Virginia Key (Key Biscayne): The producers of Survivor could feasibly shoot their show on this ultrasecluded, picturesque, and deserted key, where people go purposely not to be found.

Matheson Hammock Park Beach (South Miami): This serene beach features an enclosed, man-made lagoon that is flushed naturally by the tidal action of the adjacent Biscayne Bay. Surrounded by the bay's warm, calm waters, the beach's backdrop is a tropical hardwood forest.

Lummus Park Beach (South Beach) is world renowned, not necessarily for its pristine sands, but for its more common name of South Beach, on which seeing, being seen, and, at times, the obscene, go hand in hand with the sunscreen and beach towels. The 12th Street section of this beach is the beach of choice for gay residents and travelers who come to show off just how much time they've spent in the gym and, of course, catch up on the latest gossip and upcoming must-attend parties and events. Oftentimes, this beach is the venue for some of the liveliest parties South Beach has ever seen.

Haulover Beach (Miami Beach), nestled between the Intracoastal Waterway and the ocean, especially at the north end, is the place to be for that all-over tan: Haulover is the city's only clothing-optional -- aka nude -- beach.

Crandon Park Beach (Miami) is extremely popular for families with kids because of the shallow water created by a neighboring sandbar. Convenient parking, picnic areas, a winding boardwalk, and a multiethnic mix of families grilling, dancing, and relaxing are the benchmarks of this beach.

Bahia Honda State Park (Bahia Honda Key): One of the nicest and most peaceful beaches in Florida, located amidst 635 acres of nature trails and even a portion of Henry Flagler's railroad.

John U. Lloyd Beach State Park (Dania Beach): Unfettered by high-rise condominiums, T-shirt shops, and hotels, this wonderful beach boasts an untouched shoreline surrounded by a canopy of Australian pine to ensure complete seclusion.

Lover's Key State Park (Fort Myers Beach): You'll have to walk or take a tram through a bird-filled forest of mangroves to this gorgeous, unspoiled beach just a few miles south of busy Fort Myers Beach. Although Sanibel Island gets all the accolades, the shelling here is just as good, if not better.

Cayo Costa State Park (off Captiva Island): These days, deserted tropical islands with great beaches are scarce in Florida, but this 2,132-acre barrier strip of sand, pine forests, mangrove swamps, oak hammocks, and grasslands provides a genuine get-away-from-it-all experience. Access is only by boat from nearby Gasparilla, Pine, and Captiva islands.

Naples Beach (Naples): Many Florida cities and towns have beaches, but few are as lovely as the gorgeous strip that runs in front of Naples' famous Millionaires' Row. You don't have to be rich to wander its length, peer at the mansions, and stroll on historic Naples Pier to catch a sunset over the Gulf.p>

Caladesi Island State Park (Clearwater Beach): Even though 3 1/2-mile-long Caladesi Island is in the heavily developed Tampa Bay area, it has a lovely, relatively secluded beach with soft sand edged in sea grass and palmettos. Dolphins cavort in offshore waters. In the park itself, there's a nature trail, and you might see one of the rattlesnakes, black racers, raccoons, armadillos, or rabbits that live here. The park is accessible only by ferry from Honeymoon Island State Recreation Area off Dunedin.

Canaveral National Seashore (Cape Canaveral): Midway between the crowded attractions at Daytona Beach and the Kennedy Space Center is a protected stretch of coastline 24 miles long, backed by cabbage palms, sea grapes, and palmettos. Its neighbor is the 140,000-acre Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, home to hundreds of Florida birds, reptiles, alligators, and mammals. Wooden boardwalks lead from a free parking lot to the huge expanse of soft brown sand and a few well-spaced picnic tables.

Gulf Islands National Seashore (Pensacola): You could argue that all of Northwest Florida's Gulf shore is one of America's great beaches -- an almost-uninterrupted stretch of pure white sand that runs the entire length of the Panhandle, from Perdido Key to St. George Island. The Gulf Islands National Seashore preserves much of this natural wonder in its undeveloped state. Countless terns, snowy plovers, black skimmers, and other birds nest along the dunes topped with sea oats. East of the national seashore and equally beautiful are Grayton Beach State Park near Destin and St. George Island State Park off Apalachicola.

St. Andrews State Park (Panama City Beach): With more than 1,000 acres of dazzling white sand and dunes, this preserved wilderness demonstrates what Panama City Beach looked like before motels and condominiums lined its shore, with lacy, golden sea oats swaying in Gulf breezes and fragrant rosemary growing wild. The area is also home to foxes, coyotes, and a herd of deer.