NEWS

Zip, zero, zilch: TripAdvisor list excludes SWFL beaches

DAVE BREITENSTEIN
DBREITENSTEIN@NEWS-PRESS.COM
Beach sunset view from the Kane Tiki Bar at JW Marriott Marco Island.

TripAdvisor released its new list of America's favorite beaches, and seven of the top eight are right here in Florida.

So which Southwest Florida beaches made the 2017 Travelers' Choice list?

NONE!

That's the same number of Lee, Collier and Charlotte county beaches that made Dr. Beach's Top 10 list in 2016.

What gives?

The sun is still shining, the water is still warm, and sand and seashells still dazzle beach-goers. Last winter and spring, however, the region's reputation took a little hit when brown water emerged in the Gulf of Mexico following discharges from Lake Okeechobee. And then there's the issue of red tide, which has impacted our coastal areas off-and-on for years.

Just today, reporter Laura Ruane reported that Southwest Florida's tourist season outlook was flat, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. For January, Southwest Florida International Airport reported a year-over-year passenger decline of 2.8 percent, but that still represented RSW's second-best January in its history.

Don't see the poll above? Click this link: Vote: Which Southwest Florida Beach is your favorite?

According to TripAdvisor users, these Florida beaches are among America's best:

  • 1. Siesta Key Beach
  • 3. St. Pete Beach
  • 4. Clearwater Beach
  • 5. Panama City Beach
  • 6. Hollywood Beach
  • 7. Pensacola Beach
  • 8. St. Augustine Beach

RELATED: TripAdvisor ranks the best beaches in the world