Guana Tolomato Reserve, Ponte Vedra Beach Armand’s Circle, with its posh shops and restaurants.īest time to visit: In October for Sarasota Pride. 400 Ben Franklin Dr., within a 10-minute walk of St. It’s secluded – think dunes and sea oats – and 22-acre north Lido Park looms like a forest above. The quiet northern reaches of this white sand key is popular with gay sunbathers in Sarasota. 3500 Pinellas Bayway.īest time to visit: In June for St. Beach’s “America’s Best Beaches” in 2005. Stick to sunbathing with a suit on! North Beach claimed the No. Pete Beach, the breathtaking, rustic North Beach area of this county park has a northern expanse near the end of the island where gays and lesbians congregate. Pete Pride.Īt the southern tip of Pinellas County near St. Info: Tampa Bay International Gay and Lesbian Films Festival, St. Along Gulf Way, from 22 nd Avenue to the end of the island.īest times to visit: In October for the Tampa Bay International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, in June for St. Quiet and narrow – it’s only one-block wide – the island is charming, with white sand and pink shells. Pete Beach, south of the historic Don Cesar Hotel, Pass-a-Grille stretches for about 22 blocks.
Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island.īest times to visit: In October for the Tampa Bay International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, or June for St. Pete’s Treasure Island, among the string of barrier islands that extends along the Gulf of Mexico to the west of St. One of the west coast’s premiere gay beaches, bohemian Sunset Beach is on the southern tip of St. At Sebastian Street and North Fort Lauderdale Beach Drive (A1A).īest times to visit: In March for PrideFest Week in October, when the OUTShine Film Festival takes place in June for Stonewall Summer Pride. Fort Lauderdale is home to the Stonewall National Museum & Archives, which houses the largest circulating LGBTQ book and film program in the U.S. The most popular gay beach in Fort Lauderdale is across the street from the Ritz-Carlton and within blocks of some of the city’s gay resorts and guesthouses. Along South Roosevelt Boulevard.īest times to visit: In March for the Winter Party Festival September for Womenfest October for Bear Fest or June for Key West Pride. The beach’s shallow waters are only a short distance from the bars, restaurants and shops of Duval Street. Smathers Beach, Key WestĪt 2½ miles long, Smathers is big compared to other beaches on this tiny island of Key West, one of the nation’s top destinations for gay travelers. Info: Miami Beach LGBTQ Visitor Center 2. I t's located at 12th Street and Ocean Drive.īest time to visit: In March, when the Winter Party, the biggest gay beach party in North America, takes place. It’s across the street from the Palace Restaurant & Bar, a gay hangout that has been welcoming sunbathers for the past 25 years. The most popular gay beach in Miami is mostly a hangout for men, but you’ll also find lesbians and straights soaking up the sun with locals.
Just look for the rainbow flags flying amid the rental chairs and lifeguard stations. South Beach’s 12 th Street Beach, Miami Beach Pete Beach and Sarasota, here are some of best gay beaches in Florida. Out in the Sun: Florida’s Top 10 Gay Beachesįrom gay Florida party destinations such as Miami, Key West and Fort Lauderdale to mellow, secluded spots in St.