cw beaches

Pinellas County

Anclote Key State Park

Directions: Accessible only by boat. Several boats run
from the sponge docks in Tarpon Springs to Anclote Key.
>From Interstate 275, take exit 30 (SR 580) and go west
into Pinellas County. Take US 19 north to Tarpon Avenue.
Take Tarpon Avenue west to Alt. 19. Take Alt. 19 north
to Dodecanese Blvd. Turn left (west) and the sponge
docks are on the right-hand side.

Aclote Key State Park is home of a Federal lighthouse
from 1887 stands on the southern end of this beutiful
4-mile beach. This beach is great for just checking out
nature or enjoy swimming.

Caladesi Island State Park

Directions: Accessible only by boat from Honeymoon
Island or Clearwater Beach.

Caladesi is ranked the fifth finest islands in the
United States. It is one of the last large undeveloped
barrier island in Florida.

Clearwater Beach - Pier 60 Park

Directions: From Interstate 275, take exit 20 (SR60) and
go west until it ends at Gulfview Boulevard in
Clearwater Beach. The road leads directly to Pier 60
Park on the Gulf of Mexico.

Clearwater Beach and Pier 60 are the most popular beach
spots in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area. This establishment
has plenty of entertainment and goes on all day though the
night with music and beutiful sunsets.

Egmont Key Park

Directions: Accessible only by boat. The island is
locted south of Ft. Desoto Park in the shipping channel
to Tampa Bay. Daily tours to the island are offered from
St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island and John's Pass. For
those, take exit 4 (Pinellas Bayway) from Interstate 275
and go west to Gulf Boulevard. Then take Gulf Boulevard
north to St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island and John's
Pass. Bridge toll is $.50.

Egmont Key Park is a 440 acre island, full of wilflife
among it's wildlife refuge. This island has the only
manned lighthouse in the United States. Egmont has plenty
of boats that offer snorkeling to see the ruins of Fort Dade.

Fort Desoto Park

Directions: From Interstate 275, take exit 4 (Pinellas
Bayway) west to SR 679. Turn left on SR 679 and the road
ends into the park.

Fort DeSoto is a historic fort built during the Spanish-
American War. This beach was recently rated as the 9th
best beach in the United States. This beach is seven miles
of white sandy beaches.

Fred Howard Park

Directions: From I-275, take exit 30 (S.R. 580) and go
west into Pinellas County. Take US 19 north to Tarpon
Ave. Take Tarpon Ave. west until it ends at Spring
Bayou. Turn right onto Spring Blvd and follow the
winding road until you reach Sunset Drive (C.R. 944).
Take Sunset Drive west to Fred Howard Park.

Located in north Pinellas on the Gulf of Mexico, this
155-acre park features a 1,000 -foot public beach. A
mile long causeway connects the swimming area with the
mainland.

Honeymoon Island Park

Directions: From Interstate 275 going south, take exit
30 (SR 580) and go west into Pinellas County. The road
name changes to Curlew Creek Road and continues to the
Dunedin Causeway. Honeymoon Island is at the west end of
the causeway. From Interstate 275, going north take exit
15 (Gandy/Park Blvd) and go west to US 19 north to
Curlew Creek Road and take that west to Honeymoon
Island.

The state recreation center features sunbathing,
shelling, swimming, fishing, picnic pavillions,
bathhouses and a park concession building. The Island
features two bird observation areas, a pet beach, two
nature trails, and one of the few remaining south
Florida virgin slash pine stands. These large trees
serve as important nesting sites for osprey.

Indian Rocks Beach

Directions: From Interstate 275, take exit 18 (Ulmerton
Road) and go west until it ends at Gulf Boulevard.
Indian Rocks Beach runs from Indian Shores on the south
to Belleair Shores on the north. Public beach access is
north of the Ulmerton/Walsingham intersection at 17th
Avenue.

Indian Roaks Beach, is a falt white sand beach on the
Gulf of Mexico. This beach offers a park with shopping
and resturants.

Indian Shores

Directions: From Interstate 275, take exit 15
and go west until it ends at Gulf Boulevard.
Indian Shores runs from Redington Shores on
the south to Indian Rocks Beach on the north.

Indian Shores is home of the largest wild bird
hospital in the U.S.. It cares for more than 500
birds at any given time. This Beach has a fishing pier
as well for those fisherman type.

Madeira Beach

Directions: From I-275, take exit 13 and go west on 38th
Ave until it merges with Tyrone Blvd. Continue west and
take S.R. 666 onto Gulf Blvd. Public access is located
just south of the intersection of S.R. 666 and Gulf Blvd.

Madeira Beach has a state recreation center that
has many activities such as swimming,fishing and
even has a snack bar.

