News

Tampa Bay's beaches are calling

Too often we forget to enjoy the attractions that made Florida famous - and we don't mean Mickey Mouse.

By Amber Mobley, Times Staff Writer
Published June 21, 2007

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ADVERTISEMENT [Times illustration | Don Morris] Graphic: Beach map It's Your Times: What have we missed?

The waves are wondering where you've been.

Maybe you're new to the area, or just visiting, and have no idea what lies along our shores.

Maybe you're a longtime resident who has forgotten the allure of the sun, sand and surf.

Or maybe you just need a change of beach scenery. Each of the area's beaches has a personality of its own - fetching features and certain seaside seductions. You're sure to find one to fit your fancy.

So break out the sunblock, bikinis, board shorts and boogie boards.

Summer's here.

FORT DESOTO PARK

You don't have to live here long to understand why Florida International University professor Stephen Leatherman, better known as Dr. Beach, put this at the top of his list of best American beaches in 2005. "The sand is almost like Ivory soap, very fine, and the water is so clear, " he said then. "It feels like I've really gotten away from it all when I'm here."

That pretty much says it all, but keep in mind that the different sections of De Soto have distinct personalities.

All about relaxing? Go to the North Beach, where the sand is as soft as flour and nearly as white. The water is crystal clear near the shore with tiny colorful fish frolicking throughout. From here, you look out on the wide-open gulf.

need more action? Hit the East Beach, where you're wise to tread lightly and beware stingrays. You also get an eyeful, from the soaring Sunshine Skyway to impressive ships coming and going.

Get up and go: Whether you prefer to stroll, cycle or paddle, you'll find something to suit, including a 6.8-mile trail for biking, walking or skating; nature trails; and a canoe trail. Two piers - one on Tampa Bay and one on the gulf appease anglers, and history buffs will want to explore the fort.

Picnic preferred: Snack bars can be found on the piers and at the fort, but there are plenty of tables and shelters for those who plan ahead.

Parking: There are ample spots wherever you go.

3500 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde; 727 582-2267; www.pinellascounty.org/park, then choose the park from the drop-down menu; sunrise to sunset; fishing, swimming, boat ramps, canoe trails, canoe and kayak rental, barrier-free trail, picnic areas, nature trails and boardwalks, biking, walking and skating trails, snack bar, dog park and beach, showers, camping, lifeguard hours vary.

PASS-A-GRILLE

This beach can be your private playground - if you time it right.

The wee hours of the morning are perfect for a solitary jog, but you'll have plenty of company come sunset, when crowds gather. The beach is packed during the day, especially on weekends. But be aware: There are no lifeguards.

The view: This is why you live in Florida.

Parking 2.0: The parking machines take quarters, debit cards and credit cards. But the cool thing is: You can add time to your space at any pay station. Parking is free after dark.

Grab a bite: The most famous food spot on this southern end of St. Pete Beach is the Hurricane, 807 Gulf Way. The behemoth restaurant and bar also has an ice cream parlor with a walk-up window. But also check out the Seaside Grill across the street, which offers big breakfasts and burgers, chicken sandwiches, hot dogs and other beach food into the afternoon. Watch out for the seagulls.

Along Gulf Way, from First to 22nd avenues, St. Pete Beach; (727) 367-2735; no set hours; swimming, no lifeguards.

TREASURE ISLAND

The middle of Treasure Island is commercial property central - with fast food restaurants next to stores next to lounges next to hotels, next to . . . you get the idea.

But on the city's north and south ends are Sunshine Beach and Sunset Beach, respectively. Here you'll find quiet, shady, countrylike back roads, beach cottages and colorful Key West-style three-story homes.

Eat with your toes in the sand: Caddy's on the Beach, at 9000 Gulf Blvd., Sunset Beach, offers casual dining - Seafood, burgers, ribs and a full bar - and a great view. Plus some of the picnic tables sit on the beach.

Parking: Bring plenty of quarters; you'll need them. The meters are enforced at all times at the 10 government-owned parking lots scattered through the town.

