eat shrimp and gorgeous sunsets are requirements. Crossing the F.J. Torras Causeway (the only road onto the island) signals a shift in the salty air. Georgia’s second-largest barrier island, St. Simons is nestled between the Frederica River and the Atlantic Ocean, with creeks woven throughout its scenic landscape.”
What are the best Southern beach towns?
Here are the top 10 beach towns on Southern Living’s list:
Samantha Neely is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Where Florida beach towns ranked in Southern Living’s list of top 50
Reporting by Samantha Neely, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Fort Myers News-Press
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