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• Pinellas County Beaches

  Written by Connie Langhorst No Comments
  Last Updated: July 19, 2010

  

  Pinellas County Beaches

  An unspoiled, beautiful part of life . . .
  . . . in Paradise Found!

  Pinellas County maintains three major parks along the Gulf Coast. Fort De Soto Park, located in Tierra Verde, at the south end of the county, is one of the largest county parks in the State of Florida, with over seven miles of shoreline.

  Sand Key Park, located in central Pinellas County, has almost a half mile of beachfront. Howard Park is a gem located on the Gulf of Mexico in the northern reaches of the county in Tarpon Springs. These parks offer a list of amenities that include picnicking facilities, fishing opportunities and other items of interest to residents and tourists alike.

  In addition to these major beach park facilities, Pinellas County has six beach access parks, including Indian Rocks, Tiki Gardens/Indian Shores, Redington Shores, Madeira Beach, Treasure Island, and St. Pete Beach. These beach access parks expand public access, and include restroom and shower facilities. Pinellas County beach access parks are used by almost eight million visitors each year.

  There are several fabulous links on the official Fort De Soto Park website, including virtual tour views, a beach access guide and beach finder, a beach and shell guide, a birding checklist for Fort De Soto Park, a Google Earth tour of Pinellas County Beaches, and a water quality guide. This information is also available from the Pinellas County and Visitor’s Bureau websites, too.  Helpful links provided below. 

  Two state parks in Pinellas County, Caladesi Island and Honeymoon Island, provide almost five miles of direct access to the Gulf of Mexico. Honeymoon Island State Park is accessible by car, while pristine Caladesi Island State Park is easily reached by modestly priced public ferry that departs several times per day from Honeymoon Island State Park.  Amenities and ample public parking is available within the grounds of Honeymoon Island State Park for both facilities.

  In addition to the parks mentioned above, several important municipal parks provide direct beach access, amenities and public parking as well. St. Pete Beach’s Pass-A-Grille and Upham Beaches, Treasure Island’s four city-operated beach access parks, Madeira Beach’s Archibald Park and Clearwater’s North and South Beach Parks are examples of municipally operated beach access facilities.

  In Pinellas County, beach access is provided at 31 parks and 135 public easements providing well over 12,000 parking spaces available to the public.

  Pinellas County continues to recognize the need for expanding the publicly available beach access points and the desirability of providing properly designed and aesthetically pleasing walkovers. The joint efforts on the part of Pinellas County, the State of Florida, our local beach municipalities and the tremendous citizen volunteer efforts employed in our dune replanting, continue to make our beach access expansion and enhancement program a resounding success.

  About Pinellas County Beaches

  Occupying a peninsula along the Gulf Coast in the heart of west central Florida, Pinellas County is the second smallest county in the state, containing less than 281 square miles. While small in total area, Pinellas enjoys a long coastline along the Gulf Coast, providing over 35 miles of fine white sandy beaches stretching from Tarpon Springs to Fort De Soto.

  With over 3,150 people per square mile, Pinellas County today is by far the most densely populated county in the State of Florida and is second only to Atlanta Georgia’s Fulton County, in the southeastern United States. Large numbers of residents are attracted to the county’s mild sub-tropical climate and strong economy. In 1996, over 4.1 million overnight visitors came to Pinellas County from around the state, the nation and throughout the world. To support the growing needs of our expanding residential population and the large number of visitors drawn to our area, enhancing our beaches, the county’s greatest asset, is vitally important to our overall economy and quality of life in our community.

  Spotlight — Fort De Soto named America’s Top Beach – 2008
  Pristine Area Favorite Lauded as “Portrait of Tranquility”

   Fort De Soto Park was named America’s Top Beach by TripAdvisor, the world’s largest online travel community.

  Citing a “spectacular combination of soft white sand, calm, clear water and a laid-back atmosphere,” the popular online travel network put the park’s North Beach at the top of its annual best-of list, based on TripAdvisor’s Popularity Index.

  This marks the second time in three years the pristine Pinellas County beach has received top honors on an annual “best-of” list. In 2005, Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, a.k.a. “Dr. Beach,” named Fort De Soto the nation’s #1 Beach. 

  http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/05_ft_desoto.htm

  http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/beaches.htm

  http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/virtual_tour_beach_menu.htm

  http://www.pinellascounty.org/PDF/BeachGuide.pdf

  http://www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/?type=beach

  http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/pdf/beach-shells.pdf

  http://www.pinellascounty.org/resident/recreation.htm

  

  CREDITS:  Information courtesy of www.PinellasCounty.org. Photography provided courtesy of my personal photo collection, my friend Brian Greene, and the beach panoramic scene photo provided courtesy of Pinellas County Communications Department

• Make A Resolution to Visit Ft. De Soto Park

  Written by Connie Langhorst No Comments
  Last Updated: January 15, 2010

  2010 is here and we are halfway through the first month of the New Year!  

