What makes Caladesi Island State Park on the Florida Gulf Coast so special isn’t just its natural beauty, but also how uncrowded the beaches and trails are.
![sunset sky, Florida, gulf coast, Caladesi Island](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_355-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_355-150x100@2x.jpg 300w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_355-150x100.jpg 150w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_355-400x267.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_355-600x400.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_355-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_355.jpg 2048w)
Because people can’t just drive to Caladesi Island in a car, it’s a lot less crowded than all the other Gulf Coast beaches and trails in the Tampa Bay Area. If you love natural beaches and want to get away from all the people you’d bump into from Clearwater Beach to St. Pete Beach, and from Honeymoon Island to Ft. DeSoto, go seek out Caladesi Island. Talking about seeking out: it’s going to take a little bit of an extra effort and planning to get there. It’s one of those cases where they journey is part of the destination itself.
There are basically two ways to get to the State Park, which depending on the water levels is not actually a true island: by water or by land.
![sign with cormorants, arriving by boat to Caladesi Island State Park, Florida](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_371.jpg 1365w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_371-100x150@2x.jpg 200w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_371-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_371-100x150.jpg 100w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_371-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_371-400x600.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_371-600x900.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_371-683x1024@2x.jpg 1366w)
To get to Caladesi State Park by water, you have three options: take the ferry from Honeymoon Island State Park, arrive by your own boat from wherever you launched, paddle over on a (rented) SUP or kayak from the free Dunedin Causeway beach or entry-fee-required Honeymoon Island pet beach. With the ferry or your own boat, you’d land at the marina on the mainland-side of Caladesi. If you’re paddling over from the north, you might just want to aim for the beach on the north end.
(On a personal note: paddle boarding from the Dunedin Causeway over the shallow waters along Caladesi on the intercoastal side is one of my favorite activities in the entire Tampa Bay region. I need to go at least one more time before “winter”.)
![Caladesi island, intercoastal side, calm water reflecting sky](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_356-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_356-150x100@2x.jpg 300w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_356-150x100.jpg 150w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_356-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_356-400x267.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_356-600x400.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_356.jpg 2048w)
To get to Caladesi State Park by land, you’ll have to come up along the beach all the way from North Clearwater Beach. Most likely, you’ll just walk, which is how I got there most often. But there are always those people who like to ride bikes up the beach. Depending on the water level and where the mangroves grow, you might have to wade through some water though.
![sign on the beach, walk up the beach to reach Caladesi Island State Park by land from Clearwater Beach](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_362-1024x683@2x.jpg 2048w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_362-150x100@2x.jpg 300w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_362-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_362-150x100.jpg 150w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_362-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_362-400x267.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_362-600x400.jpg 600w)
Once in Caladesi Island State Park, there’s not just the beach and the marina, but also a few trails among the trees and shrubs. The park offers bathrooms, picnic tables, beach umbrella rentals, and even a shop that sells food and drinks. Cheers!
If you want to know more, please check out the full article I wrote for Happier.Place with everything you need to know before you go to Caladesi Island.
Enough words. Now let’s see more photos…
![One of several trees filling up with seashells along the beach from Clearwater Beach into Caladesi Island State Park](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_358-1024x683@2x.jpg 2048w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_358-150x100@2x.jpg 300w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_358-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_358-150x100.jpg 150w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_358-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_358-400x267.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_358-600x400.jpg 600w)
![Caladesi Island State Park, Florida](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_359-1024x683@2x.jpg 2048w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_359-150x100@2x.jpg 300w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_359-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_359-150x100.jpg 150w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_359-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_359-400x267.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_359-600x400.jpg 600w)
![On the gulf side, the beach stretches from Clearwater Beach to Caladesi - only interrupted by mangrove growing all the way into the saltwater.](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_378-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_378-150x120@2x.jpg 300w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_378-1024x819.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_378-150x120.jpg 150w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_378-1536x1229.jpg 1536w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_378-2048x1638.jpg 2048w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_378-400x320.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_378-600x480.jpg 600w)
![trees growing in the white gulf coast beach in Florida](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_369.jpg 1365w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_369-100x150@2x.jpg 200w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_369-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_369-100x150.jpg 100w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_369-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_369-400x600.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_369-600x900.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_369-683x1024@2x.jpg 1366w)
![Caladesi Island State Park, Florida](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_374.jpg 1639w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_374-120x150@2x.jpg 240w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_374-820x1024.jpg 820w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_374-120x150.jpg 120w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_374-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_374-400x500.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_374-600x750.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_374-240x300@2x.jpg 480w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_374-820x1024@2x.jpg 1640w)
![Hurricane Pass between Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island, clear water, blue sky](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_357-1024x683@2x.jpg 2048w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_357-150x100@2x.jpg 300w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_357-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_357-150x100.jpg 150w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_357-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_357-400x267.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_357-600x400.jpg 600w)
![Ferry between Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island State Park](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_363-1024x683@2x.jpg 2048w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_363-150x100@2x.jpg 300w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_363-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_363-150x100.jpg 150w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_363-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_363-400x267.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_363-600x400.jpg 600w)
![Welcome to Caladesi Island State Park if you arrive by boat](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_370.jpg 1365w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_370-100x150@2x.jpg 200w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_370-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_370-100x150.jpg 100w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_370-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_370-400x600.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_370-600x900.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_370-683x1024@2x.jpg 1366w)
![mangroves, Tampa Bay, gulf of mexico](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_364-1024x683@2x.jpg 2048w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_364-150x100@2x.jpg 300w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_364-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_364-150x100.jpg 150w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_364-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_364-400x267.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_364-600x400.jpg 600w)
