Egmont Key is also home to historic Fort Dade, built in 1898 and served during the Spanish American War. Egmont Key is located at the mouth of Tampa Bay; south of De Soto State Park and north of Anna Maria Island. Strategically located at the mouth of Tampa Bay, this island refuge was once the site of the United States Army's Fort Dade, and abundant reminders of this unique military past can be found scattered throughout the island today. And while the beach is beautiful, it really isnt any nicer than the beaches of Anna Maria Island to the south or Pass-a-Grille to the north, and it is far from deserted. Unforgettable Day Trip to Egmont Key - Rachel's Crafted Life The entire island is Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge and State Park. https://HubbardsMarina.com #HubbardsMarina Hubbard's Marina Boat Tour Agency Send message 148148 26 comments 19 shares 2023 Visit St. Pete/Clearwater. Along the trails you may encounter gopher tortoises, box turtles, yellow rat snakes, and of course many species of birds including ospreys, herons, skimmers, egrets, bald eagles, and more. Silent gun batteries testify to a time when mighty battleships reigned supreme on the worlds oceans, and a brick carriage road meanders across the island recalling the days when mules and horses carried military personnel and their dependents on sunny picnics to the beaches. Explore the fort that is still equipped with 12-inch rifled mortars and two British breech-loading 6-inch Armstrong rapid-fire guns. Talk to ferry boat operators about designated snorkeling trips -- the submerged installations are near the wildlife refuge and therefore a bit tricky to get to. The park, from which the ferry leaves, has terrific camping, beaches, bike paths and more. Heres an excellent kayak trip report. Ferries will return you to the mainland in mid-afternoon, so youll have plenty of time to plot another adventure. There were probably 100 power boats on the day we visited, so this was not exactly a deserted island. Egmont Key is only accessible by boat and has no drinking water, restrooms, or shops due to the remote nature. On a recent weekend getaway to the Compass Hotel at Anna Maria Sound, a budget-friendly Margaritaville hotel, my husband, son, and I booked the ferry to Egmont Key State Park. Egmont Key Ferry | St. Pete Beach Today What is special, though, is the intriguing history you experience here. So come prepared with your own food, drinks, and beach equipment. Visitors can also tour the fort ruins and gun batteries. Snorkeling is another option while out on Egmont Key Island with us at Hubbards Marina. There are three time slots each day at 9 AM, 11 AM and 2 PM. If you go, you may share the beach with pelicans, terns, egrets and other shore birds. The ferry trip costs $45 for adults, $25 for children 3-11 and free for 2 and under. Hopefully, when the work is completed a trip to the island will be more enjoyable. Although it never saw any battles it was occupied as a military reservation protecting the inlet of Tampa Bay until 1923. Encountering so many gopher tortoises. Learn how your comment data is processed. Also be sure to check out the lighthouse, circa 1858. You cannot bring alcohol, glass, pets, kites, or drones to the island because it is a wildlife preserve and these items are prohibited. However, you'll be asked to arrive 45 minutes prior to your departure time in order to get through the park's entry gate ($5 per car), park by Bay Pier, and check in. Click the link below to learn more about. You must arrive by boat and, no, you cant camp overnight. Egmont Key is open 365 days a year from 8am until sunset. After some time on the quieter side of the island, we walked along the shoreline and came to the ruins of Fort Dade. Dining, Events & Sightseeing. Can you kayak to Egmont Key? The ferry drops you off . We want to keep the island unspoiled so it can continue to be a treasure. Visitors who use the ferry typically have a trip lasting five or six hours, which leaves plenty of time for other activities in the area such as exploring St. Petersburgs thriving art gallery scene, or enjoying a dinner of fresh seafood. Yes, experienced paddlers with the right kind of kayak in the right weather and knowledge of tides and currents do make the trip. The new offering is a ferry providing service from the St. Pete Pier on a larger boat with bathooms called the Pelican. We saw dolphins jumping in the wake playing. E. Madeira Beach FL 33708. Fish and Wildlife Service owns and manages Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge and entered into a cooperative agreement with Florida Park Service to cooperatively manage the entire island in 1989 and is known as Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge and State Park. Great article, I found that the prices for the FERRY changed as of January 2022 