Summary
- Skip the crowded popular cities and visit the underrated beach towns in Florida for a unique and enjoyable beach experience.
- Santa Rosa Beach, Holmes Beach, Dunedin, Boca Grande, and Navarre Beach are some of the hidden gems that offer pristine beaches and outdoor adventure opportunities.
- Sarasota and Mexico Beach also provide beautiful beach holiday experiences with vibrant shopping scenes and a wide range of activities to enjoy.
Florida is home to some of the most beautiful towns in America, and with its splendid year-round temperatures, vacationers can always enjoy its pristine beaches at any time of the year. However, being one of the most trending destinations, a good beach experience in the Sunshine State always comes with crowds.
That is why tourists should skip the most popular cities and opt for the lesser-known beach towns, which offer unique features. These smaller towns are dotted with charming streets and gorgeous state parks and provide incredible outdoor adventure opportunities, including biking, beach combing, hiking, and more. Visit these underrated Florida beach towns during your next visit.
10 Santa Rosa Beach
Photo by Elizabeth Biar on Unsplash
Located on the famed Emerald Coast, Santa Rosa Beach is one of the most underrated beach towns in Florida. The beach town boasts a unique natural beauty, pristine beaches, and clear waters – and is considered one of the best destinations in the world for families.
There are plenty of things to enjoy in this quaint town. One of the top places to explore is Blue Mountain Beach, which offers a less-crowded, but incredible beach scene. The place has some of the best restaurants in Florida, Don Pedro’s Mexican Restaurant being one of the must-have dining spots.
- Best time to visit: April & May
- Best beaches to visit: Blue Mountain Beach and Grayton Beach State Park
Planning to relax in Blue Mountain Beach? Don’t miss the Blue Mountain Creamery, which serves some of the tastiest homemade ice cream on the Emerald Coast.
9 Holmes Beach
Located on Anna Maria Island, one of the most incredible islands in the U.S. to visit in winter, Holmes Beach is a charming seaside town that comes with unforgettable beach experiences.
This destination is known for its fantastic dining scene and some of Florida’s most stunning beaches. Holmes Beach has numerous activities for vacationers to explore, including exploring colorful shops, golfing, paddling, and surfing.
Since the town has an incredibly diverse marine life, snorkeling and scuba diving are some of the favorite things to do in Holmes Beach.
- Best time to visit: January through March & October
8 Daytona Beach
By visiting Daytona Beach, visitors get an incredible chance of exploring over 23 miles of breathtaking white-sand beaches. When looking for outdoor adventures, one can hike or bike on the stunning trails, visit one of the parks, play golf, or enjoy fun beach activities.
Daytona Beach has a wonderful culinary scene, and there are numerous spots that offer some of the most delicious local flavors. Looking for places to visit with kids in Florida? Daytona Beach’s hair-raising international speedway is a must-do! There are plenty of kid-friendly activities, especially on the weekends.
- Best time to visit: March to May
Book Daytona International Speedway Tour, which comes with two incredible options to choose from. One can get through a 30-minute Speedway Tour and 90-minute All Access Tour, giving vacationers an opportunity of learning what makes the Speedway the World Center of Racing. The tour’s hours of operation are between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm with the tours between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.
7 Dunedin
Nestled along the Gulf Coast, Dunedin is one of the most underrated U.S. destinations, but has a lot to offer, especially for tourists looking for unforgettable beach holiday experiences.
The beautiful city boasts a small-town feel and offers up numerous green spaces. Dating back to 1852, it is one of the oldest towns in the state and has a charming Scottish history and plenty of exciting festivals to enjoy.
The city is home to some of the most beautiful East Coast beaches, delicious restaurants, and numerous outdoor activities, including hiking and golfing.
- Best time to visit: Between September and April
- Best beaches to visit: Caladesi Island State Park and Honeymoon Island State Park
6 Boca Grande
Located on the south side of Tampa Bay on Gasparilla Island, Boca Grande has a lot to offer for a perfect beach vacation experience. People see this beach town as a playground for the wealthy and famous, and has hosted the likes of the George H. W. Bush family, but is still one of the Florida hidden gems that need to be discovered.
The rich love for it’s incredibly stunning, making it an excellent option for visitors looking for a secluded beach getaway. It boasts one of the most beautiful downtown areas in the U.S., ancient buildings, and two impressive lighthouses.
- Best time to visit: December through February
- Best Beaches to see: Boca Grande Beach and La Casta Island Beach
5 Fort Myers Beach
Located on Estero Island, Fort Myers Beach is one of the best-hidden gems of Florida. It is home to seven miles of pristine white-sand beaches, and one of the best destinations in Florida to catch breathtaking sunsets.
Other fun activities to enjoy include swimming, sunbathing, booking dolphin tours, kayaking, parasailing, fishing, and other beaches located nearby. It is the nearest beach destination to the charming downtown area of bustling Fort Myers (covering about 20 miles).
- Best time to visit: March through May
Book one of the Dolphin and Whale Watching tours in Fort Myers Beach, which come with fantastic experiences.
4 Seaside
Seaside is one of the most charming seaside cities in Florida. It is among the best family destinations to explore in the state and boasts spectacular beaches that provide plenty of fun activities.
This city is also perfect for history lovers, as it takes travelers back in time, thanks to the existence of vintage shops, historic bookstores, and quaint cottages. It is nestled along Highway 30A, one of the most scenic drives in Florida, and guarantees some of the most picturesque views of the Gulf Coast.
- Best time to visit: April, May, & October
- Best beaches to visit: Seaside Beach and Blue Mountain Beach (nearby)
3 Navarre Beach
Boasting 12 miles of some of the most underrated but beautiful Gulf Coast beaches in Florida, Navarre Beach is incredibly stunning, yet an underrated beach town.
The town is one of the top-rated beach destinations in the Sunshine State, but it doesn’t get as crowded as other beaches, making it an incredible spot to relax and take in Florida’s seaside charm. It has diverse and unique marine life, making it a perfect place to go snorkeling and scuba diving. It has three colorful artificial reefs, which are all accessible, and offer a great chance of seeing magnificent sea creatures.
- Best time to visit: Between early April to late May
- Best beaches to explore: Navarre Main Beach, Navarre East Beach, and Opal Beach
2 Sarasota
Nestled south of Tampa Bay, Sarasota is among the best-hidden beach towns in the Sunshine State and offers beautiful beach holiday experiences to remember.
There are plenty of wonderful things to enjoy in this charming town, including a vibrant shopping scene, multiple dining opportunities, incredible historic museums, stunning natural surroundings, impressive art galleries, and white-sand beaches.
While the town is spectacular year-round, between March and May and from September to November are the best times to explore it.
- Best time to visit: March and May and from September to November
- Best beaches: Siesta Key Beach, Sarasota Gay Beach, and Crescent Beach
1 Mexico Beach
Located about 25 miles southeast of the bustling Panama City, Mexico Beach is underrated but guarantees unforgettable experiences for those looking to explore a secluded beach getaway.
This is a nature enthusiast’s paradise, thanks for being an incredible bird-watching spot with plenty of species to see, including osprey, bald eagles, and pelicans.
Other outdoor adventures to enjoy in this city include surfing, fishing, boat rides, swimming, kayaking, and parasailing. Mexico Beach also features a vibrant shopping scene with amazing boutiques and shops to choose from.
- Best time to visit: Early April to mid-May & and between early October through early November
Want to enjoy some of the best water sports experiences in Florida? Book one of the boat tours & water sports in Mexico Beach. They include kayak, paddle, panhandle, and memorable fishing adventures.