In Florida, the beach is never more than 60 miles away. Florida is home to 8,460 miles of tidal shoreline. The only state in the U.S. with more coast is Alaska – – and who wants to spend their Summer vacation there?
In addition to over 660 miles of beaches, Florida also boasts 11,000 miles of waterways, rivers, and streams. In essence, it’s a water-lovers sanctuary. Just ask the loggerhead turtle: 80% of the U.S.’s population of loggerhead turtles make their home on Florida’s beaches.
If you’re thinking of taking a beach vacation this year, you’d be remiss not to consider one of these top Florida destinations. With the wide variety of accommodation and lodging options available, there’s something for every interest and budget in Florida.
Vero Beach
Along Florida’s Atlantic coast, Vero Beach is the spot to stay for golf, fishing, and other water sports. Its beaches are part of the Treasure Coast, a region of Florida along the Atlantic coast that includes Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin counties, as well as Palm Beach counties (depending on who you talk to). It gets its name from the Spanish Treasure Fleet that sunk in a hurricane in 1775. Have we peaked your treasure hunter interests yet?
If you’re looking for more land-based activities, you’ll find a full array at Vero Beach, too. There are countless fine shops in both the downtown area and various large shopping malls. No matter what your budget, you’re sure to eat well at Vero Beach’s many delectable restaurants. For the culturally minded, there are the museums and art galleries. And if you grow tired of the beach (ha!), you could always wander through one of the many parks which offer access to some of the city’s rivers and inlets.
Accommodation and lodging ranges from Vero Beach oceanfront hotels to resorts and bed and breakfasts. You can expect rates to range from around $60/night to a couple hundred depending on where and when you stay.
Sanibel Island
On the other side of the state, Florida’s Sanibel Island ranks among the world’s top 10 best beaches for shelling. With over 400 species of marine life, if you enjoy collecting seashells, a seaside resort on Sanibel Island is the place for you. With excellent restaurants, any type of outdoor activity you can imagine from tennis to fishing to biking or even the J.N. “Ding Darling” National Wildlife Refuge and Bird Sanctuary, and a wide variety of accommodation and lodging, Sanibel Island is one of the best places to be in Florida.
Accommodations and lodging range from small inns and cottages to hotels and resorts or fully-equipped homes and condos. Staying on the island can be a bit more pricey than staying on the nearby mainland, but with all the extra time you’ll get to spend on the beach as opposed to ferrying back and forth, it’s totally worth it.
Key West
If you’re looking for more excitement on your vacation than walking one of the world’s top shelling beaches, you may want to look for accommodation and lodging farther south, say near Key West. An island city 90 miles north of Cuba, Key West is home to the largest coral reef in America and the third largest coral reef in the world. It’s world-renowned coral reef makes it a hot spot for diving and snorkeling, both of which tend to overshadow its exquisite beaches as the thing to do while visiting.
You’ll find a variety of accommodation and lodging options in Key West, from its famed pastel, conch-style houses to a resort hotel on the beach. For a more homey stay, opt for one of the many bed and breakfasts on the island. The average three star hotel on Key West will be around $200, but that’s not to say it won’t be worth it. From inns and suits to resorts and spas, there’s no going wrong with any of the types of lodging available in Key West, Florida.
Wherever you stay and whatever accommodation and lodging you choose in Florida, you can’t go wrong with a vacation in one of the nation’s top beach destinations. From the culture of Vero Beach to the seashells of Sanibel Island or the coral reefs of Key West, Florida has something for everyone.