There’s more to it than bright sunshine in the Sunshine State. Florida is also home to over 1,300 miles of coastline and 663 stretch-mile of splendid beaches! With big-city, packed shores, isolated island “me-time” getaways with swoon-worthy sunsets and family-friendly coasts perfect for sand-castle building and shell collecting, the sunshine-loved state promises a beach for every vacationer out there!  And for the upcoming summer season, how many of these marvelous sun-splashed beaches in Florida can you enjoy?

South Beach

The overall beachy playground for every urbanite, South Beach offers sandy shores, azure waters with the familiar sight of tall architectures and a nonstop nightlife! Think Baywatch but with an architectural twist, even their lifeguard stands are masterpieces. This man-made stretch of beach goes up the Atlantic for miles and makes the perfect spot to do your early morning runs or, if you dare, topless sunbathing. In addition, it is also the best spot to view those glamorous city lights before exploring the one-of-a-kind club scenes.

Fort Walton Beach

Fort Walton Beach is a world away from the busy and party-paradise of South Beach. Situated on the Gulf Coast, Fort Walton offers the sheen, powdery white sands— one of the most beautiful there is in all of America. Perfect for families, there is a lot of other wonderful attraction for the little ones such as aquariums, parks, and museums away from the beach itself. For the historical geek dads, the Air Force Armament Museum is definitely worth taking the time to visit.

Clearwater Beach

As its name implies, Clearwater Beach has a notorious reputation being one of the finest beaches in America, luring countless couples and families to its pristine, sandy shores and luxurious beachfront hotels. Clearwater Beach is nestled between the eastern serene Tampa Bay and the western cerulean waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Such location and its close proximity to the Tampa Bay offers you loads of activities from renting fish boats, a competitive game of beach volleyball, sunbathing on white-sand shores, parasailing, dolphin-watching cruise or taking the kids to the mainland aquarium, home to Winter, the dolphin with prosthetic tail and the star of the film Dolphin Tale.

Caladesi Island State Park

This untouched and secluded 3.5-mile-long island in Dunedin looks like a giant sand bar from the top view. Saved for the lucky few, it dazzles guests with its immaculate vicinities— bright, azure waters, luster white sands, prolific birdlife and scattered pretty seashells. You can access this island by foot by the Clearwater Beach from the south or ride a ferry from the nearby Honeymoon Island State Park.

Sanibel Beach

A unique barrier island with the east-west orientation, Sanibel Beach earns its reputation as one of the Shell Islands— the best spots along the Sunshine State’s coastline for gathering loads of perfectly intact seas shells in all sizes and shapes. So make sure to touchdown with a shovel, bucket and small net and go on a bounty hunt of scallop shells, cockles and conch until you can’t carry anymore. If you need peace and quiet, head over to the Bowman’s Beach or visit the legendary lighthouse and stroll along its rustic boardwalk.

Jupiter Dog Beach

Dog lovers, rejoice! For those who like to travel with their furbabies or just can’t seem to go on a day without seeing these lovable creatures, a 2.5-mile-long dog beach is simply a place to never forget! The biggest of its kind in all of East Coast, the Jupiter Dog Beach welcomes visitors with paw prints of every size and shape as these giddy doggos run, swim and frolic off-leash throughout the shore. Doggie bags are available and the four-legged beachgoers are all expected to be BOW— Behaved, Obedient, and Well-socialized.

Venice Beach

Venice Beach has a different allure to people. Notorious for its small prehistoric shark teeth buried underneath its pristine, fine sands, most people come here with the mission of finding these said ancient teeth— believing that it’s the best souvenir one can ask for! Beachgoers will also catch plenty of wildlife including turtles, dolphins, and shorebirds. Have a picnic with the whole family, unleash your competitive side as you smash on its volleyball courts or stroll along the Venice Public Fishing Pier with your partner for a stunning sunset view!

Garden Key, Dry Tortugas National Park

Can only be accessed by a boat or a seaplane, America’s most inaccessible national park is home to a circa-1846 coastal fortress, Fort Jefferson and a great deal of interesting marine life off its coast. Water filled with sea turtles, seahorses, and some rainbow-colored tropical fishes, you simply can’t enjoy this spot without your snorkeling gear! If you’re feeling brave, head to the west moat wall searching for nurse sharks and moray eels.

Being a secluded island, expect limited facilities and shade so make sure to bring your whole bottle of sunscreen and lots of drinking water!