Anclote River Park
Whether you desire a weekend of fishing, swimming, picnicking, playing, or just relaxing, Anclote River Park provides the perfect natural escape. Pack a lunch and a beach blanket and make it a day of fun for the whole family! Directions: Take U.S. 19 to Moog Road, West on Moog Road to Strauber Memorial Hwy. Left on Strauber Memorial Hwy. To Bailey's Bluff Road. Left on Bailey's Bluff Road, 2.2 miles.

Robert J. Strickland Memorial Park (Hudson Beach)
Bask in the warmth, then cool down by splashing around. Lay down a blanket and enjoy a picnic lunch, or test the waters to see if the fish are biting. The perfect day of fun in the sun waits. Directions: U.S. 19 to Clark Street, West on Clark Street, approx. 1 mile.

Robert K. Rees Memorial Park
All the relaxation of the beach combined with all the fun of a park makes Robert K. Rees Memorial Park a great place for a family getaway. Located on Green Key, west of New Port Richey, this is a beautiful site to see the sunset.

Ben T. Davis Beach
Hugging Tampa Bay and offering one of the first sights of sand for those entering Tampa Bay via Tampa International Airport, this narrow beach is attractively landscaped and stretches along Courtney Campbell Causeway, which connects Tampa with Clearwater.

Picnic Island
Shelters and open picnic areas dot this 96-acre waterfront Tampa park that juts into Tampa Bay. Grills, play equipment and concessions available. Directions: I-275 to south Westshore Boulevard at the Port of Tampa.

Davis Island Beach
This sandy spit near downtown Tampa is mostly used by boats anchored on the shore, however, it's a popular spot for people watching, reading and sunning. Nearby restaurants, shopping and more.

E.G. Simmons Park
This rustic beach is surrounded by mangroves and nearby swamps where Florida flora and fauna are abundant. Boating, fishing, swimming and camping draw people to this 469-acre park on Tampa Bay near Ruskin. Directions: Take I-75 to the Apollo Beach/Big Ben exit. Go west on Big Ben Road. Go south on 41, turn right onto 19th Ave. N.W.

Anclote Key State Park
A picturesque 1887 federal lighthouse stands sentinel on the southern end of the island's 4-mile beach, while ospreys nest in the pines throughout the island. Six distinct biological communities provide habitat for dozens of species of birds including bald eagles. Anclote Key is an excellent swimming and nature study guide. Directions: Accessible only by boat. Several boats run from the sponge docks in Tarpon Springs.

Fred Howard Park, Tarpon Springs
Located in north Pinellas on the Gulf of Mexico, this 155-acre family park features a 1,000-foot public beach. A mile long causeway connects the swimming area with the mainland. Windsurfing is popular here. Directions: Take S.R. 580 west to Tarpon Ave.

Sunset Beach
This small city-run park in Tarpon Springs features a quiet sheltered waterway in the north end of Pinellas County. The light surf and constant breeze makes this a perfect area for windsurfing or sunset watching.

Honeymoon Island State Park
Sandy and rocky shores line this state park. Wildlife is abundant, and two bird observation areas and nature trails offer plenty of opportunities to see osprey and other Florida natives. Sunbathing, shelling, swimming, fishing and picnicking are also popular here.

Caladesi Island State Park
Named by Dr. Beach as the #5 Beach in the U.S. this year, Caladesi is a pristine island only accessible by boat. Ferries depart hourly from nearby Honeymoon Island for days of shelling picnics, swimming and scuba diving.

Clearwater Beach - Pier 60 Park
This wide beach of sugar-fine sand draws volleyball players, sun worshippers and swimmers. In other words, this is where the action is. Pier 60 Park features a recreation complex on Clearwater's expansive beach with covered playgrounds, fishing and concessions. The Sunsets at Pier 60 festival features music, entertainment, and a beautiful Gulf of Mexico sunset. Located at the west end of SR-60.

Sand Key Park
Sand Key Park, located on this 14-mile long island, consistently rates in the top 20 beaches in the Unites States with a huge powder-white sand beach and gorgeous blue water. Hosting mostly families, the 90-acre park includes picnic shelters, restroom, and nearly 800 parking spaces. Directions: From I-275 going south, take S.R. 60 west to Gulfview Blvd in Clearwater Beach. Take Gulfview Blvd south over the Clearwater Pass Bridge.

Indian Rocks Beach
Indian Rocks Beach features wide, flat and white-sand beaches on the Gulf of Mexico and is accessible by more than 20 beach accesses along Gulf Boulevard. The public access park is conveniently located near several restaurants and shops. Directions: From Interstate 275, take Ulmerton Road exit and go west until it ends at Gulf Boulevard.

Indian Shores Beach
Indian Shores includes a fishing pier and access to the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary. The beachside sanctuary is the largest wild bird hospital in the United States caring for more than 500 birds at a time. Public beach access is north of Park Boulevard.