10400 Gulf Blvd.; (727) 547-4575; www.mytreasureisland.org; 7 a.m. to sunset; swimming, boating, no lifeguards.

MADEIRA BEACH

Signs here announce "Alcohol permitted, " and there's a liquor store on Gulf Boulevard.

'Nuff said.

Well, this can be said too: As beaches go, it's pretty darn cordial. (Maybe the liquor has something to do with it.) Signs remind beachgoers not to forget their sunscreen - and to buckle up on the way out.

The view: Bright motels and groins (no, not those kind). These groins are long concrete bars jutting from the sand into the water. Madeira Beach installed them years ago to help keep sand from washing away.

Parking: The city has parking lots with meters at John's Pass Park, John's Pass Village and several spots along Gulf Boulevard. They are open from 6 a.m. to midnight every day, so parking is pretty easy.

14400 Gulf Blvd.; (727) 391-9951; www.ci.madeira-beach.fl.us; 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; swimming, showers, no lifeguards.

PICNIC ISLAND

You'll wonder what we were thinking on your way to this Hillsborough County beach, which is at the south end of West Shore Boulevard (over at least two sets of train tracks and through an industrial park).

Neighbor to smokestacks, conveyor belts, warehouses and dirt piles, it seems little more than a boat ramp and a fishing pier. But turn the corner and you'll find picnic tables nestled beneath shade trees and large covered pavilions with a good view of the shore.

Talk about close: The play equipment and pavilions are so near the water, most are in the sand.

Take a dip: Signs -as well as brightly colored floating balls - let you know where it's safe to swim.

The view: The Gandy Bridge and Tampa Bay.

Parking: Free and plentiful. The lot close to the boat ramp is a little tight for trailers.

7404 Picnic Island Blvd., Tampa; (813) 274-8615; www.tampagov.net (choose Parks & Recreation from the drop-down menu); 7:30 a.m. to sunset; swimming, fishing pier, dog beach, shelters, picnic tables, restrooms, lifeguards 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

BEN T. DAVIS BEACH

If you commute along the Courtney Campbell Parkway, you zip past this little beach daily. Next time, pull over.

Nestled along the fringes of the Tampa side of the causeway, the park offers a convenient respite. The shooshing of the waves even mutes the roar of the speeding traffic.

Convenient cuisine: Throw some shrimp on the barbie - many of the picnic shelters have grills nearby - or walk over to the Castaway restaurant for some grilled seafood or a frosty adult beverage on the big patio overlooking the water.

Who's there: With its easy access, this beach draws sun worshippers in tiny bikinis as well as office workers taking a break with their slacks rolled up. If you want to swim, you can do so under the watchful eye of lifeguards at a cordoned area, and volleyball games abound.

The view: You definitely want to face the water; otherwise you'll be looking at tall office buildings and hotels. You also get a good look at the planes landing at Tampa International Airport.

Parking: There is plenty of metered parking close by.

Beware: The beach was closed to swimmers recently because of high levels of bacteria. Be sure to check for posted signs.

7650 Courtney Campbell Parkway, Tampa; (813) 274-8615; www.tampagov.net (choose Parks & Recreation from the drop-down menu); 7:30 a.m. to sunset; boat ramp, concessions, restrooms, picnic tables, shelters, grills, lifeguards 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

CLEARWATER BEACH

This beach means business - from a nearby marina to restaurants, souvenir shops, motels, hotels and condos and at least a dozen water-related recreational options. The sand is wide, white and usually full of people.

True beach partiers will be at home in these sands. If it's solitude you seek, go elsewhere, but come back for the Sunsets at Pier 60 celebration, held each evening. It's not quite Key West's Mallory Square, but it's something to see. There's also a great playground near the pier.

The view: Face west and see the wide horizon. In every other direction, you'll see hotels and businesses. Clearwater Beach's Billion Dollar Beach Makeover means construction will be a mainstay for a few years.

Parking: On a Saturday, parking seems impossible to find . . . at least legally. So arrive early. There are large city lots, and some private parking, or you may opt for the Jolley Trolley, which runs between downtown Clearwater and the beach every 30 minutes ($1.25 per person). Call (727) 445-1200 or check www.thejolleytrolley.com.

