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Top 9 Beautiful Islands in Florida

You’ve heard of Florida’s famous islands, including the majority of the Keys, but what about some of the state’s lesser-known isles? There are lots of stunning gems you might want to consider, and in the process, you’re likely to avoid the crowds.

Dry Tortugas Dry Tortugas
Credit: Dry Tortugas by Varina C/shutterstock.com

Dry Tortugas

If you visit Key West, be sure to hop aboard the Yankee Freedom II to visit Dry Tortugas National Park. Located 70 miles west of Key West, the park is made up of a cluster of small islands, coral reefs, and an impressive fortress. The excursion aboard the high-speed catamaran takes a little more than two hours and guests have about four hours to enjoy the stunning Dry Tortuga beaches and explore Fort Jefferson. As the park also offers some of the best snorkeling in North America, be sure to make time to get in the clear, shallow waters while you’re there. You can enjoy all sorts of colorful tropical fish and living coral – directly from the brilliant white sand beach at Fort Jefferson. To make the most out of the experience, stick around by pitching a tent. A 10-site, primitive campground is located on Garden Key, the same island as Fort Jefferson, and is a short walk from the public dock.

Pine Island Pine Island, Florida
Credit: Pine Island, Florida by Bigstock.com

Pine Island

Just a half-hour’s drive from Fort Myers and you can be on tranquil Pine Island, an island characterized by twisted mangroves that fringe its shoreline, rather than sandy beaches. There are no high rises, but you will find one of the region’s most eclectic communities: Matlacha. Sometimes referred to as “Key West north,” the town actually occupies its own small island, although it’s still considered a part of Pine Island. The colorful town was an “old Florida” fishing village up until only about two decades ago, and today, it’s highly acclaimed as an artist community. Filled with art and nature, wooden houses are painted in vibrant tropical hues, and line the three-block-long main street. While they once housed fisherman, they’ve been transformed into gift and island fashion boutiques, seafood restaurants, art galleries and rental cottages.

Cedar Key Cedar Key
Credit: Cedar Key by TimothyJ via Flickr

Cedar Key

Nestled in the less developed Big Bend area of the state, Cedar Key is a tropical paradise that delivers when it comes to peace, tranquility and scenery. The cluster of islands that make up Cedar Key jut three miles out into the Gulf of Mexico, but are about as far from the modern world, and stress, as you can get. Take a walk through the laid-back, barefoot and flip-flops town to browse art galleries, dine on fresh clam chowder made from local clams, or pick some clams up and make some yourself – the local mollusks are touted as the sweetest in the world. Other activities include kayaking, bird watching, fishing from the pier or simply relaxing and watching the world go by.

Pass-A-Grille Pass-A-Grille Beach
Credit: Pass-A-Grille Beach by facebook.com

Pass-A-Grille

This hidden paradise just off St. Petersburg is only a block wide, but on one side, you’ll find an alluring beach at the edge of the Gulf, and on the other, Boca Ciega Bay awaits. In between, is the core of the town which is on the National Register of Historic Places, where a host of quirky shops, art galleries, tropical-style clothing, a number of eateries and quaint hotels can be enjoyed. This is an ideal place for watching dolphins dance through the surf, enjoying the breeze on a sunset cruise, and, for visiting the uninhabited barrier island of Shell Key, just a 10-minute boat ride away. where you can enjoy snorkeling or some of the world’s best shelling or snorkeling.  Shell hunters can find a treasure trove of everything from conch shells and Ark shells to sand dollars.

Amelia Island Amelia Island, Florida
Credit: Amelia Island, Florida by bigstock.com

Amelia Island

This barrier island off the northern coast of Florida boasts 12 miles of magnificent beaches that are often ideal for enjoying peaceful relaxation. It’s also an exceptional spot for taking part in a host of activities and even historic sites.  Cycle along the miles of trails and sidewalks, play a round of golf, go horseback riding on the sand, sail or paddle in the tidal creeks and marshes. The island’s largest state park, Fort Clinch State Park, is home to one of the best-preserved 19th-century forts in the nation as well as a fishing pier, hiking, and biking trails, campgrounds and more. History lovers will also appreciate the historic downtown of Fernandina Beach, horse-drawn carriage rides can be enjoyed while learning about historic points of interest.

Fisher Island Fishers Island Club
Credit: Fishers Island Club by Bigstock.com

Fisher Island

Fisher Island is a 10-minute ferry ride from Miami Beach, developed as a winter estate in 1925 by William Vanderbilt II. Today, the 216-acre island is home to some of the country’s wealthiest residential communities, but if you aren’t lucky enough to own a home here, you can stay at the Fisher Island Hotel & Resort. There’s a mile of private beachfront filled with sand that was imported from Bermuda, and you can also enjoy strolling the island with the peacocks that freely roam. Other activities include teeing off on the nine-hole seaside course, swimming or lounging by one of the multiple pools and enjoying treatments at the spa, the island’s most popular amenity. Outstanding dining is available in the restaurants that are housed in the restored William Vanderbilt II mansion.

Sanibel Island Sanibel Island
Credit: Sanibel Island by sanibel-captiva.org

Sanibel Island

Sanibel Island, a wildlife refuged-dominated barrier island west of Fort Myers, is also a shelling mecca. It’s home to a wealth of pristine white sandy beaches that are covered with shells, but if you don’t find what you’re looking for, you can visit the country’s one and only shell museum right here. The unique Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum displays everything from shells found from across the globe to intricate works of art. There are marine-focused arts and crafts, over 30 permanent exhibits, fun family-friendly activities and daily tank talks. Of course there are plenty of outdoor activities too, like biking, fishing, kayaking and golf, and Sanibel hosts the J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, North America’s No. 1 spot for bird watching, with over 245 migratory and residential species.

Gasparilla Island Gasparilla Island
Credit: Gasparilla Island by Bigstock.com

Gasparilla Island

Gasparilla Island is about 10 miles north of Sanibel. The charming Gulf Coast barrier island offers the chance to enjoy stress-free days in a place where more people get around by golf carts than cars. The small residential community located on the island, Boca Grande, is most definitely upscale, but it’s also totally unpretentious. In fact, it’s a place where celebrities choose to go so they don’t have to worry about being famous. The island is all about enjoying the outdoors, relaxing on the beaches next to the impossibly blue water, fishing, beachcombing, biking down quiet lanes and gazing at glorious sunsets to mark the end of a fabulous day.

Marco Island Marco Island
Credit: Marco Island by bigstock.com

Marco Island

Marco Island is a short ride from the Florida Everglades near Naples. It’s the largest and only developed isle in the Ten Thousand Islands and boasts canal-lined streets along with an unspoiled, often empty, crescent-shaped beach that faces the Gulf of Mexico. While there are some high rises along its shores, natural areas have been preserved, like the fishing village of Goodland which offers boating, swimming, fishing, and tennis. At Collier Seminole State Park, just a few miles from the island visitors can camp in primitive sites, go canoeing, go on a picnic, or take the mile-long nature walk.  Take a narrated boat tour of the park, or join a shelling excursion.

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