Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:Madeira Beach, Florida
Madeira Beach is known by locals as "the island that is two miles long and a smile wide", and sits halfway between Clearwater and St. Petersburg Beach, close to Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The water is a clear aqua blue and is an irresistible beacon to water sport enthusiasts. There's diving, parasailing, and jet skiing, but less adventurous sorts will also revel in taking a dip in the sparkling blue Gulf, or sunning themselves on brilliant white sands. It's an action-packed destination with lots of charm, and makes for a well-rounded, easy holiday destination, with consistently perfect weather.
Under the umbrella of the Madeira Beach complex are the gorgeous Kitty Stuart Park, John's Pass Park, County Park, Archibald Beach Park, and Bicentennial Park, all of which have restrooms and showers on site. For great restaurants, galleries, and boutiques, exciting nightlife, and no shortage of places to stay for every budget, John's Pass is the place to go. It's an old historic fishing village at the South end of Madeira Beach. It's definitely the most active part of Madeira Beach. It features the Hubbard Marina, which offers all kinds of wonderful and exciting water excursions, like dolphin watching, sport fishing, and snorkeling. The Pass is also famous for its 3 day John's Pass Grouper Festival which is held every October and attracts more than 100,000 visitors for the fresh seafood, local crafts, live entertainment and activities for kids.
Take a scenic stroll down the 1100 foot boardwalk running along the water. Kids will get a special thrill from what they'll find here. It's a wide-open observation point where you'll catch a glimpse of pelicans, dolphins, bald eagles, and sometimes even a manatee! The view here is breath taking and also a perfect romantic spot to watch Madeira Beach's spectacular sunsets.
Metered parking is available all week from 6:00 a.m. to midnight, and there is plenty of it. However, a small tip regarding parking is that you can park for free for 3 hours at the John's Pass shopping area without worry. The downside is…there's so much to take in here in Madeira Beach that three hours will definitely not be enough. You'll probably have to find new parking.