This Florida Beach Has The Whitest Sand In The South

Atlantic or Gulf, mainland or island, secluded or buzzing with activity—we love a beach any which way it comes. But we’d be lying if we didn’t admit to being a bit partial to white-sand beaches with crystal-clear water. (If you’re interested in the later, check out this Florida town.) For those seeking a blindingly white shoreline to lay your towel in, there’s one place to go: Clearwater Beach, Florida. Yes, the city is named for the impressive color and clarity of its water, but it could just as easily be named for its sugar-white sands.

Not only is Clearwater’s sand the most impressive shade of pure white, but it also has a unique powdery texture that makes it an absolute dream to take a mid-day snooze on. It’s also so soft that even the littlest of kiddos can dig around in it all day and go home without so much as a tiny scrape to their skin. Clearwater’s beaches are mostly devoid of shells, so you won’t have to worry about cutting your foot on a sharp fragment while you’re walking along the water’s edge. Go ahead, kick those sandals off and get used to the feeling of the sand between your toes.

Why Is Clearwater’s Sand So White?

There’s actually a scientific reason that Clearwater’s sand is so white (and so soft!). Rather than being made of finely crushed seashells that have been ground down over millions of years, Clearwater’s sand is made up of white quartz. The mineral is much softer than shells or fossil fragments, which accounts for that unparalleled velvety texture. And the sparkly quality of the quartz crystal translates into sand that seems to glow white. When the sun beams reflect off the particles just right, all we can say is make sure you’ve got sunglasses handy! The combo of the two can be difficult to take in with the naked eye.

If you’re wondering how white quartz made its way to the coast, look no further than the end of the last Ice Age about 20,000 years ago. When temperatures started heating up, ice caps began melting, causing water from the Appalachian Mountains to flow into the Apalachicola River and eventually all the way down to the coast. The water contained white quartz crystals, and over time Clearwater’s stunning shores were born.

Why Does Clearwater’s Sand Squeak?

First timers to Clearwater may be surprised to find that it’s not as hard to hear a footstep in the sand as you might think. You won’t hear the familiar thud of a heavy-laden trod, but you will hear a high-pitched squeak. And it’s not a beach mouse! What you’re hearing is the rubbing together of individual quartz particles. As the round particles rub together, the air between the grains needs an escape. The high-pitched chirp is the sound of that air escaping and the mineral particles scratching each other.

Other White-Sand Beaches

If you fall in love with Clearwater’s stunning white-sand beaches but don’t want to return to the same place year after year, you can find the same stunning white quartz sand throughout Northwest Florida from Panama City Beach all the way to Pensacola Bay. That means each of 30A’s beaches, as well as popular vacation spots like Destin and Santa Rosa, are all fair game when you’re seeking a white-sand wonderland.