Here’s the thing about Florida: You visit time and again, and you're quite sure you know the state and its glorious sandy stretches pretty well. But there’s always a surprise waiting for those who stray from the classic Panama City–Orlando–Miami–Key West stops.
From Atlantic coast enclaves that locals try to keep to themselves to subtropical islands dotting the Gulf of Mexico, most of our picks for under-the-radar Florida beach towns won’t ring a bell, but consider that a good thing.
Get away from the vacationing masses for a taste of old Florida in these spots where the simple things—sun, surf, and a no-worries attitude—still reign.
SEE ALSO: 10 incredible hotels you can only reach by boat
Atlantic Beach
There’s just one high-rise building—the classy One Ocean Resort & Spa along this primarily residential beach just east of Jacksonville. In-the-know surfers and vacationers converge for an east coast beach vibe that feels more like the Outer Banks than Florida. Bathing suit–clad bikers pedal colorful beach cruisers along the sand at low tide and past the cluster of shops and restaurants along Ocean Boulevard, where Atlantic and Neptune beaches converge. Grab your morning coffee with surfers at Lillie’s Coffee Bar or opt for a sunset cocktail later in the day at the Lemon Bar, right on the beach and attached to the old-school Sea Horse Inn. There’s hardly a chain hotel or restaurant to be seen in these parts, and that’s much of what makes Atlantic Beach so special.
Insider Tip: Head just north of Atlantic Beach (you can bike along the beach or go by car to get there) to Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park, which has some of the best mountain biking trails in Florida.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Atlantic Beach Guide
Deerfield Beach
Heading south from West Palm Beach, tourists tend to make a beeline for the vacation destinations of Fort Lauderdale and Miami. But it’s well worth exiting I-95 at Deerfield Beach for a different kind of Florida stay. The new luxury boutique hotel Royal Blues Hotel, which opened on the oceanfront with just 12 rooms in 2014, is a contemporary stunner clad in teak and marble. But there’s still an old-school feel to Deerfield that defies South Florida’s overt bling. The beach here is particularly pristine and has been named a “Blue Wave Beach” by the Clean Beach Council. Every Sunday, a vibrant greenmarket with locally grown produce takes over the Cove Shopping Center. Toss out a line from the 976-foot-long fishing pier that juts into the Atlantic, or enjoy top-notch scuba diving just offshore on the wreck of the Ancient Mariner; head out with Dixie Divers, a 1930s Coast Guard cutter that sits upright in crystal-clear waters loaded with fish.
Insider Tip: Accessible by boat only (with a weekend boat shuttle), Deerfield Island Park has spectacular nature trails draped with mangroves and other native Florida flora.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Deerfield Beach Guide
Vero Beach
Located within roughly two hours of both Orlando and Miami, Vero Beach sits along Florida’s Treasure Coast, so named for the Spanish treasure fleets that sank here in the 1700s. After a big storm, you’ll see folks with metal directors in hand strolling along the beach, hoping to get lucky. But even luckier are the vacationers who find their ways to this subdued stretch of sand over the ticky-tacky tourist towns (Cocoa Beach and Daytona Beach) to the north. Made largely of driftwood and listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, The Driftwood Resort has great rooms for families and a fun restaurant and bar called Waldo’s fronting the ocean. For excellent Cuban food and Caribbean vibes, stop by Wave Kitchen & Bar at the stylish Costa d’Este Beach Resort & Spa, owned by Gloria and Emilio Estefan. Loggerhead turtles nest here from March through October; you can witness the action on biologist-led tours.
Insider Tip: Sebastian Inlet State Park, just north of Vero, is one of the best spots in the state for both surfing and fishing.
Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Vero Beach Guide
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