Discover Our Surprising Wild Side.
It's just around the corner from civilization.

   There is another part of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area, a parallel universe where life goes on quite nicely without cell phones, credit cards or cable TV. It is the world of the manatee, the osprey, the dolphin and other citizens of our extraordinary gulf coast ecosystem.

   For many visitors, this is the premier attraction, the chance of a lifetime to see some of our more fascinating natives in their natural settings. Unspoiled. Undisturbed. Uninterrupted. Because while our area is a robust urban center, we are also steadfast stewards of nature, zealously preserving and protecting an ecosystem that has evolved over thousands of years.

   And so you have the opportunity to visit our birds, mammals and wildlife in their homes. The chance to go to sea and look for dolphins racing across the horizon. The opportunity to spot a burrowing gopher tortoise, a sunbathing Florida alligator, a lovable manatee cruising the backwater. Or to take your birding experience to new levels with species unlike anything you have back home. Or to simply enjoy a sunset over the beach.

All with nothing artificial added.

   That's the nice thing about visiting an area rich in unspoiled beaches and parklands: You're free to enjoy nature as you find it. On your own terms.

   And so it is in the St. Petersburg/ Clearwater area, where more than 4,300 acres have been preserved as parkland. (That doesn't include the miles and miles of preserved coastline and other protected areas, such as our Egmont Key.) So natural sanctuaries in a wide range of sizes, shapes and locales are yours to enjoy.

   Two of the area's most famous parks, Fort De Soto Park and Caladesi Island State Park, offer you the bonus of two of the top ten beaches in the United States. Weedon Island northeast of St. Petersburg, once a Native American village, now promises superb fishing, an exquisite canoe trail through mangroves, and an observation tower providing spectacular views of the island and Tampa Bay. The 90-acre Florida Botanical Garden provides visitors with unique insights into the area's native flora, with paths throughout the grounds that make it the perfect landscape for a quiet stroll.

If You're A Birder, You'll Notice It Right Away:
Youíre Not In Kansas Anymore.

   Birders come from all over to experience the unique indigenous species found in our part of Florida. And because the area is the first landfall for many migratory species moving across the Gulf of Mexico, the dedicated birder is also likely to spot still more species before they continue their journeys to other parts of the country.

   Various warbler species appear in the area in large numbers from mid-March to mid-May. Brown pelicans, double-crested cormorants, herons, egrets, plovers, gulls and black skimmers are here year-round. Some of the best local areas for birding are Fort De Soto Park, Honeymoon Island State Recreation Area and Sawgrass Lake Park.

   Then there's the birding event of the year: The Florida Birding Festival and Nature Expo. It takes place in Clearwater during September of every year and is one of the biggest birding affairs in the U.S. Proceeds go toward the purchase of Shell Key, one of the state's last pristine barrier islands. The Festival celebrates the area's 19 "state-listed" species through field trips, presentations, seminars and a festival marketplace. The National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, National Audubon Society, St. Petersburg Audubon Chapter & Clearwater Audubon Chapter all team up to support the event. For more information, call 800-822-6461.

   The Clearwater Marine Aquarium brings the possibility of seeing the release of a "recovered" dolphin, otter or sea turtle when you visit this fascinating aquarium. Itís a non-profit center dedicated to marine research, public education on marine topics, and the rescue, rehabilitation and release of sick and injured marine mammals.

Enter The Hazardous World Of The Sea Turtle.
Just Be Sure To Watch Your Step.

   Many visitors to St.Petersburg/Clearwater area beaches return year after year - but not to work on their tans. They're the sea turtles, and they're here to build nests. During the spring and summer months, they'll build more than 50,000 of them, which makes the state the most important turtle nesting area in the United States.

   Why here? Because they can nest only on beaches where the sand is warm enough to incubate their eggs. So Loggerheads, Leatherbacks, and a few Hawksbills and Kemp's Ridleys make their annual pilgrimage to our beaches. Of course, these rare and special animals are vigorously protected by Federal, State and local agencies. So should you encounter an area on the beach marked off by bright yellow warning tape, you'll know to steer clear to protect the fragile lives growing beneath the sand's surface.