Florida's Fort De Soto Park Is One Of The State's Best Day Trips
By Nina Phillips
VACATIONS
Within just an hour's drive of Tampa is a stunning destination with nothing but pristine beaches and turquoise water: Fort De Soto, a park made up of five interconnected islands.
Fort De Soto encompasses North Beach, East Beach, Gulf Pier Beach, and Dog Beach. There are also tide pools and pristine seashells and sand dollar fossils on the beach.
The beaches are amazing here, and the park is dog-friendly, especially around Dog Beach. Also, the paths are smooth and wide, and there are even beach wheelchairs available.
If you want to stay on the water, consider kayaking around the island. You can sometimes see animals like manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, and stingrays in the ocean.
There is also a 7-mile bike path connecting North and East Beach, as well as the fort that gives the park its name. You can also walk the 2,200 foot barrier-free nature trail.