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You Are Here: Home » Things to Do » Beaches » Find Your Beach »
So close to big city excitement, yet so tranquil and pristine, the beaches preserved in the public parks of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area are some of the nation's finest. From the mouth of Tampa Bay to the northernmost Gulf Coast barrier island near Tarpon Springs, these public treasures offer miles of untouched white quartz-sand beaches and enlightening outdoor adventures. So, what are you waiting for – find your beach ...
For Activities
When I visit Fort De Soto Park it's hard to choose where to lay my beach towel. The county park is a string of five keys with nearly three miles of wide white-sand beaches meeting translucent turquoise surf. I often end up on North Beach with sand dollars at my feet and my face to the glistening open Gulf of Mexico. I feel a million miles from civilization even though no doubt there are hundreds of others also enjoying the enormous county park (and even the same beach).
And I'm not alone in my appreciation of this large beach. The world's largest online travel community, TripAdvisor®, named North Beach the Top Beach in America in 2008. And in 2005, coastal geologist Stephen Leatherman, a.k.a. "Dr. Beach," ranked it America's No. 1 Beach out of more than 650 major recreational beaches across the country, which he rates using more than 50 criteria (ranging from water quality to cleanliness to amenities).
For Seclusion
This year, Caladesi Island State Park with its fine white sand and gentle clear blue surf, beat out beaches in Hawaii and California for the No. 1 spot on Dr. Beach's 2008 Best Beaches in America list.
The only way to reach it is by ferry or private boat, which adds to the subtropical island's mystique. Yet even though it is two miles off the coast of Dunedin, you can still sit in a rented chair on a lifeguarded beach, umbrella overhead, and grab a burger and beer at the park's rustic restaurant. (Lifeguards are on the beach from Memorial Day to Labor Day.)
The journey there is also part of the fun. You may spot dolphins and mullet jumping alongside your boat. The ferry launching point, Honeymoon Island State Park, also shouldn't be overlooked. With four miles of wide open beaches, a small cafe, a dog park and hiking trails, it is a treasure in itself.
For Picnics
Perhaps nowhere is the contrast of white sand and
brilliant blue sea as stunning as in Sand Key Park. Just across Clearwater Pass from the active beach of the same name, Sand Key's beach is massive and wide and the water, a deep blue.
In the salt marsh area you can often spot colorful roseate spoonbills and great horned owls. The 95-acre park with grills, picnic shelters, playgrounds and bath houses, is an ideal place to get away when you don't want to (or don't have the time to) head too far from the mainland.
For History
Egmont Key State Park is a history lesson and national wildlife refuge wrapped with beautiful beaches. Once home to Fort Dade and a military community of 300 residents in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the island's core is now a ghost town with empty brick streets, armory remnants and a 19th century lighthouse.
You will see gopher tortoises around every turn and nature trails lead to stunning secluded beaches. Take a 15 minute ferry ride there from Fort De Soto Park and be sure to pack drinking water because there isn't any on the island.
For Shells
On the other side of Fort De Soto Park, Shell Key Preserve is one of the largest refuges for migrating and nesting birds in the region. Its long, sandy beaches are a shell collector's dream (hence its name), and its tall sand dunes fringed with sea oats are an idyllic backdrop for relaxed sunbathing or a night of stargazing.
Like Caladesi Island, you can only reach it by boat or Shell Key Shuttle (even though it looks close enough to dog paddle from nearby Tierra Verde), and that keeps down the crowds. However, the key is popular with local boaters on weekends. The stretch of land is completely undeveloped with no facilities, so be sure to pack water and an umbrella for shade. Also, keep in mind that Shell Key Preserve is protected, so be sure to follow posted regulations and stay in public-use areas.
For Nature
The same is true for the remote Anclote Key Preserve State Park, which is three miles off the coast of Tarpon Springs. It's a nature lover's beach, home to nesting shorebirds and four miles of undeveloped white-sand beaches fringed with Australian Pines. It also has a restored 1887 lighthouse.
For years it's been a popular fishing and camping spot and was only accessible by private boat. Now you can reach its peaceful shores by public ferry or eco tour from Tarpon Springs.
Check out the video to see more of St. Pete/Clearwater's award-winning beaches.
To plan your own getaway to St. Petersburg/Clearwater's diverse beach parks, call 877-352-3224 or visit www.visitstpeteclearwater.com.
Lynn Waddell is an award-winning journalist and editor who contributes to The New York Times, Newsweek, a variety of travel publications and more.
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