A Relaxing Sunday Morning Ride at Florida’s Fort De Soto Park
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Pinellas County, Florida’s largest park is Fort De Soto, a St. Petersburg treasure consisting of 1136 beautiful acres of beaches, mangroves, hardwoods, and wetlands connected via 5 islands. The beautiful beaches here are frequently rated amongst the best in the country, although Mike and I planned a daytrip from Palm Harbor mainly to check out the bike trail.
Besides the 7 mile recreational path, amenities include dozens of serene wooded picnic areas, fishing piers, a dog park, nature trails, and kayak rentals. The main reason tourists flock to the area is for the pristine white sand beaches. If you have ever visited the area, you know that these beaches feature the softest whitest sand made up of almost pure quartz. While we thought the beaches were ok (nothing special compared to other gorgeous Gulf beaches), we did really enjoy our bike ride.
Beautiful Biking
Since moving to the Tampa metro, we have checked out many of the biking trails. This is really a great city for anyone who likes recreational cycling. There are so many options too from an award winning rail trail (the Pinellas) to Bayshore Blvd (one of the longest continuous sidewalks). This park is home to a scenic 7 mile trail, where you can get in a workout and also conveniently get around to the different beaches and attractions. Unlike many other Bay bike trails, there are no busy roads to cross, no views of strip malls, and the absence of heavy traffic noise. The views are much more natural and relaxing. Basically, it feels like you get to explore the wild side of Florida before all the strip malls took over. After living amongst the suburban congestion of Palm Harbor (which is convenient but a bit crazy), I’ll take a day out in nature.
On our visit, the trail was surprisingly secluded with only a handful of other riders out enjoying the day. Although a road runs alongside the trail, traffic was very light. I was surprised that the park was so desolate on a weekend, especially after visiting other crowded tourist hotspots like St. Pete Beach and Honeymoon Island which are almost always busy. It was definitely a nice change of pace!
The bike ride was smooth, scenic, and peaceful. Because the trail was so flat and fast, the miles flew by. Beautiful palm trees and grassy areas line the path, giving you plenty of natural views to make your ride a more picturesque experience, rather than just a workout. I love the tropical vibe simply because you won’t find many other bike trails with palm trees, water, and tropical plants lining the route. I would say that this is a great option for everyone, even beginners. It’s enough of a workout, yet not too draining. It is not a loop trail, so you can turn around whenever you like. One thing’s for sure – I will definitely be back for another ride!
White sand beaches: the main draw
Most tourists come to this park for the beaches. As we are out and about nearly every weekend exploring the Gulf, our number 1 priority was a ride along the bike trail. Nevertheless, we still wanted to check out what the fuss was all about. You will pass both North and East beach along the trail. I’ll admit like most of the Gulf, the beaches here are beautiful: clean, smooth white sand, warm waters, not overly crowded. We took a nice walk to stretch our legs, but didn’t hang around all day sunbathing or swimming like most tourists.
Pictured here is North Beach, frequently rated as one of the top in the Bay metro. This is the perfect beach to spend a weekend afternoon sunbathing, swimming, and reading. The sand is soft and cool to the touch and it’s definitely got that “I am on vacation” vibe going on. You will see lots of tourists sunbathing, taking walks, swimming, building sandcastles and looking for shells – it’s just a typical day out in the Sunshine state. I am definitely considering a return visit just to check out the beaches for the day. It’s hard with so many gorgeous beaches to choose amongst and this one is a bit further from our apartment (hopefully one of these days!).
Tips for a great visit
*Bring a water bottle with for the ride. You want to be properly hydrated, especially in the hot Florida sunshine. I also recommend Gatorlyte to replenish lost electrolytes if you are sweating a lot.
*Plan your ride for the early morning hours when the temperatures are coolest.
*Apply plenty of sunscreen to exposed parts of your body. Most of the trail is not shaded.
*Bring with a camera. There are plenty of photo opportunities, especially at scenic North Beach.
*Bring with a swimsuit to change into in case you decide to cool off with a swim after your ride.
*Pack a picnic lunch. There are plenty of scenic areas to picnic at within the park.
*Bike rentals are available if you do not have your own. Options include single speed beach cruisers and double surreys. Rates vary based on type of bike/number of hours purchased. Second hour is 1/2 price with free helmet rentals included.
Location & Parking Information
This park is located at: 3500 Pinellas Bayway S in St. Petersburg.
Admission is $5 (includes parking)
