Sandy Beaches and Family Activities

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. The St. Pete/Clearwater area has 35 miles of the best beachfront the Sunshine State has to offer, so I had a problem deciding where to go.

Each year when Stephen Leatherman, a.k.a. Dr. Beach, rates America's top 10 beaches, at least one of the area's waterfront playgrounds makes his list.

The reason is simple – sand.

"You are blessed with some of the finest, whitest sand there is," Leatherman said. "And it comes from the Gulf of Mexico, so you have an endless supply."

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 probably have the place to ourselves.

On a windy day, Fred Howard Park on the Intracoastal Waterway in Tarpon Springs would be the obvious choice.

This little treasure is unknown to most people except the locals and a dedicated gang of board sailors who find this best place to windsurf on the west coast of Florida.

Too bad we forgot the dogs. Honeymoon Island State Park, a few miles to the south, 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.

But with the water temperature in the 80s during the summer, I know my guys will want to swim. Just a short ferry ride away is Caladesi Island State Park, which thanks to the flushing action of nearby Hurricane Pass, has the clearest water within miles.

My kids, like most youngsters, bore easily. They want to be entertained. So Clearwater Beach, with its face painters and jugglers on Pier 60, is a great place to waste an afternoon. The concession stands are top notch, and if you are looking for a little action, there is not better place to find a pickup game of touch football or beach volleyball.

Just across Clearwater Pass, Sand Key State Park is seldom crowded, which means there is ample room for sand castle 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, a.k.a. Mad Beach, is on the north side of John's Pass, which has a boardwalk that has never met a tourist it didn't like. You'll find plenty of shops selling ice cream, grouper sandwiches and tacky 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. 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, colorful kites, dull kites, kites that dance, kites that fight, even kites that pull sand buggies and kites that fly surfers. And because of its great, wide expanse of open sand, there is no better place to bust out a run.

Just south, St. Pete Beach offers plenty for families, including one of the area's most popular beaches. St. Pete Beach was voted TripAdvisor's No. 1 Beach in the U.S. and No. 5 in the world for 2012, based on millions of traveler reviews. At the southern end of the island, Pass-a-Grille Beach is ideal for a supremely relaxing beach experience.

Even farther south is Fort De Soto Park, a five-island, 900-acre recreational paradise, guaranteed to make even the most rambunctious little ones 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. With a seemingly limitless number of grills, picnic tables and shelters, Fort De Soto can't be beat for family picnics. And its beaches were named the nation's best beaches for families by none other than Parents magazine in June 2011.

We, however, head straight for the fishing piers. Yes, there are two – both proven hot spots. So once again, I was faced with my original problem: deciding where to go.