Best Florida Small Beach Towns Locals Love Too!

Having lived here for over 10 years, we’re discovered many cute beach towns all around Florida, each with their own personality, beach vibe and culture.

If you are looking for a Florida destination that offers a blend of beaches, a dash of local history, fun in and on the water, we have 3 great options that we love returning to whenever we can.

St Augustine, Amelia Island and Islamorada continue to offer a taste of old Florida, along with top hotels, great food and plenty of outdoor activities in the sun. Read on and see which one suits you.

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St Augustine

St Augustine has an historic downtown, leafy Magnolia avenue, waterfront rooftop bars & restaurants and great museums. With 40 miles of beaches and classy museums, this town has it all!

Being Scottish I’ve never believed there is much ‘history’ in Florida! BUT I have to admit St Augustine debunked this myth within a couple of hours of arriving!

St Augustine is the longest continually inhabited European-founded city in the United States – often termed the “Nation’s Oldest City.” So if history is a passion, you’re going to love it here!

1. Do A Walking Tour In Downtown St Augustine

Start your visit with a historic walking tour, the best way to discover the stories of St Augustine’s back streets and learn about lives from centuries back. It also helps get orientated and spot a cafe to return to, like Coffee Crucial Cafe, a converted old Blacksmith’s shed!

Go in the morning! It’s a beautiful stroll as the morning sunlight sparkles and before the day heats up.  If like me, you love taking photos, you’re going to be in your element! 

Photograph Magnolia Avenue! You will pass this on your tours but we suggest going back early the next morning (we did!) when it’s quieter to stroll along this gorgeous canopy street.

There are a couple of cafes here if you decide to return. We enjoyed a coffee at Cuban Coffee’s patio right on Magnolia Avenue. Or try an organic smoothie from the Fountain of Juice (both open at 9am).

While you’re here, visit Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park which dates back to the 1500s. Find the spring purported to be the Fountain of Youth in the park and splash your face – what harm can it do?

2. Jump On The St Augustine Trolley Tour

If you’d rather not walk or this isn’t possible for you, take the Old Town Trolley Tours St Augustine. It’s runs all day long with 20+ stops and this includes entry into the St Augustine History Museum at Stop 1.

You will find signs indicating stops all over town and you can get on any of them.

To be honest, we ended up taking it on one of our trips here and loved it. That trip was in July, (with grandkids) and it was way too hot for walking between sights, even when we fed them ice-cream 🙂

If you are in the mood to sit and enjoy views from the trolley, a full loop is around 70 minutes. Or enjoy a romantic horse and carriage ride one evening, especially beautiful with the millions of holiday lights that light up the town from November to January every year.

FYI, most walking tours don’t include going into/touring the Castillo (old fort) so if you end here (most do), then head straight into the ancient stone structure next.

3. Explore Castillo de San Marcos National Park

Spending a morning exploring Castillo de San Marcos was my favourite thing to do on my first visit to St Augustine. It reminded me of thick-walled Scottish castles, built for defense rather than beauty, which resulted in great longevity.

The fort, now a national park is not a sprawling area to walk around but plan for a few hours to see everything and take it the views.

Perfectly positioned next to the ocean, when you reach the upper sea walls, you get amazing views out over the harbour and bay.

The fort is a hands on experience and younger kids will love it too! And if you like a few facts and figures like me, it’s quite fascinating to find out this fort was one of 9 built on this exact site, the first one back in 1565!

I won’t spoil the surprise about why, so you can discover it on your own visit here 🙂

4. Hike Up St Augustine’s Lighthouse For Sunset

Around a 10 minute drive from downtown, over the Bridge of Lions and you’ll be at St Augustine’s Lighthouse & Marine Museum. A climb of 219 steps to the top, it was first lit in 1874, and still shines bright every night!

What you may not know is that there are some pretty unique St Augustine experiences in and around the lighthouse & museum.

How about a sunset from the top with champagne and then watching the moon rise high in front of you over the water?

Or a tour with the lighthouse keeper following in their daily routine? If you’re visiting with kids, they will be hard to peel away from playing pirates. Check their latest schedule for activities during your stay.

