Exploring the Seaside Bliss of Madeira Beach and John's Pass Village and Boardwalk in Florida
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Exploring John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk
John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk is the perfect day trip nestled in Madeira Beach, Florida. You will uncover the allure of this iconic waterfront destination, renowned for its picturesque boardwalk, bustling shops, amazing dining options, and captivating watersport activities. Whether you want to seek out hidden gems or plan your next adventure, prepare to be immersed in the captivating atmosphere of John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk.
John’s pass was created in 1848 during a powerful hurricane that swept through the region, carving a narrow channel between Madeira Beach and Treasure Island along the Gulf Coast of Florida. The inlet was named after John Levique, a local sea captain and fisherman who was the first to navigate the newly created pass.
John’s Pass is a small fishing village that over time has evolved into a bustling maritime hub, attracting visitors with its scenic beauty, recreational activities, and vibrant waterfront atmosphere. With over a hundred merchants and restaurants to explore, it stands as a testament to enduring forces of nature and the resilience of coastal communities in the face of adversity. Across from John’s Pass is Madeira beach which makes it very convenient to visit both in one day.
Address: 12902 Village Boulevard, St Petersburg, Florida
Parking at John’s Pass or Madeira Beach
Parking is available at John’s Pass or at Madeira beach. If you are going to any of the beaches in Florida, I recommend getting there before 10:00am to get a good parking space and to avoid the larger crowd. More people tend to filter onto the beach late morning to afternoon. There is a fee to park at Madeira Beach of $3 an hour (2024 prices). I use the ParkMobile app and find it convenient in finding parking spots throughout Florida. Within this app I find the code posted at each parking lot (signs will be posted with lot number) and pay for parking directly through the app on my phone. The app will notify me when my time is almost up, and I can choose to leave or add more time. This is so convenient verses finding the nearest machine to pay for parking or trying to find the nearest machine after I have been on the beach to pay for extended time if I want to stay longer. We were at the beach for a little over 5 hours and the cost was $13.20 in 2020. They have a newer feature which I love that will also help you find your car when you are ready to leave. There have been a few times I couldn’t remember where we parked so this feature is super helpful. There are still machines at each parking lot if you prefer to pay that way with your credit card.
Restrooms on Madeira Beach
Madeira Beach
Madeira Beach in Florida is a picturesque coastal town known for its stunning white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and laid-ack atmosphere. Sitting along the Gulf of Mexico, it offers a perfect blend of natural beauty and seaside charm. Visitors head to Madeira Beach to soak up the sun, swim, and indulge in various water sports such as fishing, boating, and parasailing.
Madeira Beach exudes a relaxed vibe, making it an ideal destination for families, couples, or solo travelers seeking a rejuvenating beach getaway. Our time at Madeira Beach was spent basking in the sun and leisurely swimming in the ocean. The waves are smaller here, perfect for smaller kids. The sand is soft, making it easy to walk on and enjoyable for relaxing on as you enjoy the sunny weather. The water is a perfect temperature, and the sand is very clean.
In the area you can find some seashells in the water and a lot of mini and broken shells along the sand. We use our seashell bags to hold our shells as we collect them. These bags are mesh so it can get wet, and they have a zipper to hold our shells in, so they don’t fall out. The chance of finding shells varies throughout the year. Check tide schedule for when the tide is low for a greater chance of finding more shells. Tide chart can be found online.
Helpful Tip: When I am out in the water, I keep my phone in my waterproof pouch so my phone doesn’t get wet. It was dipping in and out of the water and it kept my phone dry the entire time. These pictures on the beach were taken while in the waterproof pouch. You can’t even tell!
My kids often bring their Body Boards when we head to the beach to try and catch a wave. We purchased the Body Boards from Surf Style or you can purchase them on Amazon, the kids have had a lot of fun on them as they try and “surf” the waves. Board prices vary from $15 and up. There is a Surf Style shop located in John’s Pass where you can purchase many beach related items. See below for more details.
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Fishing
The picture above shows the draw bridge nearby (left side of above pic). There is a spot near the draw bridge where you can fish. You can rent fishing poles at Hubbard’s Marina, or you can bring your own.
Below is a bridge that you can walk under to get to John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk. You will then find the stairs, below right, that you can walk up on to an alleyway leading to John’s Pass.
