The best beach in the country is in Florida, but it’s not near Miami.
It’s not in Fort Lauderdale, either. In fact, it’s not even on the East Coast.
The best beach in the United States, according to Tripadvisor’s annual Travelers’ Choice Awards for Beaches, is St. Pete Beach, which is also the fifth best beach in the entire world.
Why? “It’s a great walking beach with white quartz sand, clear calm water, and seashells by the truckload,” Tripadvisor writes. “The most perfect place to watch the sun set over the ocean.”
The awards are based on reviews and ratings from Tripadvisor travelers gathered over the course of a year. Also taken into consideration are travelers’ “saves,” meaning beaches that visitors wished they could visit even though the COVID-19 pandemic meant they couldn’t (or shouldn’t).
The No. 1 beach in the world belongs to Whitehaven Beach, on Whitsunday Island in Australia, which we have to admit is breathtaking. Also there does not seem to be a Wet Willie’s on it.
Seven other Florida beaches made the top 25 in the U.S., not a one in South Florida:
- 9: Madeira Beach (near St. Pete Beach)
- 12: Ormond Beach
- 13: Henderson Beach State Park in Destin
- 15: Pensacola Beach
- 16: Treasure Island Beach (near St. Pete Beach)
- 17: Siesta Beach on Siesta Key in Sarasota
- 18: Clearwater Beach
So what explains Miami Beach’s absence from the list? What could be keeping visitors from wanting to travel to our beautiful shores? We cannot imagine. Surely, it’s not this. Or this. Or this. Whatever the reason, you better get to Miami Beach quickly. Bill Gates just warned us Miami’s beaches will all be gone soon.
