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Guarded beaches are the exception rather than the rule in Florida, and rip currents drown more people here than any other natural hazard.
The counties that run full-time ocean rescue are Volusia, from Ormond through New Smyrna, Broward at Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pompano and Deerfield, Miami-Dade at Haulover, Crandon and Bill Baggs, Palm Beach at its county parks, Pinellas at Clearwater, St Pete Beach and Fort De Soto, and the Panhandle at Pensacola Beach and Panama City Beach. Jacksonville Beach has guarded its own stretch since 1912. Every guarded beach flies colored flags: two red means the water is closed, purple means dangerous marine life. If no flag is flying, nobody is watching.
Volusia County. Vehicles are allowed on the sand at marked ramps. From May 1 to October 31 they may be on the beach between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. or sundown, whichever is earlier; from November 1 to April 30 it is sunrise to sunset, tides permitting.
Open the guide →Broward County. The city's main beachfront, with the waterfront walkway running along it. Fort Lauderdale Beach Park at 1100 Seabreeze Boulevard has restrooms, outdoor showers, picnic tables, grills, a playground, a volleyball court, a basketball court and a launch for boats without motors.
Open the guide →Broward County. The Broadwalk runs nearly two and a half miles along the sand here, brick paved and open to walkers, joggers, cyclists and skaters. On it are the Hollywood Beach Theatre and a children's water playground at Charnow Park.
Open the guide →Miami-Dade County. A 177-acre county park with 1.4 miles of sand between Bal Harbour and Sunny Isles, and the largest undeveloped stretch of beachfront left in the county. Lifeguards all year. Parking is $7 on weekdays and $10 on weekends and on holidays, and the lots are open from sunrise until an hour before sunset.
Open the guide →Miami-Dade County. Two miles of sand on Key Biscayne with a sandbar offshore that keeps the water calm, parking for nearly 3,000 cars, and beach wheelchairs for anybody who needs one. Parking is $7 Monday to Thursday and $10 Friday to Sunday.
Open the guide →Pinellas County. The city's main beach, guarded seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with towers staffed according to season and weather. Pier 60 runs out from the middle of it.
Open the guide →Pinellas County. The county access at 4700 Gulf Boulevard, with 235 paid parking spaces, restrooms, showers, a water fountain and three boardwalks over to the sand. County parks open at 7 a.m. and close at sunset, with the closing time posted at the entrance.
Open the guide →Escambia County. The Santa Rosa Island Authority runs this shore and puts lifeguards on four parts of it: Casino Beach, Park East, the Fort Pickens Gate park and Quietwater Beach. Full-time cover runs June through August, with weekends from the middle of April through September, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Open the guide →Bay County. Bay County's main shore, and the rules here are worth knowing before you arrive. A red flag means rip currents are strong enough to be dangerous; double red means the Gulf is closed to swimming altogether, and that one is enforced.
Open the guide →Duval County. Ocean Rescue covers more than 4.1 miles of coastline here, year round - the towers are staffed depending on the weather and trucks patrol whatever the conditions. Dogs are not allowed on the sand between 9:00am and 5:00pm, any day of the year.
Open the guide →Two things make a beach reachable: a rolled matting path across the soft sand, and a loan wheelchair with balloon tires that floats on it.
Most Florida beaches close at sunset, and every state park does, so a late evening on the sand needs a city beach rather than a park.
For lying in the sun you want wide dry sand above the tide line, a chair and umbrella to rent, and somewhere to buy a drink without moving the car.
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