A trip to Caladesi Island Florida
By Adele Douglas
For me, November is a depressing month, dark, cold and with the promise of worse to come. So for my 50th birthday I asked my husband for a few days in the sun and warmth. We booked a flight from Plattsburgh to the St Petersburg/ Clearwater Airport and selected a place to stay and activities in nearby Palm Harbor. It was a great vacation, daytime temperatures were in the low 80s and skies were sunny. We spent most of our time outside and had wonderful food. The highlight was a day at the beach. Caladesi Island is a State Park on the Gulf of Mexico, accessible by a short ferry ride from Honeymoon Island State Park. It’s an uncrowded, natural and beautiful place to spend a few hours.
While waiting on our ferry to head over to the island
The approach to the island’s marina is through a maze of mangrove trees. Can you spot the pelican?
There are a number of animals on the island to keep an eye out for, including gopher tortoise (above), armadillos and rattlesnakes.
Along the nature trail….
The approach to the beach from the nature trail. The other access point is over a boardwalk.
Fine sand, tons of shells and very few people, a perfect beach day in my book. Caladesi Beach was rated America’s Best Beach in 2008.
Our lunchtime companions
There is a nice concession on the island for food, beach toys and souvenirs, and a separate building with bathrooms/changing rooms and outdoor showers along the boardwalk approach to the beach. On the beach you can rent chairs and umbrellas.
If you do head over to this part of Florida we can also recommend Ozona Pig in Palm Harbor for barbeque and Crabby Bills in Tarpon Springs for excellent seafood.
When we landed back in Plattsburgh it was 24 degrees and overcast, but the cold seems a little easier to take now. Maybe I’ve found a new annual tradition to chase away the November blues…
Posted: November 29th, 2010 under General News.