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Pinellas County Beach Among Best On Dr. Beach’s Annual List

MJ Morning Show May 19th

Dr. Beach releases a new list each year around Memorial Day weekend of the nations best beaches. For 2023, two Florida beaches were in his top 10, one of which can be found in Pinellas County.

Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman of Florida International University is known as Dr. Beach. He has been compiling a list of the top 10 beaches since 1989. He developed a list of criteria and his list as become one of the most highly sought out by beach goers AND beach towns.

Dr. Beach released his 2023 list as Memorial Day approaches. The top beach for 2023 is St. George Island State Park, just east of Apalachicola. However, another beach on the list is Caladesi Island State Park, near Dunedin and Clearwater, which ranked #4.

Caladesi Island State Park can be reached by ferry or by private boats most easily from Honeymood Island. Dr. Beach noted its soft quartz sand, the boardwalks and the kayak/canoe trails through mangroves. The island is a bird sanctuary, so you can keep an eye out for seasonal visiting birds, shorebirds, brown pelicans, herons, egrets and other Florida birds. There is also an inland trail through a pine forest.

Last year, Caladesi Island State Park was ranked #2, so it continues to be among the top spots on Dr. Beach’s list.
[Source: Dr. Beach/

5 Florida Beaches Named the Best 'Secret Beaches' in America

Summer is here, and it’s going to be hot, as always, in Florida. Florida beaches are very popular and fun. But, they can also get crowded. Thankfully, there are some “secret” beaches that are kind of more difficult to find.

If you’re looking for some “secret” places to get your beach on in Florida, the crew at Family Destinations Guide has done the research to find you those spots. “We surveyed 3,000 families in the United States to determine the hidden beaches they most want to visit in summer 2023,” they state in the study.

As it turns out, Florida has four of the top 10 “secret beaches” in America, according to this study. That means they shouldn’t be too overcrowded. That’s a great thing.

If you’re wondering about Family Destinations Guide, they regularly feature “reviews of hotels, resorts, destinations, and attractions your whole family will love. In addition, the site is filled with ideas that will help you plan your next trip. From family trips with infants and children, to excursions with teens and older kids, Family Destinations Guide gives you detailed advice for traveling with kids of all ages.” Even if you don’t have kids, their content can be useful. For example, these secret beaches can be fun to visit no matter your age. Read on for four Florida spots that made the top 10 of the list and one extra. Find the full list here.

  • Shell Key Preserve

    Shell Key Preserve, Florida is ranked No. 2 on the list. That’s amazing! What makes it stand out? According to Family Destinations Guide, “The beach is unspoiled and natural, with no development or buildings, offering a peaceful and serene atmosphere.”

    Shell Key Preserve

    Shell Key Preserve is a jewel-in-the-rough that few people take the time to experience. A 1,828-acre archipelago at the mouth of Tampa Bay off Florida's Gulf Coast, Shell Key Preserve is frequented primarily by birds and other wildlife. For people to get there, they must take a boat to Shell Key, the biggest piece of dry land in the preserve.

  • Lovers Key State Park

    Lovers Key State Park is ranked No. 6 on the list. According to the official Florida State Parks website, the park “protects some of the most pristine barrier islands in Southwest Florida.” It also features “over two miles of sugar-sand beaches.”

    Lovers Key State Park

    Effective March 16: The beach, boat ramp, trails and paddling launch areas of Lovers Key State Park remain closed. Please adhere to all posted signs and avoid closed areas. The bayside is open for limited day use activities.

  • Dry Tortugas National Park

    Dry Tortugas National Park is ranked No. 9 on the list. According to the park’s official website, “This 100-square mile park is mostly open water with seven small islands.” It’s also accessible only by boat or seaplane.

    Dry Tortugas National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

    Almost 70 miles (113 km) west of Key West lies the remote Dry Tortugas National Park. This 100-square mile park is mostly open water with seven small islands. Accessible only by boat or seaplane, the park is known the world over as the home of magnificent Fort Jefferson, picturesque blue waters, superlative coral reefs and marine life, and the vast assortment of bird life that frequents the area.

  • Boneyard Beach

    Boneyard Beach is ranked No. 10 on the list. According to the Florida State Parks website, it “is a favorite Jacksonville retreat and close-kept secret.” It also offers three miles of shoreline along the Nassau Sound.

    Boneyard Beach

    What do nearby Jacksonville Beach and Big Talbot Island State Park 's Boneyard Beach have in common? Very little, actually. They are both Florida beaches located in the same county and city, but are so different in appearance and atmosphere that you may find yourself doubting that you are even in the same state.

  • Navarre Beach

    Navarre Beach is ranked No. 13 on the list. According to the Visit Florida website, “Navarre, a compact beach community found just east of Pensacola at the far northwestern tip of the state, beckons with 12 miles of pristine white shoreline.”

    Navarre Florida - Vacation Guide & Attractions in Navarre FL

    Nestled between Gulf Islands National Seashore and Navarre Beach County Park, the beach community of Navarre offers solitude and simplicity. Relaxation is the main attraction here.

  • Source

    This study comes from the Family Destination Guide. They surveyed 3,000 families in the United States to find the hidden beaches they most want to visit in summer 2023. Find the full list here.

    100 Best Secret Beaches in the USA for (2023)

    Looking for the top hidden beach destinations in the USA? Click this now to discover the BEST secret beaches in the USA - AND GET FR

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