Shipping Containers for Sale in Pensacola, FL

Need ideas for your spring break trips? How about relaxing on some of the top beaches in the state?

A report by Condé Nast Traveler identified which beaches were rated among the best in the nation, with Florida taking four of the top 15 spots.

The findings were gathered from over 750,000 respondents, choosing the best beaches from Hawaii to the Virgin Islands.

"From St. Augustine's dazzling boardwalk to the aptly named and ultra chill Siesta Beach, your picks run the gamut of family-friendly fun, romantic seclusion, fly-and-flop convenience, and off-grid escape," Condé Nast Traveler writes. "America's shores are as varied as the 50 states themselves, and you've found gems glinting with their own light from coast to coast."

What is the best beach in the US? Title goes to Florida

Pensacola Beach took the top spot for the best beaches in the country.

"Taking the top spot on this list, Pensacola is so much more than its beach. Venture beyond its perpetually summery sands and discover a thriving arts and culture scene well worth its own full itinerary," the report states.

The report highlights its many festivals and revitalized nightlife scene as factors behind its ranking.

Where is Pensacola Beach?

Where did other Florida beaches rank?

In addition to Pensacola Beach, three other Florida beaches ranked, including its neighbor, Navarre Beach.

Navarre Beach ranked second on the list, with the ranking highlighting its sense of adventure.

"Underwater, scuba down to the artificial reefs of Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary, where swarming schools of fish, sting rays, and sharks swim among the coral. Once you've dried off, take the scenic route and savor the sea views just a little longer on a stroll down the pier, the longest in northwest Florida."

Further up the list, Siesta Key made the eighth slot. Off the coast of Sarasota, the barrier island was recently ranked the 12th best beach in North America and 42nd best globally on The World’s 50 Best Beaches list for 2025.

St. Augustine Beach, the last Florida beach listed, ranked 14th on the list.

"The beach is home to the warm white sands and surfable waves many great beaches lay claim to, but what places St. Augustine over the top is its family-friendly boardwalk that has a little something for everyone."

See the full list of the top 15 beaches in the US

Samantha Neely is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters

Editor's note: This story was updated with the latest case numbers. The original story stated it was the first case in 20 years, but records now indicate it's the first in at least 30 years.

Pensacola doctors are reporting the first measles case in Escambia County in at least 30 years.

While the Department of Health only releases official numbers once a week, local doctors began warning their patients of the case on Tuesday.

"We have been notified of a confirmed case of measles in our area," Pensacola Pediatrics wrote on its social media pages late Tuesday. "Measles is highly contagious, and unvaccinated individuals are at increased risk if exposed."

At this time, infants 6 months to 11 months are eligible for early MMR (measles) vaccination, and children 12 months of age and older are eligible for routine, on-time vaccination, Pensacola Pediatrics wrote.

The measles case was not a patient of Pensacola Pediatrics, but like other health providers statewide, staff are acting early to prevent transmission of the virus.

"We understand that news about measles creates concern," Baptist Hospital wrote in a prepared statement. "While measles is a preventable illness, those who are vaccinated are well protected. For the most accurate and up-to-date guidance, please refer to our community’s public health authority — the Florida Department of Health in Escambia County — at escambia.floridahealth.gov. You can also visit cdc.gov/measles for additional trusted information on symptoms, vaccination, and how to protect your family’s health."

The measles is extremely contagious. "If 10 people without immunity are exposed, up to nine may get sick," says the Florida Department of Health.

It spreads among people through the air when an infested person breathes, coughs and sneezes. The virus can live in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours, according to the Florida Department of Health.

How many measles cases are in Florida?

Measles cases in Florida seems to be rising by the day, making it hard to determine an exact number. Preliminary data indicates that Florida has managed to triple its measles cases from last year within the first five weeks of 2026.

The CDC's data is a week behind, and only reports nine confirmed cases through Jan. 29.

A map of measles cases created by the Center for Outbreak Response Innovation (CORI) at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security shows a more recent count of 21 confirmed cases in 2026, but even this number is incomplete.

Here's a look at the most recent number of measles cases in Florida that we are currently aware of:

These cases are based on a mixture of official data from the Florida Department of Health, CDC and reporting from the USA TODAY Network-Florida.

Over the past 20 years, Florida has reported an average of three measles cases per year. The highest number of cases was reported in 2024 (12) and 2018 (15). Florida reported just eight measles cases in 2025.

Prior to Tuesday's case, Escambia County has not reported any confirmed measles cases in the past 30 years, according to FDOH public records. Santa Rosa County reported one case in 2011.

What is measles?

Measles is an illness caused by an extremely contagious virus called rubeola. People typically don't report serious illness, but it's ability to spread can quickly lead to large outbreaks among people who are not vaccinated.

Measles is typically known for the rash it can cause, but it can lead to other medical complications that include pneumonia and encephalitis, in rare cases.