What to Expect on the Climb Up

Unlike say the towers we climbed in St Andrews, Scotland this summer where it’s a straight up over hundreds of steps, this climb is staggered. So you can pause at the 7 or so passing areas.

The staircase has handrails (of course), but it is constructed of see through metal, so if you’re not keen on heights, be aware. There is no elevator but if you use a wheelchair, the musuem and ground are accessible.

This is run as a non-profit so by visiting you will help keep the lighthouse alive!

5. St Augustine Beaches And Sunset Rooftop Bars

St Augustine oozes history and fun activities, but also don’t forget to go to the beach! There are over 40 miles of coastal spots to pick from. We suggest Vilano Beach only 5 minutes north of town because there’s plenty to do on and off the sand.

Crescent Beach is another less visited spot and great for parking up your RV or if you are travelling here by van!

There are many spots for water sports from SUP to kayaking and you can bring your doggie to the beaches but keep them on leash.

After you’re done tanning, head to a rooftop bar/restaurant and time it to be there as the sun sets! Here are 3 spots we personally enjoyed for cocktails and/or dinner.

Our Favourite Places to Eat

Harry’s: offers New Orleans style of food or Castillo within the Renaissance Hotel.

River and Post: this is where I took the photos below enjoying a couple of chilled sauvignon blancs. We ate here too – pizza and salads and everything was fresh and filling!

Milltop Tavern: step into what was a mill but now a cool live music spot with an inviting terrace.

San Sebastián Winery – if you prefer wine, head here late afternoon (they close at 6pm). Don’t worry, their La Cocina restaurant upstairs is award winning! This is where locals come to celebrate, so if you’re here for a special anniversary or birthday, give them a call.

We haven’ been but if you like a little glamour and high end cocktails, take yourself to Pesca Vilano Rooftop at the Hyatt Hotel.

Places To Stay in St Augustine

If you can, we say stay in the heart of the town! This is where you will find a number of cozy traditional Inns, all part of the historic city center. We suggest:

The Cedar House Inn: in historic district with onsite parking! Our room was beautifully furnished in rich colors and quality bedding.

Breakfast is the icing on the cake. Your will be spoilt for choice, it’s all freshly made to order from eggs, to fruit topped French toast, and pastries. It was my birthday when we stayed here last time and they really made it special!

St. Augustine Hilton Garden Inn is where we stayed on our first visit. We rate it for having a pool, private parking and decent breakfasts.

Alternatively if you want to be closer to the water, the Holiday Inn Express at Vilano Beach is good value.

Popular Events In St Augustine

When planning, check for major events throughout the year. You may love to visit and be part of them, or want to avoid!

• Celtic Music & Heritage Festival – March
• St Augustine Food and Wine Festival – May
• Night of Lights Show: 3 million tiny lights illuminate the town November to December. A sail ship evening tour is a unique way to enjoy the lights.

Getting to St Augustine

St Augustine is about 50 miles south from Jacksonville International Airport, and around a 2 hour drive (100 or so miles) from Orlando airport. If you’re in Daytona it’s about an hour’s drive.

From Orlando, you can take the main (& very busy) main I-4 interstate route and connect into I-95 (also busy).  If you’re looking for a more relaxing drive then joining State Road 50 to connect to I-95.

Amelia Island

Come to Amelia Island for wild beach horse-riding, laid-back boat trips, cozy bed and breakfasts with easy walks into town, this is where to come for a chilled getaway.

We think Amelia Island is perfect choice for a relaxed, laid back Florida small town getaway. Combine the architecturally interesting historic center, empty sandy beaches, fun boat trips and there’s plenty to keep you entertained.

Also known as the Isle of 8 Flags, from bygone ruling countries, Amelia island was once the shrimp capital of the world, and claims fame as home to the oldest bar in the USA: the Palace Saloon.

Here’s what we enjoyed over a 2 night (3 day stay), along with suggestions of where to stay and eat.

