Florida's West Coast, sunsetOn the west coast of Florida is the Gulf of Mexico, where the water, on average, tends to be warmer and the white sands in some places are a finer grain. It's about a 90 minute to 150 minute drive from the attractions area. Some of the beaches we've tried are:
Madeira Beach.- this beach is near a small tourist center which recently completed a multi-million dollar face-lift which has quaint stores, restaurants, buildings and inexpensive tourist trinkets. It is right next to John's Pass, an old style (but up to date) fishing village, where you can rent jet-skis or cross the Pass bridge and go out for the evening on an entertainment boat. You also can go out on a dolphin watch cruise or a deep-sea fishing boat from here. Sunsets on the beach here are beautiful. There are usually pelicans around the pass (where boats pass through to the Gulf). This is one of our favorite beach areas because it is low key and quaint looking (when you walk north of John's Pass village). Tip - If you want to beat the parking meters att the beach parking lots, just cross the street to John's Pass shopping area, park there for free for 3 hours. Take I-4 West which will turn into to I-275 South toward St. Petersburg. Before you actually get to downtown St. Petersburg you will see signs directing you to the Gulf Beaches.
Sand Key.- considered by many as being one of the top ten beaches in the U.S.A., this beach is north on Gulf Blvd. from Madeira Beach, at the far northern tip of the same barrier island. Fine powder-white sands endow this splendid spot.
St. Pete Beach (not St. Petersburg Beach) and Pass-A-Grille Beach.- both of these beaches possess fine powder white sands and are wide, with Pass-A-Grille (just south of St. Pete Beach) seeming to be the wider of the two. See directions to Madeira Beach and then go south of Madeira Beach on Gulf Blvd. The non-recommended, but faster, alternate route is to stay on I-275 until you arrive downtown, then watch the exit sign for St. Petersburg Beach (either State Road 682 [a.k.a. Pinellas Parkway] or State Road 693 [a.k.a. Pasadena Blvd.]) It's before The Sunshine Skyway Bridge! (which you should also visit since you are in the area.). "The Pier", a five story building, which looks like an inverted partial pyramid, with shops inside it at the end of a well constructed pier.
Fort DeSoto Park.- like Sand Key above, this is considered by many as being one of the top ten beaches in the U.S.A., enough said. Take I-275 south to the 54th Ave. S./ Pinellas Bayway (679) exit, right, toward the Pinellas Bayway (toll bridge) and once you cross over, bear left on the Pinellas Bayway, following the signs to Ft. DeSoto Park.
Clearwater.- Clearwater Marine Aquarium come explore our unique nonprofit hospital dedicated to rescue, rehab and release of marine animals. See our mission in action as you discover our rehab and surgical areas and get up-close, inspiration from the stories of our resident animals, including Winter the dolphin, who swims with a prosthetic tail. Feed our sting rays, sharks and pelicans, or cruise on a interactive boat safari. Hop aboard a complimentary boat or trolley shuttle to nearby Winter’s Dolphin Tale Adventure. Also Celebrate the Sunset when you combine a sugar-sand beach, street performers and a sunset over the Gulf, you have the perfect recipe to celebrate the end of the day. Your whole gang will enjoy Sunsets at Pier 60, a nightly Clearwater Beach festival. With Mother Nature providing a magnificent backdrop, you’ll see painters at work, admire jugglers, magicians and street performers, listen to music and discover crafts. You may even see fire eaters and stilt walkers – and your little ones will love the well-equipped playground.
Caladesi Island State Park.- Spring is officially here! The mornings are cool, but by mid-morning the sun is high in the sky and the temperatures are perfect. I'm not the only to notice the great weather; it seems that even on a weekday Honeymoon Island State Park and Caladesi Island State Park were the places to be! with Caladesi being named "America's Best Beach" in 2008 by Dr. Beach. A short 20-minute ride on the Caladesi Island Ferry ($14, four hour stay maximum) is all it takes to feel like you are on your own private island.