Best Beach in America: Caladesi Island State Park

Updated: 6/16/23

Shelling at Caladesi Island State Park

The Florida Gulf Coast is blessed with miles of coastline with many beautiful beaches. In any given year, you can find two in the Clearwater/St Petersburg/Sarasota area ranking in the top ten. Last year (2008), Dr Beach named Caladesi Island State Park in Dunedin/Clearwater to be the number one beach in America. Dr Beach is Dr Stephen Leatherman, Director of Florida International University’s Laboratory for Coastal Research. Every year, he evaluates and rates beaches all over the world and comes up with a list of the top 10 beaches in America. This year, Caladesi ranks number 4. Click here to see the list.

Boaters beware. Entrance is shallow!

Parking along the road to Honeymoon Island State Park

Kayaks for rent

Caladesi Island is only accessible by boat, your own or by ferry. We visited Caladesi Island one Sunday in May. It was exciting and entertaining to watch the flurry of activities at the marina - the captains docking their boats, a lady in high heels (!!!) on a fancy boat trying to throw a line, kids fishing and kayakers paddling. One enthusiastic boater told us that on July 4, so many people hung out on the aluminum docks that they practically went under the water!

Leaving Clearwater for Caladesi Island

Ferry to Caladesi Island

The beach was packed all afternoon, but by 6 pm, the tourists were gone and all was quiet. Except for a few boaters, the beach and park were pretty much deserted. It was low tide when we took a walk on the beach. Oh my, were we in for a treat! Lots of beautiful shells - mostly Florida fighting conchs and turret shells - were waiting for us. 

On the way back to the marina, we even saw a turtle.

 

If you love a tranquil beach surrounded by nature, come and explore Caladesi Island. You won't be disappointed.

For more info on Caladesi Island State Park, click here.

This post is shared on Skywatch Friday Through My Lens and image-in-ing.

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