The last few days we've been exploring a few of the many beaches on the Gulf coast, near Tampa.
As you know, we enjoy our own beach at Sandy Beach, SK.
These are nothing like that.
These beaches are from 200 to 500 meters wide and run for kilometers.
We first went to Fort DeSoto Park, just south of St. Petersburg. This is located on a small "key", an offshore strip of land that usually runs parallel with the mainland shore. It is your postcard palm beach with fine white sand, gentle waves and light breezes. There is a sign claiming that this beach was rated the number one beach in the USA in 2004. Hard to argue. After enjoying a picnic lunch, we waded along the shoreline, being too chicken to swim in the cool waters. By "cool" , I mean about 69F or 70F. Most people did the same. I'm guessing that in the summer, the water temps are around 80F or higher.
Fort DeSoto beach.
Kite flying on Treasure Island beach.
A sand sculpture at Treasure Island Beach
Yesterday we had lunch at Clearwater Beach, just west of, yes, Clearwater, which is just to the north of St. Petersburg. Another beautiful white sand beach that seemed to attract a lot more people. No kite-flying there! But lots of people, birds (pelicans, cormorants, gulls, terns, etc.), and boats to watch. It is spring break for a lot of students in this area, so parking spaces were hard to find.
Clearwater Beach
We took a leisurely drive northward along the coastline to Tarpon Springs - fishing village that was originally settled by Greek sponge divers. There is a little Greek village devoted to selling the tourists reminders of that era, and we were no exception. Drinks and dinner by the waterfront (literally one foot away) where we saw more birds and even a single dolphin that splashed around briefly. Lots of small fishing boats, and one huge private yacht that towered over us as it left port. Hmmmmm.
Roni and a friend at Tarpon Springs. Is this her entry
for that hottie bartender contest?
We do plan to visit a beach or two around Ft. Meyers on the way back from the Keys. Bro' Doug says they are worth seeing. Stay tuned!
As you know, we enjoy our own beach at Sandy Beach, SK.
These are nothing like that.
These beaches are from 200 to 500 meters wide and run for kilometers.
We first went to Fort DeSoto Park, just south of St. Petersburg. This is located on a small "key", an offshore strip of land that usually runs parallel with the mainland shore. It is your postcard palm beach with fine white sand, gentle waves and light breezes. There is a sign claiming that this beach was rated the number one beach in the USA in 2004. Hard to argue. After enjoying a picnic lunch, we waded along the shoreline, being too chicken to swim in the cool waters. By "cool" , I mean about 69F or 70F. Most people did the same. I'm guessing that in the summer, the water temps are around 80F or higher.
Fort DeSoto beach.Our next beach was at Treasure Island, just to the west side of St. Petersburg. this was a wide beach, around 500 meters wide. Wide enough for me to fly my kite without fear of it hitting anyone. A nice seabreeze held the kite up real well. There were also quite a number of blue wind/sun shelters that one could sit under to get away from the elements. Drinks and dinner at Sloppy Joes followed.
Kite flying on Treasure Island beach.
A sand sculpture at Treasure Island Beach
Yesterday we had lunch at Clearwater Beach, just west of, yes, Clearwater, which is just to the north of St. Petersburg. Another beautiful white sand beach that seemed to attract a lot more people. No kite-flying there! But lots of people, birds (pelicans, cormorants, gulls, terns, etc.), and boats to watch. It is spring break for a lot of students in this area, so parking spaces were hard to find.
Clearwater BeachWe took a leisurely drive northward along the coastline to Tarpon Springs - fishing village that was originally settled by Greek sponge divers. There is a little Greek village devoted to selling the tourists reminders of that era, and we were no exception. Drinks and dinner by the waterfront (literally one foot away) where we saw more birds and even a single dolphin that splashed around briefly. Lots of small fishing boats, and one huge private yacht that towered over us as it left port. Hmmmmm.
Roni and a friend at Tarpon Springs. Is this her entryfor that hottie bartender contest?
1 comment:
You might have a contender on your hands!
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