Ft. De Soto

Ft. De Soto Park, located in St. Petersburg, is a place with so much to offer! If you like nature and history, this park is for you! The islands in the park were once inhabited by the Tocobaga Indians, visited by the Spanish explorers and were utilized during the Civil War. It wasn't until 1898 that the fort was built for the Spanish American War but was never a site of major battle. The fort remains very well preserved and is open to the public at no charge. For a small fee, you can take a ferry to Egmont Key where you can explore the ruins, kayak by the shores and reflect on this historical place. Ft. De Soto is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The fort divides the north Beach from the south Beach. Venture toward the south beach and you can relax on the shore with an awesome view of the Sunshine Skyway bridge. Farther up the beach to the north end, there is a dog beach where your pups can enjoy the beach with you. Enjoy nature trails that stretch throughout the park. Go farther north and there is a great fishing pier where I've spotted many dolphin playing. The farther north you go, the more beautiful this beach gets. I spent a few hours snorkeling and shelling the shore and ended up with an awesome collection of beautiful shells and sand dollars. The north beach was also named America's #1 Beach in 2005 and is America's Top Beach for 2009. There are plenty of picnic tables and grills so you can enjoy the beach for the entire day. Shelters can be rented for a small fee and if one day isn't enough, they have a camp ground in the park so spend a few days if you like! You will need to book your camping trip in advance because this is a popular spot and there may be a waiting list. Another great thing about Ft. De Soto park is that there are no entrance fees and/or parking fees so if you are on a budget, this is a great beach to visit.
If you are in town for a couple days or live near by, check out the downtown St. Petersburg and Baywalk. There, you can enjoy great food, night life, art shows, movies and shopping.
If you are an art lover, I highly recommend visiting the Salvidor Dali museum right in downtown St. Petersburg. Dali was a very accomplished surrealist with an extremely interesting biography. After the museum, stop by Ceviche for some tapas and Sangria or catch a live show at Jannus Landing, the best venue around!

For park information go to: www.pinellascounty.org/park/05_Ft_DeSoto.htm

Check these out for stuff to do in St. Pete:
www.salvadordalimuseum.org
www.cevichetapas.com
www.jannuslandingconcerts.com
www.stpete.org