In a state with more than 1,200 miles of sandy shoreline, how do you choose the best beaches for a vacation? You look for unspoiled nature, great eats, cozy places to stay as well as that ineffable, romantic quality called “beach culture.” Find a spot for your towel in our Best Beaches Guide. Planning a trip to the coast? Get the latest beach updates at visitflorida.com.

1. The Beaches of 30A
Best for Southern hospitality in a trendy setting. Whatever you call this rarefied 20-mile stretch of North Florida coast—locals prefer the colloquial “30A” for the scenic road that links planned New Urbanist communities like WaterColor, Seaside and Rosemary Beach—its allure... Read more.

2. Sebastian Inlet to Vero Beach
Best for those who love the Atlantic Ocean. On a sunny spring afternoon in the parking lot at Treasure Shores Beach Park, these out-of-state plates are running at better than 6-to-1. And out on the beach, a healthy stretch of sand with no end in sight in either direction, most of the grown... Read more.

3. Captiva Island
Best for seashell seekers in search of the uncrowded beach. It was early in their courtship that Clark Rambo invited Pam Kirby down from Virginia to visit him at a house he’d rented at South Seas Island Resort in Captiva. Both avid seashell collectors, they waded in the shallow water... Read more.

4. Amelia Island
Best for dunes, history, small towns and sandy shores. With a lively Victorian-era downtown and 13 miles of wide-open beachscape skirted by sea-oat-laced golden dunes, Amelia Island is a timeless, everyman’s beach. But if there’s a single activity that approaches iconic status... Read more.

5. More Beaches We Love
Whether you favor the big waves of the Atlantic Ocean, the placid waters of the Gulf of Mexico or maybe just a quiet stretch for an intimate picnic, Florida has plenty of beaches to choose from. Here are more sandy spots you definitely don't want to miss as you travel the coast... Read more.

6. Learn How to Yolo
After my 90-minute stand-up paddle-boarding lesson on Western Lake in North Florida’s Santa Rosa Beach, my shoulders and legs are sore, but the excitement from gliding over the water’s surface only hinders the hurt. Tom Losee, co-founder of Yolo Board and my instructor for the... Read more.

7. Things to Do at the Beach
Whether digging for gold on Jacksonville Beach or swaying in a hammock in the panhandle, you can enjoy these popular beach activities and many others without the worry of having to pack the gear— rent it at these cool places for your next day of fun in the sun... Read more.