Caladesi Island State Park (near Dunedin, Florida and Clearwater Beach)

Caladesi Island State Park was picked by Dr. Beach (Stephen Leatherman) as one of the top ten beaches in the USA in 2007 and 2008. It has the number 2 spot on the top ten list for 2007 and #1 for 2008.

Caladesi Island is the home of Caladesi Island State Park. The island was once part of Honeymoon Island to the north until a hurricane in 1921 split the island in two. The island is accessible only by boat, either private boat or by the Caladesi Ferry Service departing from Honeymoon Island. Caladesi Island has 3 miles of absolutely beautiful Gulf beaches with shallow, clear, calm waters. Actually, if you don't mind walking a good distance you can actually walk to Caladesi Island from Clearwater Beach. From Pier 60 it's a little more than an hour's walk.

The Clearwater / Dunedin area is highly developed and traffic is fairly congested on the main highways, especially on US 19. So it's rather amazing after spending some time on Clearwater Beach, to discover a completely undeveloped island like Caladesi, with a virgin pine forest and 3 miles of completely undeveloped beaches. (A virgin forest is one that has never been cut for timber).

After taking the relaxing boat ride from Honeymoon Island (you'll probably see some dolphins on the way over), you will cruise through some thick mangrove forests (called a mangle) before disembarking at the marina located on the bay side of the island right in front of the concession where you can buy food or drink. You reach the beach by walking on a sidewalk and boardwalks for about 5 minutes. There are several covered picnic pavilions as well as picnic tables under the palms between the marina and the beach. Halfway to the beach you will encounter restroom facilities with changing rooms, showers, and a drinking fountain. Once out on the beach you can walk north for a mile or so, or south for many miles, although the park itself only encompasses 3 miles of beach. Beach wheelchairs are available from the rangers. There is a vendor near where the boardwalk ends on the beach if you want to rent beach umbrellas and chairs, or if you want to rent a kayak. They offer Ocean Kayaks.

What else can you do on the island? Go fishing, rent a kayak and paddle through the mangrove tunnels on the bay side of the island. Take a walk on the nature trail and see the oak and palm hammock (a type of forest). See the double-trunked pine tree. What will you see? Owls, birds of all kinds, rabbits, armadillos, snakes perhaps, and there is even a very curious wild turkey on the island. Don't be surprised to find the turkey following you!

Most likely you'll just head straight for the beach, which is wide and flat. The water is shallow and normally calm. This is great for snorkeling. Remember that you cannot keep live shells, and that includes the sand dollars that you find out in the water.

Caladesi has a natural beach which is not raked and manicured by the beach machines, so you may encounter more seaweed and beach wrack here than on Clearwater Beach. It also means that you will find more interesting things on the beach that have washed up.

There is a time limit of 4 hours on the island if you come over on the ferry.

Above: Caladesi Island's wide flat natural beach is perfect for walking, wading, shelling, and just plain relaxing. This is a state park beach and is not raked and manicured, so sometimes it has a little seaweed on the beach.

Above: Wooden dune walkovers lead across the sand dunes to the beach. After getting off the ferry, it's about a 5 minute walk to the beach, with restrooms, showers, and a drinking fountain at the halfway point.

Above: Caladesi Island appears today just like the early explorers saw it when they arrived.

Above: An onshore breeze and a high spring tide brings the water high up onto the beach.

Above: a low tide and a calm summer afternoon create the perfect opportunity for wading and finding live shells and other interesting marine life on Caladesi.

Above: Honeymoon Island's virgin pine forest can be seen across the Gulf water. Honeymoon and Caladesi Island were all one island until the 1921 hurricane created a split (now called Hurricane Pass).

Above: Signage on the island is limited, but authoritative.

Above: Should you wish to rent a beach chair and umbrella, or a kayak, the beach attendant will hook you up. The price is very reasonable compared to most beach vendors.

Above: Upon arriving, you will walk past the concession where you can purchase food or drink. You'll probably be in a hurry to get to the beach after arriving, but this building will become important to you later unless you brought your own food and drink (highly recommended). They serve the usual greasy fried foods, although I did see a tuna-fish sandwich on the menu (they can't fry that can they?). Prices are reasonable. A ten dollar bill ought to cover one person, unless you want something exotic like the fried shrimp basket.

Above: There are several pavilions available that can get you out of the sun, unless they are occupied. They can be rented for the day.

Above: There are quite a few picnic tables under the palm trees between the concession and the dunes.

Above: There are plenty of places to walk around and explore on the island other than the beach.

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