Florida’s Best Beaches

Itinerary

4 Nights: St Pete’s or Clearwater
3 Nights: Destin
1 Night: Port Saint Joe
3 Nights: St Augustine
3 Nights: Titusville or Cocoa Beach

UK – Tampa (4 Nights Clearwater): First, you’ll fly to Tampa Airport, from where you’ll pick up a car and drive for half an hour to the barrier islands of St Pete (home to one of the three best US beaches) and Clearwater (ranked among the 20 best beaches in the world and number one in the USA). It takes just an hour to drive between the two islands along many other fantastic beaches. Start in the north with a visit to pristine Caladesi Island State Park and then drive south through Clearwater, Pass-a-Grille Beach, Fort de Soto Park all the way down to St Pete. A leisurely one-hour drive on the mainland will take you to Siesta Beach, whose dramatic beauty also puts it in America’s Top 3 beaches.

Tampa – Destin (3 Nights): Next, you’ll drop off your car at Tampa airport and board a flight to Pensacola from where you’ll pick another vehicle and drive to Destin. In a little over an hour, you’ll find yourself in the most laid-back and family-friendly part of the Sunshine State. You’ll have three days to visit the Gulf Islands National Seashore and Henderson Beach State Park. These unspoilt stretches of coastline are the perfect spot to get away from it all and reconnect with nature.

Destin – Port Saint Joe (1 Night): At your next stop, Port Saint Joe, you’ll have a chance to visit St Joseph Peninsula State Park, home to yet another beach ranking among Florida’s Top 10. Laid-back Port Saint Joe will put you right at ease, not only with its dazzling dunes, but also with its relaxed vibe, cosy eateries and quaint shops.

Port Saint Joe – St Augustine (3 Nights): Your road trip will also take you to the oldest town in the USA. The 16th-century St Augustine boasts one of the most scenic beaches on the Gold Coast, as well as a charming old-world atmosphere. Its Spanish Colonial-era architecture, 17th-century fortress and quaint shops are well worth taking time off the beach. You’ll also have a chance to hop off to the sandy dunes of Amelia Island to the north.

St Augustine – Titusville/Cocoa Beach (3 Nights): In your last destination, Titusville, you can spend a few days on serene Playalinda beach (one of Florida’s Top 10). You’ll have several days to laze on the velvety sand and splash in the water. Bonus perk here is that sometimes you can see rockets being launched from the Kennedy Space Center, which sits on an island off the coast.

St Augustine – UK: Once you have the perfect tan, you’ll drop off your car at Orlando airport and catch a flight back to the UK.