Caladesi Island State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Caladesi Island State Park |
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IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
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 Caladesi Island State Park
Location in Florida
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| Location | Pinellas County, Florida, United States |
| Nearest city | Dunedin, Florida |
| Visitors | 200,000 (in 2010) |
| Governing body | Florida Department of Environmental Protection |
Caladesi Island State Park is a beautiful state park in Florida. It's located on what people call Caladesi Island. This island is in the Gulf of Mexico, near the towns of Dunedin, Florida and Clearwater Beach.
You can get to the park by taking a passenger ferry boat. This ferry leaves from Honeymoon Island. If you're coming from Clearwater Beach to the south, you can actually walk to Caladesi Island! This is because a big storm in 1985 filled in the water between them. So, even though it's called an island, you can walk right onto it from Clearwater Beach.
The park has lots of cool things to do. There's a three-mile nature trail for exploring. You'll also find a marina for boats, picnic areas, and places to change. There's even a snack bar and a lovely beach. In 2008, a famous beach expert named Dr. Beach said Caladesi Island had the best beach in the whole United States!
Caladesi Island and Honeymoon Island used to be one big island. But in 1921, a strong hurricane split them apart. It created a new waterway called Hurricane Pass.
A long time ago, in the 1880s, a family lived on the island. Henry Scharrer and his daughter Myrtle made their home there. When she was 87, Myrtle Scharrer Betz wrote a book. It was called Yesteryear I Lived in Paradise. The book shared stories about her life on the island.
Fun Things to Do at the Park
Caladesi Island State Park is a great place for outdoor adventures. You can spend your day looking for cool seashells on the beach. It's also perfect for boating, including canoeing and kayaking in the calm waters.
If you like to fish, you can do that here too. There are also trails for hiking and nice spots for picnics. The clear waters are perfect for swimming and snorkeling. You can also enjoy nature by watching birds and other wildlife.
Need a snack or a drink? The park has a concession stand called Café Caladesi. They offer "casual style beach fare" like sandwiches and drinks. Their hours change depending on when the park is open.
Weather on Caladesi Island
| Climate data for Caladesi Island, Florida | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 89 (32) |
89 (32) |
95 (35) |
92 (33) |
97 (36) |
100 (38) |
102 (39) |
99 (37) |
97 (36) |
94 (34) |
92 (33) |
88 (31) |
102 (39) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 69 (21) |
72 (22) |
75 (24) |
80 (27) |
85 (29) |
89 (32) |
90 (32) |
90 (32) |
88 (31) |
82 (28) |
77 (25) |
71 (22) |
81 (27) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 50 (10) |
53 (12) |
57 (14) |
62 (17) |
68 (20) |
73 (23) |
75 (24) |
75 (24) |
72 (22) |
66 (19) |
59 (15) |
53 (12) |
64 (18) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 19 (−7) |
23 (−5) |
31 (−1) |
37 (3) |
45 (7) |
51 (11) |
63 (17) |
64 (18) |
55 (13) |
42 (6) |
28 (−2) |
19 (−7) |
19 (−7) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.99 (76) |
3.05 (77) |
3.81 (97) |
2.37 (60) |
2.02 (51) |
6.69 (170) |
8.09 (205) |
8.32 (211) |
6.99 (178) |
3.31 (84) |
2.15 (55) |
2.95 (75) |
52.74 (1,339) |
Images for kids
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Caladesi Park's boat marina in the distance. The short trees along the shore are mangroves.
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A closer look at the marina.
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Another view of the marina.
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Kayaks ready to rent near the concession stand at the marina.
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Caladesi Park's beach on the Gulf of Mexico, with some seaweed washed ashore.
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The park's small passenger ferry boat, docked and waiting.
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The passenger ferry boat moving across the water.
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A nature trail with a large oak tree branch, a palm tree, and saw palmetto plants on both sides.
