Visiting Top Rated Beaches at Honeymoon and Caladesi Island State Parks
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Visiting top rated beaches in Florida
Embark on an exciting journey to the beautiful beaches of Caladesi Island and Honeymoon Island, where the ocean waters and white sands create the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable escape to Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Exploring the natural beauty of Florida beaches was something I couldn’t wait to do once we moved to Florida. There are so many beautiful beaches to explore along the Florida coastline and so many seashells to collect. I am excited to share one of those beaches here with you today.
Due to the close proximity of each beach, you could visit both beaches in one day. In order to get to Caladesi Island you need to take a ferry from Honeymoon Island. Endless adventures await at these two captivating islands.
**It has been noted that you can walk to Caladesi Island from Clearwater Beach which is about a 2 mile walk through the ocean water. I have not tried this so do your research first and travel during low tide if you can. Always be cautious when crossing the ocean by foot.
Honeymoon Island State Park
Honeymoon Island consists of 4 miles of beach and 3 miles of trails through the pine forests. Many different species of animals can be found on this island such as osprey, great horned owls, gopher tortoises, raccoons, armadillos and more. The beaches are beautiful, and the sand is a soft white, making it magical to explore.
Cost: Honeymoon Island has a fee of $8 per car to enter the park.
Hours: 8am until sundown, 365 days a year.
Address: #1 Causeway Blvd, Dunedin, Florida
Amenities: biking (rental available within the park), hiking, fishing, picnic, kayaking, surfing, swimming, weddings, beach access, and playground
Facilities: restrooms, concessions, restaurant, shower rinse off station
Pets are allowed at the pet beach on the southern part of the island and on all trails.
We explored Honeymoon Island on the gulf side and walked on the beach, taking our time as we looked for sea shells and enjoying the sun. Although we didn’t find an abundance of shells we did find several small shells along our path. UPDATE: We went to this island again in 2023 and found an amazing number of seashells. We use our seashell bag as we collect the seashells. It keeps them zipped in the bag, so we don’t lose them as we continue to hunt for more shells. Somedays the shells may not be as abundant as others so never give up on your seashell hunting adventure.
We have been to this beach a couple different times, both in the summer months. Each time was different with the amount of people we saw. The first time we parked at the first parking lot and when we walked along the beach it felt like we had the beach to ourselves which was so nice. There were very few people there. The second time we went we parked near the north beach and there were quite a few people. We however, walked up the north beach and the amount of people thins out considerably.
Seashell hunting
** Tip for cleaning seashells. To clean the seashells, use 20% bleach to 80% water and let them soak in this combination for a few hours. After they are done soaking you can pick off the extra pieces stuck on to the shells and then brush them off with a toothbrush, after they are dry you can rub them with mineral oil to shine them up.
I also use hydrogen peroxide to soak my sand dollars in, and they come out beautifully. You can soak them until they turn white, as long as it takes. Do not over soak them because they will get more brittle the longer they soak.
If you are looking for the best seashells along the gulf coast in Florida, I recommend you check out SWF Beach Life on YouTube. This lady does an amazing job at searching for seashells and teaching you where to find the best shells and she also tells you the name of each shell she finds. You will enjoy her channel.
Seaweed and rocks
When the tide was high the beach was pretty clean but as the tide lowered the seaweed began to line the beach. It isn’t the prettiest thing to see but you can walk over it to get to the ocean.
If you walk the north beach you will find smaller rocks in the water that you may have to walk over. Just be aware of the rock and watch where you step so you do not fall. There are plenty of areas without rock for you to enjoy.
I did find however that there were better seashells to be found closer to the rocks.
Clouds and rain don’t last
Below are updated pictures of Honeymoon Island State Park. Some of my pictures are cloudy which make this area look pretty blah. Remember during Florida summers, it can be cloudy and rainy one minute and sunny the next. It rains daily and typically lasts between 15-30 minutes during the summer months.
Finding seashells
The last time we went to Honeymoon Island we came away with some pretty amazing seashells! Since we have lived in Florida a few years now, my youngest son and I have began to learn more about seashells and have started collecting more and more unique shells. We went before and during low tide so we could comb the area and then backtrack to find more once low tide hit.
I was super excited to find this large conch shell pictured on the left below. It was out in the water on a sandbar and I just happened to see it poking up out of the sand. Needless to say, I was super excited!!!
Enjoy this fun cruise as you look for dolphins and stop for a short snorkel adventure. Prices start at $35.67
Parking
There are several parking areas along this beach. Each parking area has several openings to access the beach. The island is small and easy to get around by following the signs. You can even walk the entire island it is so small.
There is no additional fee to park once on the island outside the main entrance fee.
Abandoned boat
As we were walking toward the North end of the beach, we came across this abandoned boat. I do not know the history of this boat but if you have any details I would love to hear its story. Please comment below. I assume it is a boat that made its way to the island after a hurricane.
