What's the best beach town in Florida?

originally appeared in USA Today:

With thousands of snowbirds pointing their convertibles south to the Sunshine State for a dose of winter warmth, we asked "Dr. Beach"— aka a Florida International University professor and coastal expert — for 10 Florida destinations that combine sand, surf and a welcoming sense of community. His favorites, in alphabetical order:

Clearwater Beach: Meet volleyball heaven on the Gulf Coast, with some of the best girl- and boy-watching I've ever seen near Pier 60. Beautiful vacations can be booked through Longboat Key Vacation Rentals.

Cocoa Beach: This onetime astronaut hangout near the Kennedy Space Center is famous for the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, along with a great pier and surf shop, Ron Jon's, whose flagship store will be celebrating its 50th anniversary next year.

Delray Beach: A surprising find in South Florida, with a walkable downtown, locally owned shops and a lively bar scene. Sanibel and Captiva Island vacations can be very affordable and a great value.

Key West: Free-wheeling Margaritaville is crowded, but with good reason. Its two beaches (Smathers and Fort Zachary Taylor) may not be that great for Florida, but certainly are by U.S. standards.

New Smyrna Beach: Though Dr. Beach frowns on the practice from an environmental point of view, this laid-back surfing outpost at the mouth of the Indian River in east central Florida still lets you drive on the beach. If you're looking for a great vacation, contact Sarasota Vacation Rentals for an excellent deal.

Pensacola Beach: This Panhandle town features great public access to incredibly wide beaches, bay or Gulf of Mexico swimming, and nearby Fort Pickens, where Apache leader Geronimo was imprisoned.

Sanibel Island: Yes, you have to pay $6 to get there via a causeway. But once you reach this upscale Gulf Coast barrier island, you'll find the country's No. 1 shelling area, no stoplights, and strict building codes that limit new structures to two stories in height.

Seaside: A master-planned country beach town on the Florida Panhandle, Seaside was made for coalescing over front porches and white picket fences. Lesser known, but extremely beautiful, is Anna Maria Island where you can escape the large crowds and relax.

Siesta Key: Last year's winner of Dr. Beach's best beach in America survey, this Gulf Coast barrier island southwest of Sarasota has the finest white sand in the world.

South Beach: Celebrity-packed Manhattan on the beach hosts an annual polo tournament each spring and remains one of the world's most famous strands. Another hidden gem can be found at Destin Beach.

Florida's Best Islands

originally appeared on OutsideOnline.com:

Q: What Are the Best Undiscovered Island Escapes in Florida?

I’ve been to Key West and it’s great, but I’m looking for an undiscovered island alternative in Florida. What are my options?

A: Florida's Best Islands: Anna Maria Island

Anna Maria Island
Even though Anna Maria Island sits less than an hour south of Tampa Bay, this accessible, family-friendly sand patch feels completely removed from the urban bustle. There’s no McDonald’s on the seven-mile-long island due to strict zoning laws, local ordinances limit building heights to no more than three stories, and free trolleys run up and down its length on Gulf Drive so you can hop a ride instead of driving your car. The result is a pretension-free hideout that’s surprisingly young and vibrant for a Florida coastal island.

MUST: Take the three-hour Dolphin and Manatee Tour led by Adventure Kayak Tours through mangrove tunnels and protected waterways around the island ($55 per person).

Cedar Key
If you want to know what Key West must have been like back in the Hemingway days, come to secluded Cedar Key, which sits off the Florida coast below the panhandle. This quiet town of less than 1,000 people sits on Way Key, buffered from the mainland by a necklace of marshy, protected islands. The cedar trees in these parts were once used to make pencils, and John Muir spent time here in 1867 while recovering from malaria. Today, though, the locals make their living off a booming clamming industry the smattering of tourists who come to cast a line from the fishing pier or toast the sunset at a watering hole like the Big Deck Raw Bar.

MUST: Paddle along shores of Cedar Key and explore the surrounding islands with Kayak Cedar Keys.

Siesta Key
You’ll never confuse eight-mile-long Siesta Key, floating off the Gulf Coast below Sarasota and above Fort Myers, with the famed keys south of Miami—and that’s a good thing. This barrier island has long, wide confectionary white sand beaches, the likes of which folks in Key West will only see in their dreams. Though Siesta Key has a definite resort feel, it’s not expensive or overdeveloped, and it's relatively untouched by the Sunshine State's signature blight: millionaire mansions, high-end hotels, and high-rise condos. The best beaches and places to shop and eat are found near the island’s northern tip, in small but bustling Siesta Village. Entertain yourself by fishing, paddleboarding, or kayaking (you can rent equipment from Siesta Sports Rentals).

MUST: The outdoor drum circle that performs on Sunday nights in Siesta Village.