USA Today’s 10Best said this downtown will “steal your heart.”
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A Florida city boasts a “charming” main street — and it ranks as one of the best in the nation.
Safety Harbor is No. 10 on a list of places with thoroughfares that will “steal your heart,” according to results published April 16.
“These 10 places with charming main streets — nominated by an expert panel and voted by readers as the best in the U.S. — offer more than just a road,” USA Today’s 10Best wrote in its report. “These streets are living history, have a vibrant culture, and serve as the hearts of their communities.”
The website 10Best, which publishes vacation-related rankings, said it turned to travel experts and editors to determine the top main streets across the country. Then, members of the public were given a month to vote on their favorites.
What makes the Florida main street rank high?
On the resulting list of readers’ choice award winners, Safety Harbor was the only place in the Sunshine State to be named a fan favorite. The city of about 17,000, which has been recovering from hurricanes that impacted the Tampa Bay area in 2024, was praised for the setting of its main street.
“Safety Harbor is a serene seaside escape,” 10Best wrote in its report. “Most of the dining options along Main Street are between 9th Avenue and the city’s namesake resort and spa. Safety Harbor also has a public market that’s open on Sundays, which is definitely worth the visit.”
The Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce on its website said the city’s Main Street “harkens back to yesteryear” but has “plenty of modern conveniences.” The street is at the center of downtown, which is home to restaurants, shops and public spaces offering views of the Old Tampa Bay waterfront.
Safety Harbor received the honor less than a month after it earned a spot on another 10Best list. In those rankings, it was named one of the best small towns to visit in the South, McClatchy News reported.
This time around, 10Best said the nation’s most-beloved main street was in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, a roughly 60-mile drive northwest from Philadelphia.
In addition to main streets, 10Best named the nation’s other top-ranked “community spaces.” Here are the Florida winners from other categories:
Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland at No. 1 for best park
* Lake Eola Park in Orlando at No. 4 for best park
* Tampa Riverwalk at No. 2 for best riverwalk
* Riverwalk Fort Lauderdale at No. 7 for best riverwalk
* Withlacoochee State Trail at No. 2 for best trail
* Barrier Free Park in Boynton Beach at No. 9 for best playground
In the past, 10Best has told McClatchy News it doesn’t reveal the number of people who vote in its contests.