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The time has come. Siesta Key has officially been knocked off… and it’s not Clearwater, the usual silver medal placeholder taking its place.
There always seems to be an annual battle between these 2 Florida paradises.
In fact, each town welcomes beachgoers with a sign claiming to be the ‘#1 beach’, yet both can’t be true, right?
USA Today recently unleashed the 2025 rendition of their Reader’s Choice Awards and the big winner for “Best Beach in Florida” was just as surprising as 2024 since there’s always so much hype, especially centered around Siesta Key.
But it’s not Southwest Florida we’re honing in on today; it’s one of only a pair of Blue Flag-certified beach getaways in America, nestled in the shadow of Miami.
Delray Beach: Florida’s Surprising Reigning Champ
Delray Beach has won the same award 2 years running, and that’s the most surprising fact of all.
Knowingly or not, sometimes travel publications try too hard to be cute by throwing their audience a curveball for clicks, which could easily be surmised last year, but there’s nothing click-baity about crowning Delray for the second straight year.
What is cute is ranking Siesta Key as #8 out of 10 in Florida, while Clearwater still sits fat and happy at #2.
For what it’s worth, I’ve never been here. I have been to Siesta Key, though, and have a hard time believing any Florida beach can top it.
Immediately upon stepping foot on the sugary white sand (and lugging a cooler through it), I thought to myself, “I get it. This place is pure paradise.”
Well, before I noticed all the retirees in swimwear who clearly don’t own a mirror…
But, do Delray visitors feel the same way?
No lie, the first review that pops up on Google reads ‘I came here for Memorial Day weekend and the beach is full of seaweed and smells like dead fish’
Overall, Delray holds an impressive 4.7 Google rating.
Small, Yet Mighty: 2 Miles Of Pristine Shores
Hopefully, the fish stench was that reviewer’s upper lip after too many tacos, but truth be told, it was likely the aftermath of the sargassum invasion we reported on in early May.
That’s what you get for not reading Travel Off Path, bud!
Sargassum is an icky brown algae that’s basically impossible to stop, even with advanced notice. Unfortunately, summer is primetime sargassum season in the Atlantic.
Though, a majority of the time Delray Beach truly is pristine. With only 2 miles of shoreline between Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach, if the atmosphere were as described above, it wouldn’t meet stringent Blue Flag standards.
There’s a reason, after all, that there are only 2 Blue Flag-certified beaches in the entirety of our nation. Kinda pathetic if you think about it since Los Cabos alone has 23 of them…
Delray’s waters are a vivid crystal blue along soft sand perfect for beach day lounging or sunset strolls.
It’s also super close to town, known as the “Village by the Sea”, where you’ll discover Delray’s artsy vibes and hidden gems such as the retro Silverball Pinball Museum and tranquil Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens.
Where To Stay In Delray Beach
No beach trip is complete without an awesome place to stay, and with Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach all in close distance, Delray has some stiff competition.
The good news is that Delray holds a large swath of grand hotels clustered together in this tight-knit paradise.
There’s even a Trader Joe’s a block from the beach to stock up on beach snacks for the day!
I can’t be the only one addicted to their Buffalo Ranch popcorn, can I?
According to TripAdvisor, these are travelers’ 3 favorite hotels in Delray Beach this summer:
- Opal Grand Resort & Spa
- The Seagate
- The Residences at Latitude Delray Beach
If it were me, I’d opt for Delray Sands Resort (also an Opal brand), which is smack dab on the beach and reasonably priced at just $229 in the middle of summer.
Sam Sears
Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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