Caladesi Island?

[infopurposesonly]

Has anyone been here? Was wondering what the nature trails and beach are like, and if there are facilities for changing, food, etc.

 

[tednvon]

Good Morning...we have been to Honeymoon Island which is right next to Caldesi Island and I believe is also a state park like HIsland. We love HIsland because it is quiet, beautiful, fun shelling for us and grandkids. It has a small changing area, swimming area, and gift shop with simple drinks and snacks. Most of the 3 mile walk has very rocky sand. Swimming for amateurs is limited to small beach area next to the snack shack. You can drive right up next to HIsland beach. Cost is about $8/car.

Caldesi is advertised and much more remote, no cars, and also beautiful and quiet. I do not know for sure, but I am guessing no food, no supervision, little or no staff and maybe a small bath area...maybe others who have been there can be more helpful.

If you like the idea of a quiet beach, no condos, no storefronts, no houses then either would be nice for you. Again, I have not been to Caldesi, but my gut tells me it is more a full day experience by the time you back and forth.

HIsland can be easily enjoyed in 3-4 hours.

Good Luck...Ted

 

[infopurposesonly]

Thanks, Ted! Maybe we'll check out Honeymoon Island before deciding if we want to take the ferry to Caladesi. I've read that Caladesi has nicer sand and more of a beach for swimming, so that's why I'm leaning in that direction. We normally go to Fort DeSoto, which is gorgeous, but wanted to try something different. Funny, I lived in Clearwater many years ago but never once went to HI or Caladesi.

 

[tednvon]

Whatever you choose, I am sure you will enjoy it and have another beach to compare to your other experiences.

Have fun...Ted

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

I just found this...looks pretty nice to me!
http://www.caladesiferry.org/trips.htm

 

[taymaesmom]

We have been twice to Caladesi Island and LOVE it! The ferry is costly but the beaches are usually pretty empty. They have one snack bar area at the marina and its the only place to purchase food/drink on the island. You can bring a cooler, we do and so do most that we saw. You can also rent chairs/umbrellas on the beach. The beach is nice, and very clean, but is covered and I mean covered in sea shells. We haven't really walked any of the trails but they look clean and well marked. There are a few picnic pavilions and grill areas. There are 2 bathroom/changing areas, they are ok not the cleanest in my opinion but not awful or gross. More hot, humid and sandy.

You have to go to Honeymoon Island, pay to get in there, then go to the parking lot and pay to get on the ferry. So it can end up costing quite a bit depending on how many people you take.

On our first trip to CI we had just reached the beach and my oldest dd started yelling she saw a shark. We look up and see fins in the water and then a whole school of dolphins come to the surface! So cool as they were very close to the beach, in fact in the exact area we went swimming in.

 

[infopurposesonly]

Thanks for all the info. I think we'll give it a try. I'm a little leery because they don't have life guards in October, but we're more interested in seeing the island, shelling, etc.

 

[pura77]

The boat ride over is wonderful and the beach is one of the best in Florida.

 

[pura77]

The boat ride over is wonderful and the beach is one of the best in Florida.

 

[catne]

To give a little more info...we have a condo 5 minutes away from Honeymoon Island, and we're at the park probably 5 nights a week watching sunsets on the Gulf. Caladesi and Honeymoon Island are both part of the State Park system. Before you spend the money (and time) to go over to Caladesi, I suggest you go to check out the Main Beach at Honeymoon Island first. There is a large pavillion at the main beach...gift shop, full service snack bar, His & Hers restrooms/changing rooms with showers, and decks w/picnic tables that can be used by people who purchased food or beverages at the snack bar...beer & wine are available but must be consumed on the deck...no alcohol allowed on the State Park beaches. Contrary to what has been reported, the swimming beach at Honeymoon Island is quite large (the main beach) and is mostly very soft sugar-sand. The auxiallary beaches on Honeymoon Island are rockier/more shells, but the main beach is fine sand. There are several beaches on Honeymoon Island, but the Main Beach is best for swimming. They rent beach umbrellas. You can also rent bikes. There is an excellent trail system throughout the park, as well as a Nature Center. There are 3 buildings with restroom/changing facilities on Honeymoon Island, and 2 of them have snack bars. (the middle one is the Main Swimming beach, the eastern one also has snack bar, and is near the dog beach, and the far one is on "Oasis Beach" which is also a softer-sand beach but a bit more rocks/shells and not as large as the Main Beach.) During slow times of the year, only the Main snack bar is open but in the summer they both are.

The ferry is $2 per person, and is not always available (for instance, on windy days they will not run the ferry, or days with strong undertow in Hurricane Pass...the water that separate Honeymoon Island from Caladesi.)

There are no life guards at any of the beaches there...Clearwater Beach has lifeguards, but not the STate Parks.

The shelling on Honeymoon Island is best at the far end of the island...drive past the turns for Oasis beach parking, and go to the North lot. You don't have to "hunt" for shells there, just scoop 'em up. There are a kazillion shells there...at low tide you can even find small conch shells

 

[lotus14]

Thanks to everyone for the postings about Honeymoon Island. It will be our first trip to the Gulf and we'd already chosen it for our beach day. Nice to hear it's as nice as it seems. We were looking for low waves, sandy beaches, changing areas, low crowds, and still some shells. Sounds like Honeymoon Island (and possibly Caladesi) have exactly that.

 

[deej696]

As a Floridian, this is the only beach I visit....