Florida seems to have an endless number of beaches. The easiest way to group these beaches is to use two groups: the Atlantic Coast (Eastern part of the peninsula) and the Gulf Coast (Western part of the island), Tampa’s coast. This text describes a few beaches in the west.
Tampa Bay Area: Clearwater Beach, Caladesi Island und Fort De Soto
Starting point at the gulf coast is Tampa with its famous bay, the Tampa Bay. There are no beaches in the bay, only smaller preserve areas. All the well-known beaches are further west at the Gulf of Mexico. In the North, there is Clearwater Beach, a busy beach not far from the city area Clearwater/St. Petersburg/Tampa. Anyway, busy in this case means; there are quite some people on the beach close to the parking area and the entrances. The beach is several miles long and walking a bit up or down is a good way to avoid crowds and even be alone on the beach. Clearwater Beach is a city beach. Due to its special shape; it offers a perfect view over the skyline of the city.
Right in front of Clearwater Beach, is Honeymoon and Caladesi Island, a pretty paradise with a beach voted to be the number 1 beach in the US. Further Information can be found here.
A bit south of Clearwater, there are two more beaches: Redington and Sunset Beach. Just like Clearwater, these beaches are located on a smaller island right in front of the mainland. Another thing to be mentioned is the Fort DeSoto Beach and State Park. This state park consists of five smaller islands, all of them connected by a toll street. This is where you find a ferry to Egmont Key State Park, a nature reserve. Online reviews describe strongly mixed feelings, some are enthusiastic others not at all. I have not been there. We decided to go to Caladesi Island instead.
Fort Myer, Sanibel and Captiva Island
Fort Myers is further south. I felt like I was in little Germany, all of a sudden German was spoken everywhere. The beaches are beautiful; there is no two ways about that. But I don’t see the reason why German travel agencies prefer Fort Myers and its islands Sanibel and Captiva. These three names are presented prominently in every brochure and magazine, that’s why so many Germans are here. In here it is as beautiful as it is further north or south but in no ways better.
Sanibel and Captiva are rather quiet, laid-back islands, many bicycles on the road and many narrow streets. The atmosphere is the one of a typical holiday island, just like our German island in the Baltic Sea, only warmer.
Naples
Most southern point of the Gulf Coast is Naples. South of Naples, the land begins to fragment. It becomes clear that Naples is very close to the Everglades. The farther south, the more humid-hot it is. In Naples, yiu can feel this change in climate strongly. Naples has a city beach with a certain resemblance to the Clearwater beach: there is a great view to the Naples skyline. Naples itself appears a bit pricy and chic. In addition, there is a state park – a protected area: in here it’s quite, a bit secluded and very little people. That’s the most southern beach (except Key West), after the Everglades start.
Entering the Beaches
Some of the beaches at the gulf coast are protected areas. That means they are called state park and require an entrance fee. It’s not difficult to figure out how that works, just drive along the road until a booth comes along. There, you will have to pay and get a recipe.
Beaches in Florida are usually open to public. We could also find parking easily close to the beach. Most parking charges a fee, these fees were never very high. There are many signs that point the way to the beaches. Most likely, you will not go the wrong way as long as you roughly know your highway.
In Caladesi Island, several wooden bridges lead the way to the beach. These bridges are a bit above ground level to make sure no one steps and walks on plants and animals.
Changing rooms are available everywhere. Somewhere close to the beach entrance, there is always a wooden shack to be found. Wooden shack sounds a bit too small, indeed it’s a solid building with washroom, showers and lockers. I find this very convenient. Comes in quite handy not needing to wear bathing suits all day long and also wet clothes can be changed quickly and don’t need to dry on the beach. Some people say that is super touristic. True, but that’s the case everywhere in Florida. All beaches have facilities and can be reached easily. The shacks are large but they fit into the countryside and don’t bother optically. All in all, these shacks kind of hide in the background and don’t draw attention.
Character of the Beaches at the Gulf Coast
Only one word: bathtub! All the beaches at the gulf coast are bigger than the ones on the Atlantic coast. Crowds are smaller, in fact there are no real crowds only a few people and the sand is fine white sand. There are practically no waves in the water; the ocean is calm over here. It is the perfect place to relax, do nothing and just bathe in the water.
Present all the time is the brown pelican, an animal that can be found typically in the Gulf of Mexico. Many more bird can also be seen.
To me, these beaches were the most beautiful beaches ever. Endless beaches, fine, white sand, no people and silence and remoteness.
Btw, a little hint in the end: US-Americans mostly carry a lot of luggage for a day at the beach (in particular food, drinks, coolers, music, beach tents. That is why they don’t move far away from the entrances. If you run into too many people at the entrance, a 10 minute walk along the water helps. Walking a bit away from the entrance usually means you can find silence and might even be alone on the beach. Don’t take to many things with you on the beach (I carry a blanket, water and sun screen only) and be able to walk a bit and be away from everyone.