Honeymoon Island State Park in Florida is just a short drive from Clearwater Beach in Dunedin. They are currently working a beach renourishment project, which means part of the beach will be closed at times. However, there is still plenty to do for a short day or half day trip.
Originally called Hog Island, it became Honeymoon Isle in 1939 when a developer built 50 palm thatched bungalows for honeymooners. Today, you can visit by driving across Dunedin Causeway and enjoying the gulf beaches, mangrove swamps, and wildlife.
On a recent trip, we spent a couple of hours walking along the beach collecting shells. The shells are plentiful as well as the wildlife. There is also a nature trail that is good for catching views of wildlife and enjoying the Florida virgin slash pine trees. I could spend quite a bit of time just walking along the beach looking for shells. I really loved this beach on the gulf as it is uninhabited and not commercialized. You are able to just have a wonderful walk along the beach enjoying nature.
Besides shell hunting, here are some other ideas of things to do on your day trip to Honeymoon Island State Park…
- Picnic
- Playground
- Pet Beach
- Bicycles are available to rent by the hour or day
- Kayaks are available to rent
Here’s a few things to take with you:
- Sunscreen
- Water
- Snacks
- Towel
- Sandals or tennis shoes if you plan on hiking in the nature trails
- Bag or bucket if you plan on collecting shells.
When you enter the park, you will be alerted to the conditions of the beach. The day we went there was a high alert for dangerous wildlife on the beach…possibly because of jellyfish like this washing up upon the beach!
Visiting Honeymoon Island State Park was a fun day trip on our recent visit to Clearwater Beach. Stay tuned for my next post where I will share other fun things to do and great places to eat in Dunedin, Florida.
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