#1 St Pete Beach (Florida)
This island off the coast of Florida, west of St. Petersburg, typically has sunshine even during the darkest months of the year. Aside from resting your toes in the tiny Gulf of Mexico waters, you can relax on the beautiful, fine white-sand beaches in this location. The gentle swells are perfect for newbie surfers if you’d like to give it a try. A beach cruiser can also be used to travel the quiet bike trails.
A 15-minute ferry ride away, an uninhabited barrier island called Shell Key Preserve is a fantastic location for swimming, snorkeling, and fishing. There are a lot of moderately priced motels with a lively surfer ambiance, so you don’t have to spend a fortune to stay right on the beach. Most of them have vintage longboards, photo murals with surfing themes, shady hammocks, and a sun terrace where you can watch movies, play bocce ball, or play table tennis.
