Easy parking, clean enough bathrooms. If it weren't so dang far this would probably be the main…read morebeach spot for me and my friends! Can't say it's a hidden gem, but it's certainly not as touristy as Clearwater or Treasure Island so it's a great beach to go to. And $6 flat rate parking for the beach is amaaazziinnggg!!!! Lots of pavilions and different areas for activities like camping. We were there for a spikeball tournament. Always something going on!

Fort De Soto Park has a beautiful beach! Parking is $6 per vehicle and there is a pretty long walk…read morefrom the parking lot to the actual beach but once you get to the beach it's stunning. I like that it's not over crowded like other beaches on the area. There were also several areas blocked off for preservation of the birds.

Yesterday I went to the dog beach. I also stopped by North Beach for a bit, and the East Beach at…read moreFort De Soto. Being that it's pretty much at the tail end of Snowbird season there wasn't many people here. I liked all three beaches I actually saw zero dogs at the dog beach. Guess it was just bad luck. North Beach had some people spread out. I was only there for about 30 minutes. My favorite was the east beach which had next to nobody and was extremely quiet. Also had the barge which I took a picture of. At least the beaches were relatively clean and you could sit on the sand for a while and hang out. Very calming, peaceful, and serene.

This was our favorite pet friendly beach we went to during our vacation. The waves were less harsh,…read moreso our Border/Aussie had a lot more fun and was more brave while swimming (she is used to lakes and rivers, not big ocean waves). Our Aussie loved making new friends and everyone we encountered at this beach was incredibly friendly. Our dogs even made friends with another tri-color Aussie while we were there. There are lots of shells to find and collect for the humans and the sand is no where near as hot as Brohard Beach in Venice. We didn't have to put our dogs' boots on to protect their paws from the heat, so they got to free roam and have more fun. I think with the location and the calmer waters, this beach gets a lot more fun wildlife sightings- right before we got there a pod of dolphins and a manatee swam by. And while we were out in the water we had a baby sting ray swim past us. Brohard was also a lot busier than Fort Desoto, so it the laid-back atmosphere was nice. Fort Desoto has an enclosed dog park, but I don't think it had separate areas for big/small dogs like Brohard does. (I am not 100% sure on that since we did not use it, but it appeared to only be one large fenced-in area.) Fort Desoto also does not have a designated pet wash station like Brohard does, but we stayed until sunset and let the dogs air dry as best as they could and then rubbed their fur down with towels before they got in the car.

Cute, little, fenced in dog park in a quiet neighborhood. This dogpark is located inside the Ron…read moreMcKenney park. It is near picnic tables, water and there's also a pavilion. The dog park itself has a water station, poop baggies, and a couple of benches. It is shielded in trees that provide plenty of shade. It is located on the corner of Gulf Ave and 93rd BLVD. There is an adjacent free parking lot. Both small and large breeds share the same area. Our furry buddy had a good'o time here.

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!

Bright as the day is, but a new addition to a new addition to Bradenton! My heart breaks slightly…read morefor the older houses and undeveloped land that used to be here, but progress shines brightly on Bradenton, and this park is a wonderful example of that! There's doggy poo bags, and I'm not sure why, but across the street is another unlabeled park with a smaller playground in the shade and it's absolutely strange. They have astroturf and fake mounds, I cannot fathom why. It's only lacking a hole and some golfers... Either way, untapped park that I've never noticed before!

Great little park, the baby really loved it! I'll post some pictures! Has all the basics: slides,…read moretunnel, swings. Lots of neat stuff to climb up. Will definitely be coming back :)

This park is directly across from The Dali Museum and since I spent the morning there and wasn't…read moreready to go home yet, I thought I would swing over here and watch the planes come and go. This is a nice little park with a couple picnic shelters, benches, public restroom and a playground. Parking is $1 hr and you must pay at the pay station. I hate to pay to park but $1 isn't bad. It also seems like a place where lots of people ride their bikes through because I saw several people on bikes. I sat for about an hour watching the small planes come and go. It was relaxing. I wish I would have brought my kindle to read as well but I didn't. Definitely a nice place to come for a quick picnic, a place to let the little ones run around and to just chill.

Albert Whitted Park is named for a hometown hero James Albert Whitted who was among the first of…read more250 pilots to sign up to serve in WW I. First Lieutenant Whitted worked as a flight instructor in Pensacola and he taught advanced maneuvers in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He brought flying to St. Petersburg Florida and it is considered the birthplace of commercial aviation. He passed away along with four passengers in his plane in a crash when the propeller came off on August 19, 1923. The Albert Whitted Airport on the south side of the park was dedicated in his honor in 1928. This 4.78 acre park opened in 2008. It is the southernmost park in the St. Petersburg waterfront park system. It is also the newest park. It was the largest addition of public park land added to the waterfront in 100 years. The park is located right on Tampa Bay so you get a beautiful view. It is on the South Yacht Basin of the Municipal Marina so you can expect to see a lot of boats. Across from the park is the Dalí Museum. Park amenities include a large grassy open area, covered picnic tables, solar powered restrooms and an aviation themed playground at the east end of the park. A walkway runs along the South Yacht Basin. If you are in the south side of the park that runs along the runaway you can see planes taking off and landing and hear communications from the tower. The park has a solar powered electric energy and lighting system. This downtown St. Petersburg Park is very charming. It is a great place to watch the sailboats and the planes as they fly in and out. It is also a popular place to picnic and exercise. You may even see rays and manatees in the waster. It is a great place to stop if you are in the area.

My local park- love it great place to clear your head and get a few steps in. See the wildlife.read more

A great park tucked inside of a neighborhood! They have ample parking, bathrooms, and different…read morepaths you can choose from. We brought a stroller and the walkway was perfect for a walk in nice weather. We even saw turtles and an alligator!

This beach kinda sucks. It probably sounds odd but the sand on this beach is rough as shit and very…read morefeet unfriendly. My son and I played volleyball for about 15 minutes before several cuts to our feet and hands halted it. It's also one of the most expensive beaches to park at. I think we paid about $20 for four hours. Do yourself a favor and spend the day at St. Pete's public beach. It's cheaper, they have thr same amenities, the beach is larger and the sand, well, the sand is that soft white kind that's kind to your feet! Cheers.

This 4-mile long beach is ideal for distance swimming, which is the reason I go. From the Hurley…read morePark point (multi-booth bathrooms) to pink castle, the Don CeSar is 1.5 miles. Street parking. Pass-A-Grille Beach is the first beach on the Gulf. Now part of St. Pete Beach (nps form 10-900), it has a long and colorful history. Originally inhabited by Native Americans, it was visited by Spanish explorers in 1528 and later named from the French Passe aux Grilleurs ("passageway of the grillers") for early fishermen who camped there.