Rent a scooter, scooter rental on Clearwater Beach, rent Fun Coup,  rent mopeds, rent segways, renr Surrey bike, rent  beach wheelchairs,  rent wheelchairs, rent strollers, and bikes so rent a bike and  take an adventure to Caladesi by bike, with or without a guide. You'll have to do a little walking after you park your bike, but that's part of the fun of this experience.  Just be sure to bring plenty of water, sun screen, hat, maybe even pack a lunch, and a cell phone for extra security.    So it's rather amazing after spending some time on Clearwater Beach, to discover a completely undeveloped island like Caladesi, with a virgin pine forest and 3 miles of completely undeveloped beaches. (A virgin forest is one that has never been cut for timber).

Caladesi Island State Park was picked by Dr. Beach (Stephen Leatherman) as one of the top ten beaches in the USA in 2007 and 2008. It has the number 2 spot on the top ten list for 2007 and #1 for 2008.  It also won .Nation's Best Beach 2008!  by BeachHunter.

Caladesi Island is the home of Caladesi Island State Park. The island was once part of Honeymoon Island to the north until a hurricane in 1921 split the island in two.  Caladesi Island has 3 miles of absolutely beautiful Gulf beaches with shallow, clear, calm waters.

For serenity and seclusion, the Fun Ride Rentals Adventure or Tour to Caladesi Island State Park is ideal. Shore birds and sea turtles build their nests undisturbed among the dunes. Gulf breezes ruffle the tresses of auburn hairgrass. A beautiful island showcase, it is one of the few remaining undeveloped barrier islands in the state.

The park is comprised of six islands with a total of approximately 668 upland acres and more than2,500 acres of surrounding mangroves and tidal flats and sea grass beds. Officials finalized acquisition plans in 1968, then was opened to the public in 1972. Caladesi Island was created in 1921 after a savage storm created Hurricane Pass and separated it from what was then Hog Island. The origin of the name is uncertain, however, it first appeared in print in the early '30's.

Fishing, shelling and nature studies are ways to enjoy a visit to Caladesi.  There is no camping on the island. Picnic pavilions, bath houses and a park concession provide additional amenities that make a visit to Caladesi more enjoyable.

Note: Scroll down this page to go straight to the beach pictures.

There are several covered picnic pavilions as well as picnic tables under the palms between the marina and the beach. Halfway to the beach you will encounter restroom facilities with changing rooms, showers, and a drinking fountain. You reach the marina after walking about 2 miles up the beach then by walking on a sidewalk and boardwalks for about 5 minutes.   Back out on the beach you can walk north for a mile or so, or south for many miles, although the park itself only encompasses 3 miles of beach.  There is a vendor near where the boardwalk ends on the beach if you want to rent beach umbrellas and chairs, or if you want to rent a kayak. They offer Ocean Kayaks.

What else can you do on the island? Go fishing, rent a kayak and paddle through the mangrove tunnels on the bay side of the island. Take a walk on the nature trail with our guide and see the oak and palm hammock (a type of forest), and the double-trunked pine tree.  Owls, birds of all kinds, rabbits, armadillos, snakes perhaps, and there is even a very curious wild turkey on the island. Don't be surprised to find the turkey following you!

Most likely you'll just head straight for the beach, which is wide and flat. The water is shallow and normally calm. This is great for snorkeling. Remember that you cannot keep live shells, and that includes the sand dollars that you find out in the water. A lifeguard is on duty between Memorial Day and Labor Day (end of May till beginning of September).

Caladesi has a natural beach which is not raked and manicured by the beach machines, so you may encounter more seaweed and beach wrack here than on Clearwater Beach. It also means that you will find more interesting things on the beach that have washed up.

Caladesi Island's wide flat natural beach is perfect for walking, wading, shelling, and just plain relaxing. This is a state park beach and is not raked and manicured, so sometimes it has a little seaweed on the beach.

Wooden dune walkovers lead across the sand dunes to the Marina. It's about a 5 minute walk from the beach, with restrooms, showers, and a drinking fountain at the halfway point.

Caladesi Island appears today just like the early explorers saw it when they arrived.

An onshore breeze and a high spring tide brings the water high up onto the beach.

A low tide and a calm summer afternoon create the perfect opportunity for wading and finding live shells and other interesting marine life on Caladesi.

Honeymoon Island's virgin pine forest can be seen across the Gulf water. Honeymoon and Caladesi Island were all one island until the 1921 hurricane created a split (now called Hurricane Pass)

Signage on the island is limited, but authoritative. Despite the sign indicating otherwise, a lifeguard is present on the beach from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Should you wish to rent a beach chair and umbrella, or a kayak, the beach attendant will hook you up. The price is very reasonable compared to most beach vendors.

The concession is next to the marina where you can purchase food or drink. They serve the usual hamburger,hot dog,french fry combos, even saw a tuna-fish sandwich on the menu Prices are reasonable. A ten dollar bill ought to cover one person, unless you want something exotic like the fried shrimp basket.

There are several pavilions available that can get you out of the sun, unless they are occupied. They can be rented for the day.

There are quite a few picnic tables under the palm trees between the concession and the dunes.

There are plenty of places to walk around and explore on the island other than the beach. Our guide will give you an adventure you'll never forget.

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