THE PERFECT COASTAL ESCAPE

Delightful Dunedin has it all

By Heather Turk

Whether your ideal vacation destination offers plenty of recreational activities or some much-needed relaxation, the charming coastal town of Dunedin has something for everyone to enjoy.

Located along Florida’s West Coast, Dunedin offers travelers an array of big-city amenities while still maintaining its quaint, small-town feel. The diverse destination is home to two of Florida’s most beautiful state parks: Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island. Boasting nearly 5 miles of beach to explore along with a 3-mile trail through one of the last remaining virgin slash pine forests, Honeymoon Island offers visitors an escape from the bustle of city life. Guests can go swimming, fishing, shelling and hiking, as well as look for wildlife. Eagles, osprey and great horned owls are often spotted flying overhead, while gopher tortoises, raccoons and armadillos are frequently seen on land. floridastateparks. org/honeymoonisland

Honeymoon Island also serves as the ferry terminal for access to Caladesi Island. Accessible only by boat, Caladesi Island is one of the few untouched islands along the Gulf Coast. Visitors can stroll along its pristine beaches, walk down a nature trail while listening to the ocean breeze whisper through old-growth slash pines and even rent a kayak to go paddling through a

Story continued on page 42 bayside mangrove forest. floridastateparks. org/parks-and-trails/caladesi-island-state-park

ParrotDise Express Boat Tours offer guests another exciting way to experience the area’s waters. Departing daily from Dunedin Marina, the excursion company offers a variety of tours through the Gulf of Mexico, including snorkeling and shelling adventures. Its most popular tour, however, is its 150-minute Sunset Dolphin Tour aboard the custom-built, 34-passenger ParrotDise Express I monohull. The excursion not only lets passengers enjoy some leisurely sightseeing while learning about the history of the area, but also includes unlimited drinks — with beer and wine available for adults. In addition to seeing dolphins year-round, manatees, sea turtles and pelicans are often spotted on voyages during the fall months. parrotdiseexpress.com

Recreation lovers will be delighted to know that the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail — a linear trail extending from St. Pete to Tarpon Springs — runs through downtown Dunedin as well. Guests can bike, walk, skate or jog down the paved trail, which has a multitude of unique restaurants, bars and shops to stop at along the way. One of the best ways to explore the 47-mile-long trail is by renting a bicycle at downtown Dunedin’s Bicycle Boutique, which has a fleet of e-bikes and cruiser bicycles available to rent by the hour, day or week. All rentals come with a front basket to hold purchases made around town as well as a comfortable Cloud 9 bicycle seat upgrade, not to mention the use of a helmet and bike lock. The woman-owned bicycle accessory and rental shop is the only place in the Tampa Bay area to offer Glow Bike rentals, too. Available Friday and Saturday night, the bikes’ illuminated frames, wheels and baskets provide visitors with a fun way to explore the town safely after sundown. bicycleboutiqueoutpost.com

For beer aficionados, Dunedin has several craft breweries located within walking distance of one another, including Florida’s oldest microbrewery: Dunedin Brewery. Founded in 1996, the award-winning brewery features a draft list of 14 beers, with only six selections available year-round. A new beer is tapped every Friday, and there is a kitchen serving delicious coastal pub grub like Blackened Mahi Fish Tacos. In addition to having a large outdoor beer garden, Dunedin Brewery has a stage in its tasting room that regularly hosts free concerts. A vital part of Dunedin’s vibrant nightlife scene, the brewery has welcomed everyone from local musicians to Grammy Award-winning artists. Guests can catch several music acts performing during the brewery’s Oktobeerfest celebration Oct. 5 through 8, as well as the Weezer tribute band, Halloweezer, on Halloween. dunedinbrewery.com

Did You Know: Dunedin’s TD Ballpark is the spring training home of the Toronto Blue Jays? Baseball fans visiting the area in September can actually enjoy a Minor League Baseball game at the ballpark, as the Toronto Blue Jays’ Single-A affiliate, the Dunedin Blue Jays, will host their final home games of the season Sept. 5 through 10.

No stranger to hosting special events, downtown Dunedin will once again welcome its annual Wines the Blues festival on Nov. 11. For more than 30 years, the free music and wine festival has invited guests to enjoy a variety of vinos while savoring some of the region’s finest fare and listening to some of the best blues musicians around. Downtown Dunedin also recently relaunched its popular 2nd Fridays event. Not only can visitors shop at participating merchants during extended business hours from 5:30 until 8 p.m., but those who purchase a wristband for $10 will also be able to enjoy discounts at select merchants, unlimited wine samples and can enter to win prizes from local businesses. dunedinmerchants.com/ ddma-events

For more information on everything Dunedin has to offer, visit dunedinfl.com.