Family Fun on the Beaches of St. Pete/Clearwater

With the kids off from school and nothing to do, I had to think fast before the sugar-powered rascals tore the house off its foundation.

"Hey, guys," I said. "Want to go to the beach?"

No sooner could I slip on my swimsuit than they were out the door, shovels and sand pails in their tiny hands. Living in St. Pete/Clearwater, with 35 miles of the best beachfront the Sunshine State has to offer, the problem is deciding where to go.

I felt like a kid in an ice cream shop. With dozens of flavors, how do you choose?

If I were taking the kids camping, I would head north to Anclote Key Preserve State Park. One of the last undeveloped barrier islands on the west coast of Florida, there are no bridges or ferries to transport visitors to this island oasis, so we would likely have the place to ourselves.

On a windy day, Fred Howard Park on the Intracoastal Waterway in Tarpon Springs would be the obvious choice for calmer waters. This little treasure is unknown to most people except the locals and a dedicated gang of board sailors who find this the best place to windsurf on the west coast of Florida.

With pooches in tow, we would want to choose one of the area’s dog beaches. Honeymoon Island State Park, a few miles to the south of Fred Howard Park, is a great place to let them play in the surf. My kids also love the nature trail that winds through the pine forest, a top destination for birdwatchers from all around the United States. In the southern part of the St. Pete/Clearwater area, our pups love Fort De Soto Park.

On a summer day, with water temperatures in the 80s, I know my guys will want to swim. Just a short ferry ride away from Honeymoon Island is Caladesi Island State Park. This natural oasis has the clearest water within miles.

My kids, like most children, want to be entertained. So Clearwater Beach, with its face painters and jugglers on Pier 60, is a great place to spend an afternoon. The concession stands are top-notch, and if you're looking for a little action, there's no better place to find a pickup game of touch football or beach volleyball.

Just across Clearwater Pass, Sand Key Park is seldom crowded, which means there is ample room for sandcastle construction and shell collection. When the water is too rough for swimmers, the lifeguards "red flag" a small section of beach at the north end for surfers.

Most kids, though, start off by riding the shore break. Indian Rocks Beach, a few miles south of Sand Key, is known for its ample beach accesses and laid-back vibe. A good place to beach a catamaran or ride a skim board, you'll find the locals friendly and helpful.

Madeira Beach is on the north side of John's Pass. A fun boardwalk here has plenty of shops and restaurants selling ice cream, grouper sandwiches and souvenirs to send north to Aunt Dory.

Treasure Island, on the south side of John's Pass, is another classic beach town with funky motels and miniature golf. But it is also one of the widest beaches on the Gulf Coast, which is why on Sunday afternoons, it becomes kite central. There are big kites, small kites, cat kites, dog kites, kites that dance, kites that fight, even kites that pull sand buggies and kites that fly surfers. And because of the wide expanse of open sand, there is no better place to bust a move and run with your kite.

Farther south, Pass-a-Grille Beach is perhaps the best place to sit and relax, but my little monsters will have none of that. So it’s off to Fort De Soto Park, a five-island, 900-acre recreational paradise guaranteed to make even the most rambunctious little ones play so hard that they sleep through the night. A paved trail runs the length of the park, which makes this the best place to ride a bike or inline skate on the coast, and there are also great places to fish here. With a seemingly limitless number of grills, picnic tables and shelters, Fort De Soto can't be beat for family picnics.