Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:Fort Desoto Park, Florida
Dr. Beach, world famous beach vacation expert aka Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, is not an easy man to please. He sees thousands of beaches a year and is truly a connoisseur on the subject, understanding sand textures, wave intensities and colors, and what a fun, complete day at the beach should include. After ranking Fort De Soto Park's North Beach second place in 2003 and 2004, he gave it the top spot in 2005, ranking it as the crown jewel of all the beaches in the country. Dr. Beach gave North Beach this designation for its sand as soft and as white as confectioners' sugar, water like shimmering aquamarines, glorious sunny glow, variety of activities and ocean view unlike any other.
Fort DeSoto Park is at the entryway to Tampa, and is made up of 5 islands that include more than 7 miles of beautiful beaches, North Beach being the most spectacular. There is really something for everyone which makes it a prime spot for families seeking enough of a variety of activities to keep everyone happy. North Beach does a great job of that. There is boating and fishing, but if you want to cast your line, just remember that you'll need a fishing license. The swimming here is perfect, and there's a beautiful lagoon that is calm and shallow enough for new swimmers to feel confident entering. If you continue past this little aquatic gem, you'll come upon the shimmering Gulf of Mexico.
North Beach offers more than just happy days on the water. You can bring a picnic, have a barbecue, or buy a snack here, and there are restrooms and changing rooms on the beach. The shell collecting here is fantastic, and kids will love waiting at the water's edge to see what rolls up on shore. A large variety of birds make their home here, and people come from all over to watch them in their natural habitat.
Fort De Soto Park has some really nice, well maintained, campgrounds for those wanting to sleep out under the stars, but you'll have to make a reservation in person, and it's better to do this in advance. Take a walk to the historical fort which was built in 1898 to protect Tampa Bay, and from where you can get a great view of the beach. There's also boating, canoeing, and kayaking which are especially fun because the water is so incredible and the canoe trail is 2.25 miles long! Take a hike or bring your bike to explore the beautiful trails running around the beach and all through the park.
If boating is your thing, be sure to bring your boat, because there is a ramp that accesses the water. There's also a ferry you can take if you want to go on a day trip to neighboring Egmont Key State Park.
The park and beach of Fort De Soto are open from 8am-9pm, unless of course you're sleeping over in one of the beautiful camping areas. Also, you won't have to worry about parking. The park staff really has made sure that their visitors will have everything they need to have an amazing day. They also work really hard at the park's upkeep, and do a fantastic job of it.
If you feel you've had enough calm, head on over to Tampa where you'll find plenty of nightlife and accommodations for all budgets. But you'll probably find it hard to tear yourself away from the completely relaxing calm of North Beach in Fort Desoto Park. It's one of those places that visitors never seem to be in a hurry to leave.