Caladesi Island State Park

Clearwater, near Tampa, Florida is known for its beautiful beaches and shell collecting opportunities. And as Uptake blogger Britt Reints pointed out, its beauty, even by Florida beach standards, means that 1,001 people are usually on the beach with you at any given time. However, there is a hidden gem near Clearwater that fewer tourists know about, and it’s called Caladesi Island State Park. The beach here was rated as America’s best in 2008, and even a short visit will help you understand why. The sand here is incredibly white, the water very clear, scenery is truly breathtaking.

Hike around or kayak through Caladesi Island's lagoons

Getting to Caladesi Island isn’t that easy, which means that you’ll never have to deal with huge crowds. You can take a 30-minute ferry there from Honeymoon Island, take your own boat or walk; you’ll have to hoof it from Pier 60 on Honeymoon Island. The ferries depart twice a day and are $12 round-trip for adults and $5 for kids (kids under five are free).

If you’d prefer a more active stay on Caladesi Island (you’re only allowed to be there for 4 hours), try the 3-mile hike along the island’s nature trail or a 3-mile kayaking trail.

Photos: Santafeegret, pbyrley