Redington Beach, North Redington Beach, and Redington Shores
Redington Beach, North Redington Beach and Redington Shores are relatively quiet neighborhood beaches known for three fishing piers that are placed intermittently along the open public beaches. Public beach access points are available throughout the area. The largest is Redington Shores Beach Park at 181st St. and Gulf Boulevard.

Archibald Memorial Beach
Archibald Memorial Beach offers more than five acres of developed recreation area along the Gulf.

Madeira Beach
A favorite among tourists and locals, this wide, sandy beach is packed on weekends with families and singles both young and old. At the southern end is John's Pass Village . This cozy, turn-of-the-19th century fishing village is a world apart in rustic charm. Offering a collection of shops, galleries, restaurants, watersports vendors and cruise and fishing charter operators, every element of this wooden boardwalk begs for exploration.

Treasure Island
This big, wide community beach has abundant sea shells on its white shores, which are often jamming with sports, musical, cooking and crafts shows. A playground and three public boat ramps are also on site. Directions: From I-275 turn west onto Central Avenue across the Treasure Island Causeway until it ends at Gulf Boulevard.

St. Pete Beach
Set on Long Key, which also contains the community of Pass-a-Grille, St. Pete Beach offers wide swaths of shelly sand and usually calm waters, making this a popular family hangout and is an ideal place for a long walk. Water sports abound including waverunners, scuba diving, fishing, parasailing and more.

Upham Beach
A part of St. Pete Beach, Upham is known for its wide, flat and sugar-white sand running along the Gulf of Mexico. The area is popular with families and features several large resorts. Directions: From I-275, take Pinellas Bayway west to Gulf Boulevard. As you cross the drawbridge, Upham Beach access is approximately one mile north.

Pass-a-Grille Beach
The first established town on Florida's West Coast barrier islands, Pass-A-Grille retains its historic charm. The area has no "high-rise" buildings and the beach is wide. The two-block wide peninsula features inns, stores, small restaurants and more. Directions: From Interstate 275, take Pinellas Bayway west to Gulf Boulevard. Then take Gulf Boulevard south to Pass-A-Grille Beach.

Shell Key
This island features dynamic sand dunes and beaches. Shell Key remains one of the last pristine barrier islands in Florida, providing ideal habitat for more than 100 species of nesting, migrating and wintering seabirds and shorebirds. Its beach offers excellent shelling and sunbathing opportunities. Located near Tierra Verde just north of Ft. DeSoto Park, this island is accessible only by boat.

Fort Desoto Park
Fort DeSoto Park was rated as the fourth best beach in the nation in 2002 by Dr. Beach. A historic fort built during the Spanish-American War is located on Mullet Key, the largest of the five islands making up this unique area that offers fishing piers, rollerblading and biking trails, camping areas and 900 unspoiled acres including seven miles of wide, white-sand beaches. Directions: From Interstate 275, take Pinellas Bayway west to SR 679. Turn left on SR 679 and the road ends into the park.

Egmont Key
This 440-acre island wildlife refuge was once a camp for captured Seminoles and a Civil War Navy Base. Accessible only by boat, this island is recognized by its 1858 lighthouse and the ruins of Fort Dade. Daily tours to the island are offered from St. Pete Beach, Treasure Island and John's Pass.

Pine Island at Alfred McKethen Park
A three-acre park on the Gulf of Mexico, McKethen Park has white sandy shores perfect for sun worshippers. The park offers wading and swimming areas, great flats fishing, kayaking and canoeing and an observation point to watch a spectacular ending to a day as the sun sets in the west.

Steinhatchee
This is a "frontier" town reminiscent of the old Florida "Cracker" days. Gulf waters are plentiful with fish and scallops and there are plenty of nearby outdoor activities.

Horseshoe Beach
Private island beaches are yours for the taking off the shore of Horseshoe Beach, an isolated fishing community that has less than 200 permanent residents. The town center offers a waterfront park and two marinas.

Shired Island Park
The park's boat launch is a popular spot for setting off in kayaks in canoes to explore nearby creeks and estuaries. Smooth, calms waters are prevalent, and you're sure to spot plenty of wildlife, like sea turtles, hawks, alligators and more.

Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge
Set at the mouth of the Suwannee River, this 52,935-acre refuge offers several fishing piers and boat launches, as well as biking and hiking trails.

Cedar Key City Park
This small sandy beach sits at the end of the local historic district. Cedar Key was once a prominent fishing village, and today it is known as an artists' community.

Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge
This is a group of fragile coastal islands consisting of 800 acres. The refuge is only accessible by boat, and access to all of the islands is limited. While visiting you'll see a variety of birds like bald eagles and egrets, and also manatees and dolphins.