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| Sunset on Fort De Soto |
This post started with a question from a guest staying at Funshine Pointe Capri who wanted to know where to go to experience Florida's natural side beyond the beach. I had so much to share that a quick text wasn't going to cut it — so I wrote it all up, printed it out, and added it to the in-condo guidebook. Now it's here on the blog too, because if one guest was wondering, plenty more probably are! Treasure Island is famous for its gorgeous Gulf beaches — and you could spend your entire vacation with your toes in the sand and leave perfectly happy. But if you're the kind of traveler who loves to explore beyond the shoreline, you are in serious luck. Some of Florida's most beautiful state parks and nature preserves are right in our backyard, and as a local who has spent years exploring them, I can tell you firsthand — they are absolutely worth a detour. Pack your trail shoes AND your beach towel, because some of these parks give you both.
⭐ Nancy's Personal Recommendations
I've personally visited Fort De Soto, Egmont Key, Honeymoon Island, and Boyd Hill Nature Preserve and recommend all four wholeheartedly. Weedon Island Preserve is also included in this guide based on its outstanding reputation among locals — it's on my own list to explore!
1. Fort De Soto Park ⭐ Nancy's #1 Pick
📍 3500 Pinellas Bayway S., Tierra Verde, FL | About 20 minutes from Treasure Island
I've been to Fort De Soto more times than I can count — it's the closest park to my house and honestly one of my favorite places on earth. If you only have time for one nature excursion during your stay, make it this one.
Fort De Soto is actually five interconnected islands spanning over 1,100 acres, with pristine award-winning beaches, a historic Spanish-American War fort, nature trails, kayaking routes, and some of the best wildlife viewing in Pinellas County. The sheer variety of things to do here is unmatched — you can go from paddleboarding in the morning to exploring a 19th-century military fort in the afternoon to watching dolphins at sunset. It truly never gets old.
Speaking of paddleboarding — Fort De Soto is where I tried stand-up paddleboarding for the first time. I only fell off once, which I consider a personal victory. My friend and I took a break and just sat quietly on our boards in the calm water, and out of nowhere a dolphin surfaced right next to us to investigate. It nudged our board. I still think about that moment. That's Fort De Soto in a nutshell — magical things just happen there.
I was also lucky enough to have a friend who was a park ranger there for years, and he took me around some of the back roads and more secluded areas of the park that most visitors never see. Even on a busy weekend, you can find completely quiet, peaceful spots if you're willing to walk a little further. The park is family friendly and easy to navigate — great for all ages and fitness levels.
Don't miss:
- 🏖️ The North Beach — consistently ranked one of the best beaches in the entire country
- 🐾 The dog-friendly beach — one of the nicest off-leash beach areas in the whole region
- 🚴 The bike and hiking trails through coastal habitats
- 🦅 The wildlife — dolphins, manatees, and over 300 species of birds call this park home
- 🏰 Historic Fort De Soto and the military museum
- 🚣 Kayak rentals for paddling through mangrove tunnels
Best time to visit: Fort De Soto is wonderful year-round. Summer can be hot and buggy so bring insect repellent, but the water is gorgeous. Winter and spring are particularly magical — comfortable temperatures, fewer bugs, and incredible bird migrations. Weekends get busy in season, so arrive early if you can.
2. Egmont Key State Park ⭐ Nancy's Pick
📍 Accessible only by boat or ferry | About 30 minutes by ferry from Fort De Soto
Egmont Key is one of those places that feels completely removed from the modern world — a tiny barrier island at the mouth of Tampa Bay with no roads, no cars, and no noise except the Gulf breeze and the birds. Getting there is half the fun.
I visited with a friend who took us out on his boat on a beautiful Saturday, and the sandbar around the island was packed with other boaters doing exactly the same thing — anchoring up, wading in the crystal clear shallow water, tossing a ball, floating with a cooler full of drinks. It has a wonderfully festive, social atmosphere on weekends. We spent the whole day just swimming and soaking it all in. Pure Florida bliss.
Beyond the beach and sandbar scene, Egmont Key has real history — it's home to a working 19th-century lighthouse and the ruins of Fort Dade, a Spanish-American War era military installation. Gopher tortoises roam freely around the ruins, which is both charming and slightly surreal. The snorkeling around the island is also excellent.
