The Sunshine State is a favorite destination by beach lovers for its year-round warm, sunny weather, beautiful beaches, laid back vibe, and bustling food scene. Surrounded by water from the Atlantic on the east coast and the Gulf on the west coast, you’ll never run out of options if you’re looking for the perfect beach town to call your new home.
If you’re in the market for a Florida beachfront home, one thing you need to know is, even in the Sunshine State, not all beach towns are created equal. Especially if you’re eyeing beachfront communities in Florida.
Considering there are so many great options in this location, we’ve rounded up some of the best beachfront communities in Florida to help make your search a bit easier.
Anna Maria Island
Anna Maria Island is a 7-mile island located just 30 minutes from Sarasota on the Gulf Coast.
- Anna Maria Island is one of the small beach towns in the state that have kept their distinctive old Florida feel by not allowing any big developments on the island.
- This quaint town has a population of less than 2,000 residents.
- This island is one of the few places that allows horseback riding on the beach.
- Anna Maria Island is also a bird sanctuary, and dolphins, manatees, and turtles can also be seen on the island.
Captiva Island
Located one hour from Fort Meyers, Captiva Island is one of the quirkiest beach towns in the state.
- Golf carts are the preferred method of transportation and there are no traffic lights on the island.
- This paradise is home to the best beaches in Florida.
- The Captiva Luminary is an annual event that marks the start of the holiday season, and residents light candles from one end of the island to the other.
- Another quaint beach town in Florida, Captiva Island is only 5 miles long and half a mile wide.
Seaside
Seaside is a classic Florida coastal town whose traditional pastel houses and funky local eateries exude rustic charm.
- It’s a planned community located along the stretch of Florida panhandle between Destin and Panama City Beach known as “30A.”
- Every year, locals and visitors get together for the annual 30A Songwriters Festival, with live music performances at various Seaside venues and other locales along scenic 30A Highway.
- Seaside is a great place for those who love to bike, as it has vehicle-free streets that are peaceful and safe for biking.
- Since the early 1980s, it has been the town’s mission to promote walkability and the pedestrian alleys and gazebos make for some truly fascinating neighborhood strolls.
Delray Beach
Delray Beach may be a small town, but one that has been dubbed as one of the “Happiest Seaside Towns” by Coastal Living Magazine.
- A perfect destination for art lovers, with over 20 galleries and iconic public art pieces in the downtown area, where the Pineapple Grove Arts District, home to Artists Alley, is located.
- Friday gallery nights are quite popular – browse local art, listen to live music, and dine at one of the eclectic eateries on the “Ave.”
- The mile of the Atlantic Avenue that stretches inland from the ocean is bustling with local cafés and boutiques.
- Cruise down the Atlantic Avenue, along the main drag in Delray Beach, and you’ll reach one of the most beautiful beaches on Florida’s east coast.
- Other attractions you have to visit: Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, the Wakodahatchee Wetlands, and the Sandoway Discovery Center.
Pass-A-Grille Beach
Pass-A-Grille Beach is a laid-back beach town located at the southernmost end of St. Pete Beach.
- The tradition of ringing the sunset bell is kept alive every night at the seawall outside of Paradise Grille, as locals and visitors gather to celebrate family, friends, and vacation memories.
- Hurricane Seafood Restaurant’s rooftop deck offers a spectacular view of the sunset by the Gulf of Mexico.
- The beach at Pass-a-Grille is wider than the beaches to the north.
- Some of the fun things to do here: take the Shell Key Shuttle for a dolphin cruise or go fishing at the Merry Pier.
- The main drag is Gulf Way, where you’ll find several family-friendly restaurants.
Dunedin
Dunedin is a charming, easygoing small town just 25 miles from the heart of Tampa, with a wonderful location on the beach.
- The Honeymoon Island State Park boasts 4 miles of unspoiled white shoreline and one of the last remaining virgin pine forests.
- The downtown area is home to lots of dining spots, locally owned shops, and breweries.
- Some of the recreational activities locals and visitors love: celebrate Mardi Gras, listen to live jazz music, and visit the oldest microbrewery in the state – the Dunedin Brewery.
- The Honeymoon Island is a great place to go kayaking, picnicking, or simply relax under the sun and watch the sunset.
Amelia Island
As the northern-most barrier island on Florida’s east coast, Amelia Island is one of the most unique coastal areas in the Sunshine State.
- Amelia Island has been given the moniker “Isle of Eight Flags” because the island has changed possession and been under eight different flags since the 18th century – the only location in the United States to have done so.
- Some of the popular outdoor activities: take a kid-friendly skateboard tour, go horseback riding along the seashore, book a guided kayak tour, and take a cruise with Amelia River Cruises and see the wild horses of Cumberland Island, dolphins, and the manatees in the river.
- The island also features more than 30 miles of designated “casual” and “advanced” bike trails.
Indeed, the Sunshine State is home to many wonderful beachfront communities. If you are considering moving to any of these neighborhoods and would like to learn more about the residential properties in the best beachfront communities in Florida, I will be very happy to help. Simply give me a call at (813) 789-2096 or send me an email at Realtor@EllenZusman.com to schedule an appointment so I can show you all the beautiful homes that are available in the region.
