Fort De Soto Park (3500 Pinellas Bayway South), a historic and scenic destination in Florida, has been named one of the best dog beaches in America by USA Today’s 10Best voters. Fort De Soto’s designated dog beach area allows pets to freely enjoy the sand and surf, making it a popular destination for dog lovers.
Dating back to the late 19th century, Fort De Soto Park is the largest park within the Pinellas County Park System. It spans 1,136 acres across five interconnected islands, known as keys. These keys are rich in biodiversity, featuring beach plants, mangroves, wetlands, palm hammocks, hardwoods, and numerous native plant species, all of which contribute to the preservation and protection of the natural environment.
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The park’s ecological importance is further underscored by the more than 328 species of birds documented by ornithologists over the past 60 years, with new species being added annually. Additionally, Fort De Soto provides a refuge for loggerhead sea turtles, which nest on its beaches from April to September.
Patrons can pay the County’s $5 parking fee using either the mobile parking apps, pay-by-text, existing parking terminals or annual pass.
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