WE’VE GOT A BEACH FOR THAT

From snorkeling to surfing and shark tooth collecting, Florida has the perfect shores for you

With 1,350 miles of coastline, Florida certainly has a stretch of sandy shores suited for every beach passion, whether it’s hanging ten on a surfboard, peering at underwater wonders while snorkeling, searching the low tide for the perfect seashell or enjoying a day of tranquil peace on a patch of secluded sand.

From the Florida Keys to the Panhandle, the Sunshine State certainly has a beach for everyone.

Best Surfing Beach: Palm Beach’s Reef Road

Reef Road in West Palm Beach’s glitziest neighborhood is one of the few places in the state where the surf can achieve true “big wave” status. The area has beautiful beaches, crystal clear waters and warm temperatures, which make for epic conditions when cold fronts roll through.

If you go: The break is located in a residential area on the north end of the county’s priciest slab of real estate. There’s no public parking within two miles of the spot — and there is a very active police force.

Runners-up: New Smyrna Beach

Best Snorkeling/Scuba Diving Beach: John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Whether you want to admire colorful coral reef or the iconic Christ of the Abyss statue (donated to the park in 1966) submerged in the clear waters off Key Largo, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is a must-see. The park covers 70 nautical square miles and, opening in 1963, was the first underwater park in the United States. Personal

or group in-water guides are available upon request for $45, plus tax. Each additional snorkeler (guided) is $15, plus tax.

Park admission: $8 per vehicle, plus 50 cents per person

If you go: 102601 Overseas Highway in Key Largo; 305-451-6300; floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/ john-pennekamp-coral-reef-statepark

Runners-up: Bathtub Reef Park in Stuart and Point of Rocks on Siesta Key

Best Beach for Shark’s Teeth: Caspersen Beach in Venice

Beachcombers know the Gulf beaches in and around Southwest Florida are the best places to search for prehistoric shark’s teeth. Caspersen Beach in Venice is an exceptionally fine spot — and a good shelling beach too! Walk along the shoreline and look for the shiny black fossils as they roll onto the shore with the tide. Or purchase a “Venice Snow Shovel,” a screened basket fitted onto a long handle, and wade out a few feet into the water to scoop up your treasures. Most shark teeth found near the shore are ⅛-inch to ¾-inch or even a bit larger.

If you go: 4100 Harbor Drive in Venice; visitsarasota.com/ beaches/ caspersen-beach

Runners-up: Casey Key in Nokomis and Fort Clinch State Park beaches on Amelia Island

Best Beach for Rocket Launch Viewing: Playalinda Beach

Playalinda Beach is located inside Canaveral National Seashore, one of Florida’s 11 national parks. It’s an undeveloped beach known for its serene

environment and pristine shoreline and is a premier location from which to watch a rocket launch. Always check their website or Kennedy Space Center’s website for the most up-to-date info regarding launches. Note: The park restricts access when it reaches capacity for safety purposes.

Park admission: Park passes are valid for seven days. $20 per vehicle; $15 per motorcycle; $10 per pedestrian or cyclist

If you go: Florida State Road 406/ 402 in Titusville; 321-267-1110; nps.gov/ cana

Runners-up: Jetty Park Beach at Port Canaveral and Alan Shepard Park in Cocoa Beach

Best Tidal Pool Beach:

Washington Oaks Gardens State Park

With the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Matanzas River on the other, Washington Oaks Gardens State Park preserves 425 acres of coastal scenery along State Road A1A in Palm Coast. On the state park’s beach (one of the few beaches in Florida with rocks), waves have exposed coquina rock and scattered boulders — which creates the ideal situation for exploring the tidal pools, where you might find small fish, shrimp, sea stars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, barnacles and anemones.

Park admission: Use the honor box to pay fees. Correct change is required. $4 for single-occupant vehicle; $5 per vehicle (limit 2-8 people per vehicle); $2 for pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers

If you go: 6400 N. Oceanshore Blvd. in Palm Coast; 386-446-6780; floridastateparks.org/park/ washington-oaks

Runners-up: Bahia Honda State Park in the Keys and Cedar Key beaches

Best Shelling Beach:

Sanibel Island beaches

Treasure washes up daily on the shores of Sanibel Island, and you can identify the seekers of the perfect shell by their bent-over posture, commonly known as the “Sanibel stoop.” The barrier island off Florida’s southwest coast is famous for its 15 miles of beaches, where more than 200 kinds of shells can be found. The island has a unique east-west orientation, which creates a long, south-facing beach that pitches gradually into the water. From there, the Gulf currents easily push their tiny treasures onto the shore. You can usually find shells anytime on Sanibel’s beaches, but the best time to go shelling is following a storm after low tide. Bring a scooper, a bucket and a net shell bag that allows water to drain.