as follows: Adults(and children 12 and above) $40, children 3-11 $20, infants 2 or less FREE. Hang onto the ladder or grab a line from your boat if you want to get in and cool off. Florida Rambler was founded in 2010 by Bonnie and fellow journalist Bob Rountree, two long-time Florida residents who have spent decades exploring the Florida outdoors. Tickets are $40 for adults: $20 youth 3-11. Because Egmont Key is strategically placed at the mouth of Tampa Bay, it was picked as the site for a fort during the time of the Spanish-American War. Egmont Key State Park and National Wildlife Refuge - Wikipedia Egmont Key State Park is one big tropical island playground At its heyday, Fort Dade had 300 residents, red brick roads, electricity, telephones, a hospital, jail, a movie theater, bowling alley and tennis courts. Just a quick boat ride from either side in generally calm waters, it is a must do destination. The ferry ride to the island offers great chances to spot dolphins, sea turtles, and sometimes even manatees! Sharks teeth everywhere along Egmont key and Shell key, especially behind the storms! We saw a few sandy paths leading toward the beach and decided to follow one. Enjoying a picnic at the beach, where we overlooked ruins of Fort Dades power plant being engulfed by the Gulf. Egmont Key is an uninhabited island situated at the mouth of Tampa Bay in Florida. Once on the island, Egmont Key offers great shelling, swimming, and opportunities for adventures. Thank you for your support! Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Take a 60-minute ride to the 1.6-mile island and enjoy two hours surrounded by crystal clear water, seashells, and white sand. St. Pete is a city of museums and art: Heres our story on the many excellent museums that have opened. Shell Key Island | Hubbard's Ferry | Fort De Soto Park FL, 33715 Egmont Key Adventures | Holmes Beach FL - Facebook They turned the island over to the State of Florida in 1989, and it became a state park. Five or More Dolphins Swim Along Side Us Near Shell Key island. Come aboard the 60-foot passenger boat and relax in comfort with: Come aboard The Pelican, and enjoy the ride as much as the destination. But be prepared, because while plenty of people may be on the island, Egmont Key is remote. Its a popular destination for people arriving both by ferry and private boat, so it isnt empty. Wander the islands nature trails and deserted brick roads and check out historic Fort Dade, which was built during the Spanish-American War. The leeward side of this 400-acre island has a mooring area for private boats. Theres a spur north of Dunedin that goes out to beautiful Honeymoon Island. I got caught in a rip tide in 5 feet of water and was swept about half a mile in minutes. Hubbard's Ferry | Egmont Key Ferry | Shell Key Ferry | Ana Maria Island Boat Tour Service - St. Pete Pier to Egmont Key | The Pelican St. Pete Climbing the stairs to the top provides nice views over the sand dunes to see the many shades of blue in Tampa Bay. The morning sun sparkled on the water as Jimmy Buffett songs and tropical music filled the air. It was so beautiful coming back into St. Petersburg at night., Copyright 2023 The Pelican St. Pete Boat Tours | All Rights Reserved. Tampa Bay Ferry - Official MapQuest His family came over by boat with friends, and they were all cooking lunch on a small grill set in the sand -- kind of an island tailgate. Egmont Key is also cooperatively managed as a unit of the Florida Park Service as Egmont Key State Park. Egmont Key was beautiful, and the water was nice and clear., Amazing experience. Ferry & Transportation. On Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday there is also a 2pm ferry. . Read more in this Florida Rambler article:Treasured St. Pete bike trail. There are no refuge or state park fees for visiting the island (this is excluding ferry tickets or boat rental fees). [5] Only 2.75 miles North West from Egmont Key is the Historic Register #100003048 U.S.S. Plan on starting your wildlife viewing from the boat - dolphin sightings are common. Gather your friends, family, or group for an unforgettable experience on the water. I would recommend having closed toed shoes for this part of the trip as there are sharp and rough edges all around the ruins. Person: $59 | Children 12 and under: $39. We enjoyed the calm waters with our little guy who is still learning to be a strong swimmer. The snorkeling trip explores the marine life in the grass flats and the sunken portions of Fort Dade. Here you can view all the Island Trips we offer! We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. The complex, once an impressive facility, burned to the ground in 1925 in a fire intentionally set by federal agents trying to smoke out rum runners and others. It has an outdoor bar that overlooks the hotel pool and the water. We snorkel the sunken ruins of fort Dade, or the grass flat beds depending the weather and conditions at the island. There are additionally many ruins on the island and the area is well marked with small plaques explaining what was in that specific area in the past. | Contact Us. Egmont Key Experience the pristine island paradise of Egmont Key. One of the joys of the Tampa Bay area is close proximity to an abundance of islands and keys. Looking north along eastern beach of Egmont Key. The island is largely uninhabited except for park rangers and the Tampa Bay ship's pilots. It was beautiful just very, very peaceful.. 