Gulf To Bay St. Pete Clearwater FL

Breathtaking Gulf Coast vistas, pristine emerald-green water, lush trails, picturesque parks, unbridled nature and wilderness — St. Pete/Clearwater is brimming with natural beauty. By boat or sailboat, paddlecraft, kite or on the trails, our great outdoors offer a vast array of terrains and waterways for all ages to fish, hike, play and kick back.

Warm sunshine, calm winds and protected nature are ideal conditions for a full day of fun and adventure on the water. If you have the need for speed, renting a small powerboat from Getmyboat is an action-packed option that gives you the freedom to cruise on your own. Go island-hopping among St. Pete/Clearwater’s tiny islands and sandbars, toss the anchor and go for a swim, or dock at one of the many waterfront restaurants to enjoy some fresh seafood.

Hop on a Jet Ski and zoom over the flat waters of Tampa Bay or the gentle swells of the Gulf. The area is full of rental options, including Mad Beach Boat Rentals near Madeira Beach and Sand Key Power Sports, just south of Clearwater Beach. At Flyboard Surf Club in Tarpon Springs, you can channel your inner 007 and hop on a water-propelled JetLev.

Located at the southern end of St. Pete/Clearwater, Fort De Soto Park has become a go-to destination for kayakers, kite surfers, campers and fishermen over the years. Fort De Soto is massive: Spanning five islands/keys, the 1,136-acre park is home to a 2-mile self-guided paddle trail that winds you through mangrove communities and seagrass beds. There’s also a 10-mile, 3-4 hour paddle trip around Mullet Key for the more ambitious paddlers. If you’re not planning on bringing your own paddling gear, don’t sweat it: You can rent kayaks on-site without reservations.

The expansive 3,000-acre Weedon Island Preserve in north St. Pete also warrants exploration. A paddler’s delight, its 4-mile South Paddling Trail winds through gorgeous labyrinthine mangrove canopies, into open saltwater ponds, and past wading birds and other wildlife. (Pro tip: Rent a kayak from ecomersion, make the trip at high tide and follow the trail markers.) The preserve also includes a fishing pier and waterfront picnic sites.

Paddle along the waterfront of St. Pete’s resplendent Clam Bayou Nature Preserve, or take a guided eco-tour of the park with Kayak Nature Adventures (reservations are required).

After all that action, you may be ready to shift gears and enjoy something a little more low-key and relaxing. Head over to Hubbard’s Marina in John’s Pass and grab a front-row seat on a sunset sail into the Gulf — a perfect way to cap off a post-cardworthy vacation day. For some additional romance, set sail on the Schooner Clearwater out of Clearwater Beach Marina, or book a dinner cruise on the 115-foot StarLite Majesty yacht.

If you’d rather go fishing, Fort De Soto’s Gulf Fishing Pier is where a variety of saltwater fish are biting. The 1,000-foot-plus pier has tables with running water available for cleaning your fresh catch, and there’s also a bait-and-tackle shop nearby. For a lengthier fishing excursion, Hubbard’s Marina offers plenty of deep-sea fishing charters ranging from five to 44 hours.

While in the park, you can catch the ferry from Hubbard’s Marina to Shell Key Preserve. The uninhabited archipelago and wildlife preserve is one of the best places in the area for snorkeling and shell collecting. Or, similarly, bring your snorkel set and take the ferry from Fort De Soto’s Bay Pier over to the crystal-clear waters of Egmont Key, which feels like you’ve been swept away to your own deserted island.

Speaking of fishing piers: When the new Sunshine Skyway Bridge was built over Tampa Bay (connecting St. Pete with Sarasota), the old bridge was turned into the world’s longest fishing pier. Today, Skyway Fishing Pier State Park provides a saltwater fishing experience you’ll never forget. (Note: Before you fish, you’ll need to complete an online educational course at MyFWC.com/Skyway.)

Head north to Dunedin, where you can explore the gorgeous barrier island that Honeymoon Island State Park calls home. The beach stretches over 4 miles here, making this a perfect spot for swimming, fishing, shelling and snorkeling.

For a more secluded excursion, you can take the park’s public ferry to Caladesi Island State Park. This barrier island features gorgeous scenery and 3.5 miles of kayak trails, leading paddlers through mangrove canals and seagrass flats along the bay side of the island (at least a half-day experience). The immaculate park—with its clear, calm, shallow waters—is also a prime spot for snorkeling.

Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs is a hidden gem that offers two main routes for canoeing and kayaking. The first trail is a serene, mile-long paddle through the mangroves that is suitable for beginners; the second is a 2-mile journey around the beautiful Lake Avoca.

A favorite of local anglers, the vast Lake Seminole Park is a good go-to place for freshwater fishing. Try your luck at a big striped bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish and other freshwater species. This park is also ideal for paddling, picnicking and biking.

While we love our water-based activities down here, we’re also huge fans of lacing up our boots and exploring the numerous parks, trails and wildlife preserves our area has to offer — from hiking and biking to camping and birdwatching. It’s wild out there.

Extending from St. Pete to Tarpon Springs, the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail has long been a favorite of locals and visitors alike. Craftily fashioned along an abandoned railroad corridor, it is one of several of the 75+ miles of trails connecting numerous captivating cities in the region – including Dunedin, Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs, whose vibrant shops, cafes and brewpubs each offer tempting detours. Bike, jog, skate or walk across dozens of pedestrian bridges with sweeping views of all the urban, suburban and natural settings.

Embarking at Maximo Park in south St. Pete and eventually connecting to the Pinellas Trail, the Skyway Trail Extension offers a scenic passage through diverse landscapes. This trail’s main attraction is the dazzling Clam Bayou Nature Park waterfront in Gulfport, which it passes through via bridges and beautifully landscaped trailways. The park also has a fishing pier — a beautiful spot to catch snook, redfish and trout.