![Caladesi State Park Marina with boat slips for overnight boat camping](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_354-1024x683@2x.jpg 2048w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_354-150x100@2x.jpg 300w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_354-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_354-150x100.jpg 150w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_354-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_354-400x267.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_354-600x400.jpg 600w)
![Terns, seagulls and sandpipers are some of the birds you'll see run around the Florida Gulf Coast beaches](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_361-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_361-150x100@2x.jpg 300w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_361-150x100.jpg 150w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_361-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_361-400x267.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_361-600x400.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_361.jpg 2048w)
![Shallow gin clear water, skinny water, ripples in water and sand](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_372-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_372-120x150@2x.jpg 240w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_372-120x150.jpg 120w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_372-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_372-400x500.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_372-600x750.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_372.jpg 1638w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_372-240x300@2x.jpg 480w)
![water ripples, sand ripples](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_375-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_375-150x113@2x.jpg 300w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_375-150x113.jpg 150w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_375-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_375-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_375-400x300.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_375-600x450.jpg 600w)
![Tree with shells on Caladesi Island State Park, Florida](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_377-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_377-150x112@2x.jpg 300w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_377-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_377-150x112.jpg 150w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_377-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_377-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_377-400x300.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_377-600x450.jpg 600w)
![sunset sky with colorful clouds over the florida gulf coast with bare tree silhouette](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_376-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_376-150x113@2x.jpg 300w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_376-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_376-150x113.jpg 150w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_376-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_376-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_376-400x300.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_376-600x450.jpg 600w)
![Dramatic purple clouds, Florida gulf coast sunset over Caladesi Beach](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_368.jpg 1365w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_368-100x150@2x.jpg 200w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_368-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_368-100x150.jpg 100w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_368-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_368-400x600.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_368-600x900.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_368-683x1024@2x.jpg 1366w)
![wooden boardwalk to the beach, Caladesi Island State Park, Florida](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_373-819x1024@2x.jpg 1638w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_373-120x150@2x.jpg 240w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_373-819x1024.jpg 819w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_373-120x150.jpg 120w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_373-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_373-400x500.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_373-600x750.jpg 600w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_373-240x300@2x.jpg 480w)
![Cactus blooms on Caladesi Island, State Park, Florida](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_365-1024x683@2x.jpg 2048w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_365-150x100@2x.jpg 300w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_365-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_365-150x100.jpg 150w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_365-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_365-400x267.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_365-600x400.jpg 600w)
![Sea oats growing on small dunes along the Florida Gulf Coast](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_366-1024x683@2x.jpg 2048w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_366-150x100@2x.jpg 300w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_366-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_366-150x100.jpg 150w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_366-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_366-400x267.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_366-600x400.jpg 600w)
![Big Beach, Florida, Tampa Bay](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_360-1024x683@2x.jpg 2048w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_360-150x100@2x.jpg 300w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_360-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_360-150x100.jpg 150w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_360-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_360-400x267.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_360-600x400.jpg 600w)
![Cormorants on exit sign with boat directions, leaving Caladesi Island State Park, Florida](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_367-1024x683@2x.jpg 2048w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_367-150x100@2x.jpg 300w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_367-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_367-150x100.jpg 150w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_367-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_367-400x267.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi_LuciWest_367-600x400.jpg 600w)
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![Caladesi Island State Park, Florida, USA, clear shallow water and sunshine, tropical vibes in Tampa Bay Area, LuciWest](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi-Island-Florida_pin1.jpg 1000w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi-Island-Florida_pin1-100x150@2x.jpg 200w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi-Island-Florida_pin1-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi-Island-Florida_pin1-100x150.jpg 100w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi-Island-Florida_pin1-400x600.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi-Island-Florida_pin1-600x900.jpg 600w)
![Caladesi Island State Park, Florida, Tampa Bay's Best-Kept Secret, sunset with clouds over Gulf of Mexico, Florida Gulf Coast](https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi-Island-Florida_pin2.jpg 1000w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi-Island-Florida_pin2-100x150@2x.jpg 200w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi-Island-Florida_pin2-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi-Island-Florida_pin2-100x150.jpg 100w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi-Island-Florida_pin2-400x600.jpg 400w, https://luciwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Caladesi-Island-Florida_pin2-600x900.jpg 600w)
Wow! I lived in Southwest Florida for most of my life (Fort Myers) and never heard of this beach before. It looks amazing and I will definitely have to give it a visit when we are there next.
I just learned about some state park island beaches closer to where you’re from. I suspect there are a few of these hidden gems that are just enough out of the way that only locals seem to know about them. Hope you get the chance to check out Caladesi one day.
My friends mum lives in Florida and she has visited here, I was in awe of her photos! Looks beautiful
It’s even better in real life. Well, in July and August it really is a bit too hot – then just photos are maybe nicer. You and your friend should come visit your friend’s mum…
Oh it’s so gorgeous! I can’t wait to get down there soon. I’ve been wanted to move to FL the past year and retire.
As someone who only moved to Florida 3 years ago: I highly recommend it even without retiring. It’s wonderful to not have winters (especially during this covid phase) – and whenever you’re done with work for the day or the week, you feel like you’re on vacation. Let me know when you get here 🙂
Such a pristine beach! I haven’t been to Florida, but would love to take a tour around this place someday ❤️ Beautiful shots 👌🏻
This looks like such a great place to visit for a day with the family. I’m definitely going to have to visit here soon.
Wow what a beautiful place to go and visit! I like how empty it all looks too.
Love the photos. Reminds me of my maldives trip. Such pristine waters😍
Wow those waters are gorgeous. What a beautiful hidden gem.
Even more gorgeous in person.
… with the smells of the fresh sea air and a gentle breeze on your skin.
I appreciate your photos and short narratives. I got some ideas for adding to my collage. It has a mix of imagination elements, non-specific animals, and Florida wetland creatures.
Thank you, Rocky! Where can I see your collage work?