![]() ![]() Whichever you do, if you’re going to be out for long you need some shade because the sun’s pretty intense! They only take cards, but the cafe and shop take cash. You can also bring your own chairs and umbrellas on the ferry with you. We got two chairs and an umbrella for $29 and IT WAS WORTH IT. ![]() At the bottom of the beach entrance, they have chairs and umbrellas already set up that you can just plop down in. Where the ferry docks, it’s a quick walk to the beach and there’s a cafe and store as well as restrooms and showers. It was about a 15 minute ride from Honeymoon Island to Caladesi Island and the captain gave us a nice little tour. You’re guaranteed a spot back on that ferry, but you can hop on an earlier one if there’s room. Your ticket is marked with a return time of about 4 hours. You don’t need reservations, but show up 10-15 minutes early to make sure you’ll get a seat on the next ferry. It’s $16/adult, $8/child (6-12) and free for children under 5. The ferry starts at 10AM and runs every 30 minutes (every hour during winter). Once you arrive on Honeymoon Island (past the entrance gates), there’s a parking area where you’ll go to catch the ferry. Caladesi IslandĬaladesi Island State Park is a separate state park from Honeymoon Island State Park, but it’s only accessible by private boat or via ferry from Honeymoon Island. Shelling on Honeymoon Island: I mentioned before that the shelling was really good around the rocky part of Main Beach, but this picture will give you an idea of exactly what you can expect to find on Honeymoon Island. All of the concessions are provided by Romantic Honeymoon Island and you can find out all the info (including pricing) here. There are also bicycle and kayak rentals as well as chair and umbrella setup and rentals. The South Beach Pavilion also has a little cafe and store. Cafe Honeymoon is a great little food counter and gift (and sundries) shop. Bathrooms, changing rooms, and showers are readily available. Honeymoon Island Facilities & Rentals: Honeymoon Island has great beach facilities. And if you’re willing to walk all the way to the end you’ll be treated to a pretty epic sandbar.ĭog Beach: Didn’t make it over to dog beach, but it’s pretty close to the entrance and obviously the place to go if you have a dog. North Beach: The North Beach was closed the day I visited because of the red tide, but it sounds like the place to go if you want a little more solitude. The beach is a lot wider and it’s that pretty white sand that the area is known for. The south end of Main Beach looks a lot more like you’re probably expecting. The middle part of Main Beach was a lot rockier than I was expecting and there was a decent amount of seaweed (not sure if this was related to red tide in the area), but the shelling was really good! We spent a while just puttering around the shore line sifting through the rocks and found some real treasures. It has a large parking lot and two big bathhouses and concession stands. Main Beach: This is the beach I visited on my trip. There are three different beach areas on Honeymoon Island and they’re all a little different. Show up one hour before sunset and it’s only $4/vehicle! It’s $8/vehicle (with 2-8 people) or $4/car with only one person. ![]() The park gates open at 8AM and the park closes at sundown (which could vary between 5:30PM-9PM throughout the year). You can also rent kayaks and paddleboards from Sail Honeymoon right on the causeway. The causeway is lined with a few beaches where people prefer to set up camp for the day right out of the back of their truck or launch a kayak. I spent a full day exploring Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island checking out the sites and figuring out how it all works, and here’s what you need to know…įrom the town of Dunedin, you’ll drive across the Dunedin Causeway (a land bridge) over to Honeymoon Island State Park. With no resorts in sight, visiting these beaches can feel a little more like camping (it takes a lot of gear to have a good day at the beach!) but that’s part of the charm. Located just off the coast of Dunedin (north of Tampa) on the gulf coast, they’re a great option if you’re in the Tampa Bay area but trying to avoid the aforementioned crowded Clearwater Beach and St Pete Beach. Not only are they unspoiled and wildly natural, they’re incredibly well maintained and accessible to the public. Of Florida State Park’s 175 parks, these two are pretty special. ![]() Tampa Bay’s two northernmost barrier islands are completely pristine and undeveloped and a world away from the hustle and bustle of nearby Clearwater Beach and St Pete Beach. Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island are two gems in the Florida State Park system. ![]()
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