1. Explore Historic Down Town

Spend a leisurely morning getting a feel for the heart of the island by walking around the historic district. This is a smaller town than St Augustine and perfect for a slower pace.

We walked down to the Marina from our guest house to buy tickets for the afternoon boat cruise to Cumberland Island (see below) and wandered through the streets nearby.

There’s a small tourist office to the left of the marina and it’s worth popping in to see what might be happening during your stay.

For a good start to your day, head to Amelia Island Coffee, who have been serving morning brews to locals and us visitors for 30 years!

The Amelia Island Museum of History offers some fantastic walking tours, led by their docents. They typically last 1.2 hours, cover 8-12 blocks, and focus on different themes from showcasing Victoria architecture to murder mayhem tales.

The museum itself is open from Monday to Saturday: 10am-4 pm and Sundays from 1pm-4 pm.

If walking is not for you, the Amelia Island 8 flags history is an alternative, small group mini bus tour.

🔍 Check 8 Flag Tour Prices and Availability

2. Half Day Cruise To Cumberland Island

This was my favourite experience on Amelia Island because the cruise followed a stunning coastal route into Georgia and we saw quite the variety of wildlife, sea birds and water activities.

We sailed past several shrimp boats as we listened to the captain explaining this was the capital of the industry back in the 1900s.

However, farmed shrimp took over in the 1970s and today only a couple of boats go out daily; most of their catch goes to restaurants in New York! What’s cool is that they still celebrate shrimp, so if you are here in May, join in at the Shrimp Festival.

Once aboard, look out to the sandy banks to spot wild horses on the beach in Cumberland Island (in Georgia). I know this isn’t the best photo (phone!) but it was so unusual to see this, I had to include it for you to see 🙂

We took an afternoon cruise, but you can choose from morning and dinner cruises.

2. Spend a Morning or Afternoon On Fernandina Beach

It’s less than 3 mile drive from downtown to the island’s 13 mile sandy beach. Even if you live near a beach like we do, this one is naturally beautiful with natural dunes, grasses blowing in the sea breeze and easy access via walkways.

As well as swim, fish and enjoy water sports, come to Fernandina for a beach horse ride either at sunrise or sunset.

We booked the sunrise tour for my birthday treat. Disappointingly, it was cancelled because although the sun shone the entire 3 days we were there had high winds.

This blew sand around the beach and horses don’t want sand in their eyes either.

🔍 Book Sunrise or Sunset HorseRides Here!

While you are exploring the beach you’re likely to see a few of the local gopher tortoises munching their way through sand dunes foliage. They are so entertaining to watch from the walkways around the beach.

If you prefer a little more action on the water, sign up for a guided kayak or SUP Tour through Amelia and Talbot marsh areas. Keep an eye out for seabirds, wildlife and dolphins as you go.

3. Toast The Good Life at The Palace Saloon

The Palace Saloon has the privilege of being the oldest of its kind in Florida, and was reportedly the last bar to close when prohibition was declared. Being an ice-cream fan, I was delighted to hear that’s what was served here when no alcohol was available.

Originally built as a haberdashery and shoe shop in 1878, that didn’t last too long. 100+ years ago, Amelia Island was a nautical hub and many sailors came ashore here, and of course wanted to let their hair down.

It opened its doors as a drinking establishment in 1903 and has certainly stood the test of time! You may have had a brief stop here on your walking tour, but we say come back for happy hour.

Even if you’re not into bars, pop in because it’s such a unique space and worth a visit. Original mosaics, ceiling and brass lamps make the atmosphere, and it’s usually busy!

4. Visit Fort Clinch State Park

Right at the northern tip of Amelia Island you can spend a morning or a day visiting Fort Clinch State Park. If you plan to camp overnight , this is your spot in Amelia Island!

Come here for 1,400 acres of history from civil war times, as well as hikes, picnic spots, or join a ranger tour. To find out what tours and activities are on during your visit just call the park ranger office at 904-277-7274.

Short trails like the Willow Pond take around an hour, and if you love bird watching, you must come. This park is on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. Maybe you can spot an owl above your head or enjoy watching seabirds gather lunch at the shore!

