Caladesi Island State Park, State park in Gulf Coast, United States.
Caladesi Island State Park is a barrier island on the Gulf Coast of Florida in the United States. Sandy beaches stretch along the coast and give way to low dunes backed by pine forests and thick mangrove stands in the island interior.
Native tribes lived on the island before European settlers reached the coast. A hurricane in 1921 separated the island from neighboring Honeymoon Island and created the current waterway between the two.
The park name comes from the Spanish word for hidden cove, describing the sheltered areas between the mangroves. Visitors see wading birds along the shore and can follow the traces of tidal currents through the shallow waters.
Visitors reach the island by ferry from Honeymoon Island or by private boat and may stay up to four hours. A marked trail leads through the island interior and connects the beach with the mangrove areas.
Dolphins and manatees often swim close to the shore and can be seen from the ferry or from the beach. The shallow waters around the island also attract stingrays that rest in the warm sand.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
