Florida beaches or California beaches? Which state wins?

Our country is unique in the fact that the beaches that surround it are completely different from one another, with plenty of them being underrated across the nation. Not only are the water temperature and the weather different from one another, but the activities and lifestyle at the beaches are also different. What makes for a wonderful vacation on one coast may not apply to another.

If you were to choose between going to a California beach or a Florida beach, which destination would you choose? Tough one, isn’t it?

Florida and California are two of the biggest vacation spots in the US. Much of this has to do with the many beaches both the Sunshine State and the Golden State have to offer. What some people may not know is that the Pacific and Atlantic coasts couldn’t be more unlike one another.

While the southern part of California shares some similarities with Florida, disputes still occur when deciding which state has better beaches, Florida or California.

Florida beaches are lovely, and California beaches are amazing, so which state wins? With all that both states have to offer with their coastal places, choosing a favorite is difficult to do. It all comes down to personal preference.

Nevertheless, we thought it would be interesting to do a rundown and highlight what each state boasts when it comes to beaches. Let’s get this started!

Florida beaches are tropical and warm

While it may seem like the Sunshine State has one type of beach, sunny and warm, the climates and types of sand vary along the Atlantic coastline, allowing for lots of beaches for every type of traveler. This has to do with the about 1,300 miles of coastline, with 200 Florida beaches being spread out between the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Straits of the Sunshine State.

Along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, beaches are popular among swimmers, sunbathers, and surfers. There are darker sand beaches packed with shells for collecting for those who enjoy taking a stroll.

But the true attraction, and we all have to agree on that, is the air and water temperatures being warm and pleasing many months of the year. With water temperatures between 75 and 80 degrees F from April to October, Florida beaches are definitely a lovely place from the spring through the fall.

On Florida’s West Coast, the Gulf of Mexico offers visitors the chance to go swimming in nearly bathwater-temperature waters during the summer months and calm waters with which to do so. Once you’re done swimming, the Florida beaches allow for casual strolls and are perfect for sunbathing along the coastline filled with powder-soft white sand.

The Emerald Coast is known for its many white, sugary-fine sandy beaches as well as the turquoise water from which the coastline got its name. The region is known for being pretty touristy since Destin is part of the Emerald Coast. Because of this, it’s not uncommon for these Florida beaches to be filled with people fishing, parasailing, or building sand castles along the water’s edge.

Many visitors enjoy the area well into the winter given that both the water temperature and air temperature are known to remain mild into November and sometimes even beyond.

If you want to travel to the Florida Keys, the climate there is a bit different. While the Keys boast the white sandy beaches that mainland Florida has, there’s a tropical vibe to the Keys that the mainland doesn’t.

The waters are clear and warm. You can see tropical fish, and it’s not uncommon for people to relax lying out under palm trees to enjoy a reprieve from the heat. How could you describe Florida beaches otherwise?

California has many attractive beaches

The Golden State has very diverse beaches located along the Pacific coastline. This has to do with the different climates found in Southern, Central, and Northern California.

There are 420 public beaches stretched along the 840 miles of coastline. Many of the California beaches that are thought of by those who don’t live in the state are in the South. This is where the beaches are warm and covered in gold sand; there are plenty of boardwalks to stroll, and surfers of all levels come out to ride the waves.

Along the central coast, the temperatures tend to be a bit lower for sunbathing and lying out on the beaches, which range from golden to white sand. However, the panoramic views along the vistas and the hiking trails that allow visitors to explore both the wooded areas and the coastline on the same hike are a big draw.

This is due to the fact that not only are different ecosystems found all in one place, but the wildlife here is diverse as well. This would be a difference between California beaches and Florida beaches.

Moving northward, the coast gets much more rugged. The lovely beaches in Northern California are similar to what Russian and Spanish explorers stumbled upon centuries ago. The cliffs, which you won’t find on Florida beaches, allow for stunning views of the Pacific; whales migrate through the area; and the beaches here range from those of yellowish-brown to large rocks and even glass.

This, in combination with the fact that the fact that the weather is significantly colder than in the southern part of the Golden State, can make the beaches less crowded and an ideal place for those looking for some solitude.

We haven’t answered the question of whether the Florida beaches or the California beaches are the best; we’re very aware of that. But that’s because you can’t actually give the award to one state or another. However, you can choose which is best when it comes to beaches based on your personal taste.

Now, let’s talk about the difference between the Golden State and the Sunshine State based on the beaches they offer.

Differences between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts

The biggest difference between the Atlantic Coast and Atlantic Coast beaches has to do with the temperatures. While the weather in Southern California is similar to that in Florida, the more northern tourists travel in the Golden State, the lower the lower the air temperature. However, it’s the water temperature that makes the biggest difference between California and Florida.

While it’s possible to swim for nearly eight months out of the year in the waters of Florida beaches, even during the summer months in Southern California, the water isn’t warm enough for most to swim in.

Even the coldest waters in Florida are warmer than any of the water temperatures in California. This is because of the currents coming out of Alaska for the Golden State and the currents coming from the Caribbean for Florida. Given that, it makes sense why there are way more resort communities located on Florida beaches than there are in California.

However, this also means that a majority of Florida beaches have a tendency to be more crowded than California beaches, making it a must to get to the beach early in the Sunshine State to get your spot to enjoy the sun, sand, and sea.

The most popular beaches in Florida and California

While the beaches in California and Florida aren’t very similar to one another, there are still beaches that are among the best in the state and in the country in both the Sunshine State and the Golden State. The beaches fall in all regions of California and Florida and make wonderful places to visit and explore for beach lovers.

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The top-rated beaches in California are La Jolla, Laguna Beach, Malibu, Pismo Beach, and Pfeiffer Beach. The first three are located in Southern California, while the last two are in Central California.

The top-rated Florida beaches are Anna Maria Island, Siesta Key, Santa Rosa Beach, Palm Beach, and Delray Beach. The first three are in the Gulf of Mexico, while the last two are on the shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean.

When it comes to choosing which state has better beaches, it’s up to the individual to make this choice. This is because there are such differences that make each place filled with beaches unique from one another that it’s hard to pick a winner. Fortunately, all can be visited and explored for what they have to offer, be it travel to, relocate to, or retire to.

If you liked our article on Florida beaches vs. California beaches, we have a bunch of other things you may want to read, and here’s one of them: This Woman Lived in Florida for 20 Years; Here Are Her Top 7 Tips for Tourists.