Clearwater beach

You can splurge on plane tickets to Bermuda or Cancún, but some of the world's most beautiful beaches are right here in the U.S.

Florida has more than 800 miles of them, which means sunseekers don’t have to leave the country to enjoy soft sand and crystal-clear waters.

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Clear water beaches in florida

With such an extensive coastline, stretching along the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, finding the state's best beaches requires some research. To help, we've curated some of our favorites, from sprawling family-friendly swaths to tiny islands with intimate coves, so you can make digging your toes into sugar-white sand a reality.

Here are 20 of the best beaches in Florida.

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

If you're searching for sunny days and temperate climes, it doesn't get much warmer than the beaches of the Florida Keys, the state's southernmost point.

You can pass your time here at Smathers or Higgs beaches, but for calm waters and wide stretches of sand, it's hard to beat the 54-acre Fort Zachary Taylor

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