Examiner.com article: Best Beaches in Florida

PHOTO: Beachfront at The Miami Beach EDITION Hotel courtesy of The Miami Beach EDITION Hotel

One of the hardest assignments I have had is trying to figure out the five best beaches in the world. In that capacity, Florida had a plethora on its own so I was able to craft a list of the best beaches in Florida for one of the outlets I write for Examiner.com. The article was published live today and you can find it here: http://www.examiner.com/article/welcome-to-summer-best-beaches-florida.

Full text below!

Welcome to Summer! Best Beaches in Florida

by

Sery Kim

For those who kick-off the Memorial Day season with a beach visit, one of the hardest things about being an overworked D.C. resident is the dearth of readily accessible beaches to unwind and relax. After all, the dubious pristineness of the Potomac, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach are not in debate. These waters are muddy, unclean and filled with relations of the Lochness Monster.

Then, for those who have already done the journey to New Jersey, Delaware and OBX in North Carolina, perhaps it is time to consider the allure of Florida beaches once more. Consider the allures of:

Marco Island One of the top islands in the United States, with 80% of the island remaining undeveloped, Marco Island offers sugary beaches more akin to the Indian Ocean than Florida. Stay at the Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort, Golf Club & Spawhich allows visitors to walk out the doors and straight onto the beach. Be sure to linger for the spectacular sunsets where locals can be heard clapping and cheering as the sun makes its final disappearance into the water.

Boca Raton While Boca Raton is better known for its retirees, the beaches themselves are aging gracefully with a clean freshness bringing joy to the winter-weary East Coaster. Stay at the Waterstone Resort & Marina in Boca Raton. A Doubletree by Hilton, with rates as low as $159 a night, this affordable hotel is directly connected to the beach via the marina. If bored by the “night life,” Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach are a mere 25 miles away.

Fort Lauderdale Thankfully, no longer a spring break mecca, 23 miles of Blue Wave beaches -- which are certified by the Clean Beaches Council for water quality, cleanliness and safety -- exist in Fort Lauderdale. Check out Pompano Beach which has some of the clearest water in South Florida or Lauderdale-By-The-Sea which has great snorkeling right off the beach. Stay at the Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale. This pristine, Art Deco infused designed hotel is the perfect background to relax in luxury after a hot day on the beach.

Palm Beach Filled with celebrity chef-owned restaurants and trendy downtown districts perfect for the sophisticated traveler, Palm Beach fans have been scouting these flawless beaches since before many of us were born. Stay at the newly opened Kimpton’s Tideline Ocean Resort and Spa, the first Kimpton boutique oceanfront property in Palm Beach. All the fabulous amenities of a Kimpton in a beautiful locale.

Miami Beach Nothing beats the pulsating rhythm of Miami Beach, a perennial favorite beach in Florida. Though people-watching is probably the best activity on the beach, this stretch of beach real estate has remained enjoyable and quite cool. Avoid the crush of Art Basel attendees each year and be sure to take a good look at the school calendar to ascertain when it is a good time to visit. Whatever you do, be sure to stay at the new Miami Beach EDITION Hotel. Carved from the perfect imagination of Ian Schrager (founder of Studio 54), the Miami Beach hotel joins the legions of fans of the London, Istanbul and New York City EDITION hotels as the best boutique hotel chain in the world. If ever you needed a reason to visit Miami again, then it is to stay at this hotel.