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Pete Beach’s luxurious Don CeSar Hotel, which stands like a pink palace overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, the Maritana Grille is renowned for locally sourced seafood dishes.
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Not surprisingly, great seafood abounds in the nearby seaside communities. But first, refresh yourself with a good meal. Talk to ferry boat operators about designated snorkeling trips - the submerged installations are near the wildlife refuge and therefore a bit tricky to get to.įerries will return you to the mainland in mid-afternoon, so you’ll have plenty of time to plot another adventure. In fact, snorkelers love to explore old fortifications which are now submerged, because the island has eroded over decades. It’s still possible to explore the remains of the fort, some of which are half-covered with palm trees, palmettos and other vegetation. But people can walk right up beside it to observe.īecause Egmont Key is strategically placed at the mouth of Tampa Bay, it was picked as the site for a fort during the time of the Spanish-American War. Unlike ospreys, human visitors are not allowed to go up, except during an annual festival held in November. Today, when visitors stare up at the white tower rising into the blue sky, it’s not uncommon to see an osprey flying to the top, possibly clutching a fish plucked from the bay. During the Civil War, it fell under Confederate control, then Union control. It’s one of the oldest structures in Tampa Bay which is still operating for the same purpose for which it was built, said Watson. Lighthouse lovers know the current lighthouse, standing tall at 87 feet, has been operating since 1858. (Remember: Never take a shell that still has a live animal inside.) Conchs, whelks and other shells can be collected, although the shelling varies according to tides and recent weather. The beach also is a great spot for gathering sea shells. In fact, a portion of the island has been set aside as a national wildlife refuge. (Facilities are available next to the Fort De Soto Park dock and on some ferries.) If you go, you may share the beach with pelicans, terns, egrets and other shore birds. That means no cabanas, no ice cream stands and for that matter, no bathrooms. The beach lining Egmont Key is a natural one. His family came over by boat with friends, and they were all cooking lunch on a small grill set in the sand - kind of an island tailgate. “The tranquility, you can’t get at other beaches,” said Daniel Ciccarello of Tampa.
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But a beach without traffic or concessions has its own kind of charm.
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That may be a surprise, considering that Florida’s west coast is famed for white sand beaches that you don’t need a boat to get to. Petersburg’s thriving art gallery scene, or enjoying a dinner of fresh seafood.įor many visitors to Egmont Key, the beach is the draw. Visitors who use the ferry typically have a trip lasting five or six hours, which leaves plenty of time for other activities in the area such as exploring St. But it’s also easy to take the Tampa Bay Ferry for a day trip, leaving from nearby Fort De Soto Park. Many visitors to the island are boaters, and private boats can be rented nearby. “It’s a very, very special place and it’s got a tremendous amount of history, starting with the lighthouse,” he added. “There are people who come to me all the time and say, we just didn’t know all this was here,” said Assistant Park Manager Tom Watson. And also to see the lighthouse, which has been in operation for more than a century. People come to Egmont Key for the beach, to explore the ruins of a century-old fort, to observe the shore birds and gopher tortoises and to walk wooded trails wending through the island. “It was beautiful… just very, very peaceful.” “You’re able to roam the island kind of at your own will, it’s not crowded,” said Andy Hartson of Tampa, who was recently making his first visit along with his wife Kali. It sits on a wilderness island in the mouth of Tampa Bay, a beach-lined paradise that is only half an hour by private boat or ferry from the mainland. Petersburg, Fla., has guided thousands of sailors back to the safety of their homes, but people with a sense of adventure could almost say it serves the opposite purpose.įor tourists, sun-lovers and history enthusiasts, the lighthouse also is a beacon for anyone trying to get away from civilization.