Anclote Gulf Park

West Pasco : 2305 Baillies Bluff Road , Holiday, 34691

Anna Maria Island and Holmes Beach

Editor's pick

Manatee beaches : Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, 34216

The island just south of Tampa Bay is split into three quaint towns. Bradenton Beach is home to condos, resorts and waterfront rentals. Holmes Beach, a collection of small-beach houses and hotels, sits in the middle. It's most familiar spot is Manatee County Beach, which is the first thing most  …

Clearwater Beach

Clearwater Beach : 1 Causeway Blvd., Clearwater, 33767

Just across the Memorial Causeway from downtown Clearwater, Clearwater Beach's 2.5-mile shore stretches from north to south. Its white sand stretches nearly uninterrupted along the Gulf of Mexico.The shore provides access to countless water sports -- jet-skiing, WaveRunners, parasailing, dolphin …

Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park

Downtown Tampa : 601 Old Water St., Tampa, 33602

One of the best parks in downtown Tampa because of its location and amenities, Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park lies between the Tampa Bay Times Forum and the Hillsborough River. It includes a memorial to those lost in the Seminole Wars of Florida. Cotanchobee Park offers a pier, canoe launch and tr …

Crews Lake Wilderness Park

West Pasco : 16739 Crews Lake Drive, Shady Hills, 34610

Opened in the 1990s, Crews Lake Park is 113 acres of wild area surrounded by oak and cypress trees in Pasco County. The park features a tent camping area, boardwalk, bike trails and observation tower. There are four picnic shelters with grills ($25 for four-hour blocks) and two pavillions with  …

Dell Holmes Park

St. Petersburg : 2741 22nd St. S , St. Petersburg, 33712

Dell Holmes Park is located along the north shore of Lake Maggiore in St. Petersburg. The 21-acre park features an accessible and lighted fitness trail, year-round fishing in the lake and fishing pier, gazebo, picnic shelters, and a golf driving range and putting green. The playground includes a …

DeSoto Park

Tampa : 2617 Corrine St., Tampa, 33605

Located on the shores of McKay Bay in southeast Tampa, Desoto Park is home to one of two skateparks in the city. Along with a playground, basketball court, ball fields, bike trail, jogging path and fishing pier, it is the location of the popular Spicola Family Pool.The Desoto Activity Center off …

Fort De Soto Park

Editor's pick

South Pinellas beaches : 3500 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde, 33715

The park comprises 1,136 acres of dry land on five interconnected islands. It is the largest of the county's parks and, while it has parking lots and snack shops, it also has large portions that are virtually undisturbed from the time indigenous people and Spanish explorers trod its shores. Its  …

John Chesnut Sr. Park

Editor's pick

Palm Harbor : 2200 East Lake Road , Palm Harbor, 34685

Adjacent to Lake Tarpon in northern Pinellas County, John Chesnut park is a launch site for several local fishing tournaments. Boats with combustion engines may use the lake, a fun place for water skiers and jet skiers. A canoe trail for craft with non-combustion engines leads to an interior lak …

Josiah Cephas Weaver Park

Dunedin : 1249 Bayshore Blvd., Dunedin, 34698

The park's 14 acres, split by Bayshore Boulevard, stretch to the shore of the Intracoastal Waterway and the grassland along the Pinellas Trail. Oaks and Sabal and Washingtonia palms form a canopy over portions of the park, which is dotted with picnic benches, grills and walking trails. A 1920s b …

Mobbly Bayou Wilderness Preserve North

Oldsmar : 423 Lafayette Blvd., Oldsmar, 34677

Phillippi Estate Park

Sarasota : 5500 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 34231

Picnic Island Park

Editor's pick

MacDill Area : 7404 Picnic Island Blvd., Tampa, 33616

The mack daddy of city of Tampa waterfront parks, Picnic Island has it all, if you don't mind driving past gypsum plants, gasoline silos and other gritty industrial buildings. In addition to a long swimming beach, the park has a boat ramp, fishing pier, canoe launch, dog beach, restrooms, childr …

Pier 60

Editor's pick

Clearwater Beach : 10 Pier 60 Drive, Clearwater Beach, 33767

This is one of Tampa Bay's best tourist attractions. In addition to being a great place to fish or just relax during the day on Clearwater Beach, Pier 60 turns into a daily festival of sorts two hours before sunset and two hours after. Weather permitting, locals and tourists alike can gather to  …

Skyway Fishing Pier State Park

St. Petersburg : 4905 34th St. S, #5000, St. Petersburg, 33711

Skyway Fishing Pier State Park is home to great fishing opportunities as it is the longest fishing pier in the world. The pier is open 24 hours a day and contains a snack bar. Fees are as follows: $3 per car, $10 per RV/camper, $2 per adult, $1.50 for seniors and children ages 6 through 12.

The Pier

Downtown St. Petersburg : 800 Second Ave. NE, St. Petersburg, 33701

The Pier is one of St. Petersburg's most prominent landmarks, dating back to 1926, when pledges of $300,000 were raised throughout the community and a $1,000,000 bond issue paid for the Million Dollar Pier to replace the old Municipal Pier. With that, it became the first city-owned pier in St. P …

Weaver Park

Dunedin : 2750 Bayshore Blvd., Dunedin, 34692

Waterfront park with fishing pier.