re: Anyone ever been to both the Gulf of Mexico beaches and the Atlantic Ocean beaches in FLA?

Yes. Gulf side is better.

Daytona beaches is a nascar track
Gulf beaches are bumper cars track

Gulf beaches are prettier and better than Atlantic beaches. Miami and surrounding area is the only nice beaches to me on the Atlantic side.

Yes, the water is clearer. There are more shark attacks on the Atlantic side though.

Yes to all

What a lot of people dont realize is that the Gulf Coast of Florida has the best beaches in the entire United States.. even better than Hawaii.. im not saying that the *scenery* in Hawaii isnt beautiful, it is- but in terms of if you like sugar-like fine sand, and warm turquoise water, it doesnt get better than the FL Gulf Coast.. specifically Navarre Beach, Destin and that area.. but even better than that area is the section of the Gulf in Southwest Florida.. my personal favorite is Siesta Key beach, which has been voted #1 beach in America numerous times.. in re to the Atlantic side, ive only spent limited time there, but it reminds me of the California beaches which, while the have a great ‘scene’ and vibe, they have frigid cold water, even in July, and ugly, rocky beaches.

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I personally like the Gulf better / the coral rocks hurt

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was gonna say this. Lots of large coral rocks can sneak up on you when playing in the surf on the Atlantic side.

Surf, wave action can get rough at times. Early mornings tend to be the calmest

On the Atlantic side the surf is better and the sand is coarser.

Atlantic side is Ascension Parish whike the gulf side, especially the area near Tampa and southward to Boca Grande, are the Rolls Royce of beaches.