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Check Out The Must-Visit Tampa Beach and Beaches near Tampa

  • May 25, 2023
  • | 9:52 PM

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Unwind At Our Favorite Beaches in Tampa Bay 🌈

Unwind and elevate your mood instantly at these beautiful beaches in Tampa Bay. Watch the sunrise or sunset, and even gaze at the stars! Tampa Bay has some of the best beaches out there, so don’t miss out on the very best beaches this spectacular place has to offer!

We’d love for you to explore these and have an amazing time. Remember us while you do, and tag us @StufftoDoinTampaBay on Instagram and Facebook!

St. Pete Beach

Bring your furry friend with you and enjoy the warm white sands. Reach complete relaxation at the Hotel Zamora rooftop bar, and enjoy the beautiful sunset with drinks. This is the perfect spot to watch the sun go down after a long day on the beach! We would be lying if we didn’t mention that this is seriously one of the best beaches in Tampa Bay!

If you want to feel like you’re in the Bahamas, get a Don Cesar day pass. It gets you access to their pools, hot tub, beach chairs, and more! It also grants you servers that bring you drinks while you relax and sunbathe–no need to get up!

Fred Howard Park

Pure crystal waters, spectacular trails, kayaks…these are things you’ll find at this beautiful spot. Truly a must-visit beach! Fred Howard Park has a lot of places to sit and unwind, sunbathe, and watch the burning sunset. There’s also lots of shade, remember that! Pack your SPF – don’t leave the beach with a terrible sunburn.

Don’t stress over things like parking and stabbing your feet with shells or rocks, it’s only $5 to park for the whole day, and the sand is completely smooth. It’s usually not crowded, as it’s a hidden beach gem, so there will be plenty of time to enjoy the quiet, the waves, and the birds.

Pro-tip: Bring food, water, and snacks! There aren’t any food stands on the actual beach.

Indian Rocks Beach

Soft white sand and clean bright Gulf water! Prepare for one of the saltiest and calmest swims of your life at Indian Rocks Beach. Compared to other more crowded Florida beaches, this one is SO quiet – definitely one of the best things about this place. Plus, it’s just a short drive from St. Pete or Tampa!

After a long day on the beach, remember to explore, and find some great restaurants and stores. With free public beach access, this makes a great and unique spot for you, and your favorite people to spend a beautiful day in Tampa Bay.

 

Honeymoon Island State Park

Honeymoon Island is an extraordinary place! Full of wildlife, amazing views, walks, waves…and there’s even an extensive dog beach on the island where you can bring your four-legged friend to run and swim. It’s also a great place to find cool rocks and shells for those of you that love to collect memories. And, don’t forget to try some windsurfing while you’re there!

If you want BLUE water, take the ferry from Honeymoon Island to Caladesi Island State Park, it’s only $16 and a beautiful 20 min ferry ride. Isn’t this one of the most magical beaches in Tampa Bay?

Remember that it’s $8 to get in per vehicle (if there’s more than 1 person in the car), $4 for single drivers, and $2 for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Sand Key Beach

Amazing sunsets, crystal clear water, and lots of bird watching are what you can expect at Sand Key Beach. This must-visit beach has a little bit of everything; a dog park, food trucks, beach cabanas, accessible wheelchairs for free, and more! A calm paradise for everyone.

Get away from the daily hustle and busy beaches, and enjoy however you desire here! Just at the other side of Clearwater beach. Relax with your loved ones, eat at the picnic tables available, and swim stress-free, thanks to the alert lifeguards!

Pass-a-Grille Beach

Pass-a-Grille Beach is one of our favorite places to go for a beach day! We love the main street with all the string lights, it’s so quaint and adorable. Some of the things you’ll find here include restaurants, rooftop bars, boutiques, tennis courts, fishing piers, outdoor art markets, and of course… Lots of ice cream options.

If you’re going on the weekend, try to get there early as street parking fills up fast! After spending time at the beach all day, we love going to the Dewey rooftop at the Berkley for dinner (their oysters are top-notch) and watch the sun go down over the water.

Treasure Island

Our favorite thing about Treasure Island is everything around it! There’s so much to do here, you can have a whole day on the actual beach, swimming, sunbathing, sunset-watching, and end a perfect day by walking down John’s Pass. Out of all of the beaches in Tampa Bay, we can say with absolute certainty, that we LOVE this one.

Enjoy the little beach-style stores, restaurants, ice cream, and soda shops as the moon rises. Fall in love with the way the place looks under string lights and under the stars. Eat some delicious ice cream after a great meal, and watch the sea at night.

Siesta Key

The sand here is seriously amazing! It stays cool even when the day is scorching hot. Have a nice breakfast sandwich from the concession stand, and get ready to have a self-care day just for you. The beach is incredibly big, so you won’t feel crowded even though the place may get busy! There’s SO much space for everyone.

Catch incredible sunsets, and after a great beach day, stop by Ann Marie’s Southern home and Organic Ice Cream place to enjoy some delicious, healthy ice cream!

Clearwater Beach

We couldn’t leave this one out! Clearwater Beach is one of the best beaches in Tampa Bay! Even if you don’t live in Tampa Bay, you must have heard of the famous Clearwater Beach. It’s covered in pink sand! It has been voted #1 in the US, and among the best 10 beaches in the world! How cool is that?

Pro-tip: If you’re hungry but don’t want to miss a sunset, grab a bite at Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill or the Palm Pavilion. Perfect sunset views!

Lending a helping hand 🏖

If you’re looking for a way to give back to the community and enjoy the beach, consider volunteering with beach clean-up organizations! Not only does it help maintain the cleanliness and beauty of our beaches, but it also provides an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who share a passion for preserving the environment.

Volunteering for beach clean-up organizations allows you to give back to the community in a meaningful way, and it can be a great way for all ages to spend a day outdoors while making a positive impact!

Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful is a local non-profit organization dedicated to promoting environmental stewardship and sustainability in the Tampa Bay area. They organize a variety of community events, such as beach clean-ups and tree plantings, to help keep our city beautiful and clean.

You can learn more about their mission and upcoming events by visiting their website at keeptampabaybeautiful.org.

Tampa Bay Watch Coastal Cleanups are events organized by Tampa Bay Watch, a non-profit organization focused on protecting and restoring the Tampa Bay estuary.

During the event, volunteers gather to remove trash and debris from the shoreline and surrounding waterways. It’s a great way to make a positive impact on the environment and enjoy the beauty of Tampa Bay. Anyone can participate, and no prior experience is necessary.

Check their website at tampabaywatch.org for more information on how to get involved.

Sea you at the beach 👋

Beach lovers or not, you must visit at least one of these magical beaches in Tampa Bay in your lifetime! Each and every one of them has something magical, and special that we wish everyone to see.

There is so much you can do, from enjoying rock collecting and sunbathing, to windsurfing and swimming. Explore outside the beach, too, and find incredible stores and restaurants! Plan your day and get the best out of it!