Don't miss:
- ⚓ The sandbar — perfect for swimming, floating, and socializing with fellow boaters
- 🏰 Fort Dade ruins — fascinating history in a beautiful setting
- 🐢 The resident gopher tortoises wandering around the ruins
- 🤿 Snorkeling in the clear waters around the island
- 🦅 The 19th-century lighthouse, still operational today
Getting there: You'll need a boat or ferry — there's no bridge to Egmont Key. Ferries depart from Fort De Soto Park. Check the schedule in advance as they don't run every day. If you have a friend with a boat, even better! 😄
3. Honeymoon Island State Park ⭐ Nancy's Pick
📍 1 Causeway Blvd, Dunedin, FL | About 45 minutes from Treasure Island
The name says it all — Honeymoon Island is one of the most beautiful and romantic spots on Florida's Gulf Coast. I used to visit regularly when I lived in Largo, and I'll be honest — when Evan and I were planning our wedding, this was on the shortlist of venues. (We ended up in Tampa, but Honeymoon Island was a serious contender!) In fact, Evan and I had our engagement photo shoot right there on Honeymoon Island — dogs included. It felt like the most fitting place in the world for it. 🐾💍
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| Our engagement shoot on Honeymoon Island — because where else would you get engaged photos taken? Jazzy and the late, great Spock were very much part of the proposal package. 🐾 |
The beaches here are stunning — four miles of white sand with that impossibly blue Gulf water — and the nature trails through the interior of the island offer a completely different experience from the beach. The Osprey Trail is particularly beautiful, winding through virgin slash pine forest where you can spot bald eagles, ospreys, and all kinds of shorebirds.
One of the best things about Honeymoon Island is the ferry it offers to Caladesi Island State Park — a stunning, largely undeveloped barrier island that you truly can't get to any other way. We took the ferry over one day and it was absolutely gorgeous. Oh, and I do have to warn you about something that happened to us there. I was standing in the water with my husband — we were facing each other having a lovely conversation — when I noticed a fin slowly rising out of the water about five feet behind him. My heart stopped. Thankfully — THANKFULLY — it was a dolphin, not a shark. We laughed about it for days. 🐬
Back on Honeymoon Island, a seagull stole a cheese stick directly out of my hand on the beach. Consider yourself warned on both counts. 😄
Don't miss:
- 🏖️ Four miles of gorgeous white sand beaches
- 🦅 The Osprey Trail — bald eagle sightings are common!
- 🐾 The dog-friendly beach section
- ⛴️ The ferry to Caladesi Island State Park — a stunning, unspoiled barrier island accessible only by boat or ferry
- 🚣 Kayaking and paddleboarding in the calm Gulf waters
Pro tip: Hold onto your snacks. The seagulls here have absolutely no shame. 😄
4. Boyd Hill Nature Preserve ⭐ Nancy's Pick
📍 1101 Country Club Way S., St. Petersburg, FL | About 25 minutes from Treasure Island
If you're looking for a completely different side of Florida — away from the beaches and the Gulf — Boyd Hill Nature Preserve is a wonderful inland escape. I visited on a gorgeous spring day with a friend a few years ago and we both loved it. We caught a bird of prey demonstration that was truly impressive — rescued owls, ospreys, and other raptors up close in a way you just don't get anywhere else. We walked some of the trails too, though we didn't have nearly enough time to explore everything. It's one of those places I keep meaning to go back to for a longer visit.
This 245-acre preserve in the heart of St. Petersburg protects some of Florida's most diverse ecosystems, from wetlands and pine flatwoods to oak hammocks and lakefront habitats. Guided tram tours are available if you'd prefer a narrated experience, and the trails are well-maintained and easy to walk. Keep your eyes open for alligators sunning themselves near the water — it's Florida, after all! 🐊
Don't miss:
- 🦅 The Bird of Prey demonstrations — rescued owls, ospreys, hawks, and more
- 🚋 Guided tram tours through the preserve
- 🐊 Wildlife spotting — alligators, turtles, herons, and wading birds throughout
- 🌿 Trails through oak hammocks, pine flatwoods, and wetlands
5. Weedon Island Preserve
📍 1800 Weedon Dr. NE, St. Petersburg, FL | About 30 minutes from Treasure Island
Weedon Island is a paddler's paradise — 3,190 acres of coastal mangrove forests, tidal flats, and open water with a dedicated 4-mile kayak trail that winds through some of the most beautiful mangrove tunnels in Pinellas County. If you've never paddled through a mangrove tunnel, it's one of those otherworldly Florida experiences that stays with you.
Beyond the water, Weedon Island has a fascinating cultural history — the area was home to Native American communities for thousands of years, and the Weedon Island Cultural and Natural History Center tells that story beautifully. Elevated boardwalks and observation towers offer sweeping panoramic views across the preserve, and the wildlife viewing is exceptional year-round. This one is on my personal list to explore!
Don't miss:
- 🚣 The 4-mile kayak trail through mangrove tunnels
- 🏛️ The Weedon Island Cultural and Natural History Center
- 🔭 Observation towers with panoramic views across the preserve
- 🦜 Wildlife spotting — herons, ospreys, roseate spoonbills, and more
🌴 Your Perfect Home Base for Gulf Coast Adventures
The best thing about all of these parks? You can spend a full day surrounded by Florida's wild beauty and still be back at your vacation rental in time for a sunset cocktail on the balcony. At Funshine Getaway, our properties in Treasure Island and Largo put you perfectly within reach of every park on this list — and I'm always happy to give personalized recommendations based on your group and interests. Book direct at funshinegetaway.com for the best rates, and reach out at (813) 810-8574 with any questions. Happy exploring! 🌿
Also check out our guides to the best things to do with teenagers in Treasure Island, rainy day activities near Treasure Island, and why Treasure Island beats St. Pete Beach for a more relaxed Gulf Coast experience.
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