Florida’s secret island chain sits where Tampa Bay meets the Gulf

It’s five islands and zero crowds

Tierra Verde sits at the southern tip of Pinellas County, just south of St. Petersburg, and most people drive right past it on the way to St. Pete Beach.

This cluster of small islands, connected by the Pinellas Bayway, leads to one of the top-rated beach parks in the country, a water-access-only preserve covered in shells, and a crumbling Spanish-American War fort you can only reach by ferry.

And another addition to your tour. The Gulf waters around you hold dolphins, manatees and sea turtles. The best of it all starts at the end of the road.

Pirates once roamed these islands before the road arrived

Until 1959, Tierra Verde was nothing but a handful of raw islands. Native Americans used them first, and local legend says pirates did too.

Then developers bought the land and started building. The Pinellas Bayway opened in 1962, finally connecting the islands to mainland St.Petersburg and St. Pete Beach by car.

Meanwhile, the federal government sold Mullet Key to Pinellas County back in 1948, and the county turned it into Fort De Soto Park. Today Tierra Verde is a quiet residential community with parks, preserves and Gulf water on every side.

North Beach won the title of America’s best

Fort De Soto Park covers 1,136 acres spread across five connected islands, and its North Beach has the awards to prove it.

Stephen Leatherman, the professor known as Dr.Beach, ranked it the No. 1 beach in the country in 2005. TripAdvisor gave it the same honor in 2009.

The sand is soft and white, the water runs clear, and a large shallow tidal pool sits close to shore where kids can wade without a worry.

More than 2.7 million people visit the park every year.

Climb a Spanish-American war fort and see the Skyway

The fort that gives the park its name went up in the late 1890s as a coastal defense post guarding the mouth of Tampa Bay.

At its peak, 29 buildings stood here, including barracks, a hospital and a mess hall. The 12-inch mortar battery earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

You can walk through the Quartermaster Storehouse, rebuilt in the 1990s and now a museum filled with old photos and war artifacts.

Climb to the top and you get wide-open views of the Gulf and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

Ride 6.8 miles of paved trail through the park

A paved recreation trail runs 6.8 miles through Fort De Soto, connecting the campground to North Beach, East Beach and the historic fort.

Cyclists, joggers and inline skaters share the path. If you want a slower walk, a one-mile nature trail in the Arrowhead Picnic area winds through native plants and wildlife.

A 2,200-foot barrier-free trail gives visitors of all abilities a self-guided loop through the landscape. You can also rent bikes at concession areas inside the park, including surrey bikes for a group ride.

Two fishing piers stretch into different waters

Fort De Soto gives you two piers to choose from, one facing Tampa Bay and one facing the Gulf of Mexico.

The Gulf Pier stretches 1,000 feet out over the water, and anglers pull in sheepshead, Spanish mackerel and more.

The Bay Pier runs 500 feet and looks straight out at the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Both piers have food and bait concessions on site.

Keep your eyes on the water below, because dolphins cruise past the pilings regularly, chasing the same fish you’re after.

Dogs run free on their own stretch of sand

Fort De Soto is one of the few parks in Pinellas County where your dog can go off-leash on the beach.

A section of sand at the southwest corner of the park belongs entirely to dogs, and they can run, dig and swim without a leash. Two fenced areas separate large dogs from small ones, with water stations in both.

When the day winds down, dog showers on site let you rinse off the salt and sand before the car ride home. Pet owners call this one of the best reasons to visit.

Paddle a kayak to Shell Key’s 1,800-acre preserve

Shell Key Preserve covers 1,800 acres and includes one of the largest undeveloped barrier islands in the county. You can only get there by water, whether you paddle a kayak, stand on a paddleboard or take a boat.

The state considers it one of the most important areas for shorebird nesting and wintering. Dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, roseate spoonbills and pelicans all move through these waters.

Shells of every type cover the beaches, and a central conservation zone stays closed to protect nesting birds.

Take the ferry to a crumbling island fortress

A ferry departs from the Fort De Soto boat ramp and carries you to Egmont Key, a secluded island sitting at the mouth of Tampa Bay.

The ride takes 30 to 60 minutes, and dolphins often follow alongside.

On the island, red brick roads from the early 1900s wind through overgrown jungle, leading you past the ruins of Fort Dade, a Spanish-American War post slowly losing its battle with time.

A working lighthouse still guides ships through the bay, and protected gopher tortoises roam the trails. Bring your own water and food because the island has no facilities.

Over 328 bird species have been spotted here

Ornithologists have documented more than 328 species of birds at Fort De Soto Park over a 60-year span. Designated shorebird areas protect nesting grounds along the sand.

You can spot great blue herons, snowy egrets, reddish egrets, ospreys and black skimmers without walking far from the parking lot. Shell Key Preserve draws birders hoping for roseate spoonbills, white pelicans and Wilson’s plovers.

The park’s mix of mangroves, wetlands, beaches and hardwood hammocks creates habitats that support both year-round residents and migratory flocks.

A million marsh grasses planted by 250,000 volunteers

Tampa Bay Watch, a nonprofit founded in 1993, runs its headquarters right in Tierra Verde. The organization works to restore and protect the marine and wetland environments across the Tampa Bay estuary.

Its Marine Education Center in Tierra Verde brings students of all ages through hands-on field trips and programs. A Discovery Center on the St.Pete Pier opened in 2020 for visitors who want to learn more.

Over the years, more than 250,000 volunteers have helped plant over one million salt marsh grasses and build miles of oyster reef in Tampa Bay.

Crack stone crab at a cypress-and-pine waterfront landmark

Billy’s Stone Crab has served seafood on the Tierra Verde waterfront since 1972.

The building is made from native cypress and pine and sits above a natural harbor the locals call Hurricane Hole.

From October through May, the kitchen serves fresh stone crab pulled from local waters. Head upstairs for live music and sunset views from the rooftop dining area.

The restaurant reflects something deeper about this place, a community that still lives and eats by the rhythms of the Gulf.

Explore Tierra Verde and Fort De Soto Park in Florida

You can reach Tierra Verde by taking the Pinellas Bayway south from St. Petersburg.

Fort De Soto Park sits at 3500 Pinellas Bayway South, and the park opens daily from sunrise to sunset. Parking runs $5 per vehicle.

St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is about a 25-minute drive away, and downtown St. Petersburg is roughly 15 minutes north.

Pass-a-Grille and St. Pete Beach are both within a 10-minute drive if you want to explore further. Check the official website for the latest on seasonal hours and any storm-related closures.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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