A Spectacular Sunset & Beautiful Natural Trails on Florida’s Honeymoon Island
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Honeymoon Island, a barrier island just west of Dunedin in Pinellas County, is one of my favorite white sand beaches on the Gulf. Soon after moving to the area, Mike and I knew we had to check it out. We put it off for a while as the admission fee is a bit overpriced, however, we were overall pleased with the beaches, nature trails, and most of all the fabulous sunset.
It’s easily one of the top sunset destinations in the Tampa Bay region – probably tied with Fred Howard for me. We enjoyed a full day here, swimming, relaxing, hiking, collecting seashells, and bird watching.
Mike and I were expecting a lot from this beach after hearing rave reviews and seeing it featured in numerous local publications. To be honest, we were a little disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, the sunset was stunning, however, this beach was not our favorite we have visited on the Gulf thus far. For the higher admission fee, we were expecting a little more. Overall though, I recommend at least a one time visit to hike the gorgeous Osprey trail, beachcomb, and watch a sunset.
On another positive note, it’s located just a short drive from Dunedin, which is home to my favorite Main Street in the metro. There are a lot of great local restaurants and shops to enjoy here, either before or after your beach visit.
Update: Since first writing this post, Mike and I have lived in the Bay for approximately 3 years. We have visited all the beautiful Gulf beaches and decided to include this one in our must-visit beaches guide, primarily for the spectacular sunsets and awesome hiking trails.
One of the Bay’s most popular beaches
The water was not as clear as I was expecting, the water was much too warm to swim in, the sand too rocky at most points, and in general it felt way too overcrowded for my taste. To be fair, all Gulf beaches are bathwater this time of year – it’s not really ideal for swimming. I prefer swimming in the spring season.
Maybe it was just the busy weekend crowds, but we were expecting a quieter setting. When the crowds finally dwindled down later in the day, we were able to appreciate the true beauty of the area. Basically, if you are looking for fun vacation time, a summer afternoon visit should suit you. If you are seeking more of a low-key vibe, off season and sunset visits are recommended.
It was an extremely hot day in the 90’s and really crowded. Had it been less crowded with milder temperatures, maybe my opinion of the beach would have differed. We also had to wait over an hour in traffic to get into the beach! I will definitely remember to plan weekday trips to the beach from now on. I would love to come back in the off season and explore more (hopefully in a quieter setting).
Great for beachcombing, not so great for beach walks & sunbathing
The sand was not as smooth as I imagined. While the sand is white and beautiful (truly what makes Gulf beaches so popular), there were too many rocks and broken shells to to enjoy walking around. I recommend some of those running toe shoes (mine have come in handy since moving here). Beachcombing is fun here though and I collected a ton of colorful shells.
Also the narrow strip of sand led to a crowded, noisy environment with not enough area for everyone to spread out and enjoy the day. I prefer beaches with a wide strip of sand. Fortunately, after our hike the beach basically totally cleared out. This is when we started liking this beach a bit more.
Take a look at a few pictures we took about an hour or so prior to sunset. As you can see most of the crowds had died down by this time. We enjoyed some birdwatching and took some time to decompress without all the tourist traffic. If I come back, it will definitely be around sunset during the off season.
Nature trails: the crown jewel of the island
On the other hand, the nature trails are definitely a must-do when visiting the island. I would recommend visiting for the trails alone. The highlight of our time here was strolling amongst beautiful natural Florida coastal forests. We decided to take an hour break on the trails to see if the beach traffic would die down a bit. By the time we came back the beach crowds had (thankfully) long disappeared.
This state park features several miles of trails which venture through one of the last remaining virgin slash pine forests. We completed the Osprey Trail, a beautiful 2 mile journey through beautiful rare pine forests. It’s a great trail for wildlife watching. We came across several sea turtles, an armadillo, and plenty of hermit crabs.
We came across this armadillo hiding in the trees. They blend in well with the plant life and often curl up in a ball as soon as you walk past them so keep your eyes peeled. They really are adorable though and surprisingly pretty easy to see at parks throughout the Bay.
One of the many hermit crabs we encountered on the way! There were so many that it was hard to walk without stepping on one. I would say that we saw hundreds – at least. They are very fast! Luckily, we were able to capture a quick picture. Note that it is illegal to collect these crabs without a license and it also harms the ecosystem.
Along the way, we saw a sign stating that several bald eagles have decided to make the trail their home. Here is a picture of one of the eagle nests. I remember back in the 90’s when bald eagles were endangered nearly to the point of extinction, so it’s pretty cool to see them so frequently today. You can read more about the recovery of the American Eagle on this website.
Scenic picnicking facilities
Near the nature trails, you will find plenty of shaded picnic tables. I really love all the palm trees – it’s a gorgeous setting. It was not overly crowded and the lush landscaping made it feel like a tropical escape. I recommend bringing with your own lunch if heading out all day as the cafe offers a very limited menu. We usually stop by Trader Joe’s before any beach visit; if you are a regular you know that they carry awesome pre packaged sandwiches, wraps, and pasta bowls.
The Bay’s best sunset destination
After hiking, we headed back to the beach to wait for the sunset. A storm hit the area and the temperatures dramatically decreased. It’s crazy to think that just a few hours earlier I was extremely overheated, and now I could have used a sweater! We stuck it out until sunset, later happy that we waited for the stunning views. Check out a few of the amazing views (it’s worth sticking around!).
Other amenities on the Island include: a small cafe (offering burgers, hot dogs, and light snacks), public restrooms and showers, a pet beach, playgrounds, and umbrella rentals. The island offers one of the few pet friendly beaches in Pinellas County which is pretty cool. It looked really nice and the dogs seemed to be having a great time.
Location/Admission Fees
The State Park is located at 1 Causeway Blvd in Dunedin. Fees are as followed: $4 per vehicle with one occupant, $8 per vehicle with 2-8 occupants. Entrance by foot or bike is a bit cheaper ($2 per person). More info on Honeymoon via the Florida State Park website.
