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Dr. Beach: Caladesi Island nation's top beach

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SUNCOAST NEWS STAFF REPORT

Published: October 25, 2008

Caladesi Island State Park, a ferry ride away from Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin, was named best beach in the nation for 2008 by Dr. Beach, coastal expert Dr. Stephen Leatherman Director of Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research.

Leatherman called Caladesi Island a "pristine getaway beach."

The announcement raised attendance at both Caladesi and Honeymoon Island State Park, already one of the busiest and most popular parks in the state system.

"Traveling to this island is an experience itself as it is reached by pedestrian ferry, complete with old salts telling interesting tales, or by private boat, Leatherman said in his announcing top honors.

Its mangrove forest interlaced with 3-miles of kayak trails and is a bird lover's paradise.

The only mode of transportation on this island, dominated by palm trees, is by foot over the super fine white sand, he explained.

Caladesi is a well-kept secret, surrounded by the beauty of a lush state park, he said. Caladesi's real attraction is its powder white sand, warm, crystal clear water and beautiful nature, all making it the No. 1 beach to enjoy and decompress, Dr. Beach said.

As "Dr Beach" Leatherman has selected the annual Top 10 Beaches since 1991.

Fifty criteria are used to evaluate the beaches, including water and sand quality, as well as facilities and environmental management, as part of the National Healthy Beaches Campaign.

It says a lot when a nationally lauded coastal environmentalist calls a place his "favorite getaway beach" and raves about its "powder white" sand and "warm, crystal clear" water, St. Petersburg Clearwater Convention and Visitors Bureau officials said.

The CVB noted despite being uninhabited, the barrier island has enough to keep a visitor comfortable and entertained.

Visitors will find beach cabanas, a cafe, bathhouse, playground, picnic tables, 108 boat slips and kayak rentals and three miles of nature and kayak trails.

We have all known for quite some time that Caladesi is a timeless gem and are proud to be recognized nationwide for the natural beauty of this tranquil island, said Peter Krulder, park manager, of the state Park Service's Gulf Island GEOPark, that includes Caladesi Island.

With the worldwide recognition of having the Best Beach in America, we have seen an incredible increase in visitation and the Caladesi Island Connection ferry has, at times, reached capacity in the middle of the day, he said.

Visitors may want to call ahead to check seat availability. The Caladesi Island Connection can be reached at 727-734-1501.
Caladesi Island is accessible only by private boat or via the Caladesi Connection ferry service.

Cost for the ferry is $10 for adults and $6 for children ages 4 to 12. Ferries depart hourly beginning at 10 a.m.

Ferry passengers are allotted a four-hour stay on the island.

No pets are allowed on the ferry.

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