ANNA MARIA ISLAND, Bradenton Beach area (941-742-5923). There are three major beaches on Anna Maria: Coquina, Manatee Public and Bayfront Park. Coquina (west side of Gulf Drive/State Road 789) is a 96-acre stretch of clean beach popular with both families and kids. Showers, restrooms, pine tree-shaded picnic tables, a playground and nearby boat ramps add to the attraction. Parking is free. Manatee Public Beach in Holmes Beach (StAte Road 64 and Gulf Drive) gets crowded easily; it boasts lifeguards, restrooms, picnic tables, an adjacent playground and concessions, but no shade. The narrow Bayfront Park (310 N. Bay Blvd.) offers great views of Tampa Bay, restrooms, sheltered picnic tables, grills and a playground. All of the beaches also allow fishing.
ANCLOTE KEY, three miles north of Tarpon Springs. Accessible only by boat, this area is great for outdoor enthusiasts who prefer to visit the area's less-traveled beaches.
BELLEAIR BEACH, Causeway Boulevard, between Clearwater and Indian Rocks beaches (727-595-4646). The area boasts two miles of sand with four separate beach access areas, a boat ramp and a municipal marina.
BEN T. DAVIS BEACH, 7650 Courtney Campbell Causeway, Tampa (813-282-2909). This narrow beach is ideal for those who like to keep their car nearby (or for those who like to tan on the hood) and don't mind the swift-moving traffic on the nearby causeway. It's also quite the scene for jet skiers. Parking is usually not a problem, and dogs are allowed.
BEER CAN BEACH, Davis Islands Seaplane Basin (Severn and Martinique avenues). Beer Can Beach (really no more than a tiny cove) is especially popular with dog owners. It's not gorgeous, but the easy-to-access area offers breathtaking views of the sunset. There are no restrooms, parking is limited but it's hardly ever crowded.
BEER CAN ISLAND, located at the end of North Shore Road, Longboat Key. This island, which can be reached on foot at low tide, has 2,000 feet of primitive coastline. Buses stop here.
BLIND PASS, located one mile north of the Charlotte County line on Manasota Key Road, Manasota Key. One of the most isolated beaches on the Key, Blind Pass boasts 2,900 feet of Gulf beach frontage as well as a nature trail with dunes and wildflowers. There are no lifeguards, but parking is free and amenities include picnic tables, showers and restrooms.
BROHARD PARK, South Harbor Drive, located on the Venice airport property at the southernmost tip of Venice. The beach has a 740-foot fishing pier with bait and snack shops, and public restrooms. The wetland area draws bird watchers from all over. Lifeguards on duty; dogs welcome.
CALADESI ISLAND, accessed by ferry boats from Honeymoon Island State Park, One Causeway Blvd., Dunedin (727-469-5918). An hourly, 70-passenger ferry ride makes the trip to Caladesi Island in 20 minutes (no roads or bridges link it to the mainland). The roundtrip ride is $8 for adults and $4.50 for children (free for kids under 4). Snorkelers favor the barrier island's Gulf side waters, which boasts more than 2 miles of beach; the Bay side features mangroves, slash pine forests and maritime hammocks. A 3-mile nature trail wends through the island's interior. Concessions, restrooms, picnic areas, changing rooms and showers are available.
CASPERSON, Harbor Drive, south of Venice Airport. Two thirds of the beachfront has been left untouched, making this a favorite spot for people seeking a secluded area for necking or quiet shell collecting. Amenities include restrooms, a 1,100-foot boardwalk, picnic area and a lovely nature trail. No lifeguards on duty.
CLEARWATER BEACH, take Memorial Causeway across Clearwater Harbor (727-562-4800). This beach has two sections – the northern part at Palm Pavilion and the main beach at the Holiday Inn/Surfside. This is the hot spot for spring break crowds and other hormone-fixated types; families like it for the shallow water and gentle surf. Beach umbrellas and chairs can be rented, and Clearwater's Pier 60 Park Pavilion boasts a spacious playground and a snack bar. Metered parking is $1 per hour during the week, and $1.25 per hour Sat.-Sun.; lot parking by Pier 60 is $1.50 per hour ($10 for the day).
CORTEZ BEACH, between Fifth and 13th streets, off Gulf Drive, Bradenton Beach. There's only 140 feet of beach here, but it's nevertheless a favorite among boaters and beachcombers alike. There's even a concession stand and, in the public restrooms, showers.