  Many people take the opportunity to utter (often under their breath) a commitment to a New Year’s resolution.  Getting more exercise is often at the top of the list, and there is no easier way to keep a commitment to getting more exercise than participating in any one of a number of fun activities at Ft. De Soto Park in Tierra Verde, FL.

  Whether you enjoy hiking, jogging, skating, kite boarding, surfing, swimming, kayaking, bicycling, or the causal ease of camping, collecting shells on the beach, a museum tour, boat ride, fishing from the pier, bird watching, or a leisurely walk with a furry friend at the doggie park and beach, there is an activity for every person at every skill level at Ft. De Soto Park! 

  Getting more exercise in 2010 could not be easier or more fun! 

  More interesting facts and information about Ft. De Soto Park follow. 

  Have a great year.  I hope to see you at the Park . . . in Paradise Found! 

  Fort De Soto Park
  3500 Pinellas Bayway South
  Tierra Verde, FL 33715
  Park Office – (727) 893-9185
  Campground Office – (727) 893-9185

  Fort De Soto Named America’s Top Beach for 2009
  Pristine Area Favorite Lauded as “Portrait of Tranquility”
  Fort De Soto Park was named America’s Top Beach for the second consecutive year by TripAdvisor, the world’s largest online travel community.
  Citing a “spectacular combination of soft white sand, calm, clear water and a laid-back atmosphere,” the popular online travel network put the park’s North Beach at the top of its annual best-of list, based on TripAdvisor’s Popularity Index. This marks the second time in three years the pristine Pinellas County beach has received top honors on an annual “best-of” list. In 2005 Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, a.k.a. “Dr. Beach,” named Fort De Soto the nation’s #1 Beach!

  The largest park within the Pinellas County Park System, Fort De Soto park consists of 1,136 acres made up of five interconnected islands. First opened on December 21, 1962, when the state toll road named the Pinellas Bayway was completed, this park was dedicated May 11, 1963, in perpetuity as a public park. Annual park attendance averages more than 2.7 million visitors.

  The 12-inch mortar battery, located at the fort for which the park was named, was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Adding to the historical interest at Fort De Soto, two British breech-loading, rapid-fire rifles of 1890 vintage were installed in March 1982. Markers showing the original building locations and a Quartermaster Storehouse Museum add to the park’s historic interest.

  Renovation and conversion of the East Beach concession building to a picnic shelter was completed in 1991. This picnic shelter can easily accommodate 200 visitors and you can now make shelter reservations online!

  The following amenities complement the Park’s natural and historic features:

  Over seven miles of waterfront, including almost three miles of the finest white sand beach in the United States.

  An 800-foot-long boat launching facility with eleven floating docks.

  A 238-site family camping area with facilities including picnic tables, grills, water, electricity, washers, dryers, sanitary disposal stations, modern restrooms, showers, play areas, and a camp store.

  Two large swim centers including a food concession area located at the North Beach Swim Center.

  Two fishing piers, one on Tampa Bay (500 feet long) and the other on the Gulf (1,000 feet long). Each pier has a food and bait concession.

  Fourteen large group picnic shelters incorporating award-winning aesthetic and functional design features.

  Twenty storm-resistant public restroom buildings featured in several national publications.

  A snack bar/souvenir shop offering a beautiful view of the Gulf of Mexico.

  A 6.8 mile, 12-foot-wide asphalt recreation trail connects the campground with the North and East Beach Swim Centers and the historic fort.

  A 2.25-mile recreational canoe trail.

  A 1-mile nature trail in the Arrowhead Picnic area, and a 3/4 mile nature trail in the Soldiers’ Hole area provides a glimpse of some the native fauna and flora.

  Quartermaster Museum. 

  2,200 foot Barrier-Free Nature Trail is a self-guided interpretive trail, providing access to nature for all visitors to Fort De Soto Park, regardless of their physical abilities.

  A Dog Park – Fort De Soto has the only dog park where dogs are allowed on the beach in a designated area.  Be sure to review the rules online! 

  Youth camping area for organized youth groups such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Church groups, etc.

  Follow this link to the Ft. De Soto Park Official Website to view 360º Virtual Tours of the following park amenities:  Gulf Pier, North Beach, Campground, Shelter 14, Pier 1, Boat Ramp, Museum, Fort, Barrier Free Trail, and Dog Park.

  CREDITS:  Information and photos courtesy of Pinellas County and Ft. De Soto Park.  Some photos by yours truly.
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