With more than 660 miles of beaches in Florida, there are plenty of places to throw down a beach blanket and put your toes in the sand. When you’re looking around for that perfect spot, don’t forget to check some of the county parks – there are plenty of hidden treasures where you least expect them. One of those gems, located along Florida’s Sun Coast, is Fort Desoto Park near St. Petersburg and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
The Park
Fort Desoto Park is the largest of the Pinellas County Parks with 1,136 acres encompassing five keys: Mullet Key, Madelaine Key, Bonne Fortune Key, St. Christopher Key, and St. Jean Key. A drive around the park reveals an abundance of native plants, mangroves, wetlands and hundreds of species of birds. The park is a popular destination for locals and tourists, with more than 2.5 million visitors a year.
The Fort
The history of Fort Desoto dates back to 1,000 AD with the Tocobaga Indians and includes explorations by Spaniards, including Hernando DeSoto, in the 1500s. Perhaps the history it is most widely known for is its use during war time. In the mid-1800s it was determined the area would make a good coastal defense area. Although there was not an actual fort, a blockade was set up during the Civil War by Union troops between Egmont and Mullet Key. Confederate soldiers were spotted easily by troops at the top of the Egmont Key Lighthouse.
It wasn’t until 1898 and the Spanish American War, that construction of the fort began on the island. The first phase, which took six months to complete, included a wharf out into Tampa Bay, as well as an office, mess hall and quarters for the workmen. Eight months later, the Mortar Battery was completed – under budget.
It’s interesting to note Fort DeSoto was never the site of a major battle and the mortars were never used in combat. However, walking through the fort and touching the massive weapons causes you to only imagine what it would have been like for the troops stationed there, keeping watch and fighting the elements. Make sure to read up on the history on display inside the fort.
The Beach and Pier
Aside from the history associated with Fort DeSoto, the park offers up beautiful beaches. There are about seven miles of the park along the water, and three miles of that includes white sandy beaches. Our latest visit took us to North Beach where beach umbrellas dotted the shoreline and beach goers set up residence for the day. The water was clear and calm, and the ocean floor was smooth – the perfect backdrop for a refreshing and relaxing day.
If you are more into fishing than sunbathing, there are also two piers at the park, where anglers of all ages cast their lines or their nets. Baitfish can be seen under the piers along with dolphins playing in the water.
A friendly word of caution: Untended fish left on the cleaning tables are fair game!
Activities
Besides the fort, the park offers numerous other amenities, from camping to boating and kayaking, to picnicking and hiking. A ferry service also runs to Egmont Key, but it’s advised you make reservations before the day of your visit. It takes about half an hour for the ferry ride over to the island but once there, visitors are met with great shelling and swimming. There’s also another fort to explore on Egmont Key as well as a large population of gopher tortoises.
Whatever you choose to do, there are plenty of parking spaces, but arriving early guarantees a spot. The cost to get into the park is $5.00 per car. It is well worth the price and the trip!
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