Fort DeSoto and Beach Towns in Florida

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Like most of Florida’s coastline, the Pinellas Peninsula is lined with small islands or keys. Near the City of St. Petersburg, these islands offer beautiful beaches, some history, and, of course, resorts.

Fort DeSoto Park



Fort DeSoto Park covers five keys at the southern tip of Pinellas Peninsula. It sits at the main channel into Tampa Bay, so the site played a key role in several wars fought by and among the United States. The keys were used by the Union Navy during the Civil War to help anchor the blockade of Tampa Bay.




In 1898, during the Spanish-American War, the local governments in Tampa and St. Petersburg were worried about being invaded, so they petitioned the federal government to build a protective encampment at the mouth of Tampa Bay. The fort was never fully enclosed by walls, so the only structure left is the poured concrete embankment that offered protection to the Laidley Battery, a collection of eight 12-inch mortars, of which four are left today. Fort DeSoto was an active military base from 1898 through 1910.


12 - inch mortars

Fire-direction team





Layout of Ft. DeSoto (Laidley battery is the U-shaped building on the left)



Today, Pinellas County has used the area around Fort DeSoto and 4 other connecting keys to form a beautiful park. There are miles of white sand beaches and bicycle trails. There are two fishing piers, three snack bars, and over a dozen picnic sheds. There are places to rent bicycles and kayaks, and finally there is a campground with 238 sites on one of the keys.


Beach

Fishing Pier

St. Pete Beach



 

The town of St. Pete Beach was formed in 1957 when four small towns on one of the islands near St. Petersburg joined together. St. Pete Beach (the official name is shortened to differentiate from its much larger neighbor) has beautiful beaches, however most of the access is controlled by hotels and resorts located along Route 699 (Gulf Blvd.), the main street on the island. There are three public parking lots with beach access, and several private ones.




St. Pete Beach is a long strip of hotels and resorts. They vary in age, with building dates ranging from the 1950’s through the 2020’s and their architecture shows off those many styles.

 













When you visit St. Pete Beach make sure to stop at La Casa del Pane for coffee and pastry.

John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk 



Florida route 699 is the connecting road among the coast islands in this part of the state. If you travel north from St. Pete Beach, through Treasure Island, you will arrive at John’s Pass, the largest marine entry to the protected bays. On the north side of the pass is John’s Pass Village & Boardwalk. This an area that is totally developed with stores and restaurants for tourists. You can find lots of places selling beachwear, tee-shirts, and souvenirs. There are plenty of restaurants and bars for you to choose from. Along the water there is an elevated “boardwalk” where you can rent a ski-doo, take a charter fishing boat or whale watching trip, or party on a “pirate ship”. For better or worse, I felt like I was near a cruise port. That it is not to say it is not worth a visit. Mad Beach Craft Brewery served up good beer and delicious baby-back ribs, and Sip & Scoop has great ice cream.









Nuts and Bolts


  • Ft. DeSoto Park - Take the Pinellas Byway ($1.08 toll) to Route 679, which leads into the park. The park charges a $6/day parking fee for day visitors.
  • St. Pete Beach - There are three public lots along in town. The parking fee is $4.50-$5.50/ hour depending on the day of the week. Private lots charge a flat fee.
  • John’s Pass Village - The public lots charge $4/hour.
Location: North Beach At Fort DeSoto Park, St. Petersburg, FL 33715, USA

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