This Florida city landed a spot on National Geographic’s ‘Best Fall Beaches’ list. See where, why

Just because summer is over, that doesn't mean that beach season has to be.

With the start of the new season, National Geographic shared its seven suggestions for the best U.S. beach towns to visit during the 2023 fall season, including one famous Florida beach.

Experts claim that with fewer crowds and cooler temperatures, fall is the best time to explore coastal towns where "cultural sites, natural wonders, and tons of history tell memorable stories to take back home." St. Augustine Beach earned a spotlight on the light, with writers highlighting the area's history and 42-miles of sandy shores on the Atlantic Ocean.

More top Florida beaches to visit: This Southwest Florida island getaway named best beach town in the nation. See where it is

Where is St. Augustine Beach?

St. Augustine Beach is in the northeastern part of the state in St. Johns County, 50 miles from Jacksonville and 103 miles from Orlando.

Why is St. Augustine Beach named one of the best fall beaches in the country?

National Geographic highlighted the North Florida area, right next door to St. Augustine for its rich history and unique environment.

"Stroll the redbrick streets lined with centuries-old buildings, or hop on an Old Town Trolley tour," National Geographic said of nearby St. Augustine. "The City Gate, built with coquina blocks in 1808, and the González-Alvarez House, the oldest surviving Spanish colonial dwelling in the city, are just two notable points of interest."

They continue by writing that the "less humidity in the fall means pleasant walks around the historic city, with its sandy shores just minutes away across the Matanzas River. Go horseback riding on Crescent Beach, or look for shark’s teeth at Mickler’s Landing Beach, known for its pink sand made from crushed coquina."

What other U.S. beaches were highlighted?

Along with the St. Augustine area, National Geographic also featured six other beach towns throughout the country.

Atlantic Beach, South Carolina

National Geographic focused Atlantic Beach's history as it is one of the few Black-owned beaches that remain in the U.S.

"For more than three decades, this town spanning just four blocks was a bustling vacation spot for Black beach-goers living in the segregated South. In the early 1930s, Black entrepreneurs and families ran hotels, restaurants, and shops here. But while the town boomed in the 1940s and ’50s, it declined after segregation as Black tourists left to explore other vacation spots."

Nowadays, the residents are working to preserve the town’s history and revive the beach town.

Cannon Beach, Oregon

Many might recognize this Oregon beach by its iconic "Haystack Rock," a 235-foot basalt sea stack right on the shoreline. Beachgoers can run and explore the coastline, either finding public art or tidepools during low tide that teem with sea stars, anemones, crabs, and nudibranchs.

Cape May, New Jersey

One of the oldest seaside resort towns in the United States, National Geographic said that visitors of the New Jersey city will have plenty of room to "walk or bike along the promenade, explore the two miles of glittering shoreline, and stop for a sticky bun at the family-owned Madison’s Bakery or a double IPA from Cape May Brewery."

Laguna Beach, California

National Geographic shares that the Laguna beaches draws thousands of visitors for its array of scenery, from secluded sections of coastlines to hiking hotspots. They continued that fall is the best time to explore without the crowds taking up space and filling up the restaurants.

Haleʻiwa, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi

If you're looking for exceptional surfing locations, food joints and an abundance of history, experts point out this beach has it all. In fact, Queen Liliʻuokalani, the last sovereign monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom, vacationed in the town during the summer.

Revere Beach, Massachusetts

For history buffs, the Revere Beach Reservation is the perfect spot as it's the first public beach established in the U.S., around 1895. National Geographic writes that now visitors can stroll the town to take in scenery while grabbing a roast beef sammie or lobster roll at Kelly’s Roast Beef, and digging into a sundae at the Twist & Shake.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: St. Augustine sees spot on National Geographic's best fall beach towns