Fort DeSoto Florida

Fort De Soto is an island set in the mouth of Tampa Bay. It's a State Park, and is very popular - there are lots of amenities and activities, such as camping, kayaking, and fishing. To drive there, take Hwy 682 out of St Petersburg heading towards St Pete Beach, then make a left onto 679 heading south.

The whole island is surrounded with beautiful beaches. There are two main designated locations for swimming - one is East beach (facing Tampa Bay), and the other is in a lagoon behind North beach (facing the Gulf). In other areas, 'No Swimming' signs abound - the signs warn of strong currents - but these are often ignored.

If you're keen on fishing, you'll head towards one of the two piers on the island - the 500' long Bay pier near East beach, or the 1000' Gulf pier below the old Fort. Both piers are super for fishing - there's lots to catch in the abundant waters.

For those that enjoy a true get-away-from-it-all experience, take a trip by boat to the nearby Egmont Key island. A ferry service runs from near the Bay jetty.