Encephalitis is swelling of the brain that requires hospitalization and intensive treatment. It can cause seizures, hallucinations, permanent brain damange, blindness, hearing loss and memory loss, accoording to the FDOH.

How contagious is the measles?

The measles is extremely contagious. "If 10 people without immunity are exposed, up to nine may get sick," says the FDOH.

It spreads among people through the air when an infested person breathes, coughs and sneezes. The virus can live in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours, according to the Florida Department of Health.

What happens if you get measles?

It can take between a week and two weeks after contact with the virus before symptoms can show up.

The Mayo Clinic says that the first symptoms typically include:

Tiny white spots inside the mouth, called Koplik spots, may occur about two to three days after the first symptoms appear.

A blotch rash made up of large, flat spots and small raised bumps starts to appear three to five days after symptoms, or about 14 days after coming into contact with the virus.

There are several complications that can arise from measles, including:

How serious is the measles?

While most people infected with measles aren't hospitalized, the disease is so infectious that its impact can quickly become a numbers game. Before the measles vaccine was licensed and introduced in 1963, it was responsible for 48,000 annual hospitalizations and 400-500 deaths, according to the CDC.

How long does measles last?

Most people recover from the measles in about 10 days, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Can adults get measles?

Yes, adults can get measles, especially if they are unvaccinated.

How can you prevent getting measles?

With a 97% effective rate, receiving two doses of the MMR vaccine offers the best protection against measles.

Can you still get the measles if you're vaccinated?

The short answer is yes. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing measles; one dose is 93% effective.

Looking at the total number of measles cases in the U.S. in 2025 (2,267), these figures hold up pretty well. People who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown made up 93% of those cases. People with one or both MMR doses made up 3% and 4% of cases, respectively.

Why are measles cases rising in the US?

The U.S. officially declared the measles eliminated in 2000, which can be attributed to the high percentage of people receiving the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

The sudden rise in measles cases is the result of the inverse now being true: U.S. national MMR coverage among kindergarteners has fallen below the 95% coverage target, and it's much lower in some areas.

Florida is among the worst offenders, reporting that only 88.8% of kids entering kindergarten were vaccinated in the 2024-2025 school year. It is among 13 other states where vaccination rates have dipped under 90%.

With a chance of rain and a deep freeze forecast to sweep across the Florida Panhandle this weekend, everyone is wondering the same thing: Will Florida get more snow?

Probably not, according to the latest National Weather Service forecast.

"An associated surface low pressure area will move eastward over the northern Gulf on Friday, sending a cold front through the forecast area Friday afternoon into the early evening hours," the NWS wrote in its forecast discussion.

"A few showers will be possible ahead of the front, but rainfall amounts will be limited due to the lack of moisture return."

AccuWeather forecasters predict that North Carolina could see the heaviest snow in decades, but it's not expected to reach Florida.

"As the storm develops on Friday in the southern U.S., spotty rain will break out along the Gulf coast, the Florida Peninsula and the southern Atlantic coast. Farther inland over Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and the Carolinas, the patches of snow or a mixture of rain and snow will unfold," wrote AccuWeather in its forecast.

What are the chances Pensacola see snow this weekend?

Just like last weekend, any precipitation that could happen will occur before it will get cold enough for snow.

Friday's high temperature is forecast to be around 62 degrees, and it typically needs to be around 32 degrees for a chance of snow. The chance that Pensacola sees any precipitation is also fairly low, around 20% at the time of publication.

How cold does it have to be to snow?

The conditions required to produce snow are typically generalized. Most people know that it needs to be at or below 32 degrees, which is considered the threshold for water to freeze. That's not the only condition where snow can form, however.

Snow can still form even in temperatures as high as 33.8 degrees. There are occasions when a higher layer of atmosphere is slightly above freezing where the snowflake might start to melt as it passes through that layer but can still make it to the ground as snow.

Another special case is referred to as the "wet bulb" effect. The wet bulb temperature is the temperature air reaches when water evaporates into it. Snow can still manage to form if the height where the wet bulb temperature reaches freezing is less than 1,500 above the ground.

In both special circumstances, the snow will be wetter and stickier than traditional fluffy and dry snow.

When was the last time it snowed in Florida?

Trace amounts of snow fell upon Pensacola for the second winter in a row in mid-January, but it was a far cry from last year's unprecedented snowstorm.

The Pensacola International Airport recorded approximately 0.09 inches of a wintry mixture of light snow and rain between 4:20 and 6:15 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18. The Naval Air Station Pensacola also recorded trace amounts of snow between 4:35 and 5:56 a.m.

The National Weather Service office in Mobile, Alabama, recorded the amount of new snowfall in the Pensacola area as “trace,” which generally means that a measurable amount of snowfall happened, but it was too small to reliably measure using standard measurement units.

Pensacola recorded a record-shattering 9 inches of snow last January, while the NWS recorded 10 inches of snow in Santa Rosa County.