A Relaxing Evening at Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs, Florida
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Every area has its’ own unique gems that have “that special something.” In Tarpon Springs, that place is Fred Howard Park. This beautiful park, located on the Gulf of Mexico, offers stunning views in a more relaxed setting. While other beaches in the vicinity tend to be crowded all the time, this quiet park maintains some degree of peacefulness. Mike and I checked it out one night when we were tiring of the more crowded scene at the touristy beaches. We loved the low-key nature and came back several times to enjoy the sunset.
Perhaps tourists skip it due to the popularity of other top rated beaches (like Clearwater) nearby. It’s a shame as the sunsets here are spectacular. As a local of Pinellas County, I can say this is a nice escape when you don’t want to deal with noisy tourist crowds. The sunset here is only second to Honeymoon Island (a popular & gorgeous beach in Dunedin) in my opinion.
Update: We have pretty much checked every Gulf beach off our bucket list in our 3 years living here. Definitely check out my Gulf Beach bucket list for more details on the best beaches for sunbathing, shelling, sunsets, and more.
White sand warm waters, & peace and quiet
A 1 mile causeway, great for fishing and exercising, leads you to this beautiful white sandy beach. All Gulf beaches are known for their trademark white sands. Since moving here, we learned that the iconic white sand is quartz brought down via rivers from the Appalachian mountains.
This beach is perfect for swimming year-round due to the mild water temperatures and absence of large waves. However, the real highlight here is the gorgeous views around sunset. I recommend bringing with a beach chair and spending a relaxing evening enjoying an amazing Florida sunset.
The beach doesn’t tend to get as crowded as most, so you have plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the views. The strip of sand is actually pretty narrow, but it tends to not get overcrowded so you still have room to breathe. I noticed that the noise level here is dramatically lower than some of the other beaches I’ve frequented in the region. In addition, the scenery is very nice.
The palm trees add a bit of tropical flair, while also providing a nice setting for photographers. This is one of the few beaches I’ve seen palms on (besides Clearwater) which gives the beach a nice tropical vacation vibe.
Occasionally, you may catch a glimpse of a dolphin or manatee although I’ve never personally seen any here. Gopher tortoises and eagles are also frequently reported. The added bonus of seeing wildlife just makes a visit all the more exciting. I’ve never seen any personally here, but I do see them at parks throughout the Bay.
Park amenities/Additional details
Other amenities in the park include: picnic tables, baseball fields, playgrounds, and canoe launch areas.
This park is located at 1700 Sunset Dr in Tarpon Springs. Parking is $6 unless you choose to park by the picnic shelters for free and walk the 1 mile causeway to the beach. This would be a pretty long walk, and thus, I recommend just driving. That is unless you would like to skip the gym for the day!
Update: I lived in the Bay area (check out my ultimate activity guide) for about 3 years since first writing this post. Mike and I have traveled all around the bay and explored pretty much everything.
While you are in this area, I recommend visiting the Sponge docks and dining on some delicious Greek food. Downtown Tarpon is so charming with a lot to do packed into a small area. You can shop for natural sponges, feast on Greek salad and spanakopita, and even book a dolphin cruise. You can check out my Tarpon must-do list for full details.
