A VACATION WITHIN YOUR VACATION

A VACATION WITHIN YOUR VACATION Experience the beauty and tranquility of Caladesi Island

Kayak through mangrove trails on Caladesi Island

By Heather Turk

With everything there is for travelers to see and do in the St. Pete/Clearwater area, sometimes it can be easy to forget that a vacation is supposed to be relaxing. Fortunately, there’s a pristine paradise close by where visitors can decompress while still having some fun in the sun. Named the seventh best beach on Dr. Beach’s 2021 Top 10 Beaches list, Caladesi Island State Park is one of the few completely natural islands located along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Accessible only by boat, the tranquil getaway is just a 20-minute ferry ride away from Dunedin’s Honeymoon Island State Park.

“Caladesi Island has a very rich history,” said Janet Henderson, president of the Caladesi Island Ferry, the only boat service licensed to transport passengers to Caladesi Island. “A family once farmed there, and a few books have been written about life on the island. Our intent is to give our passengers a vacation within their vacation. Their trip is enhanced by stories related by our captains and crew about the history and formation of this barrier island.”

Kayaking is a popular activity on Caladesi Island

Following the informative ferry ride over the calm waters of St. Joseph Sound, passengers will disembark on Caladesi Island near a small café where they can buy sandwiches, snacks and drinks. They will then walk along a pathway that leads them to the island’s uncrowded, 3-mile beach, known for its soft, crystalline quartz sand and sparkling azure waters. Once on the beach, guests can go swimming, shelling, sunbathing, snorkeling and even saltwater fishing. Chairs and umbrellas can be rented for the day, or guests can bring their own. Kayak rentals are also available for $35 per person, so nature enthusiasts can paddle a 3-mile trail through the island’s extensive mangrove forest. Part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, Caladesi Island is abounding with wildlife, so it’s not uncommon for paddlers to see wading and diving birds like blue herons and ospreys while they’re out on the water.

Although Caladesi Island’s beautiful white sand beach may be its main draw, there are plenty of other attractions for guests to enjoy as well. There’s a playground for kids to play on, tree-shaded areas for a picnic and a nature trail that offers 2.5 miles of easy hiking through a variety of habitats, including slash pine forests. The island even welcomed a new attraction this past winter, The Caladesi Discovery

Jet skiers off the coast of Caladesi Island

Center, where visitors can explore various handson exhibits detailing the island’s history, habitat and wildlife. Additionally, guests can get a panoramic view of the undeveloped island from the discovery center’s observation deck, located 25 feet above the ground.

The Caladesi Island Ferry currently runs every half hour daily from 10 a.m. until 5 or 6 p.m., based upon daylight. Passengers have up to four hours to enjoy the island, depending on what time they depart Honeymoon Island State Park. Round-trip tickets cost just $16 for adults and $8 for children ages 6 to 12, with military discounts available. Kids age 5 and younger ride for free. caladesiferry.org

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