Beaches VisitSPC.com/Beaches Fort De Soto WHAT SETS IT APART: Magnificent beaches with dramatic driftwood and frolicking shorebirds skirt lush estuaries and pine-shad-ed picnic grounds. RECENT BUZZ: A new and improved Fort De Soto Park Bay Pier is even more optimal for spotting dolphins, fishing, watching the sunset, and embarking on the Egmont Key Ferry. WHERE TO STAY: Campgrounds offer clean restrooms, showers, and waterfront sites. Note: The campsites get snatched up quickly. Book in advance. Pet-friendly spots available. WHERE TO PLAY: Go back in time at the historic fort. Bring the furbabies to the pet beach and pet playground. Kayak through mangrove-enshrouded inlets. Picnic under shady pines next to exquisitely unadulterated beaches. A paved trail helps you see it all. WHAT LOCALS KNOW: The crosscurrents of Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico make its sandy apex a popular spot for kiteboarding. 36 AMERICA’S BEST BEACHES