John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk
Hours: Shopping and restaurants in John’s Pass are open 10am to 10pm. Select restaurants are open until midnight. (2023 hours)
Address: 12902 Village Blvd, Madeira Beach, St Petersburg
After swimming you can head over to John’s Pass Boardwalk to enjoy some delicious food, do a little shopping or partake in a water activity. There is a path under the bridge that you can walk from the beach to John’s Pass.
Parking: You can leave your car parked at the beach or you can drive over to the shopping area where more parking is available. There is metered parking at John’s Pass, or you can use the parking garage nearby for convenience located on the south-west corner of John’s Pass.
Food at John’s Pass
When we were in Florida visiting in 2015, we ate at Bubba Gump’s which has really good food and the exciting part is you can sit outside and overlook the ocean as you eat.
We have also eaten at Sculley’s Waterfront Restaurant. Details below.
Sculley’s Waterfront Restaurant
This restaurant offers fresh seafood and seasonal ingredients with a water view. Their menu offers a wide variety of seafood plus soups, salads, sandwiches, wine and more. The food at Sculley’s was good and our wait to be seated was minimal for a holiday weekend. The kid’s meals are $6.95 and includes fruit or fries and choice of drink. The kid’s menu consists of hamburger, chicken tenders, popcorn shrimp, and grilled cheese sandwich. (2024 options and prices)
I ordered chicken tacos which were $13. They were really good and had cabbage on them which I wouldn’t have typically wanted but it gave a little bit of a crunch to the tacos which I liked. The rice and beans were a little dry but tasted average.
We also ordered chips with queso, salsa and guacamole for $10 and the Islander Hawaiian Chicken Sandwich for $15. My son loved the chicken sandwich and the queso and chips were good as well. I added some of the queso to my rice and beans to give it a little more flavor. The fries were really good. Often times fries can be soggy or taste bland, but these fries were very good overall! (2020 prices)
Mad Beach Craft Brewing Company
Eating at Mad Beach Craft Brewing Company proved to be one of the best places we have eaten in John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk. This restaurant offers their own brews and the opportunity for the perfect family time while you eat some amazing foods and play arcade games, pool or cornhole.
We had the large pretzel which came with beer cheese and grainy mustard $12 (the mustard was not good), a burger patty between two grilled cheese $16, and black beans and rice with jerk chicken $13.50 which was really good! Other options include jelly donut burger, seafood, burgers, salads and more. (2024 prices)
Address: located inside John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk
Hours: Monday to Thursday 12pm to 9pm, Friday 12pm to 10pm, Saturday 11am to 11pm, Sunday 11am to 9pm. (2024 hours)
House of Sweets
Everywhere I go I will find an ice cream shop to try. There were a couple different sweet shops at John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk, and we chose to try the House of Sweets. The flavors were limited but they also had some delectable chocolates and candy to choose from. We have had chocolate covered bacon while visiting Santa Cruz in California, so I wanted to see if this one compared. I will admit the chocolate covered bacon at Santa Cruz was definitely better but this one was worth the try.
Address: Inside John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk, 12930 Village blvd
Hours: open daily 11am to 10pm
Water Sports along the Boardwalk
After eating, take a stroll along the boardwalk as you look out onto the channel and take a peek at the multiple water sports available for rent, catering to adventure seekers and water enthusiasts. There are multiple experiences to choose from such as parasailing, several boating excursions, jet ski rentals, dolphin watching and Pirate Ship tours that allow you to explore the serene waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Check out the water excursions online or below.
Woody’s Watersports - jet ski rental. Ride along Madeira Beach throughout the Gulf of Mexico for an adventurous time. Age 14 and older. Prices from $70-$80 per hour. If renting a boat, a temporary boating license is required which is good for 90 days.
Shark Boat Tours - Take a guided boat tour through John’s Pass as you look for dolphins. $17-$24 per person
Tiki Boat Tours - You have to check out this unique boat Tiki tour. Bring your favorite drinks to sip on as you sail along the waters while listening to music. Water to drink is provided for free. Hop off on the island along the way to soak in the sun or take a little swim. Prices start at $65 per person.
