Small Florida Beach Towns You’ll Fall in Love With
When people think of Florida, it isn’t uncommon to picture the bustling beaches of Miami or crowded theme parks of Orlando. And while we love our tourist hot spots, the Sunshine State also has a lot of charming beach towns to explore.
Today, I’m going to list some of my favorite small Florida beach towns with you!
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Rosemary Beach
Rosemary Beach is such a charming little town. It’s part of 30A, which is a stretch of cute little towns along Highway 30A. 30A is between Destin and Panama City Beach in the Florida Panhandle. Each town on 30A has their own unique vibe.
Rosemary Beach has the cutest downtown area leading to the beach. It is a private beach, though, so you’ll need to book accommodations somewhere that gives you access. The town has cobblestone streets, cute and unique cottages, and amazing shops and restaurants.
One of my favorite things to do is to rent a bike and check out some of the other little towns on 30A. And to be honest, each of these towns could make this list (but I had to have some sort of cutoff otherwise we’d be here forever!)
My favorite 30A towns in addition to Rosemary Beach are Seaside and Alys Beach!
Where to stay: The Pearl! This is an iconic hotel right in the heart of Rosemary Beach (pictured below). Each room has a private balcony!
Apalachicola
Apalachicola is a hidden gem on Florida’s Forgotten Coast. It’s a historic town known for its maritime heritage and world-famous oysters. It’s actually referred to as the Oyster Capital of the World!
The downtown area has charming boutique shops, historic homes, and a thriving arts scene. Take a boat tour to explore the Apalachicola River or indulge in fresh seafood at one of the town’s waterfront restaurants.
I also love nearby St. George’s Island and Mexico Beach but again, I couldn’t include every single town.
Where to Stay: the Gibson Inn is a landmark in Apalachicola constructed in 1907. The building is on the National Registry of Historic places. As you can imagine, it’s the cutest building with a wraparound porch located right downtown. There is also a billiards room and bar on site.
Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island
Amelia Island is as far north as you can go in Florida. It consists of 13 miles of pristine beaches.
The downtown area, Fernandina Beach, is walkable and so charming. It has an old Florida meets southern charm type of vibe with a perfect mix of rich history and beauty.
Spend the day at the beach on Amelia Island or spend the day downtown. If you spend time downtown, get coffee from Amelia Island Coffee, wander to all of the boutiques, get fresh seafood for lunch, and take in the unique architecture.
The downtown area is right on the Amelia River and you can take a river cruise to explore the area’s waterways, see wildlife, and learn more about the island’s history. Or for some exercise, go on a guided kayak tour!
Fun fact: The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking was filmed here!
Where to Stay: The Omni Amelia Island Resort and Spa is a beachfront resort with a golf course.
Pass-a-Grille
Pass-a-Grille is often referred to as St Pete Beach (which is right next door!) Pass-a-Grille is a charming beach town on Florida’s Gulf Coast with historic cottages, locally-owned shops, several restaurants, and charters to take you out on the water.
Its main street is picturesque with a cobblestone street and string lights. Spend your day at the beach, take a fishing or sunset charter, check out local restaurants, and shop at the locally owned boutiques.
You can also take the Suncoast Beach Trolley to the other barrier islands in the area. Each one has its own unique vibe. The trolley runs all the way up to Clearwater Beach an stops several times along the way, including stops at Indian Rocks Beach, Madeira Beach, Treasure Island, and St Pete Beach.
Don’t forget to head to Paradise Grill at sunset to watch them ring the bell – a tradition that’s been around since 1997! My favorite spot is the Hurricane Seafood Restaurant. Head upstairs for a good drink and even better views (just know that they serve limited food upstairs!)
Where to Stay: The Havana Inn is a charming boutique inn located on the Gulf with 1, 2 and 3 bedroom suites. The rooms have fully equipped kitchens. You could also stay at the nearby Don Cesar, the iconic pink hotel in St Pete Beach.
Anna Maria Island
Anna Maria Island is a 7 mile island located just south of Tampa Bay. It is known for phenomenal beaches, small shops, and local restaurants. Most people on the island prefer to get around by golf cart. The lack of high rise hotels and buildings keep it charming. It’s a great destination for couples, families, and basically groups of all sizes!
Where to Stay: The Bali Hai is a beachfront resort with gorgeous landscaping, a great pool, and bikes for rent.
There are also tons of vacation rentals on the island to accommodate any group size, whether there are 2 of you or 20!
Siesta Key
Siesta Key has definitely grown in popularity ever since the reality show Siesta Key aired on MTV. But its quaint, charming, small-town vibe can still be found on this 8 mile-long island just a short drive from Sarasota.
Siesta Key has won numerous awards for being one of the top beaches in the United States. Most recently, it was number 2 on TripAdvisor’s 2023 Traveler’s Choice Awards for best beaches in the U.S., outranked by Maui’s Ka’anapali Beach.
It is renowned for its sand because it’s made of quartz. That makes it powdery white and it stays cool, even in the heat of summer.
The Siesta Key Village is the heart of Siesta Key with shops, restaurants, and bars. There is also a free trolley, which gives you easy access around the island. You can also take the trolley to Turtle Beach, a secluded beach just down the road.
