BEACHES VisitSPC.com/HoneymoonIsland HONEYMOON ISL AND STATE PARK The honeymoon is never over at Honeymoon Island State Park . It’s unspoiled Florida at its finest, where white, sandy beaches are skirted by wildflowers, mangrove-lined waterways and tall grasses billowing in the breeze. RECENT BUZZ: Named one of the top 10 beaches in the U.S. by Tripadvisor in their 2026 “Best of the Best” Awards. WHERE TO STAY: After an active beach day, you can plop down in a comfy bed at the Hampton Inn Dunedin , close to the park’s entrance. WHERE TO PLAY: Besides over 4 miles of pristine beaches , you can hike the 2.5-mile Osprey Trail through one of Florida’s last virgin slash pine forests, where active nesting pairs of ospreys, bald eagles and great horned owls can be spotted. The Sand Spit Walk , at the north-ernmost parking lot, offers a breathtaking 2.5-mile stroll dotted by shorebird-filled marshes. The Rotary Centennial Nature Center has compiled the island’s history. WHAT LOCALS KNOW: The name “Honeymoon Island” was inspired by a contest involving newlyweds who won a postnuptial visit there in the 1930s (perhaps its previous name, Hog Island, wasn’t as big of a draw!).
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