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Tampa Bay’s Hometown Morning Krewe

Tampa Bay’s Hometown Morning Krewe

Tampa Bay’s Hometown Morning Krewe

Florida City Voted Best Small Beach Town In America

Author Tampa Bay's Morning Krewe

This Florida city voted best small beach town in America.  Usually it’s the big cities that get a lot of the buzz when it comes to travel, thanks to their restaurants, shopping and entertainment.  But every once in a while you drive through a small town that has it’s own unique feeling.

Many country artists have songs about small towns and how special they are.  Like Jason Aldean’s  “Try That In A Small Town“, or Justin Moore’s “Small Town USA“.

The small town uniqueness is what the writers at “Travel and Leisure” found too.    They came out with a list of America’s Best Small Towns highlighting locations that are not well known to others.

To come up with the list, they polled their colleagues, contributors, trusted travel advisors and others in their network of experts to come up with the nominations.   From there, travel editors chose the winners in seven different categories.  Best small beach town, small mountain town, small lake town, small desert town, small food and culture town, small wine, beer and spirits town and small spa and wellness town.  To qualify, each town has to have a full-time population of less than 25-thousand residents, and stand out in its category.

Best Small Beach Town In America

America’s Best Small Beach Town – is Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island, Florida.  Boca Grande is located south of Venice, Fl.  It is part of the Cape Coral-Fort Myers area.  What makes it so special is it’s historic downtown, sugar sand beaches, blue water and world class fishing.

There are no gas stations on the island, with the exception of a street pump at Boca Grande Marina.  Most of the residents use golf carts as transportation.    Boca Grande is in Lee County.   It is a private area that many escape to just for that reason.  Sara Blakely (Spanx founder and owner) and Jesse Itzler were married on Boca Grande,  while the Bush family and Audrey Hepburn have second homes there.

Denzel Washington filmed his movie, Out of Time, there.  If you are looking for a great place for a weekend getaway, think about Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island, it’s only about 2 hours away.

5 Florida Beaches Named the Best 'Secret Beaches' in America

Summer is here, and it’s going to be hot, as always, in Florida. Florida beaches are very popular and fun. But, they can also get crowded. Thankfully, there are some “secret” beaches that are kind of more difficult to find.

If you’re looking for some “secret” places to get your beach on in Florida, the crew at Family Destinations Guide has done the research to find you those spots. “We surveyed 3,000 families in the United States to determine the hidden beaches they most want to visit in summer 2023,” they state in the study.

As it turns out, Florida has four of the top 10 “secret beaches” in America, according to this study. That means they shouldn’t be too overcrowded. That’s a great thing.

If you’re wondering about Family Destinations Guide, they regularly feature “reviews of hotels, resorts, destinations, and attractions your whole family will love. In addition, the site is filled with ideas that will help you plan your next trip. From family trips with infants and children, to excursions with teens and older kids, Family Destinations Guide gives you detailed advice for traveling with kids of all ages.” Even if you don’t have kids, their content can be useful. For example, these secret beaches can be fun to visit no matter your age. Read on for four Florida spots that made the top 10 of the list and one extra. Find the full list here.

  • Shell Key Preserve

    Shell Key Preserve, Florida is ranked No. 2 on the list. That’s amazing! What makes it stand out? According to Family Destinations Guide, “The beach is unspoiled and natural, with no development or buildings, offering a peaceful and serene atmosphere.”

    Shell Key Preserve

    Shell Key Preserve is a jewel-in-the-rough that few people take the time to experience. A 1,828-acre archipelago at the mouth of Tampa Bay off Florida's Gulf Coast, Shell Key Preserve is frequented primarily by birds and other wildlife. For people to get there, they must take a boat to Shell Key, the biggest piece of dry land in the preserve.

  • Lovers Key State Park

    Lovers Key State Park is ranked No. 6 on the list. According to the official Florida State Parks website, the park “protects some of the most pristine barrier islands in Southwest Florida.” It also features “over two miles of sugar-sand beaches.”

    Lovers Key State Park

    Once a collection of secluded barrier islands reachable only by boat, Lovers Key, in recent years, has become a romantic destination for spectacular, beachside weddings.

  • Dry Tortugas National Park

    Dry Tortugas National Park is ranked No. 9 on the list. According to the park’s official website, “This 100-square mile park is mostly open water with seven small islands.” It’s also accessible only by boat or seaplane.

    Dry Tortugas National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

    Almost 70 miles (113 km) west of Key West lies the remote Dry Tortugas National Park. This 100-square mile park is mostly open water with seven small islands. Accessible only by boat or seaplane, the park is known the world over as the home of magnificent Fort Jefferson, picturesque blue waters, superlative coral reefs and marine life, and the vast assortment of bird life that frequents the area.

  • Boneyard Beach

    Boneyard Beach is ranked No. 10 on the list. According to the Florida State Parks website, it “is a favorite Jacksonville retreat and close-kept secret.” It also offers three miles of shoreline along the Nassau Sound.

    Boneyard Beach

    Escape the hustle of the city shore and explore a wilder side of Jacksonville at a one-of-a-kind beach at Big Talbot Island State Park.

  • Navarre Beach

    Navarre Beach is ranked No. 13 on the list. According to the Visit Florida website, “Navarre, a compact beach community found just east of Pensacola at the far northwestern tip of the state, beckons with 12 miles of pristine white shoreline.”

    Navarre Florida - Vacation Guide & Attractions in Navarre FL

    Nestled between Gulf Islands National Seashore and Navarre Beach County Park, the beach community of Navarre offers solitude and simplicity. Relaxation is the main attraction here.

  • Source

    This study comes from the Family Destination Guide. They surveyed 3,000 families in the United States to find the hidden beaches they most want to visit in summer 2023. Find the full list here.

    100 Best Secret Beaches in the USA for (2024)

    Looking for the top hidden beach destinations in the USA? Click this now to discover the BEST secret beaches in the USA - AND GET FR

Launa is part of Tampa Bay's Hometown Morning Krewe on 99.5 WQYK. She has been with the station for 7 years and joined J.R. and Kevin on the morning show 4 years ago. Since then, they have been nominated for not only a CMA but also an ACM. Launa has been in radio for the past 28 years and in the Tampa Bay market for 22 of those years. While working in radio, Launa has also served as an entertainment reporter on a local TV show and has hosted many charity events in the community. Using her popularity from QYK, Launa loves to help raise money for shelter animals and has been a volunteer at local shelters for years. Launa loves the community and writes articles on local news, entertainment, and events and highlights people who are shining in Tampa Bay that she knows others like her would also be interested in reading.

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