ECO TIPS 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. WHAT’S OFF-LIMITS We get it, sand dunes and bird sanctuaries can be super-photogenic and sometimes a tempting shortcut. But they’re also there for a reason – to protect the beach from wind erosion and offer birds a peaceful place to live and nest. HONEYMOON ISLAND STATE PARK 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 . George C. McGough Nature Park , known as “the turtle park,” has plenty of mangroves, shady oak hammocks and a turtle-watching boardwalk lining the Intracoastal Waterway . McGough’s nature center has hands-on activities for the kids and live animal exhibits, including a variety of rescued, non-releasable birds (owls, hawks and an eagle). Though it's more widely known for containing 500-plus species of some 50,000 tropical plants, the over-a-century-old Sunken Gardens also specializes in exotic bird rehabilitation. Stroll past vibrant macaws, cockatoos, kookaburras and flamingos as you enjoy the tranquility of one of Florida’s original roadside attractions. PACK IN, PACK OUT Leave nothing but your footprints! Whatever you bring to the beach with you, be sure to take it when you leave. Needless to say, the sea turtles aren’t there to clean up your mess. VISITSTPETECLEARWATER.COM 55
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