Fort Desoto: Explore Floridas Nature Wildlife With Americas Most Beautiful Beach

The places you can go to see pristine Florida beaches and unadulterated wildlife

are few and far in between, making Tampa Bays Fort DeSoto Park a must-see attraction for those vacationing in the area. Its why the famous Dr. Beach named it Americas Most Beautiful Beach in 2005.

With 1,136 acres of soft, powdery white sand, an abundance of hiking trails, a canoe trail, a large campground, and not a hotel in sight, Fort DeSoto Beach allows visitors to explore Florida as it was, and as it was meant to be.

Nature-lovers will enjoy the opportunity to snorkel in the clear waters, seeing the seagrass beds, the gopher tortoise, and other birds unique to the island that cant be found anywhere else. On nearby Egmont Key there is even a Seabird Sanctuary.

History-lovers will take pleasure in exploring this island once inhibited by the Tocobaga Indians and used by the military in the Civil War and World War II. Fort DeSoto boasts the only four 12-inch seacoast rifled mortars in the continental U.S. Theres an on-site museum, the Quartermaster Storehouse Museum, for those who are interested in learning more about Fort DeSotos role with the military.

You can get to Fort DeSoto by boat or by car, thanks to the Pinellas Bayway that connects Fort DeSoto to Tierra Verde and St. Pete Beach. If youre visiting the area, you definitely want to take a ferry. It allows you to explore the waters of Tampa Bay and see places like Egmont Key and the Egmont Key lighthouse.

If youre staying in a Condo on Madeira Beach, a Treasure Island Rental, or a St Pete Beach Condo Rental, Hubbards Marina right on Johns Pass offers a charter boat to and from Fort DeSoto and Egmont Key, and you can rent snorkel equipment. You may even see the bottle-nosed dolphin while youre there so keep an eye out!

In-season the ferry boat departs at 10 and 11 am and returns at 2 and 3 pm. Off-season, during the Fall months, it departs from 11 am and returns at 3 pm. The service is closed Dec 1st through Feb 14th. Its an affordable trip for the family at just $20, and sure beats trying to find transportation down there. Plus you get a great view the entire way there!

Just be mindful of the currents. The park has specific rules about where visitors are allowed to swim because of strong currents at certain parts of the island. As long as you follow the rules and obey what the signs say, youll have a great time and youll get to see a rare glimpse of natural, Old Florida.

by: Laine McKenna

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