Bathrooms and showers
There are plenty of restrooms and showers located throughout the park. You will also find a few rinse off stations for convenience so you can rinse off the sand before getting in your car.
Shoes for walking on the beach
In order to walk on the beach without stepping on the sharp broken shells we often wear our beach shoes. I love my Chaco or Teva sandals, my older son is wearing his Columbia water shoes which are amazing, and my little guy is wearing his crocs which he loves and wore all the time until he outgrew them and now he wears Tevas.
I do notice that when walking along the edge of the beach, the shells tend to wash up into your shoes as the waves go onto land, so his Tevas are not as comfortable. He has been using water shoes (with socks) so the shells cannot get in between his foot and sandal and that has worked perfectly.
Enjoy a sunset cruise on a catamaran from Clearwater Beach for a romantic evening. Prices start at $37.15
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Ferry ride to Caladesi Island
The ferry ride to Caladesi Island was quick, and the staff were eager to make sure you had an enjoyable experience. They would stop along the way to view dolphins and make sure everyone was able to see them.
The island has restrooms you can use before you head to the beach. There is also a gift shop to purchase a snack or souvenirs. It is a 5-minute easy walk to the beach on their wooden walkway.
I am so glad we did not encounter any of these creatures (rattlesnakes) during our time there, Yikes!!
Caladesi Island
Caladesi Island was a beautiful island to explore as we enjoyed collecting seashells and relaxing in the sunshine. This beach had soft sand making it perfect for playing in and building sandcastles. There was seaweed to avoid but other than that this was a very beautiful beach. This beach did not have very many people, so we again felt like we were there by ourselves. Beach chairs and umbrellas are available for rent on the beach if desired, but you can carry your own to the beach. No strollers or wagons are allowed on the beach.
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Kids sand toys and floatie
When my son was younger and would swim in the pool or ocean, he would use a floatie to help keep him afloat. I am always near him for safety, but this was just another protection for him. He loved the freedom the floatie gave him as he began to learn how to use his arms and feet to swim. He also loves to play in the sand toys and could spend hours digging in the sand and building sandcastles.
They also enjoyed trying to catch a wave on their boogie boards although the waves are small, they enjoyed trying and spending time in the ocean.
Bottlenose dolphins
On our boat ride back to Honeymoon Island the driver saw a bottlenose dolphin and took us over to where it was located so the kids could view it. The dolphin swarmed our boat for a while coming in and out of the water. It was exciting to see the dolphin so close. As you enjoy the beach, you will at times find dolphins swimming out in the ocean as seen in the picture above.
My Favorite Water bottle - Hydrapeak
We always take our water bottles to the beach, so we don’t have to buy drinks on the island. This helps save us money on our trips. These bottles kept ice in them for about 10 hours during our time at the beach. If it had been sweltering hot, the ice would have melted sooner.
My favorite brand of water bottle is Hydrapeak. This brand has always been great at keeping our drinks cold as we travel, spend time at the beach or go hiking. We have purchased these fun decals to add to the bottles and I also purchase stickers from places we visit such as National Parks and add them to my water bottle as well. I only hand wash these bottles and the stickers have stayed on well. (Update: after about a year the fun decal stickers are starting to peel slightly on the edges.) I continue to love Hydrapeak water bottles, and they are cheaper than the Hydroflask water bottle but just as good. When not outside on a hot beach these keep our drinks cold and ice stays in them at least 24 hours. The stickers I purchased from the National Parks that we visit have stayed on well on these water bottles.
Frenchy’s Outpost Bar & Grill
After we visited the islands, we decided to stop and eat before we headed home. We ate at Frenchy’s Outpost Bar & Grill in Dunedin. We love Frenchy’s and have eaten at the one in Clearwater on the beach often, Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill.
I had the Bacon Jam Burger, and it was soooo good! It came with chips for $9.95 (2022 prices). Their food is always good, I recommend them if you are ever in the Clearwater/Dunedin beach area.
Facebook @FrenchysOutpost
Next time you are in Florida I recommend you visit these two islands. It is a great place to sit and relax while enjoying the peacefulness of the ocean and the amazingly soft sand. There are multiple things to do such as kayaking, hiking or enjoying the ocean water. The mangroves are a great part of the scenery and help protect the island from hurricanes and allow a space for kayaking as well.
Need a place to stay while in Florida, check out booking.com or VRBO.com for recommended accommodations.
What is your favorite beach in Florida? Comment below or DM me on Instagram for more details.
Enjoy the journey,
Meet the author: Jennifer
I am a girl who loves to travel and enjoys sharing expert family travel advice. I am a content creator and influencer on Instagram with years of travel experience and provide readers with advice, tips, and details on adventurous family travel and tips on saving money while boondocking or traveling across the US.
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