Flying to Florida's best beaches

In Miami Beach, you'll find some of the best-preserved art deco hotels in the country, not to mention South Beach, where you can spot suntanning celebrities as well as less-famous bathing beauties. For flights at the lowest fares, you'll find that more low-cost carriers fly to Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood than Miami International. Ft. Lauderdale's airlines include AirTran, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, and US Airways. Miami Beach (Photo: Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau)

If you're in search of refuge from the hustle and bustle of daily life, you'll appreciate Captiva Island, whose main selling point is its lack of much to do (besides sit on a peaceful beach). Like its neighbor Sanibel, Captiva is best accessed via the Southwest Florida International Airport. (Photo: Visit Florida)

For seashell collectors, Sanibel Island can't be beat. And, if you're seeking low fares, it's equally hard to top Sanibel's closest airport, Southwest Florida International, which has an abundance of low-cost carriers like AirTran, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, and Spirit, and USA3000. (Photo: Visit Florida)

The St. Petersburg/Clearwater area not only entices with urban excitement, but it also boasts one of the country's top-ranked beaches (Caladesi Island State Park) of 2006. You can fly to either St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport or Tampa International Airport. The former is on USA3000's route map while the latter is served by AirTran, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, and Spirit. (Photo: St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention & Visitors Bureau)

Daytona Beach has 23 miles of sandy seashore that's not only open all the time, but also completely free to pedestrians. And, with brand-new service from AirTran, Daytona Beach International Airport offers easy access to the beach. (Photo: Visit Florida)

Ft. Myers offers fun both day and night. While the sun is shining, there are numerous beaches; after dark, the nightlife of Fort Myers Beach heats up. On the mainland but near the islands of Sanibel and Captiva, Ft. Myers is the home of Southwest Florida International Airport. (Photo: Visit Florida)

Northwest Florida's Destin/Fort Walton Beach area is perhaps best known for its fishing, but the green Gulf waters and white sands make the Emerald Coast's beaches major draws, too. You can find good fares to the Okaloosa Regional Airport, though no traditionally low-cost airlines fly there. Slightly more than an hour's drive from Destin, Pensacola Regional may be a better value bet, as it's served by AirTran and US Airways. (Photo: Visit Florida)

Amelia Island, on Florida's northeast coast, presents visitors with both pleasant temperatures year-round and the kind of quiet atmosphere not always found on Florida's beaches. The best way to reach the island from the skies is via Jacksonville International, which features flights from AirTran, JetBlue, and Southwest. (Photo: Visit Florida)

Hollywood Beach's most famous asset is its Boardwalk, which is lined with shops and cafes. Flying into Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on low-cost carriers AirTran, Southwest, or Spirit may help you save some money for an ice cream or two on the beach. (Photo: Visit Florida)

Many South Walton beaches, despite large-scale development around them, are still owned by the state and preserved for public use. There are several nearby airports, including Pensacola Regional, which is served by AirTran and US Airways. (Photo: Visit Florida)