Megan Padilla
TripAdvisor announced its Travelers' Choice Awards, and seven of Florida's beaches made the Top 10 U.S. Beaches list. That's not surprising, considering Florida has some 663 miles of beaches bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.
If the list of winners feels like a bit of a blur of sand and sunsets, we've got you covered. Read on to discern why families flock to one and millennials to another, where new beach hotels have recently opened (and better yet, deals to pass on to clients) and the events those clients won't want to miss.
Siesta Beach
Not only did Siesta Beach on Florida's west coast earn the top spot for the U.S., but it's also the only U.S. beach to land on the Travelers' Choice Awards "Top 25 Beaches in the World" list.
Located on the barrier island Siesta Key, offshore from Sarasota, the public beach is heaped with white, powdery sand that never gets hot, a boon when you are beaching in August. Several new amenities, including additional bathrooms and a wheelchair-accessible path, were added in February 2016. A Sunday drum circle assembles on the beach about an hour before sunset, but locals gather every evening to watch the sun dip below the horizon.
The Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival will be held this year from Nov. 10 to 14. It's worth paying for a ticket to gain access to the fenced-in area where the larger-than-life works of art are built throughout the event. Check here for other events.
There are no flagship hotels on Siesta Key. Instead, look for independently run vacation-style condos or villas or homes that are a short walk to the beach.
The Sea Spray Resort has 16 units among four buildings on neat, thoughtfully arranged grounds, including a fenced-in pool area with a wood-burning fire pit, gas grills, shaded tables, lounge chairs and plenty of pool and beach toys (the back doors of units 1 and 2 open directly onto the pool deck). Each unit has its own outdoor space (units 3 and 102 are ground level near the pool). View a description and floor plan of each unit online at theseasprayresort.com. Call and speak to the manager, Bob, to determine the unit that best fits your client. The resort supplies everything needed for the beach, including a wagon to haul the umbrella, chairs and toys across the street and over the dune path.
The Sea Spray Resort is located between Siesta Beach and the Village (1.5 miles apart), the hub of bars, restaurants and shops on Siesta Key. The Siesta Key Breeze Trolley, a free shuttle service launched March 20, runs daily and connects the beach and village.
St. Pete Beach
St. Pete Beach, just north of Siesta Key, earned the No. 3 spot on the Travelers' Choice list.
St. Pete is a long stretch of public beach without a pier or marina. Public parking and access is a little more limited, so most people enjoy the area around their hotel or beach bar. Some sunset and fishing charters go out from Dolphin Landing. A big draw, though, is St. Pete Beach's 10-minute proximity to downtown St. Petersburg, loaded with art, restaurants, shops and entertainment.
The pink palace known as the Don CeSar is St. Pete's premier property, built on the beach in 1928 and a member of Historic Hotels of America. It was recently sold by Loews and became an independent hotel on Feb. 17. Located a half-mile away is the Beach House Suites by the Don CeSar, which completed an $8 million renovation to overhaul all 70 one-bedroom suites in February 2016. The spacious accommodations are outfitted with one or two full bathrooms, open dining area, private balcony, washer/dryer, kitchenette and picturesque views of Florida's Gulf Coast and Boca Ciega Bay. Guests of the Beach House Suites enjoy full resort privileges at the Don CeSar. Complimentary shuttle service is provided between the two properties.
Other noteworthy St. Pete properties include TradeWinds Island Resorts, which is great for families; the PostCard Inn, which just renovated its king cabana suites and provides a hip, chic place to enjoy St. Pete Beach; and the Spanish-themed Kimpton Hotel Zamora, a high-end, boutique option with rooftop dining. When it opened in 2014, it was the first boutique hotel to open in the area in about 20 years.
Clearwater Beach
Continuing up the coast, Clearwater Beach, just north of St. Pete Beach, won the No. 4 slot.
Clearwater Beach has been the epicenter of the area's explosive growth. Two luxury hotels have opened in the past year: the Opal Sands and most recently the Wyndham Grand. The Sandpearl led the way 10 years ago, the first to deliver an upscale visitor experience at Clearwater Beach.
The development at Clearwater Beach has grown around Pier 60, offering visitors walkable access to almost every activity: the beach, nightly sunset festival at Pier 60, the Beach Walk (making it easy to move north and south on the beach), the marina for dolphin, sightseeing and fishing charters, restaurants, shops and more. Nearby is the ever-expanding Clearwater Marine Aquarium, made famous by the 2011 film "Dolphin Tale" and home to ongoing animal rescue and rehabilitation.
The Sandpearl and Opal Sands, both part of the Opal Collection, offer savings of up to 25% off for bookings made at least 14 days prior to arrival, valid through Dec. 25, 2017. Book online with rate code ADVPURCHASE.
The Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach opened Jan. 24 beside Pier 60. Its oceanfront, Asian-fusion Ocean Hai restaurant launched the "You Dine, We Donate" program to support local charities. All net proceeds from diners at table 31 are donated to a local charity. Guests who wish to participate should reserve table 31.