If you go: Sanibel Island is off the coast of southwest Florida, just west of Fort Myers. Parking at Sanibel’s public beaches costs $5 an hour. sanibel-captiva.org

Runners-up: Tigertail Beach on Marco Island and Shell Island near Panama City Beach

Best Party Beach: South Beach in Miami

Hear that sizzle? That’s Miami’s South Beach, where the people are pretty and the party never stops. South Beach, sometimes called the American Riviera, offers hundreds of nightclubs, restaurants, boutiques and hotels. People-watching is a great

pastime here, as the clear, aquamarine water and white sand beaches draw celebrities and beautiful people in skimpy swim attire. South Beach is also known for iconic, pastelhued Art Deco buildings lining Ocean Drive.

If you go: SoBe is

located due east of Miami, between Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

Runners-up: Panama City Beach and Daytona Beach

Most family-friendly beach:

Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota

Siesta Key in Sarasota is known for its sugary sand beach, which is a hit with kids who want to build sandcastles. The beach offers calm, clear and shallow turquoise water for swimmers of all ages, and lifeguards are posted yearround. The Gulf Coast

barrier-island beach sports a sandcastle-themed playground, volleyball and tennis courts, a huge parking lot that’s free and a concession stand — where you can take advantage of beach rentals. Tripadvisor ranked the Sarasota beach first in its 2020 list of the Top 25 beaches in the country. The site also ranked Siesta Key Beach as the No. 11 beach in the world.

If you go: 948 Beach Road in Siesta Key; 941-861-5000; visitsarasota.com/siesta-key

Runners-up: St. Augustine Beach and Dubois Park in Jupiter

Best dog beach: Smyrna Dunes Park

Your leashed dog will love splashing in the waves at Smyrna Dunes Park, which is comprised of 73-acres of pristine, waterfront land at the northern tip of New Smyrna Beach. The park has restrictions on which parts of the boardwalk allow dogs, so be mindful of signs. There is a wide footpath next to the boardwalk (with pet-waste stations every few feet) that allows plenty of space for strangers walking pets to pass each other without being too close. Although a water

station is located next to the parking lot, bring your own water too, as the trip from the shore to the station can be a long one — and dogs need to drink plenty of fresh water to flush out any seawater they may lap up. There is a dog wash station near the parking lot, so pack your doggie shampoo to wash away the salt and sand before your four-legged friend hops into the car.

Park admission: $10 per vehicle

If you go: 2995 N. Peninsula Ave. in New Smyrna Beach; volusia.org/ services/public-works/ coastal-division/coastal-parks/smyrna-dunespark.stml

Runners-up: Fort De Soto Park and Fort Myers Beach

Most secluded beach: St. George Island State Park

Looking for sandy shores with fewer crowds and a dose of tranquil serenity? Head to St. George Island State Park in Florida’s Panhandle. The park consists of 9 miles of uncrowded beach for sunning and shelling, clear Gulf waters for swimming and fishing, and pristine marshes for wildlife viewing. Surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico and Apalachicola Bay, the park occupies 2,023 acres at the end of a long, narrow unspoiled barrier island. Find a combination of sandy coves, salt marshes, shady pines and oak forests. The island is protected by low-density zoning and strict building codes, which makes it a serene beach community with no high rises or chain stores.

Park admission: $6 per vehicle (limit 2-8 people per vehicle); $4 for single-occupant vehicles; $2 for pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers

If you go: 1900 E. Gulf Beach Drive in St. George Island; 850-927-2111; floridastateparks.org/ parks-and-trails/dr-juliang-bruce-st-george-islandstate-park

Runners-up: Cayo Costa State Park, Pine Island and Calusa Beach, Florida Keys

Find me on Twitter @ cassiearmstrong, Instagram @cassarmstrong or send me an email: caarmstrong@orlandosentinel. com.

CONNOLLY/ORLANDO SENTINEL and Sebastian Inlet PATRICK Shark tooth hunting is a popular activity on almost all of Venice’s beaches.

JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is known for its excellent snorkeling. The park is open from 8 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year.

RICK LOOMIS/LOS ANGELES TIMES The Christ of the Abyss sculpture stands in 25 feet of water off of Key Largo. It was installed in 1965 as a tourist attraction in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.

JOE BURBANK/ORLANDO SENTINEL Washington Oaks Gardens State Park is full of swirling, sculptured rocks piled along the coquina beach, some sporting circular holes, others forming bowls that create tide pools for snails and anemones.

ISTOCKPHOTO South Beach is the hip, artsy neighborhood of Miami Beach particularly known for its restaurant scene and nightlife, as well as its world-class beaches.