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Caladesi Island - Gulf Coast- ranked No. 1 beach in America : 22nd May 2008

Caladesi Island State Park has reached the summit for United States' beaches. Coastal expert Stephen Leatherman, known as "Dr. Beach," has named the park as American's Top Beach for 2008. Leatherman, who is the director of Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research, has made a Memorial Day Weekend tradition of unveiling his list of America's finest destinations for sand and surf. Leatherman released his annual list of top-rated parks last week saying -

"Caladesi is my favorite getaway beach; the only mode of transportation on this lovely island, dominated by palm trees, is by foot. This is a great place to decompress while enjoying the powder white sand and warm, crystal clear water."

At Caladesi Island, just north of Clearwater, recreational opportunities are endless! A mangrove-covered kayak trail winds from the marina to the St. Joseph Sound and back. Kayaks are available for rental through the Cafe Caladesi. The nature trail is a great place to find Osprey in old pine snags or cross paths with a gopher tortoise. Remember to take water and sunscreen!

Caladesi Island is accessible only by private boat or via the Caladesi Connection ferry service. Cost for the ferry (which will not be waived) is $9 for adults and $5.50 for children. Ferry passengers are allotted a four-hour stay on the island. No pets are allowed on the ferry. The ferry service to Caladesi leaves from Honeymoon Island State Park hourly beginning at 10 AM.

Two other Florida beaches made the list, third-ranked Siesta Beach near Sarasota and ninth-ranked Cape Florida State Park in Key Biscayne, near Miami.

The Public Beach on Siesta Key is the widest beach in the area. It's also the most popular. Famous for its soft white sand, the amenities include lifeguards, concessions, picnic tables & grills, rest rooms and showers. 10 volleyball courts, 4 tennis courts and a playground shaded by Australian pines are an added bonus. Parking is free - while it lasts. Be sure to get there before noon on the weekends.

Cape Florida is the home of a historic lighthouse built in 1825 and reconstructed in 1846, the oldest standing structure in Miami-Dade County. Visitors come to the park to sunbathe, swim, and picnic on over a mile of sandy Atlantic beachfront. Biking and kayaking are also popular activities. Anglers can throw in their lines from the seawall along Biscayne Bay for some of the best shoreline fishing in the region. Be ready to ascend the 109 steps to the lighthouse watch room and enjoy the view of the beach, Miami and Biscayne Bay from the top. Lighthouse tours are at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., Thursdays through Mondays. The lighthouse tower will be open for an hour beginning at tour time. The Boater´s Grill offers casual waterfront dining, or picnickers can reserve a pavilion and grill their own dinner. Bicycles, beach chairs, and umbrellas are available for rental.

A Brief Guide To The Gulf Coast : 24th June 2007

Florida is a beautiful place to visit. There is so much to do - but with 1100 miles of beach front, one of the best things to do is simply sit and relax, watching the waves break over a sandy shore.

There are several Florida gulf coast resort towns that make fantastic stops on a summer vacation – rent a villa, on the beach, or in the centre of town. Maybe just out of town, so you have the best of both worlds. Have a leisurely breakfast on your own private balcony overlooking the water, feasting on bacon and eggs cooked in your own kitchen, at your own pace. No worrying about being in the dining room before the kitchen closes to begin the lunch trade, and no worrying about trying to find a seat at the local café with all the other vacationers – simply roll out of bed and into the shower while your coffee brews in the next room, and wrap a towel around you as you sit at the table. Vacations aren’t mean to be spent hurrying out to eat, or battling a noisy restaurant whilst trying to interpret a menu. Spend less time searching for eateries that are open and serving what you want to eat, and more time on vacation.

Tampa is a popular holiday destination, not only for its beaches but its other attractions.
The America Victory is a World War II era merchant ship, restored and serving as a maritime memorial and museum. It accurately depicts life aboard a merchant ship, and is conveniently located next to the Florida Aquarium – a three-story glass-domed structure housing displays of wetlands, coral reefs and rivers. Ybor City is a historic town – in 1900 it was the cigar-making capital of the world. Now it is a popular tourist destination, with shops, restaurants, clubs and galleries keeping the cobblestone streets thrumming. Lowry Park Zoo is a great place for the family, with 1800 animals and water areas to keep everyone amused. Tampa also sees the annual Gasparilla street fair, with its pirate invasion and marathon, gymnastics and art festival. Tampa International Airport is only about eight miles from Tampa, so you are not spending too much time getting to and from your villa.