Fly N High - jet ski and wave runner rentals from $75-$85 an hour, and parasailing $75-$85 per hour, Pontoon boat rental include half day rental for $450 and full day rental for $600.
Early Risers Charters - For an excellent off-shore fishing trip check out Early Risers Charters. Cost from $775, $1,000, $1,600. No fishing license required.
Half Day Fishing Experience - This 5-hour journey to the deep waters provides the opportunity to have a private guided tour to the best fishing spots. You might find grey snapper, porgies, seabass, kingfish, mackerel and more. Rent fishing gear from Hubbard’s Marina or bring your own. Option to pay a restaurant to cook your catch for dinner. Fishing experience starts at $94.95 per person.
Calypso Breeze - Daytime and evening cruises. Daytime cruise costs $15.95 to $22.95 plus $9.95 to $19.95 for buffet. Evening cruise costs $20.95 to $27.95 plus $11.95 and $24.95 for buffet.
Royal Conquest Pirate Ship - A fun adventure on a real pirate ship. This is a kid friendly event and kids will absolutely love this! Free open bar for alcoholic beverages and soda. Prices range from $11 to $40 per person,
Gator’s Parasail - Fly high above the water on this parasailing adventure. Prices start at $75 for one hour. You can also book wave runners, jet skis, and pontoon boats from this company.
Dolphin Quest - Join this exciting adventure as you cruise Boca Ciega Bay as you search for bottlenose dolphins swimming and jumping throughout the bay. They guarantee a dolphin sighting, or your next cruise is free. Throughout the tour you will also see the beautiful homes of Treasure Island. Prices start at $29 for 1 hour 30 minutes.
Shell tour to Shell Key Preserve - Ready to find some amazing Florida seashells? Take this tour to Shell Key Preserve from John’s Pass on a guided boat tour to the preserve to go shelling and have a little beach time. You may even spot a dolphin or two on the ride there and back. Prices start at $44.95 per person.
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Saltwater Taffy at Zeno’s Boardwalk Sweet Shop
After exploring the docks, head over to Zeno’s to get some saltwater taffy. We went into Zeno’s Boardwalk Sweet Shop and the lady working inside was super friendly and very helpful. My kids loved going in and hand picking which flavors of taffy they wanted along the large wall of taffy. You can also watch the taffy being pulled on their machine, which was fun to see. There are also several delicious looking chocolates you can purchase as well.
Shopping at John’s Pass
There are multiple shops to explore at John’s Pass. There are many quaint little stores that include jewelry, clothing, food, ice cream, leather, spices, wine and so much more. Prices are what you would expect for a touristy area. Some items were decent priced while other more name brand items cost more.
Surf Style Shop
John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk has a Surf Style shop at this location. They usually have sales on their t-shirts which are buy 3 get 1 free. Shirts are around $15-20 each. There is a lot of beach related items to buy at this store including sunglasses, souvenirs, beach toys, body boards, lip balm, mugs, picture frames, beach chairs, beach towels, and more. The prices are reasonable and there are several of these shops throughout Florida. This is a great place to stop and shop for a variety of needed items for any beach day.
Hours: 9am to 10pm
Address: 12900 Gulf Blvd, Madeira Beach
Madeira Beach is a coastal city in Florida known for its sandy beaches, fishing opportunities, and vibrant atmosphere. John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk is a popular tourist destination featuring shops, restaurants, and water activities.
You will love this area of Florida. With so much entertainment and seaside charm, you have the option to spend a full day or extend your stay for a few days. This area offers a tranquil opportunity to relax on the beach soaking up the sun and enjoying family time while in Maderia Beach. Whether it’s adrenaline-pumping jet skiing or leisurely kayaking, Johns Pass Village and Boardwalk provides a huge array of water sport activities for visitors to enjoy and create unforgettable memories along the beautiful Florida coastline.
Looking for a place to say while in Madeira Beach? Check out VRBO or booking.com for options.
What is your favorite beach in Florida, comment below?
Enjoy the journey,
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Meet the author: Jennifer
I’m just a girl who loves to travel. My favorite travels have been traveling across the US in a campervan, visiting all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, marking National Parks off my list, & many smaller trips. I love to share my adventures to inspire others to travel more. If you can dream it, you can do it! Want the whole story?
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