A Peaceful Stroll through Palm Harbor’s John Chestnut Park
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Pinellas County is home to my favorite town in the metro, beautiful Palm Harbor. My favorite little park called John Chestnut is located in this beautiful Gulf Coast community which is located just 45 min outside of Tampa. Its’ scenic location on Lake Tarpon makes this park an ideal location for an evening stroll, with several spots to take in an incredible view of the sunset.
While living in this charming suburb, I made this little park my daily biking and jogging, as well as my half marathon training destination (along with the beautiful Pinellas trail). The gorgeous natural scenery and lack of crowds really motivated me to continue running even on the hottest days! That being said, I always hit the trails before or after work to beat the strongest heat of the day.
The best park amenities in the Bay
It’s also a wonderful place for nature walks & birdwatching thanks to a beautiful mile long boardwalk which travels across cypress swamps. Add in a wonderful dog park, gorgeous picnicking facilities, ample wildlife watching opportunities, and this park really offers something for everyone. It’s my favorite park in the Bay metro area and definitely one to add to your Bay bucket list.
Within the 255 acre space, you will find plenty of activities and amenities, including: 13 picnic sites, playgrounds, softball fields, horseshoe pits, a boat ramp, and a large dog park. The dog park is huge and beautiful and there is no fee unlike many suburban parks. I always see so many owners bringing their dogs here and everyone seems to happy.
Three beautiful nature trails take you past unspoiled natural Florida landscapes. My first visit here strolling along the boardwalk and looking at all the beautiful tropical plants, I felt like I was in a Jurassic Park movie. I moved here from Massachusetts so it was a stark difference to go from pine trees to palm trees. This park is not at all congested with tourists; it’s the perfect place for a quiet, reflective stroll. I’ve checked out pretty much every park in Pinellas and this is by far the most attractive with the best amenities.
The highlight here is a boardwalk trail which will take you over a cypress swamp. Look closely – you may see an alligator. They often blend in with the lilly pads so you need to look carefully. Also exotic birds, squirrels, and owls are always out and about. I also recommend any birdwatchers to plan a visit. This park is one of many sites along the Great Florida Birding Trail. Take a look at some of the species you may see at different parts of the year. One time when I was jogging, I came within a few feet of an owl. Pretty spooky but a cool experience I will not forget anytime soon. The squirrel population is huge – I see over a dozen on each stroll.
The boardwalk: a step back in time
Taking a walk along the swampy boardwalk is the highlight of visiting this park – it’s the best boardwalk in the metro and I have pretty much explored them all. The scenery is beautiful and it is decently shady. This is one of the few Bay area parks I can tolerate during the hot, sunny, humid summer months!
I love looking at the cypress and maple swamps to see if I can find a gator. The trees are very tropical in nature so super fun for anyone not naturally from the area. As a native of Chicago and someone who just moved from Massachusetts, I have had a fun time exploring scenery I’ve never seen before. Taking a walk here definitely feels more like a touristy vacation activity rather than a simple park experience.
Alligators and other wildlife
Gator sightings!
One of the most fun parts about living in Tampa has been seeing so many gators outside of the zoo. I see them everywhere even at the lake near my apartment. Alligators tend to be out most when temps are in the 80’s. In the winter months, they are more likely to be seen sunbathing. Whereas in summer, they are typically hiding underwater.
I’ve seen them poking their heads out of the water during the summer months, especially after a rainstorm. Don’t get too discouraged if you don’t see one on your first visit. The first week after moving here we saw nothing. As the months went on, this became one of our top gator watching destinations in the region. We saw so many at different points of the year.
A view of the resident gator which we saw repeatedly for months on end! This alligator stayed in the same position for like 3 months! It became a fun activity after our hikes/runs to see if he was still there!
Other wildlife you may see include: turtles, raccoons, armadillos, and various birds. Also, the deer population is huge – I’ve never seen so many in one place. There are groups of deer hanging around near sunrise and sunset and they are so familiar with people that they do not run away. Growing up in chicago, it was a rare occasion to see a deer (usually only in the Cook County Forest Preserve), so I consider seeing the wildlife so open and about a real treat.
Overall, I recommend a visit to this park anytime of the year. Whether you feel like a morning jog, afternoon picnic, or evening walk to the lake to see a spectacular sunset, one thing is for sure, you will be surrounded by beauty! Check out my guide for more things to do in this beautiful suburb.
Additional Info
This park is located at 2200 E Lake Rd. There is no entrance or parking fees. The park closes at dusk.
Tip: Stop for breakfast at East Lake Cafe, a long running local favorite which serves great comfort style foods (their breakfast menu is great) on a beautiful outdoor patio. I like the berry crepes and omelets and there coffee isn’t too bad. Also, Raining Berries is a great regional coffeeshop. Their coffee is excellent and they also serve the most refreshing smoothies and acai bowls. “It’s Raining Berries” pictured here is my bowl of choice.