You can trek through the site of a scenic former Native American settlement at Philippe Park in Safety Harbor. The park spans across 160 acres of land purchased in 1842, and is home to an ancient Tocobaga temple mound (a national historic site). The trail offers stunning views of Old Tampa Bay, plus coastal mangroves, nature trails, playgrounds and a tiny beach.

Palm Harbor’s expansive and shaded John Chesnut Sr. Park features a 2.7-mile multi-use nature trail that winds through lush canopies, marshes and over boardwalks — perfect for jogging, walking or cycling. If you want to take in some spectacular views of downtown St. Pete’s waterfront, ride the paved 6.5-mile North Bay Trail, which passes by the iconic St. Pete Pier, Vinoy Park, North Shore Park and Coffee Pot Bayou Park.

Boyd Hill Nature Preserve has become a treasured getaway for trail runners and day hikers. Located on the shores of Lake Maggiore in St. Pete, this 245-acre preserve has 6 miles of nature trails and boardwalks that provide a serene escape from the otherwise densely populated area just outside its borders. Start your hike in a hardwood hammock, then trek through the sand pine scrub and pine flatwoods. The exhibits within the Lake Maggiore Environmental Education Center can give you additional context and insight about the environment you’re hiking through.

Also in St. Pete, the 400-acre Sawgrass Lake Park offers a mile of elevated boardwalk and trail loops that meander through one of the largest maple swamps on Florida’s Gulf Coast. You’ll need to leave the pups at home, though – dogs aren’t allowed in the park.

Traverse through the gorgeous barrier island that Honeymoon Island State Park calls home by taking a hike on the Osprey Trail. The 3-mile trail twists and turns through one of the last remaining virgin pine forests in the U.S. – and, as you likely guessed, it’s an ideal place to encounter nesting ospreys. The park’s Pelican Trail works its way around the edge of the peninsula along the Gulf of Mexico, offering glimpses of shorebirds and unforgettable water views.

The largest of its kind in the county, the Brooker Creek Nature Preserve showcases nearly 9,000 acres of forested wetlands and pine flatwoods. Located in Tarpon Springs, Brooker Creek is home to nearly 5 miles of wildflower-adorned trails, stellar birdwatching and the award-winning, state-of-the-art Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center (a school field trip hot spot). The preserve protects a mosaic of fragile habitats, and is a great place to see white-tailed deer, bobcats, wild turkey and even otters.

Meanwhile, Boca Ciega Millennium Park is for the birds. In fact, the park regularly wins high praise from birdwatchers and has earned a Great Florida Birding Trail designation. This is due to more than 175 species of our feathered friends descending on its shores and branches. The park is filled to the brim with nature-canopied boardwalks and other amenities, including a dog park, a covered children’s playground and a 35-foot wooden observation tower, which offers incredible panoramic views of Boca Ciega Bay.

I absolutely love the historic Middle Grounds for offshore fishing, about 60-plus miles west off the coast of Clearwater Beach. It’s always a special trip that you really plan for, and it has some of the biggest grouper and snapper I’ve ever seen. For inshore fishing, I love to fish around the Fort De Soto area – there are a number of islands and waterways that hold a lot of big snook and redfish, and on the grass flats there are a lot of big spotted trout.

Time is the first factor. Hopefully you have all day to fish but, if not, inshore is a great option. Weather-wise, if it is calm and pleasant out, let's go offshore.

The biggest surprise I’ve had was catching my first sailfish just a few miles out of John's Pass while trolling for kingfish. I couldn’t believe it – that species does not normally come in so close to shore here because it’s shallower than what they normally prefer.

Do you have any expert fishing tips you can share with folks visiting the St. Pete/ Clearwater area?

My advice is go for it – book that fishing trip that you have been dreaming of for years. We have hundreds of very qualified, seasoned and friendly captains in our area, both male and female. Most charters are family-friendly, so create some lifelong memories with your loved ones. Most people may not remember where they stayed, or everywhere they ate while visiting, but I promise you they will remember their catch.

Take it from TikTok influencer Caulin Donaldson — it matters to pick up your trash. Caulin, better known by his TikTok handle, @trashcaulin, recently spent 500 consecutive days picking up trash. Now, he inspires his 2.2 million followers to be positive, have some fun and make an impact while doing so. Projects such as his "take a toy, leave a toy" buckets were created from all the leftover plastic beach toys found during his cleanups.

READY TO GET INVOLVED AND CHANNEL YOUR INNER CAULIN? Check out his tips below for how you can help protect our wildlife and keep our destination beautiful for everyone to enjoy!

Help keep America’s Best 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

What started in 1986 as a single vessel operation has grown into Florida’s largest daily excursion fleet. StarLite Cruises is all about variety: Nature cruises. Fine dining yacht cruises. Casual tropical party cruises. Dolphin tours. Luncheon cruises. Full-day group tour cruises. Each cruise is unforgettable Regular departures make it easy to fit a StarLite cruise into your schedule. Whether you’re on vacation, or just want to feel like you are, a StarLite Cruise will get you there!

Discover the exhilaration and craft of sailing – individually, or while bonding with family and friends – with America’s #1 Sailing School®, helmed by award-winning sailors Steve and Doris Colgate. Recognized as the preeminent sailing and boating educational/instructional company in the world, Offshore Sailing School® manages a fleet of Colgate 26 sailboats, 40’-50’ cruising monohulls, catamarans and power catamarans in St. Petersburg, Captiva Island, Stock Island/Key West, Florida, Scrub Island and Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. Courses range from beginner through advanced levels and include textbooks, hotel accommodations, onboard provisions and US Sailing or US Powerboating certifications.

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