St Petersburg is a sensational strip of coast - ‘St Pete’, as it is known, sits on a peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, and is home to the Salvador Dali Museum, which houses the largest collection of Dali paintings outside Europe. St Petersburg is also home to the St Petersburg Pier, which frequently sees the HMS Bounty replica in dock – the same boat seen in movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Bounty. The Sunken Gardens, home to The Great Explorations Hands On Museum, began its life as a lake and was subsequently drained by a plumber. It was renovated in 1999 to become a prime tourist spot, a spanse of lush gardens and vegetation – tropical plants and waterfalls are features of this paradise in the city. Take a ride in a biplane (a plane with double wings) over the picturesque water of St Petersburg.

Naples, also on the west coast, is home to a vast array of activities and attractions. There are over 35 golf courses! Shopping, boating, fishing, eating – there is literally something for everyone. The Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is Florida’s only nationally accredited zoo, and also contains the historic botanical gardens, all so close to the beach! Naples’ Trolley Tours is the only remaining form of public transport – take a tour and see the sites, without getting out of your seat. Shopping districts too numerous to mention (well, we’ll reveal just one – you have to see Tin City, Naples’ original shopping area, and authentic to Naples’ nautical heritage). Ever wanted to see the everglades? There are so many companies running tours you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Don’t stop here though – keep reading for more charming coastal towns. Why not book your villas ahead, so you can be sure that a cozy room will be waiting for you at the next stop. Utilize the free internet available at most villas to view and book your accommodation – you’ll know exactly what you’re getting.

The Gulf Coast : 23rd June 2007

Along the same stretch of coast as Tampa and St Petersburg are the delightful communities of Sarasota, Clearwater, Springhill, Bradenton and Anna Maria Island. Further down the coast are Englewood, Rotonda, Port Charlotte, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, the islands of Captiva and Sanibel (on the peninsula) and finally Marco Islands to the south.

Starting at Tampa, directly to the west, and north (up the peninsula) from St Petersburg is Clearwater, home to what’s been voted the second best beach in America - Caladesi Island. If you wish to partake in any water-based activity, the Clearwater Municipal Marina is the place to visit – dolphin tours, fishing and parasailing businesses all base themselves here. The headquarters of the Church of Scientology are located in Clearwater as well.

From Circus Sarasota to G-Wiz : the Hands-On Science Museum, the Farmers’ Market to the Mote Marine Laboratory, there is something for every member of the family at Sarasota, just down from Tampa.

Working your way down the coast, between Tampa and Sarasota lies Bradenton, and off its coast, Anna Maria Island. Book yourself into a day spa and relax on the island, or walk along its beaches while watching people parasail and fish. Further north of Tampa is Spring Hill.

Englewood, called ‘the gem of the suncoast’, is a pretty spot for dining in their restaurants, or take advantage of its proximity to many golf courses to enjoy a round or three. Stop by the Peace River Wildlife Centre over at Punta Gorda, and help a volunteer with some injured native fauna. Follow the trails, or drop a line in the water, at the Stump Pass Beach State Park.

Not far from Englewood is Rotonda. Rotonda itself has four beaches – Blind Pass Beach has more than 60 acres and is an ideal spot to surf, search for seashells or sit on sand dunes.
Port Charlotte, and it is certainly no surprise that it has one of the fastest growing populations in the state – diverse, naturally beautiful and weather to kill for, people are moving, and vacationing here, more than ever before. Look closely – you might spot a manatee in the river, making its way slowly to Charlotte Harbour and from there, the Gulf of Mexico.

Further down the road, Cape Coral, with 400-plus miles of canals, makes for a fishermen’s paradise and just across the water is Fort Myers. Together, Cape Coral and Fort Myers make up the two major cities in the metropolitan statistical area. Even though Cape Coral now has a larger population (twice the size of Fort Myers), it is still thought of as a suburb of Fort Myers, and still considered to be the ‘major city’ in south west Florida.

Or, if you are looking for something more idyllic, the islands of Sanibel and Captiva (“The Shellacious Islands”) might be more to your liking. Meander along beautiful beaches, laden with shells ripe for collecting (but not any live ones!). Or, relax on the peaceful dunes for a sunset picnic. Turn your hand to snorkelling, exploring the pristine sands.

Finally, Marco Island is the largest of Florida’s Ten Thousand Islands, at located right at the northernmost tip, just south of Naples. White beaches (three and a half miles, to be precise), kayaking, canoeing, fishing, shelling, charter boats, hiking, golf, air boating, camping, yachting – are all the things you can do outside… Imagine what you can do inside – clubs, galleries, fine dining, shopping… What a way to finish a trip down the gulf coast!