What’s also so great about this park is that because it’s on the shore, you can even go shelling, biking (short trail of 3 miles or so) and fishing!

5. Museums, Culture and The Arts of Amelia Island

Amelia Island Museum of History. We mentioned this before because for town waking tours that we recommend. Their main exhibits are also excellent. Check out this PDF map of exhibits from how Amelia Island became a barrier island, to early pirate life and tomorrow’s ambitions!

For a small island though, there are some other quirky museums, antique shops & galleries to explore. The arts are alive here and you can often find an evening performance around town.

Pinball Museum. Go back in time before gaming took over to good old-fashioned pinball machines! Which reminds me of transporting one from London to Yorkshire years ago with a boyfriend who was determined to fill up his tiny living room with this prize find.

This museum is tucked behind ‘Krystal’ it’s open weekends only from 12pm-6pm. But you can test your skills to your heart’s content!

The Island Art Association is a local co-operative that showcases and sells some gorgeous pieces from over 45 local artists. Its hours are 11am-5pm (closed Tuesdays) and every second Saturday it stay open until 7pm.

On the third Sunday of each month, you can attend an artist led event (2 hours) free, but do pre-register at their site.

Amelia Music Playhouse is a community theatre putting on a busy schedule of events. What’s impressive is that this is totally volunteer led and as a non-profit relies on us showing up and supporting them!

Our Favourite Places to Eat

Lunch Spots: Walk around the streets just back from the shoreliine and you’ll pass by several places to eat. Here’s our favorites:

The Patio at 5th and Ash Restaurant is where we ate after coming off our boat cruise. Sit outdoors in the pretty garden full of colour as you enjoy a classic American menu.

Their salads are great especially the burrata caprese and beet salad, but meat eaters will find plenty to choose from too!

Arte Pizza is another casual island lunch spot which we also tried. They have pizzas for all taste buds including, yes you guessed it, shrimp pizzas,

Dinner Spots: You can stay casual or dress up for fine dining at the likes of Salt, in the Ritz Carlton. We’re more on the casual end and so are our recommendations.

Espana Restaurant – with colorful island decor, come for tapas with home made sangria in a relaxed setting. This was our favourite for dinner but do pre-book!

Bar Zin – this is locally owned and we loved the bistro style atmosphere. It’s not hugely veggie friendly but their crispy brussel sprouts and salads were delicious. If you’re not that hungry come for happy hour and appetizers.

Where to Stay on Amelia Island

For a small island there is a remarkable range of accommodation on Amelia Island and many old Victoria style properties are fantastic boutique hotels.

We stayed at The Fairbanks House in the historic district which is a great location to walk into town from. They have ample parking. The front veranda is perfect for a leisurely breakfast and the daily cocktail hour.  

Other options:

Beach Front Villas – 1 bedroom, with balconies, and right across from the beach. You will need to drive the few miles into town.

Amelia Hotel At The Beach – a more affordable option, but with A/C, pool and range of rooms, some with seating area. Guests rate the friendly service.

Popular Events On & Around Amelia Island

Fish to Fork Event – April

Isle of 8 Flags Annual Shrimp Festival – While the museum has closed you will find shrimp on the menu all around town. If you visit during the annual May Shrimp Festival, you can eat even more!

Getting to Amelia Island

Fly into Jacksonville (the nearest airport). From here you’re only a 30 minutes drive away. It’s possible to pre-book an Uber or taxi over to the island because once you’re there you don’t really need a car if you’re staying downtown.

How To Spend Time In Islamorada

Head south to Islamorada for a taste of the Florida Keys, awesome fishing, crystal clear waters and luxury resorts like Cheeca Lodge. Once you get here, you’ll never want to leave, that’s why we return here at least once every year.

Located much further south from Amelia Island and St Augustine, our 3rd small Florida beach town is Islamorada.

Comprising of 6 islands, I feel it’s maybe more of a village than town, and the main attraction is stunningly sparkling blue waters. Throw in an artsy community, a few low key restaurants and bars, and you have all you need for a care-free Florida experience.

