- Community Stories (108)
- Belleair (1)
- Belleair Beach (2)
- Belleair Bluffs (1)
- Belleair Shore (1)
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- Pinellas Park (1)
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- Redington Shores (2)
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- St. Pete Beach (7)
- St. Petersburg (42)
- Tarpon Springs (3)
- Tierra Verde (17)
- Treasure Island (3)
- Consumer Information (4)
- Gems of Pinellas County (25)
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» boating
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Belleair Bluffs
The City of Belleair Bluffs, a tiny hamlet measuring less than three-quarters of a square mile, is home to about 2,200 residents who enjoy life in a peaceful, close-knit community.The city borders the Intracoastal Waterway, making it a haven for boaters. The Belleair Causeway, gateway to the barrier islands just beyond, provides residents easy access to a sandy beach with calm waters, and a boat launch for access to water sports.
With more than 200 commercial and professional businesses, Belleair Bluff provides for the needs of its residents right at home. For many who live here, a quick visit to a shop or lunch at a neighborhood restaurant is just a stroll away.
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Factoids:
Population: 2,203
Land Area: 0.46 Sq. Miles
Median Age: 59.6Points of Interest: Intracoastal Waterway, Boating, Bellaire Causeway, Sandy Beaches, Boat launches, Water sports, More than 200 commercial and professional businesses, Visits to a shop or lunch at a neighborhood restaurant is just a stroll away.
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Belleair Beach
The 1,600 or so residents of Belleair Beach enjoy a relaxed lifestyle on a barrier island, proud to have preserved their peaceful town as one of the last purely residential beaches in Pinellas County. Aside from a motel and a couple of timeshares, Belleair Beach is strictly residential and its citizens have every intention of keeping it that way.
Two miles of white sandy beach front and man-made fingers of land extending into the Intracoastal Waterway offer magnificent Gulf sunsets and superb water access to those fortunate to call Belleair Beach home.
Because the city is but two miles long and less than a mile wide, every resident either lives on the water or within an easy stroll of the water. While many Belleair Beach residents maintain private boat docks, a city boat ramp and municipal marina provide access to all who wish to take to the sea. Walking paths through the town or along the beach make outdoor life here truly enjoyable. The city also maintains tennis courts, a basketball court and eleven public parks.Property Search:
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Factoids:
Population: 1,614
Land Area: 0.58 Sq.
Miles Median Age: 52.4Points of Interest: Municipal marina, Walking paths through the town or along the beach, Tennis courts, Basketball court and eleven public parks.
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Make A Resolution to Visit Ft. De Soto Park
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) 893-9185Fort 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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Treasure Island
When Treasure Island residents cross over one of the three bridges to their barrier island homes, the tropical light, colorful foliage and the sound of seabirds in the air let them know they’ve arrived someplace very special.The three and a half-mile beach that fronts the Gulf of Mexico makes up the western boundary of Treasure Island. Narrow at both ends and wide in the middle, locals claim that it’s the widest beach on the Gulf Coast. At the north end is John’s Pass, with Madeira Beach on the other side, and at the south in is Blind Pass, both accesses to the Gulf of Mexico from inland waters. In fact, Treasure Island is an island.
Hotels, motels and condominiums occupy most of the beach front property while most of the town’s residents live along canals on the landside of the island. The proximity to the Gulf and the canal houses with boat slips make it a great place for boaters.
In addition to its marina and three very busy public boat ramps, the town also provides wonderful land-based recreational facilities. The Treasure Island park system was designed with the goal that every resident would be within walking distance of a park. The Treasure Island Golf & Tennis Center includes a 9-hole golf course, 10 tennis courts, plus facilities for volleyball, basketball, horseshoes and shuffleboard.
Life’s a Beach
The town’s 7,500 permanent residents and 12,000 annual visitors enjoy an easygoing, flip-flop lifestyle. They have the advantages of living in a small, but well-serviced community where they essentially are on vacation every day of the week. Treasure Island features a lively restaurant and bar scene along the beach, catering to locals as well as the high number of annual visitors from near and far.A Beach Party
An annual highlight of living in Treasure Island is the Sun, Sand and Swing festival held every May on the beach. A group of bands play most of the day and into the night, from 3 till 11 pm . It’s also a family event with activities like skim board contests for the kids.“Treasure Island was a really nice place to grow up. As kids we fished, went waterskiing and played on the beach and kids can still do that here. And you’ll not find better neighbors. We stick together and really care about our community.” Butch Ellsworth, lifelong resident.
