Our top 10 favorites from the Atlantic to the Gulf

While the rest of the country shivers every time they step outside, we’re currently enjoying temps approaching the 80s these days in the Sunshine State. Yes, our winter has ended, we’ve put away our windbreakers, and now it’s officially beach season in Florida.

So, with spring break right around the corner and a forecast of balmy weather for pretty much the next eight months, we thought it would be a good time to share our picks for best beaches in the state. Plus, we can’t think of a better way to social distance than with our toes in the sand.

It’s a list culled from USA Today Network contributors living in coastal communities across Florida. Presented in alphabetical order, these are 10 of our favorite places to be when the sun rises over the Atlantic Ocean or sets on the Gulf of Mexico.  

In case you missed it:In 2020, 5 of TripAdvisor’s Top 10 Beaches were from Florida. This year, it’s just these 2

Boneyard Beach

Just south of Amelia Island on A1A, you’ll find one of the most dramatic beaches in Florida. You can’t swim there, the parking lot is kind of small and you’ll have to walk for a few minutes to reach the beach access, but be sure to bring your camera. The beach is littered with bleached-out, long-dead trees that have fallen from the eroding shoreline. Think of them as full-tree driftwood. The beach, which borders Nassau Sound in Big Talbot Island State Park, is a favorite of photographers and tree-climbing kids. — Tom Szaroleta, The Florida…