South Pinellas beaches
North Pinellas beaches
The sun is the main ingredient, but sand and surf round out a true vacation land. And the 28 miles of beaches along the Gulf of Mexico in Pinellas County are a sun-lover's paradise.
Caladesi Island is Pinellas County's answer to Bali Hai, withsome of the softest, whitest sand to be found. This island 3 miles off Dunedin beach seems remote and secluded because it can be reached only by boat.
A ferry leaves and returns from Honeymoon Island State Park every hour from 10 a.m. until about 4:30 p.m., seven days a week, weather permitting. The ferry costs $4 for adults and $2.50 for children 3-12. Those under 3 are free. Parking is $3.25.
There are bathrooms, changing rooms with showers, picnic areas with grills, a playground for children and a large concession stand.
The state park service, which oversees the beach, recommends that parties of 10 or more make reservations for the ferry. Call (813) 734-1501 for reservations. For information, call (813) 734-5263.
For years, Honeymoon Island beach off Dunedin was one of the least attractive in Pinellas County. The state bought it and restored it.
There are bathrooms, cooking facilities and a concession stand. Leashed dogs are allowed on one part of the beach.
A few miles south is Clearwater Beach. Visits by thousands of Europeans each year have made it world famous. It is a wide, beautiful beach that is a people watchers'paradise, drawing young muscle men and women out to socialize, along with retirees and families with children.
There are accommodating concession buildings with food, gifts and bathrooms. The South Pavilion serves the main beach near the junction of Gulf Boulevard and Memorial Causeway (State Road 60). Visitors may order beer at the Palm Pavilion, a mile north, but are not allowed to drink it on the beach.
Hotels do serve drinks on their Gulf-front property.
TheMadeira Beach. The main beach has a large concession stand and parking lot.
Another big beach is a few blocks south, and there are about 20 access routes to other beaches in Madeira.
You can drink alcohol on Madeira Beach, but glass containers are prohibited.
The shoreline is narrower than Clearwater's to the north or Pass-A-Grille's to the south. The beach is also less crowded, and the sand is soft.
Other towns along this stretch of central Pinellas have public access routes to beaches that are frequented mainly by residents, among them .
Pass-A-Grille, on the south end of St. Petersburg Beach, has soft sand that rivals that of Caladesi Island. It attracts young and old beach goers, who spread their blankets near sand dunes and sea oats.
A concession stand has public restrooms.
Across the street, the popular Hurricane Restaurant and Lounge is a good place to have a cocktail and watch the sunset.
Fort DeSoto, a barrier island and 900-acre county park off south St. Petersburg, has 7 miles of waterfront. There are campgrounds, picnic areas, playgrounds and lots of palms, oaks and Australian pines. Pets are allowed in the park, but not on the beach. For information on camping, call (813) 866-2662.
Though the muscles aren't necessarily bigger, there are more of them parading along the beach behind the famous Don CeSar Hotel than there are at Clearwater Beach. Young, fit, sculptured paddle ball enthusiasts show their stuff.