Where to Stay: There are more vacation rentals than hotels/resorts on the island, but the Tropical Breeze Resort is a great option. It is in a great location right by Siesta Key Village and a short walk to the beach. It has standard hotel rooms as well as 1, 2, and 3-bedroom suites.
Flagler Beach
Flagler Beach is a very small beach town in between St. Augustine and Ormond Beach. This laid back town has a lot of natural beauty, small-town charm, and uncrowded beaches.
I love driving along the ocean and visiting the fishing pier. You can also visit the nearby Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation area. The downtown area has some locally owned small shops and there are tons of restaurants with fresh seafood.
Where to Stay: The Island Cottage Inn is an adults-only spot. It’s a cute, casual inn with a pool right on the beach. If you’re not traveling with kids, the A1A Ocean Club is also a great option. It’s a no-frills spot right on the beach. It’s dog friendly but does not have a pool.
New Smyrna Beach
New Smyrna Beach is a vibrant coastal town known for its stunning beaches, thriving arts scene, and fantastic surf. It’s also pretty famous for being able to drive on the beach! You can explore the historic Flagler Avenue, take a boat tour to spot dolphins, kayak on a guided eco tour, or drive along the iconic beach.
If you leave the beach side and cross the bridge, you can explore the Canal Street Historic District. It is adorable with palm-lined streets, restaurants, a brewery, art galleries, shops and the New Smyrna Museum of History.
Where to Stay: The SpringHill Suites by Marriott New Smyrna Beach has one of the best locations. It’s right on the beach and walking distance to Flager Ave.
Indialantic
Indialantic is a beach town east of Melbourne in between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon. It’s quiet and relaxing and it’s one of the best places to watch sea turtles nesting. Spend a day at the Indialantic Boardwalk and Seashore or spend the day at the beach.
Where to Stay: The Hilton Melbourne Beach Oceanfront overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. Most rooms come with ocean view balconies. There is an outdoor pool and beach chair and watersport rentals.
Venice
Venice is a gorgeous, laid back each town with friendly people and plenty to do. It is known as the Shark Tooth Capital of the World. The beaches have fossilized shark teeth which are fun to hunt for.
The downtown area of Venice has Mediterranean-style architecture. Stroll down Venice Avenue with charming boutiques and cafes, hit the beach, or bike the Legacy Trail. There are a lot of parks in the area making it a perfect place for biking or jogging.
Where to Stay: The Inn at the Beach is a small boutique accommodation with standard hotel rooms as well as 1 and 2-bedroom suites. It has an excellent location walkable to both the beach and downtown area.
Sanibel
When we were displaced from Hurricane Helene, we were able to stay at my in-laws’ vacant condo in Cape Coral. While we were there, we visited Sanibel as many times as we could and I fell in love. It’s a fairly large island yet maintains such a small town charm.
Sanibel is in South Florida and known for its incredible shelling opportunities. There are also bike paths throughout the island. But one of my favorite things about Sanibel is the J.D. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge where you can really immerse yourself in nature and see tons of wildlife such as birds, alligators, and more.
Sanibel is connected to Captiva Island, which is also charming!
Where to Stay: The Sanibel Island Beach Resort is charming and located right on the beach. It has on-site food, includes bikes to explore the island (remember those bike trails I talked about?!), and a pool.
Stuart
Stuart is on Florida’s Treasure Coast. It’s a small coastal town known as the Sailfish Capital of the World. It historic downtown is filled with boutique shops and restaurants.
Explore the Stuart Heritage Museum, take a cruise on the St. Lucie River, or enjoy kayaking, fishing, or paddleboarding.
Where to Stay: The Marriott Hutchinson Island Beach Resort, Golf, and Marina is just across the bridge on Hutchinson Island. It is located on 200 acres right on the beach and has an 18-hole executive golf course, six pickleball courts, three pools, direct beach access, and a private marina. The rooms have been recently remodeled and they have with private balconies. They also have on-site restaurants.
We also love Hutchinson Shores Resort and Spa. The resort was rated as the #3 resort in Florida by Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2024. It’s very romantic yet also good for families. There are multiple pools with one being for adults only. There are on site restaurants and it is also right on the beach. I love this resort so much I have an entire post dedicated to staying at the Hutchinson Shores Resort and Spa.
Islamorada
Islamorada is one of my favorite places in the whole entire world. It’s such a special island in the Florida Keys famous for its fishing. Islamorada is referred to as the Sportfishing Capital of the World.
You’ll experience crystal-clear waters, world-class fishing, and a laid back island vibe. You can visit the Theater of the Sea to see wildlife (this is especially good with kids), snorkel at the Alligator Reef Lighthouse, or relax at your resort.
Islamorada isn’t exactly known for its beautiful beaches. While the beaches are beautiful, they are not the sandy beaches you might be expecting. There is often seagrass or coral that is painful to step on. You’ll still love laying out but instead of the beach, visiting the Islamorada sandbar is one of the best ways to spend a day.
I broke down all of the best places to stay in Islamorada in its own post. It’s hard for me to just pick one because there are so many beautiful resorts there. But if I had to choose, I’d probably pick Cheeca Lodge is great for families and Amara Cay for couples.
Final Thoughts
These small beach towns are less crowded and give you the opportunity to explore the more tranquil side of Florida. Each little town offers something unique whether it’s white-sand beaches, historic charm, stunning beauty, or a relaxed atmosphere.