333 C South Gulfview Blvd.; (727) 447-7600; www.beachchamber.com; swimming, surfing, parasailing, offshore racing, pirate boat tours, boating, lifeguards 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.

SAND KEY PARK

Less than 2 miles down the coast from Clearwater Beach lies a calmer, quieter, less congested shoreline.

Same sand, same view, but fewer to share it with.

The view: A wide beach with snow white sand. Depending on the day, you may also get to watch a wedding.

Parking: There are rows and rows of metered parking for $1 to $1.25 an hour.

No change? No worries.

Turnabouts with huge change machines let you stay in the car while you turn bills into coins. Just be sure to feed the meter well. Parking enforcement is on the prowl.

1060 Gulf Blvd., Clearwater; (727) 588-4852; www.pinellascounty.org/park, then choose from the drop-down menu; 7 a.m. to sunset; umbrella/cabana rentals, dog park, swimming, fishing, picnic shelters, grills, ball field, playground, showers, lifeguard hours vary.

HONEYMOON ISLAND BEACH

Isolated, quiet and kind of hidden, the beaches here seem to croon Sinatra with the rhythm of the waves. This one is definitely for the lover in you. Couples take advantage of loveseat-styled wooden swings spaced along the beach, and nature lovers should check out the new nature center and the park's trails.

Not so easy pickings: Some of the rocky shores can make an adult feel like a stumbling toddler. But between the stones, and all along the sandy beaches, are intricate shells - some as big as saucers and others as small as the message in a fortune cookie.

Admission, please: The park charges $5 per vehicle (up to eight people); single occupant vehicles are $3. And for those who just want to see the sunset, arrive one hour before and get in for $3.

The view: Sailboats in the distance make for the picture perfect Old Spice ad.

Parking: Plentiful.

1 Causeway Blvd., Dunedin; (727) 469-5942; www.floridastateparks.org/honeymoonisland; 8 a.m. to sunset; concessions/restaurant, guided tours, kayaking, nature trail, pavilion, dog beach, picnic area, playground, wildlife, lifeguards 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Memorial Day to Labor Day.

CALADESI ISLAND STATE PARK

This pristine island was No. 2 in Dr. Beach's 2006 and 2007 rankings.

By private boat, the island is open 8 a.m. to sunset daily. Ferries depart from Honeymoon Island to this barrier island beginning at 10 a.m. daily and run hourly, more often in busy seasons. The trip takes about 20 minutes.

Birds tweet and fly along the wooded nature trail, and you'll find shells galore scattered along the white sandy shore, which is about 3 miles long. Stay for up to four hours. (You get a ticket stamped with your return time.)

Ferry fare: A round-trip pass is $9 for adults, $5.50 ages 4 to 12. Younger children ride free. The ferry departs from Honeymoon Island; you also need to pay that entrance fee.

1 Causeway Blvd., Dunedin; (727) 469-5918; www.floridastateparks.org/caladesiisland; 8 a.m. to sunset; concessions, chair/umbrella rentals, showers, playground, restrooms, pavilions, lifeguards 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday through Monday.

FRED HOWARD BEACH PARK

Park meets causeway meets beach here.

Playgrounds and picnic shelters greet you at the entrance, then as you wind along the drive, you'll catch glimpses of sand and water.

A short causeway leads to beaches where anglers cast lines, teens try out boogie boards and personal watercraft scoot atop the water. It's a good place to kayak (no rentals, though), and windsurfing lessons are available.

The west side beach is a swimming area with volleyball nets and cabana-style restrooms.

The view: Huge, colorful homes line the shore in the distance.

Parking: Free and plentiful.

1700 Sunset Drive, Tarpon Springs; (727) 943-4081; www.pinellascounty.org/park, then choose from the drop-down menu; 7 a.m. to sunset; swimming, fishing, picnic shelters and grills, ball field, playground equipment, showers, lifeguards 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Amber Mobley can be reached at amobley@sptimes.com or (813) 269-5311.

[Last modified June 21, 2007, 09:52:03]