| Best Beach in the Nation 2008--Caladesi Island! |
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| May 22, 2008 |
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Summer is upon us and families all over are planning their Florida summer beach vacations. It's already starting to feel like summer at the beach with temperatures well into the 80's. Even the water temperature is already around 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
With over 1,300 miles of coastline, Florida has hundreds of beaches to choose from. Here's a little something to help you choose a beach to visit:
Every year around Memorial Day, Dr. Stephen Leatherman (you probably know him as Dr. Beach) announces his new annual list of the Nation's top 10 beaches. Dr. Leatherman is Professor and Director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University in Miami. He is also founder of the National Healthy Beaches Campaign.
Last year, Dr. Beach chose Caladesi Island as the number 2 beach in the Nation.
This year, Dr. Beach has chosen Caladesi Island State Park as being the Best Beach in the Nation for 2008! Number One! You can watch the announcement video here.
Caladesi Island is located just west of Dunedin, and just north of Clearwater Beach on the Gulf coast of Florida in Pinellas County.
It's no surprise to those of us who live in Pinellas County that Caladesi Island ranks so high on Dr. Beach's list. Anyone who's ever visited the 3 miles of undeveloped beaches on Caladesi can tell you that the park deserves the number 1 spot on the list. And it's in good company. Florida is always well represented on the top 10 list.
Since 1992, five other beaches have made it to the number one spot:
- Fort Desoto's North Beach (also in Pinellas County)
- St. Joseph Peninsula State Park (northwest Florida)
- St. Andrews State Park (northwest Florida)
- Grayton Beach State Park (northwest Florida)
- Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Keys
If you're looking for a fantastic beach to visit this summer, or any time of year, Caladesi Island beach should be high on your list. No traffic, no homes, no buildings. Just sun, sand, water, nature and enough amenities to be comfortable. Coming to Caladesi Island State Park is a fantastic way to see what Florida looked like 100 years ago and is a great place to relax and unwind, or to challenge yourself by hiking the nature trails or kayaking the mangrove tunnels. There is lots of wildlife to see.
Getting there
- There are no cars on the island and no roads.
- There is no bridge to the island. You can only get there by boat or by walking from Clearwater Beach several miles along the shore.
- A ferry service provides access to Caladesi Island.
Ferry to Caladesi
- Catch the ferry on Honeymoon Island, at the west end of Curlew Road (586) out of Dunedin.
- Pay a $5 per car entrance fee to Honeymoon Island and follow the signs to the ferry dock.
- Ferry cost is $9 per adult, $5.50 for children 4-12, free for children under 4.
- Ferry makes the 20 minute trip to Caladesi every hour or half-hour beginning at 10 a.m.
- You are limited to 4 hours on the island if you arrived by ferry. Last ferry home departs Caladesi around 4pm.
- To contact the ferry, call 727-734-5263, or visit www.dolphinencounter.org
On the Island
- Snack bar offers food, drink and beach supplies.
- There is a 99 slip marina on the bay side of the island. Bring your boat and dock overnight!
- Camping is not permitted on Caladesi.
- Pets are not permitted out on the beach.
- Caladesi has several miles of nature trails.
- Kayaks are available for rent on the beach and on the bay side.
- Beach chairs and umbrellas are available to rent on the beach.
- Caladesi has 3 miles of beaches to walk.
- There is no lifeguard on duty.
- Alcohol is not allowed.
- Special beach wheelchairs are available from the rangers. They are not self-propelled. You'll need someone to push the chair.
Whoops! I got so carried away with Caladesi Island that I almost forgot that 2 other Florida beaches also made the top 10 list. Siesta Key Beach (Sarasota) took the #3 spot, and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on Key Biscayne (near Miami) took the #9 position. I'll tell you more about those beaches soon.
Other resources for Caladesi:
VISITFLORIDA articles on Caladesi Island
VISITFLORIDA video shot on Caladesi with me and Dr. Beach
Official Florida State Park webpage for Caladesi
BeachHunter's Caladesi Island photos and information
Caladesi ferry website
Sail Honeymoon Kayak and Catamaran Rentals (kayak to Caladesi from the causeway).
I'll see you at the beach!
David McRee
Florida Beaches Expert |
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| There's a beach chair and umbrella waiting for you on Caladesi beach! |
| Credit: David McRee, VISIT FLORIDA Beaches Expert |
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