Gulf To Bay St. Pete Clearwater FL - Gulf to Bay 2026
Outdoors
2026-08-25 08:37:06
Outdoor ESCAPES
From emerald waters and shifting sandbars to that steady Gulf breeze, getting outside in St. Pete-Clearwater doesn’t take much effort, but it’s always worth it.
Whether you’re paddling through mangroves, cruising open water or exploring shaded trails, the natural side of our area is always within reach. Slow it down or dial it up — either way, you’ll leave feeling recharged.
ON THE WATER
Bright skies and calm conditions set the tone for an unforgettable day on the water, and there’s no shortage of ways to make the most of it.
If you’re looking to explore at your own pace, renting a small powerboat is one of the best ways to do it. Cruise between sandbars, drop anchor for a swim, or pull up to a waterfront restaurant for a laid-back lunch. For a more adventurous ride, hop on a Jet Ski and skim across the open waters of Tampa Bay or the gentle swells of the Gulf. You’ll find rental options everywhere from Madeira Beach and Clearwater Beach to Tarpon Springs.
At the southern tip of the region, Fort De Soto Park remains a classic go-to for paddlers, anglers, campers and beachgoers alike. Spanning five interconnected islands, the park offers a 2.25-mile self-guided paddle trail through mangroves and seagrass, plus a longer 10-mile loop around Mullet Key Bayou for those ready to settle in for a few hours on the water. Wildlife sightings — ranging from shorebirds to dolphins — are common, and on-site kayak rentals make it easy to jump in without advance planning.
Farther north in St. Pete, Weedon Island Preserve delivers a more immersive paddling experience. Its 4-mile South Paddling Trail winds through dense mangrove tunnels and opens into quiet saltwater ponds teeming with wildlife. Clam Bayou Nature Preserve, roughly a 20-minute drive west, offers another scenic route, ideal for both beginners and experienced paddlers. You can explore on your own or book a guided ecotour with Kayak Nature Adventures for a deeper look at the area’s ecosystems.
BEST BOAT EXPERIENCE
HUBBARD'S MARINA
➋ Little Toot Dolphin Adventure
➌ Florida Tiki Tours
➍ Suncoast Sailing
➎ The Tropics Boat Tours
BEST WATER ADVENTURE
ECOMERSION KAYAK & SUP RENTALS, ST. PETE
➋ Wet Rentals JetCars, Clearwater
➌ Get Up and Go Kayaking, Tierra Verde
➍ Topwater Kayak Outpost, Fort De Soto Park
➎ H2O Jet Ski Rentals, Clearwater Beach
Ready to relax a bit? Set sail on a gentle sunset cruise into the Gulf at Hubbard’s Marina in John’s Pass, or climb aboard the Schooner Clearwater out of Clearwater Beach Marina and let the wind carry you along the coast. To turn it into a full evening out, dinner cruises on the StarLite Majesty Dining Yacht pair gorgeous coastal views with a full-service meal.
Fishing is just as accessible. Fort De Soto’s Gulf Pier stretches more than 1,000 feet into the saltwater and is outfitted with cleaning stations and a nearby bait and tackle shop. For a deeper excursion, Hubbard's Marina offers fishing charters ranging from half-day trips to multi-day deep-sea adventures.
While exploring the park, take the ferry from Hubbard’s Marina to Shell Key Preserve, an uninhabited wildlife preserve perfect for snorkeling and shell collecting. For an even more secluded escape, take the ferry from Fort De Soto’s Bay Pier to Egmont Key, where crystal-clear waters and untouched shores make it feel like your own private island. Head north to Dunedin to explore the breathtaking barrier island of Honeymoon Island State Park, which offers over 4 miles of shoreline for swimming, snorkeling, shelling and fishing.
Just offshore, Caladesi Island State Park rewards a little extra effort. Reachable by kayak or the park’s public ferry, the secluded barrier island features approximately 3 miles of paddling trails through mangrove tunnels and calm bay waters — ideal for a half-day escape.
At Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs, paddlers can choose between a relaxed mangrove trail or a scenic loop around Lake Avoca, both offering a quieter, more serene experience, with plenty of opportunities to slow down and take in the surroundings.
SAILING ADVENTURES
A top destination for water sports enthusiasts, the following winds and sunny skies of St. Pete-Clearwater beckon newbie and experienced sailors all year-round for dolphin watching and sunsets. Discover why we’re known for our sailing culture, celebrated by local yacht clubs’ famous regattas, sailing clubs (like the legendary Salty Sisters) and college sailing programs helmed by Olympic winners!
Relax on your charter, rent a sailboat or take sailing classes at dozens of locations around town. Explore favorite waterfront hot spots and launch from Clearwater Beach, John’s Pass Village, Treasure Island, St. Pete Beach and St. Petersburg. There are private and group sailing cruises, all with different levels of amenities (food, drink and fishing).
SET SAIL!