623, This page was last edited on 11 June 2023, at 15:39. As an Orlandoan myself, I am often envious of the sheer amount of pristine beaches and islands available to those in the Tampa area. If you need to rent snorkeling gear (Mask, snorkel and fins) we do have equipment available. At best the day was an average experience. Begin and end your adventure at historic Fort De Soto, a military outpost constructed during the Spanish American War, listed in the "National Register of Historic Places". And, with the Island shoreline currently being rejuvenated there is heavy equipment and large pipes spoiling the natural beauty of the beach restricting the areas that are accessible. Egmont Key Ferry from Fort De Soto Park | Visit St Petersburg Take a ride to paradise today with Tampa Bay Ferry by Hubbard's Marina! Interested in visiting Egmont Key? Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge and State Park is a National Wildlife Refuge and State Park located on the island of Egmont Key, at the mouth of Tampa Bay. Its one of the oldest structures in Tampa Bay which is still operating for the same purpose for which it was built, said Watson. For years, downtown St. Petersburgs best-known galleries were the Dali Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts, and both of these thriving institutions have expanded in recent years. Tampa Bay Ferry. You cannot bring alcohol, glass, pets, kites, or drones to the island because it is a wildlife preserve and these items are prohibited. Egmont key was surveyed by Spanish explorers in 1757. Thank you for mentioning the national wildlife refuge, but the refuge is not just the closed areas. Most notable residents are the Gopher Turtles. Compass Hotels pairs the tropical flair associated with Margaritaville and Jimmy Buffett with the spirit of adventurous travel. (If you are a military history enthusiast, you will want to visit both Fort Dade on Egmont Key and Fort De Soto.). In recent years the number of sea turtles nesting on Egmont Key has been greatly reduced due to severe beach erosion. Today, pathways take you past the three batteries, which you are free to wander and explore. Please Note: the entire southern half of Egmont Key is a federally protected bird sanctuary, and is closed to the public. Go sight seeing on, Duration: 4 Hours Total | 3 Hours Island Time | 30 mins to & from dock, Trip Type: Family Friendly (No Smoking Allowed On Trip). [2] Because of this, visitors are advised to bring food and water for their visit. That said, travel light so you dont have to lug too many things if you want to hike around the island. Although the Lighthouse is in service, the tower is unfortunately closed to the public. Other species include royal and sandwich terns, which you mentioned, brown pelicans, black skimmers, and American oystercatchers. Tomalin, Terry. Park GPS coordinates: Ranger Station: N 27 36. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The southern end of Egmont Key and a section of the east beach are closed year-round to all public use to provide nesting habitat for the laughing gulls, terns, white ibis, brown pelicans, and American oystercatchers. Unfortunately, Egmont Key is eroding into the Gulf of Mexico at an alarming rate. Breakfast is included with each reservation, or I should say in the modest resort fee. The standard view does overlook the parking lot and street, but it also offers views ofNeal Preserve, a lovely nature preserve right across the street from the hotel. We often spot sea birds on the ride to and from Egmont Key Island aboard the Hubbards Ferry, our big blue boat. Enjoy a day or evening on the most comfortable boat tour in Tampa Bay. The ferry ticket allows a three-hour visit with a specific time to board for your return. But because of the holiday weekend, they had added several other trips, including a 10 a.m. ferry and an 11:30 a.m. ferry. The most affordable ferry option to get to Egmont Key is Hubbard's Marina Ferry. The water is lovely. If you like visiting crumbling old forts or ghost towns in a jungle, as I do, then Egmont Key makes a splendid adventure. Explore Egmont Key! This is actually a relaxing island to hang out at and just sit on the beach.There is an Alliance group that is