Sand Key Park: A Beach-Comber’s Paradise on Florida’s Gulf Coast
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Most tourists are well aware of Clearwater Beach: the world famous beach known for its’ sugar smooth sand. Although Clearwater is a great beach, it’s often too crowded with tourists to enjoy the day, not to mention nearly impossible to find parking. There really isn’t much of an off-season either as tourists flock here in the summer for vacation and snowbirds head up from the north each winter.
If you are looking for something a bit more low-key nearby, I recommend heading over to neighboring beach, Sand Key for a fun day of beachcombing and peace & quiet. After visiting Clearwater a few times, this beach really is a fresh breath of air. The scenery is so beautiful (I love the skyline views) and the shelling is the best in the area.
This beach sees relatively few crowds, even on weekends. Most of the time, I have not seen more than a few people around. The winter season is a great time to plan your visit as the temperatures are a little more tolerable. The sand here is rough and brown; you won’t find the smooth consistency you find at Clearwater. However, this beach will please 2 types of beach-goers: those who seek peace and quiet and those who collect seashells. I have always been a big shell collector, so I was eager to check out the scene here.
Here are a few pictures of what the beach looks like on a typical winter day. As you can see, there are more birds that people. If you have visited any of the busy Gulf beaches, this should come as a nice change of pace. As a local of several years, I always like to switch things up and escape the tourists every now and then. I love taking quiet walks here, birdwatching, collecting shells, and enjoying the water views.
A Beach-combing paradise!
As you walk along the quiet shores, you will see thousands and thousands of seashells, the majority of them unbroken. I would recommend it as the best beach near Tampa for shelling enthusiasts. Out of all the beaches I’ve explored since moving here (pretty much all of them), this one is just ahead of Anclote Island near Tarpon Springs. It’s much easier to access (you need to take a boat to get to Anclote), and for that reason alone, Sand Key gets a few bonus points.
Although you will find shells at a few other local beaches, it will be nowhere near the quality or quantity you will find here. This is my favorite place to look for seashells of every size and color. I have a huge collection now!
Here’s just a glimpse of some of the layers upon layers of shells lining the shore. As you can see, it’s not the best beach to throw off your flip flops and dig your toes into the sand. I prefer wearing toe running shoes if I am going to be stepping on a bunch of shells.
Here is a sample of just a few unique & colorful shells I found within 5 minutes of walking to show a range of the sizes and colors. Obviously, I left home with a big bag to add to my collection.
We saw this beautiful starfish while walking around. Please know that it is illegal to collect a live starfish. They are endangered protected species. You can read more about shelling regulations for more details.
After you have had your fun collecting shells, I recommend relaxing and enjoying a beautiful sunset. The setting here is quiet enough to justify staying for the sunset. Clearwater, on the other hand, is even more busy at night thanks to the lively, yet exhausting nightly Sunsets on the Pier celebration.
In addition to the beach, the park offers a few small nature trails and beautiful picnic shelters. I recommend bringing with a picnic lunch and enjoying the day out in nature as opposed to paying for a meal. I usually stop at Trader Joe’s for a pre-made sandwich or salad.
Beachside dining: Spanish food with a view!
If you do prefer to eat out, I highly recommend Columbia. This is one of my favorite restaurants in the area, not to mention the world’s largest Spanish restaurant. They serve amazing Cuban food including the best black bean soup and paella. This location features a wonderful patio where you can enjoy your lunch while gazing out at the water.
Things to know:
- Parking is $6 for the entire day.
- The Florida sun is typically brutal – even during the winter months it can feel much hotter than the actual temperature. A beach umbrella comes in handy. You can purchase one at any beach store in the area – there are many.
- Average summer temperatures are in the low 90’s with high humidity. Average winter temperatures are in the low 70’s to mid 80’s.
- Winter water temperatures are much too cold for swimming. I was shocked when I first moved here – I though you could swim all year!
- It’s illegal to take live sand dollars and starfish.
- Lifeguards are available from March-September.
- Umbrella & cabana rentals are available.
- Restroom, changing stations, and outdoor showers are available.
Additional Details
- Address: 1060 Gulf Blvd. in Clearwater
- Hours: 7am-sunset, Open everyday except Black Friday and Christmas
- For more into on this beach, visit the park website for a full list of amenities.
