7 most relaxing beaches in Florida where you can ease off

With the most coastline in the continental United States, Florida is a mecca for beach lovers. Unfortunately, this can also mean millions of tourists pouring onto the most popular of these areas. During holidays and other special events, there’s barely a square foot of sand to claim. Yet, all is not lost, because quiet and less crowded places still exist. To help find them, here is a guide to visitors to find the most relaxing beaches in Florida make their vacation plans.

Ponte Vedra

One of the quiet beaches in Florida, Ponte Vedra, is nearby popular northern cities like St. Augustine and Jacksonville. A short drive from the home of the NFL’s Jaguars and adjacent to a PGA course, Ponte Vedra has 40-foot sand dunes that block it from the daily bustle of the metropolitan area.

Soft sands comprised of Appalachian quartz and ancient coquina give the area a sparkle as it leads into the Atlantic Ocean. When visitors have had their share of peace, the resorts, shops, and restaurants of Jacksonville’s beach corridor are ready for them.

Boca Grande

In some cases, the most relaxing beaches are ones enjoyed by locals. Boca Grande is one of these. On a small strip of Gasparilla Island near Port Charlotte, the area is nearly deserted, only dog walkers and residents of the area come here.

This means plenty of space to stroll the beach, swim in the Gulf of Mexico’s waters, or dine at one of the local eateries. While it takes three bridges to get there, visitors will be certainly impressed when they see the available expanse of soft sands and blue waters.

SeaSpiration Tip: Do you prefer nightlife? Check our Best party beaches in Florida post!

Cayo Costa State Park

Many times, the trip to the coastline makes an area one of the most relaxing beaches in Florida. This is true for Cayo Costa State Park near Fort Myers.

First, visitors must take a ferry from Punta Gorda that is often accompanied by numerous sea birds and dolphins. Then, they walk through a path laden with mangrove trees and other native fauna. When they arrive at the beach, they have nine miles of white sands to walk on or simply absorb the sun’s rays.

Captiva Island

Also near Fort Myers are the Florida beaches of Captiva Island. Not to be confused with the busier and nearby Sanibel Island, Captiva has some of the less crowded beaches in Florida.

One reason is the lack of resorts: there’s only one on the island. Due to the lack of visitors, the beaches of Captiva Island are some of the best places to enjoy the sun and sea. On top of this, it is an excellent spot to collect shells too.

Blowing Rocks Preserve

Before Florida’s barrier islands became home to hundreds of Atlantic Ocean resorts, it had the highest concentrations of Anastasia limestone. These outcrops protected the shoreline and, at the same time, provided amazing displays as water crashed into them.

This can still be seen at one of the most relaxing beaches in Florida, at Blowing Rocks Preserve. Located on Jupiter Island, the one-mile stretch of shoreline still has limestone outcrops. In turn, visitors get a daily show where blocked waves shoot up almost 50 feet in the sky.

Playalinda

There’s a reason Playalinda is among one of the most relaxing of Florida beaches. One part of it is clothing optional. Thus, this area -that is part of the Canaveral National Seashore in Central Florida- is well protected by large sand dunes for maximum privacy.

The rest of this beautiful beach is also quiet when there isn’t a launch at Cape Canaveral. Visitors need to be certain they’re going to the right beach for sunbathing sans clothing.

Caladesi Island State Park

The Caladesi Island State Park -one of the barrier islands near Clearwater- is a less crowded Gulf Coast beach that has been ranked one of the best in the U.S. It is only accessible by boat. Thus, visitors get a coastal experience on the way there. While at the state park, they can swim, kayak, canoe, hike along numerous trails, or just enjoy nature.

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