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Factoids:
Population: 7,450
Land Area: 1.59 Sq. Miles
Median Age: 52.4
Statistics are an estimation onlyPoints of Interest: The Sun, Sand and Swing festival, Beaches, Skim Boarding, Swimming, Fishing, Marina and three very busy public boat ramps, The Treasure Island Park System, The Treasure Island Golf & Tennis Center includes a 9-hole golf course, 10 tennis courts, plus facilities for volleyball, basketball, horseshoes and shuffleboard.
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Safety Harbor
Tucked away like a hidden gem among the ancient oaks at the top of old Tampa Bay, the town of Safety Harbor is a small town hideaway with sparkling water views. Home of the historic Espiritu Santo Springs and a world-renowned spa, Safety Harbor has always drawn visitors with its restorative powers. Its natural beauty and ideal locale continue to attract young families, artists, retirees, working professionals and others to come and make Safety Harbor home.This is a vibrant village, with weekly markets and festivals, boating marinas and fishing piers, and a quaint downtown, bustling with an eclectic array of shops, eateries and art galleries. Residents of Safety Harbor enjoy seven city parks, the backdrop for live music events and lively outdoor pursuits – biking, roller-blading, jogging and strolling – as well as canoeing and kayaking in Tampa Bay. Big-city attractions are just minutes away, but once you’re home in Safety Harbor, the rest of the world seems distant, indeed.
Location, Location, Location
Safety Harbor residents cannot say enough about the contrast between the insulated feel of their Safety Harbor village and its location. It is minutes away from major north-south, east-west traffic corridors in Pinellas County, making it about the most centrally located community in the whole of the Tampa Bay metropolitan area. From a home in Safety Harbor, you can get to Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater quicker than from almost any other community. Yet when you are home, you feel like you are in a small town miles from anywhere.“It’s like a little village off the beaten path,” according to long-time resident, Gary Bass. “When you make that turn to the east off McMullen Booth Road, you leave six lanes of traffic, the hustle and the stress and you feel like you’re on vacation.”
Less than 18,000 people live in Safety Harbor, making it a rather small community by today’s standards. They consistently report that what they like about living there is the small town feel, the traditional Main Street, and the quaint atmosphere. Location is also a big factor as residents can drive to just about anywhere around the area in just a few minutes.
Safety Harbor maintains an active Parks and Recreation Department, sponsoring a number of camps that children can enjoy for a small fee. These include everything from educationally oriented activities to sailing instruction. The camps are popular and a source of civic pride.
For Youngsters
The many young families send their children to Safety Harbor Elementary School and Safety Harbor Middle School. Most high-school students attend Countryside High a few miles to the north.Abundance of Recreation
Safety Harborites have a relatively short drive to all that Tampa Bay has to offer. But they love their peaceful little enclave and produce many community events. Each year there is a Seafood Festival, a Canoe and Kayak Festival and a Wine Festival, among others. Every third Friday of the month the city blocks of a big chunk of Main Street for music, dancing and food.Medical Services
Mease Countryside Hospital is located in Safety Harbor and has a fully staffed emergency room. It also features maternity and pediatric care. Meese Countryside is a top quality operator and has been named as one of the country’s top 100 hospitals seven times. That’s quite remarkable considering that it only began in 1986.Property Search:
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Factoids:
Population: 17,363
Land Area: 4.92 Sq. Miles
Median Age: 42.2Points of Interest: Weekly Markets and Festivals, boating, Fishing, Quaint Downtown, Art Galleries, Seven City Parks, Live Music Events, Biking, Roller-blading, Jogging, Canoeing and Kayaking, Seafood Festival, A Wine Festival.
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Madeira Beach
Madeira Beach is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico on one side and the Intracoastal Waterway on the other. Its residents either live on the water or within walking distance of it. In fact, watch the daily migration of people as they wander down to the water each night to view the spectacular sunset.With a population just under 5,000 people, Madeira Beach has a small town atmosphere and a largely residential feel. Families are in the minority here, as many Madeira Beach households are retirees or empty nesters.
The main attraction of the city is St. John’s Pass Village, a quaint fishing village with unique shops and boutiques, a fishing fleet, cruise lines, boat rentals, parasailing and jet skiing, and a variety of restaurants. If deep sea fishing is of interest to you, several charters are available right here at John’s Pass. As you walk along a waterside boardwalk you will most likely see dolphins in the water below. Want a close-up photo with you and a pelican? Then John’s Pass is your best bet.Residents and visitors alike enjoy Gulf views from the white sand beaches, as well as the beauty of the Intracoastal along the 1,100 foot boardwalk.
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Factoids:
Population: 5,000
Land Area: 1.03 Sq. Miles
Median Age: 48.4Points of Interest: St. John’s Pass Village, Fishing, Restaurants and shops. Gulf views from the white sand beaches, The beauty of the Intracoastal along the 1,100 foot boardwalk.
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