11 Top Florida Beach Resorts Your Soul is Craving This Summer

Are you dreaming of surrounding yourself with powder white sand and crystal blue waters? Then you need to tick off some days on the calendar to plan a stay at the Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater, Florida. Besides having unbeatable access to the pristine Clearwater coastline, you’ll be spoiled with a number of other premium comforts, like the beach’s only four-diamond restaurant (Caretta on the Gulf) and a bit of pampering at the Spa at Sandpearl. Have a bit of energy? Sign up for some kayaking through the surrounding estuaries.

Where do we begin? Do we dive into the guestrooms with ocean views? Scroll through the various dining options from bar food to sushi? Or do we plop ourselves firmly onto that splendidly soft coastal sand, baking in the sun? Well, considering Destin Beach is routinely voted one of the best in Florida (and defacto the country), perhaps we should spend our time there.

At this beachfront resort, you have access to a unique stretch of coastline that some consider to be one of the most beautiful in the world. That’s because the sand is comprised of nearly pure quartz crystal due to the wearing down of the Appalachian Mountains over time. When you see those envy-inducing photos of blinding-white sand, that’s precisely what you’ll find at the Hilton Sandestin Beach, Golf Resort & Spa.

Fort Lauderdale is known to have some of the best beach resorts in the country, and the Pelican Grand Beach Resort just might be one of (if not the) best in town. Here you can sit back and enjoy oceanfront dining or poolside cocktails as the waves of the Atlantic Ocean crash within earshot. You never have to turn your back to that gorgeous view either with 106 oceanfront suites with balconies, so you can enjoy this serene spot from sunrise to sunset.

Hollywood, Florida might not bring to mind the same image as Hollywood, California, but that doesn’t mean it’s inferior in the least. To the contrary, a stay at The Diplomat Beach Resort just might leave you feeling like a celebrity. This southern Florida beach resort comes with all the amenities you need for a relaxing getaway under the sun and on the sand. You’ve got your poolside cabanas, beachside service, and nothing but time to enjoy the marvels of Mother Earth. Go a step further in achieving pure zen by signing up for some beach yoga. Or, you can drift away on a charter yacht for an Intracoastal adventure.

The Reach Key West epitomizes the old town aesthetic of this ever-popular Floridian destination. Besides being an idyllic spot for traveling couples, you’re also only steps away from Duval Street or you can hop on a bike and be in Mallory Square in no time. Of course, more importantly, this is an oceanfront property, meaning the Caribbean allure of Key West is yours for the taking.

With this Florida beach resort in Marathon, the experience is in the name. Welcome to Tranquility Bay Beach House Resort, nestled against the heavenly sands of Marathon, Florida. Relaxing is certainly no issue here with beach chairs and a spa ready to lull you into a state of serenity, but active types will find plenty to keep themselves busy either alongside or in the water. There’s fishing, diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and kids from 5-15 years old can sign up for the Keys Kids Adventure Camp.

As if anyone ever needed an excuse to head on down to South Beach, a stay at Delano South Beach becomes an experience in and of itself. This beach resort in Miami has 194 rooms across six floors with guest rooms overlooking the ocean or city. This creation of Studio 54 visionary, Ian Schrager, is a bit of Heaven on Earth. They’ve got king rooms, suites, poolside bungalows, and penthouse rooms to boot. If you can manage to pull yourself away, you’re also nearby Flamingo Park and Pool, the Art Deco Historic District, and the legendary Miami Beach Boardwalk.

Bravo to you for scrolling this far down. A weaker soul may have seen a blue ocean, white sand, and booked the first thing in front of them. Your reward is a peek into Naples‘ Edgewater Beach Hotel. Here you have a number of beachfront, Gulf view, and tower suites to pick from. The resort itself is located right along seven miles of pristine Floridian coastline with Edgewater’s section carefully maintained by hotel staff, offering beach chairs, luxury beach beds, cabanas, umbrellas, and kayaks and paddleboards for more adventurous travelers.

It doesn’t get much better than this five-star, historic, and premium luxury beach resort in Palm Beach, Florida. Guests have been making their vacation dreams come true here since the property opened in 1896. Italianate aficionados might recognize the design, modeled after a Roman Medici palace. But if you’re here for the beach, you’ll be pleased to know that The Breakers offers guests a half-mile slice of private sand for you to frolick on to your heart’s content. Otherwise, stay wet at the expansive main pool, an infinity-style adults-only pool, a zero-entry active pool (for families), another infinity-style pool near some of the private bungalows, and/or at one of the five whirlpool spas.

Who says staying at a Florida beach resort needs to obliterate your bank account? At the Holiday Inn Resort Panama City Beach, you can find rooms starting as low as $128 per night. The resort sits right on the waterfront, so you won’t have to wait long before you get that sweet sensation between your toes. No to mention you have two in-house restaurants to keep you well-fed after all that tiring time spent on the Panama City beach or at one of the two outdoor pools. Plus with over 300 guestrooms, chances are there’s plenty of space for you and whoever is lucky enough to come along.

Whether you’re scrolling through a list of Florida beach resorts to plan a romantic escape or a family-fun outing, you can’t go wrong with the Sundial Beach Resort & Spa in Sanibel. Not only do you get the requisite beach access (one mile’s worth), but the property operates in a “spirit of health and wellness” that will recharge your batteries just when it’s time to get back to reality. Meantime, this is the place to be to get a bit of everything from R&R to a bit of sport with beach and water sports galore.