attempting to raise money to restore some of the island. Pack only what you need (food, lots of water, beach gear, sunscreen). Parking at the designated lot was already becoming scarce at that time, so I suggest booking the 11:00 a.m. ferry, especially on weekends. Egmont Key is about 1.6 miles from Fort De Soto Park at the bottom of St. Pete Beach, and its also about 1.6 miles long. There's not a shortage of places to explore near Ocala. Copyright 2023 Friends of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges - All Rights Reserved. NO boat landing or foot traffic is permitted anywhere on the southern half of Egmont Key. More information and reservations are here. Hubbards Ferry (previously Tampa Bay Ferry) is family owned and operated since 1928. No alcoholic beverages, glass, kites, drones, fireworks, hunting, or pets of any kind are permitted on the island due to the island being a National Wildlife Refuge. Thank you for also mentioning what you cannot bring to the island including pets, alcohol, drones, and kites. This article is property of FloridaRambler.com, protected by U.S. Most people head to Egmont Key to swim, snorkel, hike, see wildlife (including dolphins, sea turtles and marine birds), and view the Egmont Key lighthouse and ruins from Fort Dade. Experience the pristine island paradise of Egmont Key. Egmont Key State Park - Seas The Day Florida Egmont Key is just a few miles from Anna Maria Island. People come to Egmont Key for the beach, to explore the ruins of a century-old fort, to observe the shore birds and gopher tortoises and to walk wooded trails wending through the island. It was very scary. Fort De Soto Park, 3500 Pinellas Bayway S, Tierra Verde, FL 33715. Use the restroom before leaving. We took the Egmont Ferry to the island today. We loved our picnic site. We loved starting our days with breakfast here, which featured plenty of hot selections like eggs, potatoes, bacon, and sausage, as well as yogurt, fruit, and cereal. [8] In 1847, concerns with hazardous navigation at the mouth of Tampa Bay led to the construction of the first lighthouse, but the Great Gale of 1848 swamped the island and all but destroyed the original lighthouse. Located in the Heart of Holmes Beach, we offer custom private and public charters for Sightseeing, H Egmont Key Adventures | Holmes Beach FL Fish and Wildlife Service took over Egmont Key. Learn more in ourCookie Noticeand ourPrivacy Policy. $25 Ages 2 & Under No Charge Parking $5 Quick Details: Duration: 5 hours total | 3 hours island time | 60 mins to and from dock Departure times: 11am Daily! The author, Bonnie Gross, travels with her husband David Blasco, discovering off-the-beaten path places to hike, kayak, bike, swim and explore. Both agencies, U.S. Heres a FloridaRambler.com story about the park. Ferry tickets are $45.00 for adults 12 and up, $25.00 for youth ages 311, and free for those under age 3. Egmont Key is located at the entrance to Tampa Bay between Fort Desoto and Shell Island on the north and Anna Marie Island on the south. It is amazing to think not that many years ago there was entire community residing on the island with many buildings. If you want to spend some time on a beautiful pristine island paradise, the ferry to Egmont Key State Park from Fort De Soto is a great choice for you and your family! The Egmont Key Lighthouse near St. Petersburg, Fla., has guided thousands of sailors back to the safety of their homes, but people with a sense of adventure could almost say it serves an opposite purpose. Photos. Amenities include beaches, nature trails, and picnic tables.[6]. We chose the 11:00 a.m. time slot and arrived around 10:15 a.m. on a Sunday. The 50-mile Pinellas Trail starts in Tarpon Springs and runs south through downtowns and neighborhoods in Dunedin, Clearwater, Largo, Pasadena and into downtown St. Petersburg. Here's 2020 data, for bird nesting: Anywhere from 25,000-48,000 pairs of birds have nested on Egmont Key in the past 10 years. Privacy Notice: We use cookies on our website to enhance your experience. Snorkeling gear can also be rented. Conchs, whelks and other shells can be collected, although the shelling varies according to tides and recent weather. All rights reserved. [9] The lighthouse keeper reportedly rode out the storm in a rowboat tied to a palmetto. Plan to arrive 60 minutes in advance for check-in and boarding. Amenities & Facts; Buy Now; BUY TICKETS. A weekend getaway to beautiful Egmont Key combines the splendor of the beach, wildlife, and history. The trip fantastic. 400 2nd Ave NE At this time of year, the company generally runs one ferry a day. While we chose to save money by taking the ferry to Egmont Key and opting for a longer drive, private charters are available from the Safe Harbor Marina directly behind the hotel.

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