Very nice spot for an early morning excursion to see if we could find manatees! It was hot hot hot…read more but the hike to the observation tower was short and full of fun things to see!! We found a pond full of birds, two lizards on a bench, fish jumping out of the water and the tower itself is very tall and quite a sight! We had the best time and it is a very nice trail. We saw walkers, runners and bikers so good for all sorts of activities! Plenty of parking, quiet and serene. Get out there early or late in the evenings to avoid the heat bring plenty of water, wear sunscreen and stay on the path and you'll have a great time!

Several easy hiking trails make this a handy place to take a stroll. The terrain isn't very scenic…read morebut there is an observation tower that affords good views of the surrounding area. Unisex restrooms available at the parking lot. Free parking and admission.

Emerson Point is one of those how-is-this-not-more-famous? kind of places. Whether you're into…read morehiking, biking, kayaking, or just soaking up the views, there's always something fun to do. The hiking trails are great, the kayak launches make it easy to get out on the water, and the observation tower is a must--climb to the top for an awesome bird's-eye view, including the Sunshine Skyway Bridge showing off in the distance. There are plenty of picnic spots, plus a pavilion with nearby restrooms (always a win). One of our favorite things is walking out to the Portavant Temple Mound, where helpful signs bring the area's history to life. And if you're looking for photo ops, this place delivers--nature shots, family photos, you name it. We've had ours taken here more than once. No matter if you're exploring, relaxing, or snapping pictures, Emerson Point always has beauty waiting around the corner. There's even a welcome center near the pavilion to get you started. A perfect spot to wander, relax, and fall a little in love with Florida!

This was our first time here and there is so much more to explore! We drove all the way to the…read morepoint and parked in the lot. There are portable bathrooms there and a lot of small beaches. We walked and stopped and enjoyed the water! We brought the bike and scooter and stroller but didn't get a chance to use them this time although there are plenty of good sidewalks to use! We will be back!

Beautiful beach. Short walk from the park if you're driving and need to park. Signed entrances…read moreshowing public access next to The homes. No parking near the entrance of this beach but worth seeing. Rough waters be careful not to swim in this area. You can see the AMI mix with the Tampa bay here the water looks dark where it mixes. Came on a cloudy cold day to just walk around before the sun came out.

I saw a video on IG a few months back that stated this beach would make you feel like you were on a…read moreisland, so I had to check out Bean Point Beach. It was an hour plus drive south from my friends house in Gulfport to Anna Maria Island. Bean Point is the north point of the island. Be cautious if you park in a neighborhood as they will ticket you $75 if your car is touching the road. We find out the hard way:( We walked a few blocks and found a public beach access. When I saw the beach I couldn't believe my eyes. The water was a gorgeous color of blue/green! It was hard to belive this was Florida lol. We walked for a while and I found some pretty shells to take home from my adventure. This part of the beach wasn't too crowded which I loved. A few people were fishing and others were sitting and relaxing. While a few tourists were in the water. Brrrr it was too cold for me. I only let it hit my feet lol. I highly recommend checking out Bean Point Beach so you can see this lovely water and beach for yourself!

Tony and I along with Calliope spent about an hour on the pier sightseeing, taking photos and…read morebirdwatching while waiting on our Dolphin Cruise Ship Great Day Lovely weather Definitely recommend to all in the area

hidden gem. don't tell anyone…read more great for sunrise faces East free fishing trailer park on da water

This was a fun activity with just enough walking for an almost two year old. There are several…read moreboardwalks out to the bay, all of which are nice options if you're practicing using your legs. It was breezy on this day but a jacket solved that. I'd recommend wearing shoes that are not open toed; I stepped in mud wearing sandals and it was not pleasant.

Our morning walk took us to this small, idyllic nature reserve. Since it rained at night, it was…read morevery foggy early in the morning, which gave the landscape something mystical. Since it is otherwise very moist in the mangroves, it was therefore even wetter than usual. But this did not stop our walk. What we noticed were the spider threads that hung over the paths and the empty spider webs. And then we saw one! WIKIPEDIA: Gasteracantha cancriformis is a species of spider from the real web spider family (Araneidae), which is native to North and Central America and the Caribbean. The species name "cancriformis" is Latin and means "cancerous". Beautiful!!! And also the "mangrove cancer" that we saw later. During our stay at AMI we went there often in the morning and really enjoyed the nature and tranquility!

