Top Five Favorite Beaches on Florida's Gulf Coast

I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to cruise all around Florida. Of all the Florida beaches I have visited, those along the gulf coast are the best. The warm gentle currents of the Gulf of Mexico and the fine white sand are what make this area so special. On any given year, one out of several - Caladesi, Fort De Soto Park's North Beach, Siesta Key - can be found on Dr Beach's top 10 list of the best beaches in the U.S. Dr Beach is Stephen Leatherman, Director of Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research. My top five favorite Florida gulf coast beaches are:

Caladesi Island State Park
The isolation and lack of crowds have kept this piece of paradise on the Top Beaches list year after year. In 2008, Dr Beach named Caladesi Island State Park, located north of Clearwater, to be the number one beach in America. The state park has a concession stand, playground, nature trails, and a marina with electric and water hookups. Caladesi Island can only be reached by boat. You can take a ferry from Honeymoon Island or you can take your own boat. If you love the beach and nature, come and explore the well-kept secret of Caladesi.

Clearwater
If you like a beach with more action (read: tourists, restaurants, condos, fishing and charter boats), Clearwater Beach is just the place. The spectacular sunset is comparable to Key West's, only without the fanfare.

Fort De Soto, a county park in St Pete, is my favorite beach of all times. Located at the tip of the peninsula, it has miles of open beach, a sheltered lagoon, pavilions with grills, clean restrooms, concession stands, a dog park, playground, a fort and a pier, and kayak rentals. It, too, was named the best beach in America in 2004.

Anna Maria
Whether you are soaking in the sun or fishing on the pier, this picturesque, low key beach town will melt your cares away.

Siesta Key
The stunning sunset at Siesta Key has earned it a place for one of the most romantic beaches. It is a popular beach for weddings. Fine powdery white sand on a wide beach made this beach popular with families.