A serene wooden boardwalk lined with palm trees and rope railings leads through tall sea grass and sandy dunes, opening to a pristine stretch of white beach and calm turquoise waters of the Florida Keys under a bright blue sky.

Tag: Suncoast

The Suncoast is Florida’s Pinellas Gulf Coast: Clearwater Beach, St. Pete Beach, Pass-a-Grille, John’s Pass, Indian Rocks Beach, and Treasure Island. Calm Gulf water, white sand, and nearby dining on Gulf Blvd. Maps, parking, and things to do for each beach.

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East Beach Fort DeSoto Park

Suncoast
East Beach is the Tampa Bay side of Fort DeSoto Park, not the Gulf. The water is usually calmer than North Beach, with a view toward the Sunshine Skyway. Same park entrance fee. Better for kids who want quieter water; the open-Gulf swim beach is North Beach on the other side of the park. Read more…
Beaches
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E.G. Simmons Park

Suncoast
E.G. Simmons Park is a Hillsborough County park in Ruskin on Tampa Bay, with camping, a boat ramp, and a bay shoreline. It is not a Gulf barrier-island beach. The water is bay, not the open Gulf of Clearwater or Fort DeSoto. Use it for camping and launching; swim-day sand is on the Pinellas islands to the west. Read more…
Beaches
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Crystal Beach

Suncoast
Crystal Beach is a small Palm Harbor waterfront, on the bay side of the peninsula rather than the open Gulf barrier islands. It is a quiet residential pocket with a tiny public access, not a swim-and-park destination like Clearwater Beach or Honeymoon Island. Come for a short local stop, not a full beach day. Read more…
Beaches
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Clearwater Beach

Suncoast
Clearwater Beach sits at the end of the causeway in Clearwater, Florida, with Pier 60 as the landmark. The pier has sunset festivals, a playground, and fishing. South of the pier is the wider tourist beach; north is a bit quieter toward Sand Key. Parking is the hard part. Expect paid lots and garages near Pier 60 and along Mandalay Avenue, plus beach-meter spots that fill early on weekends. If the causeway lots are full, Read more…
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Caladesi Island State Park
Caladesi Island State Park

Caladesi Island State Park

Suncoast
Caladesi Island State Park is the undeveloped barrier island next to Honeymoon Island. Most visitors take the ferry from Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin; there is no bridge and no cars. The Gulf beach faces west, with a kayak trail on the bay side. Bring what you need; services are limited to the ferry landing area. Read more…
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Beer Can Island

Suncoast
Beer Can Island is a small spoil island in Tampa Bay near Apollo Beach, reachable only by boat. There are no facilities, no restrooms, and no ferry. It is a local sandbar stop, not a Pinellas Gulf beach. Check tides; much of the island goes underwater at high tide. Read more…
Beaches
Archibald Beach Park
Archibald Beach Park

Archibald Beach Park

Suncoast
Archibald Beach Park is the Pinellas County park on Madeira Beach at 157th Avenue, north of John’s Pass. It has a playground, restrooms, a paid parking lot, and a straight Gulf walkover. Use it when you want facilities without the John’s Pass boardwalk. The village and charters are a short drive south. Read more…
Beaches
Anclote River Park
Anclote River Park

Anclote River Park

Suncoast
Anclote River Park in Holiday is a Pinellas County park on the Anclote River, not an open-Gulf beach. It has a boat ramp, picnic shelters, restrooms, and a small sandy river shoreline. People use it to launch toward Anclote Key. Swim in the Gulf at Honeymoon Island or the barrier-island towns to the south. Read more…
Beaches
Anclote Key Preserve State Park
Anclote Key Preserve State Park

Anclote Key Preserve State Park

Suncoast
Anclote Key Preserve State Park is a boat-only barrier island off Tarpon Springs. There is no bridge and no cars. The island has a lighthouse, primitive camping, and an undeveloped Gulf beach. Launch from Anclote River Park or a Tarpon Springs marina, and bring all water and shade; services on the key are none. Read more…
Beaches