Panama City Beach
The Gulf beaches remain on a roll, with the beach at Panama City in the No. 5 U.S. slot. The once legendary spring break beach is now capitalizing on welcoming families and couples year-round, hosting some 11 million visitors each year and hosting several high-profile events, including the Pepsi SpringJam with headliners Sheryl Crow and Darius Rucker on April 28 and 29.
Panama City Beach is situated on 27 miles of sugar-white beaches leading to clear, emerald-green waters where the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrew Bay converge. With 320 days of sunshine annually and attractions such as St. Andrews State Park for nature and Pier Park for entertainment, the region has long been favored by travelers seeking an affordable beach vacation.
More than 16,500 rooms ranging from resorts and hotels to condos, townhomes and villas are available for quick getaways or extended stays in Panama City Beach.
Recently opened under a new flag after a $30 million renovation, the 320-room Sheraton Bay Point Resort received a AAA four-diamond designation and will offer the full golf, spa and beach resort experience. Of note is the only Nicklaus-designed course in Northwest Florida. This property is located on St. Andrews Bay but offers ferry and shuttle service to a variety of beaches.
Other newcomers include the 156-room Holiday Inn Express, which is directly on the beach and will open this spring. The newly constructed Hampton Inn & Suites with 182 rooms will open in summer with the beach as its backyard and situated within walking distance of the popular Pier Park shopping and lifestyle center.
Hollywood Beach
Hollywood Beach Photo Credit: Alan Maltz
This Hollywood has a much different vibe than its Southern California namesake. Located along South Florida's Atlantic coast between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood is one of seven beaches in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area. It's got a retro-cool feel, with a 2-mile Boardwalk that runs along the beach, lined with outdoor cafes. There's also a dog beach (where part of the beloved 2008 movie "Marley & Me" was filmed). A free trolley shuttles riders from the beach to Arts Park in Young Circle, the epicenter of Hollywood culture and cuisine.
Visitors can surf the waves on the FlowRider surfing simulator at the Margaritaville Resort or check out the raw bar at Food Network star Geoffrey Zakarian's new restaurant, Point Royal, at the Diplomat Beach Resort Hollywood Curio Collection by Hilton. Gambling and nightlife beckon at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino.
Pensacola Beach
The last beach in Northwest Florida before crossing into Alabama is Pensacola, rated No. 7. Folks flock to Pensacola Beach in mid-July to watch the Blue Angels U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron Air Show, where the legendary team flies planes in breathtakingly tight formation at speeds of 700 mph.
You can have an eye-level view from the penthouse at the Portofino Island Resort, which offers two- and three-bedroom condo rentals in towers that are walking distance to the beach.
The Pensacola Beach Club rents three- and four-bedroom residences, all with Gulf views, which include access to amenities such as an indoor lap pool and fitness center. The full-service Aqua Spa is also on site. Check here for special offers that include premium, complimentary add-ons such as bikes, beach set-ups, and golf.
A bridge connects Pensacola Beach with a 450-year-old, walkable city that is loaded with history. It was here that president Andrew Jackson staked a flag in the soil and claimed Florida as the 27th state in 1821.
St. Augustine Beach
Rounding out the Florida beaches on the Top U.S. Beaches list is St. Augustine, at No. 8. Fully back in business following last October's hurricane, St. Aug offers visitors two sides of a coin: historical old town and the beach. The two main parts of the beach, Anastasia State Park and St. Augustine Beach, are on a barrier island offshore of the nation's oldest city, founded in 1565.
St. Augustine Beach Photo Credit: FloridasHistoricCoast.com
The sand is of the white quartz variety. Being a state park, Anastasia comes with expected facilities, such as ample parking, permanent restrooms and concession stands. St. Augustine Beach is where you'll find hotels, beachfront restaurants and a park with an impressive fishing pier, pavilion, splash park and plenty of sand volleyball courts.
The storied St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum is also in St. Augustine Beach and is a popular attraction. Once featured in an episode of the Syfy show "Ghost Hunters," it draws paranormal-seekers and those who are willing to climb its 219 steps for the spectacular views atop the tower. But it's what's under water that's really getting attention. Secrets from the sea, artifacts and archaeologists are part of the museum's latest exhibit, "Wrecked!" The exhibit presents the long lost secrets of a 1782 Loyalist shipwreck and the science behind its archaeological recovery from the ocean floor.
Music by the Sea is a free concert offered every Wednesday from May 24 to Sept. 6, at 7 p.m. at the St. Johns County Pier on St. Augustine Beach. Come early for dinner, offered for $10 or less at 6 p.m. Bring a beach chair or blanket and beverages. Due to parking limitations, concertgoers are encouraged to car pool or ride the shuttle from St. Augustine Beach City Hall.
New rooms are being added or improved. The 205-room Courtyard by Marriott at St. Augustine Beach is new and near the beach. The completely renovated, 153-room Guy Harvey Outpost St. Augustine Beach replaces the former Holiday Isle Ocean Front Resort, with phased openings completed in May. The 175-suite oceanfront Embassy Suites on St. Augustine Beach is expected to open at year's end.