Are you interested in being in a small isolated island with pretty beaches, endless trails, nice shell picking areas and enriched history? Egmont Key State Park should be on the top of your list. This beautiful island is located near Tampa Bay, Florida. You can only access the island by boats, canoes or kayaks (if you like extreme adventures). It is a great place to relax, enjoy beautiful beaches and learn a little about the History behind it.
Egmont Key Island has a nice lighthouse that has stood since 1858. During the 19th century, Egmont Key served as a camp for captured Seminoles at the end of the Third Seminole War. Egmont Key was occupied by the Union Navy during the Civil War. In 1898, the Spanish American War threatened, Fort Dade was built on the island and remained active until 1923. In 1926, the Tampa Bay Pilots Association set up operations on the island. A pilot’s skill and knowledge was necessary to guide ships safely in and out of the harbor. If interested in learning more about the history, kindly see the following link for additional information.
My first experience visiting Egmont Key State Park was amazing. It was definitely an adventure since we did a little bit of everything. That being said, it is definitely a great place to visit with family and friends. My husband and I went before the Summer rush in May 2020 on a weekday and it wasn’t very busy. We took a private boat with Hubbard’s Marina and we departed from the Bay Pier in Fort De Soto, St. Petersburg. My husband and I reserved the tickets online and the day of our trip we just arrived around 9:00 a.m.and everything went smoothly. Hubbard’s Marina has multiple hours of departure and the total time for this trip/excursion is around 4 hours. For date availability and prices you can visit the Hubbard’s Marina Website directly in the following link. We had a great experience with Hubbard’s Marina and will 100% recommend them. We arrived to Egmont Key Island like scheduled. The trip to Egmont Key takes approximately 25 to 30 minutes from the pier and during the trip they talk a little about the History of this island and the do’s and don’ts. During this trip you have a chance to see beautiful dolphins, manatees, and/or tortoises. With Hubbard’s Marina you can also snorkel for an additional cost and buy snacks and drinks from them.
When you arrive at Egmont Key Island what can you experience? you can go swimming, snorkeling, shelling, fishing, bird watching, hiking or just relax by the variety of lovely beaches this beautiful island has to offer. Depending on the part of the island that you go, the beaches will be more calming or more rigorous. Please note, there is a section on the island that you should not pass because there are nesting birds and nesting turtles making this island a nature preserve as well (kindly be aware of the signs).
When we first arrived, we decided to explore the island before settling in a spot at the beach. We first went to the Lighthouse, Old Forts and Walking Paths. This may take 1 hour or 1 1/2 hours. After our exploration of walking through the Island, we went to the North side of the Island and had our lunch in a great little spot with amazing breeze and beach views and went shell picking. After 1 hour or 1 1/2 more, we went to the South Side of the Island and got into the beautiful beach. This part of the island, the waters were a little more calm and clearer. We stayed in this area until the Hubbard’s Marina boat came to pick us up around 1:30 p.m.
My tips to have a smooth experience:
- Pay Attention to the Weather prior days in advance.
- Reserve the Tickets Online prior days in advance, if going by private boat.
- Arrive 30 minutes to 1 hour before the departure time.
- Bring Bug Spray.
- Bring Sunscreen.
- Bring Towels.
- Bring Beach Chairs/Beach Umbrellas.
- Bring a Hat.
- Bring Snacks, Lunches and Drinks in re-usable containers.
- Don’t bring Alcohol.
- Respect the Nature Preserve Areas.
- No pets allowed.
- Discover the Island before settling in a spot at the Beach.
You will not regret visiting Egmont Key Island. Like mentioned before, there is something for everyone in your family. As a friendly reminder, try to always get out of the daily routine. Make memories that will last a lifetime. Take pictures and videos that you will see a couple years later and feel happy about them.
During the pandemic/Covid-19 days, always try to keep the CDC guidelines. Please follow the 6 foot distance rule from other families, wear the mask whenever possible and if your health permits it, wash your hands, take hand sanitizer and go as early as possible to avoid being in big crowds.
As always, hoped you enjoyed this blog. Feel free to reply and recommend new places for me to visit. Thank you so much for reading this post.
Kind Regards,
Jaileen