Pass-A-Grille Beach

Directions: From Interstate 275, take exit 4 (Pinellas
Bayway) west to Gulf Boulevard. Then take Gulf Boulevard
south to Pass-A-Grille Beach.

Pass-A-Grille was the first town established on Florida's
west coast islands. This town was started in 1886 and
is a historic district. It's wide peninsula is full
of historic sites and a lovely beach to just site see
and relax.

Redington Beach, North Redington Beach

Directions: From Interstate 275, take exit 13 and go
west on 38th Avenue until it merges with Tyrone Blvd.
Continue west and take SR 666 onto Gulf Boulevard.
Take Gulf Boulevard north and these beaches are part of
one large barrier island north of Madeira Beach and
south of Indian Shores.

The Redington Beach area is known for the three fishing
piers that are along the beaches and is from what we have
heard to be great fishing.

Sand Key Park

Directions: From I-275 going south, take exit 20 (S.R.
60) and go west until it ends at Gulfview Blvd in
Clearwater Beach. Take Gulfview Blvd south over the
Clearwater Pass Bridge and Sand Key Park is on the
right. From I-275 going north, take exit 16 (S.R.
686/Roosevelt Blvd) and go west until it ends into Gulf
Blvd. Take Gulf Blvd north and Sand Key Park is on the
left.

Sand Key Park for years have rated in the top 20 beaches
in the Unites States. With more than one million
visitors a year, the 90-acre park includes picnic
shelters, restroom, and almost one of the most beutiful
whit sand beaches there is.

Shell Key

Directions: Located near Tierra Verde just north of Ft.
DeSoto Park, this island is accessible only by boat.
Several boats run from St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island
and John's pass offering day trips to the island.

Shell Key is an excellent beach for shelling and
just getting some sun. This beach offers nice habitat
for more than 100 species for migrated birds as well
as seabirds.

Sunset Beach

Directions: From I-275, take exit 30 and go
west into Pinellas County. Take U.S. 19 north to Tarpon
Ave. Take Tarpon Ave west until it ends at Spring Bayou.
Turn right onto Spring Blvd and follow the winding road
and then right onto Gulf Road. Take Gulf Road
west to Fred Howard Park.

Sunset Beach is a city run park great for those quiet
sunsets you've been looking for, with it's constant breeze
it's not uncommon to see a few windsurfers out during
the day as well.

Treasure Island

Directions: From I-275 going south, take exit 10 and
turn right (west) onto Central Ave. From I-275 going
north, take exit 8 onto 28th Street going north and turn
left (west) onto Central Ave. Take Central across the
Treasure Island Causeway until it ends at Gulf Blvd.

Treasure Island is a great beach with many activities
such as sports, music, and crafts. This is the widest
beach in the area and is one great publc beach.

Upham Beach

Directions: From I-275, take exit 4 (Pinellas Bayway)
west to Gulf Blvd. As you cross the drawbridge to meet
Gulf Blvd., you are entering St. Pete Beach. Upham Beach
access is approximately one mile north on Gulf Blvd.

St. Pete Beach is known for its wide, flat and
white sand running along the Gulf of Mexico. The
area is popular with families and features several large
resorts offering watersports.

Hernando County

Pine Island at Alfred McKethen Park

Directions: I-75, exit 61, SR 50W to CR550 to CR495.
Turn right to the park.

This beutiful park offers a great place to swim, and
do a little fishing before you see that beutiful sunset
to the west. Other events such as canoeing and an observation
point.

Hillsborough County

E G Simmons Park

Directions: Take I-75 to the Apollo Beach/Big Ben exit.
Go west on Big Ben Road. Go south on 41, turn right onto
19th Ave. N.W.

This 469 acre park sits right on Tampa Bay. Fishing
boating and many other activities bring people to this
park. The shallow waters of the swamps offer great for
bird watching.

Picnic Island

This 96 acre park is fun for everyone. With this water
front park, enjoy a pinic or just playing on the beach.
This beach offers grills, play ground for the children
and much more.

Manatee County

Anna Maria Beach

Directions: Located on the northern tip of Anna Maria
Island on the Gulf of Mexico.

Anna Maria beach offers a great beach that is a great quiet
beach with parking access and public drop off and pick up.

Beer Can Island

Directions: Located at the northern tip of Longboat Key,
accessible by walking north from the street end of North
Shore Road off of Gulf of Mexico Drive.

This beach is a real secluded area with the best way to get there
from boat or walk to during low tide. It has around 2000 feet
of sandy beach and is great for those nice romantic walks.

Coquina Beach

Directions: Located on the Gulf of Mexico with access
from Gulf Drive at the southern end of Anna Maria Island,
one mile south of 5th Street North in the City of Bradenton Beach.

This beach is around 5000 feet of sandy beach with plenty
parking, a great place to just lounge around.

Cortez Beach

Directions: Located between 5th Street and 13th Street
off Gulf Drive in the City of Bradenton Beach.