DOLPHIN LANDINGS CHARTER BOAT CENTER: Established in 1972, Dolphin Landings in St. Pete Beach is one of the most popular options for booking a private or group sail thanks to Capt. Dan Peretz. Sail into the sunset, fish, dolphin-watch or go full luxe with the 51-foot MAGIC Morgan sailing ketch. dolphinlandings.com
HUBBARD’S MARINA: Thrill your little swabbies and swashbucklers as you take a sunset sail on a bi-level, 46-foot, U.S. Coast Guard–inspected pirate ship around Boca Ciega Bay. hubbardsmarina.com
OFFSHORE SAILING SCHOOL: Live your dream and learn basic sailing, catamaran or bareboating classes over two to six days in St. Pete. offshoresailing.com
SCHOONER CLEARWATER: These two-hour day and sunset sails for small groups aboard a 52-foot classic schooner are pure heaven. schoonerclearwater.com
SUNCOAST SAILING: Set sail aboard the iconic schooner Suncoast Horizon for the sunset sailing through historic John’s Pass and into the open Gulf, departing from Treasure Island’s The BoatDega. sailsuncoast.com
ST. PETE SAILING: Enjoy unforgettable private day sails and sunset cruises aboard a carefully curated fleet of sailing yachts on Tampa Bay for two to four hours, as well as an eight-hour Egmont Key excursion or a one-hour morning photo shoot sail. stpetesailing.com
The Ocean Race 2027
THE OCEAN RACE
Coming to St. Pete May 4-16, 2027
On May 4-16, 2027, it will be all hands on deck at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club in downtown St. Pete. The Ocean Race, an iconic fully crewed offshore sailing race, is adding a new chapter: a spectacular trans-Atlantic leg departing from St. Pete-Clearwater and arriving in Cascais, Portugal, as part of the landmark 15th edition of the race in 2027. This is the first time in the legendary event’s 54-year history that the Sunshine State’s Gulf Coast will serve as a race departure port, and the leg will connect two of the world’s most celebrated sailing destinations across 4,500 nautical miles of open Atlantic Ocean. The exciting Ocean Live Park race village welcomes visitors from around the globe and will be based at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. The International Monohull Open Class Association (60-foot foiling sailboats) will be berthed at the waterfront by the University of South Florida St. Petersburg during the stopover.
ON SHORE
Back on shore, St. Pete-Clearwater’s trail network makes it just as easy to stay active.
The popular, multiuse Pinellas Trail is the region’s backbone, stretching continuously from St. Pete to Tarpon Springs. Built along a former railroad corridor, the protected 47-mile pathway connects a string of vibrant coastal communities, each with its own mix of charming cafes, shops and breweries worth stopping for. Walk, run, bike or skate — the route is flat, accessible and incredibly scenic the entire way. (Bonus: Leashed dogs are welcome along the entire trail.)
For a shorter but equally rewarding ride, the Skyway Trail Extension embarks near Maximo Park in south St. Pete and eventually links up with the Pinellas Trail. One of its standout stretches runs through Clam Bayou Nature Park in Gulfport, where impeccably landscaped boardwalks and bridges carry you over tidal flats and mangroves, offering a close-up view of coastal ecosystems.
If you’re looking for a shaded, nature-focused outing, the expansive John Chesnut Sr. Park offers a 2.7-mile trail through wetlands, hardwood hammocks and over boardwalks — ideal for walking, running or cycling. For sweeping views of downtown St. Pete’s waterfront, head over to the approximately 6.5-mile North Bay Trail, a paved route that winds past the St. Pete Pier, Vinoy Park, North Shore Park and Coffee Pot Park.
For a deeper dive into Florida’s ecosystems, Boyd Hill Nature Preserve on the shores of Lake Maggiore in St. Pete is a peaceful escape for a day hike or trail run. This special 245-acre getaway offers 6 miles of trails that move through hardwood hammocks, pine flatwoods and lakeside boardwalks. A short drive north, Sawgrass Lake Park features elevated walkways through one of the largest maple swamps on the Gulf Coast — prime territory for spotting birds, turtles John Chesnut Sr. Park and alligators.
Trek through one of the only remaining virgin slash pine forests in the U.S. on Osprey Trail. Set within the beautiful barrier island of Honeymoon Island State Park, the 3-mile path offers frequent sightings of nesting ospreys. The park’s Pelican Trail, along the edge of the peninsula, dazzles you with stunning Gulf views and up-close encounters with shorebirds.
In Tarpon Springs, the Brooker Creek Nature Preserve spans nearly 9,000 acres of forested wetlands and pine flatwoods, with several miles of trails and excellent opportunities for bird-watching. With its diverse, protected habitats, the preserve is a prime spot for wildlife sightings, including whitetailed deer, bobcats, wild turkey and otters.
For prime bird-watching, Boca Ciega Millennium Park is a standout. Part of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, the park is home to more than 175 bird species, along with shaded boardwalks, a 35-foot observation tower and sweeping views over Boca Ciega Bay.
UNWIND & BE KIND
6 tips for visiting responsibly
Lend a hand while you’re visiting St. Pete-Clearwater. Help protect our wildlife and keep our destination beautiful for everyone to enjoy!
1 PICK UP TRASH:
Help keep America’s Favorite Beaches beautiful by picking up trash, even if it’s not yours. On any given beach day, the Baskets for Beaches program encourages trash pickup with bright yellow baskets.
2 PACK IN, PACK OUT:
Please be kind and leave nothing but your footprints behind when you visit the beach. Needless to say, the sea turtles aren’t there to clean up your mess.
3 NO SINGLE-USE PLASTICS:
Whether you're out at the pier or on the beach, please help us keep our destination beautiful by refusing single-use plastics in favor of reusable items such as metal water bottles and straws.
4 SAVE THE SEA TURTLES:
During sea turtle nesting season, from May 1 through Oct. 31, make it easier for baby sea turtles to find their way to the Gulf by knocking down sandcastles and filling in sand pits at the end of your beach day.
5 WHAT’S OFF-LIMITS:
Sand dunes can be super photogenic and are sometimes a tempting shortcut. But they’re also there for a reason – to protect the beach from wind erosion.
6 BE A GOOD BOATER:
When you’re boating outside of a designated no-wake zone, you should still watch your speed in case a manatee wanders into your path. Trust us when we say that they are not built for speed.
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Outdoors
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