We try do the 5 hour drive from Sarasota once a year because it’s really the best spot in Florida for offshore fishing, and it never feels over crowded.

Come here to snorkel, dive, sports fish, bike, kayak and to name but a few activities. Or come, and do very little outside a top resort!

1. Go Deep Sea Fishing

Head to Bud and Mary’s Marina to set up your trip. With their decades of experience they will set you up and we have used them repeatedly.

Alternatively, if you drive a few miles away to Key Largo, we also rate Captain Bennie of Play Baby Charters.

Now I’m someone who is not a natural on or in the water. So take it from me that even if you’re a little wary, suffer from a bit of motion sickness, once you get out there and start fishing, you seem to forget about the waves. The fishing takes over.

But know your limits. I confess to having one boat turn around as the waves were so much for me but that was a smaller boat (my excuse).. Charter the biggest one you can afford I say!

We always catch fish offshore from Islamorada. If you bring your catch to many of the restaurants here and back to your resort they will grill it for dinner.

2. Feed Giant Tarpon Off the Docks

So, this is such a fun activity and quite enthralling. Huge tarpon fish gather in large numbers around the local marinas. If you are waiting for your tour to start, or for fish to be cleaned, go take a look and bring your camera!

3. Kayak, Snorkel & Dive in State Parks

The many islands around and within Islamorada also offer so many different inshore activities. Here’s our Top 3:

1. Guided Kayak Tours from Robbie’s Marina through the mangrove Tunnels of Indian Key State Park; or Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park. Hire gear like SUPs here too.
2. Snorkel through the first overseas park in the USA at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, on Key Largo. Open daily at 8 a.m. until sunset, entrance is $8 per vehicle + 50c per person.
3. A Private Sunset Trip on a Tiki Boat – time to relax and enjoy your sundowners while the captain sails the bay at sunset. The sunsets here are simply amazing!

4. Cycle Part of the Overseas Heritage Trail

Cycle part of or all of the Overseas Heritage Trail – 90 miles that crosses over island bridges and has a 20 mile trail around Key Largo.

We brought our own bikes but most resorts have them to rent as does Back Country Cowboy.

5. Book a Day Trip To Key West

We say there’s plenty to keep you busy in and around Islamorada, but if you fancy ticking off the most southern point in the USA, drive down to Key West for a day.

However if you prefer to have someone else do the driving, we recommend DayTrip having used them numerous times in Europe.

Getting to Islamorada

To get to Islamorada from Miami airport, take Highway 1 and keep going south for just under 80 miles! It’s a single highway with enforced speed limits, so pack your patience and just relax and enjoy the journey.

Where to Stay in Islamorada

For me, location is important. If you’re on a tighter budget, think about whether you will actually use all a resort’s facilities.  

Some of the more ‘traditional’ Keys hotels and inns are actually great value and often in prime locations.  Walk the beach vs heading to a hotel gym 🙂

• Budget – Sunset Inn has free parking, a pool, and guests like the old Florida atmosphere.
• Mid Range – The Ocean View Inn – with an onsite bar and restaurant, Starbucks this is a good mid choice.
• Luxury – splurge and stay at Cheeca Lodge (we stayed here but it’s getting quite pricey), so also look at Casa Morada.

If you’re traveling as larger groups where you want more shared social time, search for home stays below.  

Popular Islamorada Events

There are a number of fishing tournaments and sailing regattas in Key Largo, Islamorada and across the Florida Keys islands which are fun offshore and on the beach!

If you are a fan of country music and are planning a trip in September, maybe keep going south. It’s Always 5 O’Clock in Key West.

FAQ

Ready To Plan Your Florida Escape

We hope you’ve found this helpful in deciding which Florida beach town to visit next. If you’re ready to start planning, our link below will help you see the latest deals on flights and accommodation.

And to conclude, although our home town wasn’t the main feature of this post, it’s up there as one of the best Florida beach towns. Here’s a peak into things to do in Sarasota, and of course, on the island of Siesta Key.

Have an amazing time in the sunshine state wherever you venture!