EGMONT KEY, 4905 34th Street S., St. Petersburg. This 1.5-mile-long island is located between Anna Maria Island and St. Pete Beach, and is accessible only by boat. Part of the island's north and south ends are closed as wildlife sanctuaries. Egmont offers some of Florida's best beaches, and lays claim to a working lighthouse originally constructed in 1853, as well as the ruins of Fort Dade. For ferry information, call the state park headquarters at 727-893-2627.
FORT DE SOTO PARK, 3500 Pinellas Bayway S., Tierra Verde (727-582-2267). These undeveloped local beaches are some of our favorites. Serene, raw and rarely crowded, Fort De Soto's five interconnected islands offer forested areas with picnic tables. The 1,136-acre park has a 238-site family campground, two piers, floating docks for boat access, canoe and kayak rentals, a 6.8-mile recreational trail and pavilions with grills. Grill reservations are available. Parking is free, but tolls cost 85 cents.
INDIAN ROCKS BEACH, Gulf Boulevard, between First and 27th avenues, St. Petersburg (727-588-4852). Featuring more than 20 beach accesses along Gulf Boulevard, with restrooms and beach access at 1700 Gulf Blvd. There are nearby stores, restaurants and restrooms. Parking (50 cents per hour) is often at a premium.
LIDO BEACH, located on the west end of John Ringling Boulevard and the South end of Benjamin Franklin Drive, Lido Key. This is a popular stop for locals due to its location. Conveniently situated just past St. Armands Circle on Lido Key, Lido Beach offers 15 acres of unspoiled waterfront. Further up Lido Key is North Lido Beach, which has considerably less parking and no lifeguards.
LONGBOAT KEY BEACH, along Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. There are two beaches here, North Longboat Key Beach (accessible at Jay, Coral, Palmetto, Seabreeze, Broadway and Gulfside roads) and Longboat Key Beach (accessible at Bay Isles Road, Neptune Avenue and Buttonwood Drive). The limited access to these beaches is part of what makes them so popular; indeed, there is very little parking at either. See some of Sarasota and Manatee County's most expensive real estate while sauntering along the waterfront.
MADEIRA BEACH, Gulf Boulevard, approximately 4 miles south of Indian Shores (727-392-0665 or 727-549-6165). Tourists and locals alike love this large beach. A rock cooking grill and a few picnic tables are available, and coolers are welcome (no bottles). Archibald Memorial Park offers a pavilion, restrooms and parking. Nearby John's Pass Village (129th Avenue E. and Gulf Boulevard) features a fishing pier and boardwalk with stores, restaurants and parking. Metered parking is $1 per hour.
MANASOTA BEACH, on the west end of Manasota Bridge, Manasota Key. Small and large shelters dot this quarter mile of beach. The lifeguard station is manned year-round, and there are handicap facilities as well.
NOKOMIS BEACH, Intersection of State Road 789 and Casey Key Road. At only one-fifth of a mile long, Nokomis Beach is a tiny jewel in south Sarasota County. It's popular with families and fishermen.
NORTH JETTY, located on the southern tip of Casey Key, Sarasota (941-316-1172). Arguably one of the best places on the West Coast for surfing, the beach features restrooms, picnic shelters, volleyball, concessions and more. Lifeguards on duty year 'round.
PALMA SOLA CAUSEWAY, Manatee Avenue and Palma Sola Bay, Manatee County. On the local bus route, this beach is 3,000 feet long, and located on both sides of the causeway. Amenities include picnic tables and boating facilities.
PALMER POINT, located on the southern end of Siesta Key and the northern end of Casey Key. This primitive beach has no lifeguards or restrooms. If you want to see Siesta Key the way the dinosaurs saw it, this may be the closest you'll come.
PASS-A-GRILLE, Gulf Way, between First and 22nd avenues on the south end of St. Pete Beach (727-363-9247). This gay-friendly stretch of sand is one of the nicest beaches in the Bay area, and it's directly across from the popular Hurricane restaurant. Restrooms and concessions are available, including a snack bar with great grouper sandwiches. Metered parking is $1.25 per hour, $5 for the day.
PICNIC ISLAND, 7404 Picnic Island Blvd., Tampa (813-274-8615). Despite its location in an industrial area near MacDill Air Force Base, this beach is quite peaceful. The small stretch of sand is seldom busy and offers a great view of the Bay. There's a small fishing pier (not that you'd want to eat anything you caught), grills and shelters.
