Experience Endless Sunshine on Florida’s Suncoast

Florida’s Suncoast is the home of Fort Desoto Park, named America’s #1 Beach in 2005, and America’s #2 Best Beach of 2006, Caladesi Beach. We have so much sun here, we even made the Guinness Book of World Records! From February 9, 1967 to March 17, 1969, St. Petersburg Beach was credited with having the longest run of consecutive sunny days…768! Instead of snow, we have white, soft (dry) sand. So leave your snow shovels behind and bring your suntan lotion!

Where is the Florida Suncoast? We are just next to Tampa Bay (which, by the way, is home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Lighting, and Spring Training Grounds for the Yankees). Known as Pinellas County and the St. Petersburg Clearwater area, we are basically in the center of the western coastline of the Florida peninsula. Basking in temperatures that average between 63 and 82 degrees, makes it possible for us to enjoy 35 miles of sugar-sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico all year long. This stretch of “Florida’s Beach” is also speckled with 20 barrier islands ready for you to explore. When you think of beaches, think Florida’s Suncoast.

The beaches of St. Petersburg/Clearwater are award-winning, achieving numerous honors from their quality of sand, to their environmental management. Our acres of beaches and islands (we call them Keys) are surrounded by the sparkling aqua waters of the Gulf of Mexico and provide us with an array of activities from swimming, snorkeling, fishing and diving to shell hunting, tropical bird watching, boogie boarding, sand castle building, boating, jet skiing, picnicking, sunbathing, lighthouse findings, camping, biking, skating, canoeing, kayaking, kite-flying, turtle watching and…much more! Imagine, all of these activities only a five to 25-minute drive from where you live, or right in your own backyard. Just think, at the end of a hectic day, you could actually stop on your way home to watch the blaze of a watercolor sunset lazily melting into the Gulf of Mexico. It’s free, it happens daily and each one is unique. What a way to wash away the stress of the day. (Are your bags packed yet?)

One of our keys, Shell Key, has been named by Audubon of Florida, as one of the most important birding sites in the state. Stop by and see a famous Florida pelican up close or watch the Sandpipers chasing the waters edge. Our variety of birds is as diverse as our collection of other tropical fauna, flora and outdoor activities.

For full-time residents, a beach getaway is as simple as grabbing a bathing suit, hat and suntan lotion and jumping in the car, or biking to any one of a number of fantastic beachfront destinations. Pick from the spectacular Don CeSar, know as the “Pink Palace,” on St. Pete Beach or one of an array of charming bungalows on Sand Key nestled up on the Sea Oats. Once there, it’s all flip-flops and sun. Along with the beach of choice, you will be able to choose from a variety of dining and nighttime activities, not to mention fabulous upscale shopping, art galleries and specialty stores. Ice cream parlors, coffee shops, and surf shops can all be found just beyond the water’s edge.

Taking a break from the beach, you can hop on your bike and ride the Pinellas Trail. Spanning over 34 miles, the Pinellas Trail runs from the Southern tip of Pinellas County to the northern tip, wrapping around the top part of Lake Tarpon and ending in John Chestnut Park (one of our many State Parks). It’s a safe place to enjoy biking, jogging, inline skating and, along the way, you can stop in a number of quaint towns, like Dunedin or Crystal Beach, and taste the local cuisine, which ranges from freshly caught, grilled Grouper sandwiches and fresh shrimp salad to conch fritters and French fries.

Our semi-tropical playground is the perfect setting for a variety of year-round outdoor activities, especially golf. The golf season lasts all year long. According to the Golfer’s Guide, the Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater area boasts nearly 2,700 holes of golf, with nearly 1,700 of them open to the public. Add to that terrific sports venues, cultural activities, art festivals, and outdoor music and food festivals and shopping, and you could be on the go every weekend!

Come enjoy the Florida lifestyle. Whether you are looking for a winter getaway or a year-round change, join us!

For more information on Florida’s Suncoast, contact Lisa Lonzano at Prudential Tropical Realty (727) 224-8840.