Florida’s most sacred shores are kept quiet by locals, not for secrecy, but to preserve their magic and wildness. Caladesi Island is accessible only by water and is rich in wildlife and birdlife.

As construction booms, local residents wonder whether the small-town feel of their city is slipping away. Steve Shanks, a single father of three boys, can step outside his $600-a-month apartment ...

The annual World’s 50 Best Beaches list was recently released, and only one U.S. beach made the list—Siesta Beach in Siesta Key, Florida.