You can roam Caladesi Island State Park (floridastateparks.org) on the island that lies between St. Joseph Sound and the Gulf of Mexico, 1 mile west of Dunedin. The island is accessible by the Caladesi Island Ferry (caladesiferry.org), which leaves the southern tip of nearby Honeymoon Island State Park every half-hour, starting at mid-morning, during peak season. From mid-September to mid-February, the ferry leaves every hour. The boat ride takes 20 minutes, and ferry guests may stay on Caladesi for up to four hours. The park closes at sunset. You'll have to pay a round-trip ferry fee, with children 6 to 12 paying half price and ages 5 and under free. Pets are not allowed on the ferry. The island also can be accessed via kayak or privately owned vessels, which can dock at the state park's marina on the island's northeastern shore.
Once you've arrived at Caladesi Island State Park, you'll have plenty of recreational options. Sunbathe, swim, hunt for seashells or simply take a relaxing stroll on the uncrowded beach. Hike the park's 3-mile nature trail, which winds through the island's interior and provides a glimpse of native bird and wildlife species such as osprey and gopher tortoises. You can also rent a kayak at Cafe Caladesi (romantichoneymoonisland.com) and paddle along a mangrove-shaded kayak loop that takes you from the marina out to St. Joseph Sound and back. After working up your appetite, try some of Cafe Caladesi's specialties, such as a cheeseburger, fish and chips, grilled tuna melt or fruit smoothie. If you'd prefer to pack your own meal, the park has a picnic area with grills and a nearby playground.
Although Caladesi Island has no cabins or campground, private boats can dock during the day or overnight at the park's 108-slip marina, which provides floating docks with water and 30-amp electrical hookups. Other marina amenities include a covered pavilion with grill, restrooms and showers. A half-dozen or so slips can be reserved through Reserve America (reserveamerica.com), and the rest are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Boaters who plan to stay overnight must register with the marina before sunset.
Before or after your trip to Caladesi Island, you may want to visit a couple of other regional attractions within a short drive. At the Dunedin Fine Art Center (dfac.org), 4 miles east of the Caladesi ferry dock on Honeymoon Island, you can tour an art gallery or participate in a class or workshop. The center also has a collection of interactive exhibits for kids at its David L. Mason Children’s Art Museum. At Clearwater Marine Aquarium (seewinter.com), approximately 10 miles south of Honeymoon Island, you can visit a tailless dolphin named Winter, the real-life star of the "Dolphin Tale" movie, and other marine animals such as sharks, stingrays, otters and sea turtles. If you're staying overnight, the Dunedin-Clearwater area has a variety of lodging options, including hotels, resorts and bed-and-breakfast inns.
