Most of the people when they hear of Florida beaches, they will imagine crowded boardwalks, spring break madness, and high-rise hotels.
And yes, they are nice places to be, but as I went out to visit the coastline of the state, I wanted something different. I was seeking silence. And I never had to fight. Sea breeze rather than party music coffee. I needed to hear the sound of the waves rather than the crowds.
What I found out is that there are a lot of small beach towns in Florida that can give you just that, space to breathe, a slower pace and that elusive feeling of being at peace, that you can only have when you are not surrounded by selfie sticks.
The journey had started smoothly thanks to cheap luton airport parking by ezybook, which saved me the usual airport stress and let me ease into the trip already in the right mindset, calm and unhurried.
These are the towns I would jump at the chance of going back to, the ones where I really felt like I was on vacation.
Pass-a-Grille Beach
Pass-a-Grille is a small community on the southside of St. Pete Beach and when I say the crowds forgot I mean it in the most positive sense. It is a wide and white beach, the sunsets are pink and fiery, and the town itself is only a few blocks of pastel houses, mom and pop cafes, and little stores where you can still purchase seashell necklaces without irony.
I was boarding in a small hotel a short distance near the sand, and I walked everywhere--no automobile. One morning I got coffee in a small place close to the water and saw dolphins on the pier. It was like it was off a postcard you had left in a 1987 drawer.
Cedar Key
Cedar Key is not a typical Florida beach city. It is more of an island village that seems to be out of place in time. No nightlife worth mentioning, no mega-resorts and certainly no rush.
Anna Maria Island
A bit more famous, although during midweek or in the shoulders you can still find that casual atmosphere that leaves you wanting to stay barefoot days on end. This place has very strict building codes, so you will not see any high-rises here, just beach cottages, bicycles and old Florida charm.
One time I was on the beach and I saw a thunderstorm coming in and I was sitting wrapped in a towel and the smell of rain and salt were mixing in the air. Anna Maria Island is very restorative.
Note: Don't forget to check Heathrow airport cheap parking by ezybook and book according to your needs.
Vero Beach
Vero Beach is classy but not showy, nestled on the Atlantic coast of Florida. The beaches are clean, the waves are mild and the atmosphere is more artistic rather than touristy. It is a place where you can read the beach, rather than blast music, and where the cafes are serving local food that is not overpriced to tourists.
I had a peaceful morning at the Vero Beach Museum of Art and took a direct walk to the beach. The most wonderful thing is that it is not really a matter of choice. No cars, no sound, no pressure. It was almost an adult version of a beach holiday.
St. George Island
St. George Island is in the Florida Panhandle and is not frequently visited as well-known Gulf Coast destinations. That is, which makes it ideal. The beaches are miles long and there is hardly anyone to see. It is perfect on long walks, shell hunting or just sitting under an umbrella and reading a book and forgetting that the world is there.
The reason these towns are important
In a place where people know crowds, noise, and constant development, such small oases of tranquility are not to be given up. They present a more real, slower, gentler version of Florida. Here you are not here to have a nightlife. You arrive to reconnect with yourself, nature and the type of vacation that does not require a filter.
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Best Beach Towns in Florida for Quiet, Crowd-Free Travel
RandomMost of the people when they hear of Florida beaches, they will imagine crowded boardwalks, spring break madness, and high-rise hotels.And yes, they are nice places to be, but as I went out to visit the coastline of the state, I wanted something dif...