Cortez beach features 140 feet of undeveloped beach.
Parking and public transportation drop off/pick
available.

Holmes Beach

Directions: Located off Gulf Drive from Beach Avenue to
27th Street.

This beach has over 14,400 feet of sandy coast line
along the Gulf of Mexico. Perfect for justy getting away
from it all.

Manatee County Beach

Diredtions: Located off Gulf Dr. and 40th Street in the city
of Holmes Beach.

Manatee County Beach is over 900 ft long off sandy beaches
with parking and public transportation.

North Longboat Key Beach

Directions: From northshore Rd. south to county line, take residential
streets unto the beach.

This beach is just an undeveloped beach that you could
kick back an enjoy the sun, and maybe do a little swimming.

Palma Sola Causeway

Directions: Located between Manatee Ave. and Palma Sola Bay.

This beach is 3000 fett of sandy beaches. This beach sits
between two causeways and is very popular with the boaters.

Pasco County

Anclote River Park

Directions: Take U.S. 19 to Moog Road, West on Moog Road
to Strauber Memorial Hwy. Left on Strauber Memorial Hwy.
To Bailey's Bluff Road. Left on Bailey's Bluff Road.

Anclote River Park is the all round place to have fun
with the whole famliy. Every thing from fishing, swimming
or just lounging around enjoying the day.

Robert J. Strickland Memorial Park (Hudson Beach)

Directions: U.S. 19 to Clark Street, West on Clark
Street.

Hudson Beach is a great beach to do that picnic lunch
on saturday and then a little fishing it would be just about
perfect to make that perfect day.

Robert K. Rees Memorial Park

Directions: U.S. 19 to Green Key Road. West on Green Key Road

The sunsets are not the olny thing that is nice about
this beach. They offer plenty of seabirds and shoreline birds
to take a look at as well. While you listen to the soft sound of the
water.

Sarasota County

Casperson Beach

Directions: Take I-75 to Exit 35, Jacaranda Blvd,
Venice. Take Jacaranda Blvd. South to the first light,
at Venice Avenue. Turn right on Venice Avenue.
Take Venice Avenue to Harbor Drive. Turn left
on Harbor Drive and continue past the Venice
Airport. Caspersen Beach will be on the left hand side
of the road.

Casperson Beach is just the most quiet beach dang near of all
the beaches. This beach is on of the best shelling
beaches there are as well.

Lido Beach

Directions: Take I-75 to Exit 39, Fruitville Road,
Sarasota. Take the exit west towards Sarasota. Continue
to the end of Fruitville Road at US 41. Turn left
on US 41. Take the first right at Gulfstream Avenue and
cross the John Ringling Causeway. Continue to St. Armands Circle.
Take the second right off of St. Armands Circle to Lido
Key. Lido Beach will be straight ahead on the right hand
side of the street.

This beach offers a gift shop, pool with diving
board, and is great for just looking at the sea.
Lido Beach is just steps down the road from
the famous shopping and dining district known as
St. Armands Circle.

Siesta Key Public Beach

Directions: Take I-75 to Exit 38, Bee Ridge Road,
Sarasota. Take the exit West towards Sarasota. Continue
to US 41. Take a right on US41. Turn left
at the next traffic light, which is Siesta Drive.
Continue on Siesta Drive and cross the bridge to Siesta
Key. Siesta Drive then turns south and the road name
changes to Higel. Continue south on Higel until road
splits. Take road right which is Ocean Blvd.
Continue on Ocean Blvd., which will turn south and
change into Beach Road.

Siesta Key Beach is the white sand beach with over
99 percent quartz it is perfect. This is the beach
that even in the heat of the summer it is still cool.
This is the most popular beaches in the area and is visit
by people of all ages.

Turtle Beach

Directions: Take I-75 to Exit 37, Clark Road.
Take the exit West towards Sarasota. Continue on Clark
Road, which then becomes Stickney Point, after the
Road intersection. Continue on Stickney Point Road until
you cross the bridge to Siesta Key. Turn left
onto Midnight Pass Road on Siesta Key. Turn right onto
Turtle Beach Road to park at the Turtle Beach parking lot.

This beach is known for it's extremly high sand dunes.
Turtle Beach as many picnic areas and also a boat ramp
perfect place for the family.

Venice Public Beach

Directions: Take I-75 to Exit 35, Jacaranda Blvd,
Venice. Take Jacaranda Blvd. South to the first light,
at Venice Avenue. Turn right (west) on Venice Avenue.
Continue on Venice Avenue until it ends. Venice Beach
will be directly in front of you at the end of Venice
Avenue.

Venice beach is the place to dive in sarasota county with
a reef just a little over 1600 feet offshore. It is also
the leading sharks tooth beaches with teath washing up on
the beach all the time.