Having some time to spare, my child and I came here to walk along the water and enjoy outside for a…read morebit. We saw bunnies and dolphins which was a fun distraction for a 12 year old to keep him off his phone for a bit. 08.01.2025

Beautiful park mid island with children's play area,pickle ball courts, dog parks and walking…read morepaths. Behind Longboat Hardware with plenty of parking

I've been to Coquina Beach b4,& it's a beautiful spot to spend the day in Florida. There's a huge…read morepark area w/ plenty of space to relax, have a BBQ, & enjoy some time outdoors. Of course, there's also a big beach w/ plenty of room to swim, soak up the sun, or just enjoy the water. The water is always so warm & clear. Unfortunately, the day I went this time, the weather had other plans. We were dealing w/ thunderstorms & rain, so we had to pack up all our BBQ stuff & leave. It was a bummer b/c we were ready to enjoy a nice beach day & BBQ all day, but safety comes 1st. Even though the weather cut our day short, I still enjoy coming to Coquina Beach. I'd come back again hopefully next time w/ plenty of sunshine so we can actually enjoy the whole day!

Yes I recommend it cuz it's Gorgeous waters but a couple of things…read more - no dogs allowed - no alcohol allowed - the little chairs with umbrellas that are out you have to rent from the shop/ cafe right there -free parking -there are bathrooms and showers -parking isn't far from your car -water is super clear and sand is great! This is. A part of Anna Maria island I believe. The little shop sells alcohol and food but you can't take it on the beach. There are lifeguards and guards that drive around. I saw some people bbq by the parking lot so not sure if that's up for grabs or not

Was here once before the hurricanes hit and the visitors center was open…read more Attended the sold out 2026 Haunted Trail Walk last night and had a GREAT time! Pre walk pumpkin decorating and ornament coloring, followed by an informative and at times scary tour given by the Park's own lead Ranger Dan, dressed in period clothing and with incredible delivery. So cool, awesome "candlelit" lighting throughout the trail on a beautiful autumn night, stunning natural surroundings as the waves lapped on the beach...even followed behind my some singing ghouls!! A not to be missed event! Thanks Chuck and Anne Marie, from the Friends of DeSoto. Definitely plan on returning for a non event visit soon.

I would have loved if we could have gone inside the museum... that's what the 1 star knocked off is…read morefor. But the rest of the grounds and displays were great! The beachfront walking trail and the story of deSoto's history from Spain described in full detail... I was not excited to hear how some of the horses had to be killed and eaten for survival purposes ... But back in the day, almost 500 years ago, I guess emergency survival food and water kits weren't readily available. Good idea to keep in your car, along with some TP. I would love to kayak around here. The water and the view were beautiful! There is a long route and a short route for walking, you also will learn about the different types of mangroves and other Florida native plants/trees. Definitely worth another visit, hopefully when the museum is open again, but my understanding is there's no one even answering the phones (even at the number on the sandwich board as you enter the park) so you'll never know when they will reopen.

First time at AMI, what a beautiful beach! St. Pete Beach is less than 20 minutes from me so I…read moredon't find myself compelled to visit other beaches, but AMI was a treat. A lot of free street parking (even arriving at 12:30pm on a Sunday), perfect sand, and pretty water.

It was a nice beach, but it was raining so we couldn't enjoy the whole experience. It was clean…read moreand the water was clear. We were able to sit for about 30 minutes, it was drizzling so it made the whole experience calming and peaceful.

Wonderful beach! Sand is soft and not too hot. Water is warm and felt awesome. Ample parking…read more And best of all - not too crowded! Awesome afternoon here.

The beach and the water is very nice. Major problems: the lack of parking; very few amenities…read morelike showers and bathrooms; inconsiderate high powered Ebikes everywhere. Just try walking over the Cortez bridge and have an Ebikes barreling towards you or coming up from behind - so far after a week not a single one of dozens has bothered to slow down when passing me. I ride a bike all the time at home so don't think I'm a bike hater.