World's Best Beaches Points

To find the best Florida strands, USA TODAY hosted an east coast-west coast smackdown. "Dr. Beach," aka Stephen Leatherman, helped select the destinations for each of five categories. Each week, readers voted for one pair of contenders. With 95% of the vote, Fort De Soto Park was declared the best family beach.
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, the runner-up for best family beach, has a full mile of sandy white beach, killer views plus a knockout punch of family activities.

Florida's best beaches: East Coast-Gulf Coast smackdown

"The surf is gentle because there's a big sandbar off-shore," says Leatherman. "Families can canoe, kayak, fish, bike and

The gulf's 230-acre Don Pedro Island State Park won the title of best tranquil beach with 58% of the vote. The park can be reached only by ferry, water taxi or private boat. That reduces the number of visitors, which makes sunning and walking more solitary and serene than on easily reached shores.