Best Little Beach Towns - Boca Grande, FL

For travelers seeking casual retreats for sand and surf, this uncrowded and unpretentious spot in Florida makes an ideal and affordable trip.

The cult-fave town of Boca Grande is a throwback, an Old Florida time warp with such whimsically named streets as Damnificare and no chain stores or ye-olde theme restaurants. This idyllic and Edenic escape on the Gulf of Mexica features a much-photographed lighthouse watching over Gasparilla Island State Park and long, quiet beaches touched by gentle surf. Boca Grande is a wonderland, a place that defies the clichés of Florida beach towns - all the sloppy, party-hearty aspects - while embodying the best of what the state has to offer.

In the free and easy days of summer, the quest for a great American beach town like Boca Grande is a national passion. Beach towns are a mainstay of the hot months, a beacon for countless citizens looking for a reprieve from the daily grind.

Travel + Leisure recommends staying at The Gasparilla Inn, a member of the Historic Hotels of America and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Gasparilla Inn is the classic resort and comes complete with a golf course. 

Of note, however, is the the Inn is closed during the hottest months so the best alternative is its sister property, the Innlet, which features a waterside restaurant and a relaxed vibe.

When eating in Boca Grande, Travel + Leisure featured Temptation Restaurant, a funky Florida spot with character - think murals of leaping tarpon and a neon martini sign. The Temptation serves local grouper, pompano, and soft-shell crabs.

For more information on places to stay, where to eat and what to do, visit the Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce website.