Who is ready for summer? I know I am ready for beach days, evenings in the pool, and all the sunshine. What better way to kick off the start of summer than a long holiday weekend, especially one where the weather is projected to be perfect and the beach is only a short drive away. If you are curious what beach to head to this weekend, check below for our list of top bay area beaches!
Sand Key
Located just south of the famous Clearwater Beach. Sand Key provides a more relaxing experience than the hustle and bustle of Clearwater and other bay area beaches. With ample parking at a $5 daily rate, Sand Key is easy and convenient for any type of beach goer.
Clearwater Beach
A touristy beach but also a popular beach among locals. There are plenty of beach front dining options to choose from, my favorite being Frenchy’s. There is also shopping, a beach front playground, and rentals along the beach. If you plan on visiting Clearwater Beach, plan to arrive early as parking can be difficult to find later in the day.
Fort De Soto
Located south of St. Petersburg, Fort De Soto Park is much more than a beach. With endless amount activities available like kayak and bike rentals, to a dog beach, to trails for exploring, and piers to fish off; there is way more to do than just lounging around and getting sun. You can even plan to camp out on the beach!
Caladesi Island
One of the few untouched islands along the gulf coast, this beach is only accessible by boat. If you don’t have your own boat to take out for the day, no worries, there is a ferry service that operates out of Honeymoon Island State park and is a relaxing 15 minute ride over to the island. The Ferry runs every day starting at 10am and departs every half hour.
St. Pete Beach
The beach for everyone. Whether you want a relaxing day, a fun day of water adventures for yourself or for your kids. There are also plenty of beach side of restaurants and bars to enjoy.