REDINGTON BEACH, located on Gulf Boulevard, in the town of Redington Beach, Pinellas County (727-391-3875). Quiet and secluded, this beach is great for reading a book without interruption or gettin' it on with your honey. The beach has several public accesses along Gulf Boulevard.
SAND KEY PARK, 1060 Gulf Blvd., south of Clearwater Beach, Clearwater (727-588-4852). A quieter alternative to the rowdy Clearwater Beach, Sand Key is a good spot for families. Umbrellas and cabanas can be rented, and the 65-acre beach features picnic shelters and restrooms, but no food concessions. Metered parking available.
SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA ISLANDS, 23 miles W.S.W. of Fort Myers, off I-75 (239-472-1080). These barrier islands, approximately two hours south of Tampa Bay, are well worth the drive. The island beaches are rated among the best shelling grounds in the world and can be reached via a toll bridge on the Sanibel Causeway for $3 round trip. Beach area's include Bowman's Beach, on Sanibel's northwest end; Gulfside Park, off Casa Ybel Road; and Lighthouse Park, at Sanibel's southern end. All offer public access. Sanibel is the more rustic of the two, while Captiva has more rowdy beach bars and restaurants. Pets are not allowed on Captiva beaches. Parking is $2 per hour.
SHELL ROAD BEACH, located off Shell Road on Siesta Key. It's hard to find, though the line of cars down to the end of the block offer some indication of where the beach is. No facilities, just a quiet alcove of coastal bliss.
SIESTA BEACH, at Beach Road and Ocean Boulevard on Siesta Key (941-861-7275). This 40-acre park is roughly an hour south of Tampa Bay, and consists of nature trails, concessions, soccer and softball fields, tennis and volleyball courts, playground and picnicking facilities, and year-round on-duty lifeguards. And although there are 800 parking spaces, you better get there early if you want one. Siesta's pristine white sands are 99-percent quartz, pulverized to a fine powder; the sand's so reflective it feels cool on even the hottest days.
SOUTH LIDO PARK, Ben Franklin Drive, at the southern tip of Lido Key. Visitors come to catch a view of the downtown Sarasota skyline, and to walk along a scenic nature trail. In addition to the trails, amenities include restrooms, picnic tables, cooking grills and a volleyball court.
SUNSET BEACH, W. Gulf Boulevard, St. Petersburg. This beach, located between Treasure Island and St. Pete Beach, runs along a small road that continues after Gulf Boulevard turns toward St. Pete Beach. Beach Nutts (9600 Gulf Blvd.), one of a trio of bars that line the entrance to Sunset Beach, makes a good landmark. The beach's charm and popularity as a surf spot is partially attributed to its inaccessibility and difficulty to find. There's a public access parking lot but no facilities. However, it is a relaxed beach community, so if you need a bathroom, just buy something at one of the nearby bars and restaurants; it's all good.
ST. PETE BEACH, along Gulf Boulevard (727-367-2735). This 1.5-mile-long beach located just north of the Don CeSar is conveniently situated near a variety of popular beach bars and restaurants. A favorite spot with the locals. Parking meters cost $1.25 per hour or $5 for the day.
ST. PETERSBURG MUNICIPAL BEACH, 11260 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island (727-360-3278). The municipal beach is one of the widest in Florida, stretching a quarter mile from the water to Gulf Boulevard. The beach has five volleyball courts, a small playground, concessions, showers, picnic tables, grills and restrooms.
TIKI GARDENS BEACH, 10601 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores. This popular beach-access park was once a tiki-themed amusement center. It features basic beach amenities, including benches, water fountains, restrooms and a 170-spot parking lot.
TREASURE ISLAND BEACH, Gulf Boulevard and 112th Avenue (727-547-4575). Treasure Island's beach is wide and busy. A nearby selection of restaurants and stores makes it feels like a little piece of the Jersey shore right here in Florida.
TURTLE BEACH, located on Midnight Pass Road near the south end of Siesta Key (941-861-5000). Picnic shelters, free boat ramps, restrooms, dune walkovers, volleyball, playground equipment and more available. Walk for miles down the beach all the way to Casey Key. Prehistoric petrified sharks teeth buried in the sand make nice little souvenirs. No lifeguards on duty.
VENICE MUNICIPAL BEACH, Venice Avenue W. at the Gulf of Mexico. This is a fully stocked beach that comes complete with restrooms, volleyball courts, picnic tables, a lifeguard station and handicap facilities. It's also a great place to hunt for shark's teeth.
Visit www.tampabaybeaches.com or www.bestbeaches.org for updates.
This article appears in May 12-18, 2005.