Florida: Myakka River State Park and Beaches
Since coming home, I decided I'd be a tourist in my own back yard. The humorous point being that if I drove the 2.5 hours from Wageningen in the Netherlands to the south I'd be in France, or north and end up in Germany or Denmark and here I'm still in Florida. So, let's see where I've been wandering, because you know I have.
I took a drive south from my home base in Tarpon Springs to Myakka City, Arcadia, Myakka River State Park, Siesta Key, all the beaches north until ending at Bradenton Beach, then back up to St. Petersburg Beach where I went north along all the beaches until Clearwater and then back home.
Gas right now is between $2.75-2.99 for regular and this little trip cost me about $30 when I filled up. The entry to Myakka River State Park ($4 for a single person in the car) and $4 in tolls ($1.50 each way over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and $1 onto St. Pete Beach) was all I paid since I had brought a lunch and drinks.
Myakka City and Arcadia are tiny, really small and not really places you would typically stop at, but I wrote the name down of where I actually wanted to go wrong and ended up driving there instead. Oops. Oh well, there are some pretty houses and lovely cattle and horse farms on the drive so I don't feel like I wasted my time going there.
Myakka River State Park is definitely worth the trip. It's in Sarasota (13208 State Road 72 Sarasota, FL 34241) and open from 8am until sunset, every day. You can check out the fees page for more info, but expect to pay between $4 and $6 per car. There are two major attractions: the Canopy Walk and the Air Boat Rides. I missed the last boat ride, but the cost is $15 per person, so if you want to do that, make sure you bring the right amount. The Canopy Walk is the second right after you enter. Completed in 2000, this structure is the first public treetop trail in North America. The walkway is suspended from the South Tower at 25 feet above the ground and extends 100 feet through the hammock canopy to the North Tower, which is 74 feet in the air. I do not like suspension bridges, and this one does sway a bit, but I managed to walk it and go up to the top of the North Tower, so it is manageable.
If you do get a chance to go on the boats, you have to drive to the very end of the main road, where you end up at Myakka Lake. Do not rush the drive. I saw wild boar, alligators, rabbits, sand hill cranes, and deer on the drive.
The lake itself is very pretty and runs into the river system which flows into hammocks, swamps, and side tributaries. Canoes, air boats, a boat ramp, and a tram are all available from the Guest center on the lake.
From Myakka I decided I'd drive all the beaches home. It takes longer, but I was hoping to get some nice sunset pictures and walk around a bit in the water. I ended up stopping at Bradenton Beach, although I drove through all of them. Bradenton Beach is right on the road, which means you have to slow down to pull in and out and be very aware of what's around you (which you should do anyways). It has a really nice white sand beach with crushed shells and piers you can walk out on. The other benefit of this drive is you get some great sunsets while driving, although I do not recommend taking photos of them unless you are the passenger.
The beaches are free and the one I stopped at had no closing time, but be aware many of the beaches are only open until sunset and have a parking fee. Overall, it was a good trip, relaxing but a bit long to sit and drive; much better with friends or family. Enjoy!
I took a drive south from my home base in Tarpon Springs to Myakka City, Arcadia, Myakka River State Park, Siesta Key, all the beaches north until ending at Bradenton Beach, then back up to St. Petersburg Beach where I went north along all the beaches until Clearwater and then back home.
Gas right now is between $2.75-2.99 for regular and this little trip cost me about $30 when I filled up. The entry to Myakka River State Park ($4 for a single person in the car) and $4 in tolls ($1.50 each way over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and $1 onto St. Pete Beach) was all I paid since I had brought a lunch and drinks.
Myakka City and Arcadia are tiny, really small and not really places you would typically stop at, but I wrote the name down of where I actually wanted to go wrong and ended up driving there instead. Oops. Oh well, there are some pretty houses and lovely cattle and horse farms on the drive so I don't feel like I wasted my time going there.
Myakka River State Park is definitely worth the trip. It's in Sarasota (13208 State Road 72 Sarasota, FL 34241) and open from 8am until sunset, every day. You can check out the fees page for more info, but expect to pay between $4 and $6 per car. There are two major attractions: the Canopy Walk and the Air Boat Rides. I missed the last boat ride, but the cost is $15 per person, so if you want to do that, make sure you bring the right amount. The Canopy Walk is the second right after you enter. Completed in 2000, this structure is the first public treetop trail in North America. The walkway is suspended from the South Tower at 25 feet above the ground and extends 100 feet through the hammock canopy to the North Tower, which is 74 feet in the air. I do not like suspension bridges, and this one does sway a bit, but I managed to walk it and go up to the top of the North Tower, so it is manageable.
If you do get a chance to go on the boats, you have to drive to the very end of the main road, where you end up at Myakka Lake. Do not rush the drive. I saw wild boar, alligators, rabbits, sand hill cranes, and deer on the drive.
The lake itself is very pretty and runs into the river system which flows into hammocks, swamps, and side tributaries. Canoes, air boats, a boat ramp, and a tram are all available from the Guest center on the lake.
From Myakka I decided I'd drive all the beaches home. It takes longer, but I was hoping to get some nice sunset pictures and walk around a bit in the water. I ended up stopping at Bradenton Beach, although I drove through all of them. Bradenton Beach is right on the road, which means you have to slow down to pull in and out and be very aware of what's around you (which you should do anyways). It has a really nice white sand beach with crushed shells and piers you can walk out on. The other benefit of this drive is you get some great sunsets while driving, although I do not recommend taking photos of them unless you are the passenger.
The beaches are free and the one I stopped at had no closing time, but be aware many of the beaches are only open until sunset and have a parking fee. Overall, it was a good trip, relaxing but a bit long to sit and drive; much better with friends or family. Enjoy!
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