Our August/September 2014 Issue is a special Did You Know Edition of Paradise News done in cooperation with the efforts of the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce. The Did You Know Campaign is an effort to share surprising and interesting facts about the Tampa Bay Gulf Beaches with locals and tourists alike. Facts are organized by area.
St. Pete Beach
St. Pete Beach is “Sunset Capital of Florida” thanks to an idea from Paradise News’ Own Renee Roos. See the story HERE.
Pass-a-Grille
An often told tale, Ponce de Leon, seeker of the Fountain of Youth, sailed his flagship, the San Cristobal, into Mullet Key (Tierra Verde) in 1513. In 1521, when he returned to take revenge against the Timucuans indian tribe, he was mortally wounded by an arrow.
“Pass-a-Grille’s resort debut occurred during the last year of the third and final Seminole War (1856-57) . “ Old settler John A. Bethell conceded in 1914 that Pass-a-Grille was surely making good at last”. Excursion boats (from Disston City, now Gulfport to P-a-G), usually running Wednesdays and Sundays from 7am to 10pm, were bringing thousands of visitors to Pass-a-Grille… era of the 50 cent shore dinner…two hotels were built in 1912, the Buckeye at 109 Eighth Avenue, and the Singlehurst at 408 Gulf Way.
The day after the world’s first commercial airline took flight on January 1st, 1914 from St Petersburg to Tampa, George Lizotte and a publicity friend, Richard Gaylord, hired Tony Jannus to fly passengers from Pass-a-Grille. It is believed to be the first time an airplane had been chartered for commercial purposes in the United States. For three days the amphibian plane took passengers on 25- minute flights over the Gulf as far as Egmont Key, returning to Pass-a-Grille. (Source: Surf, Sand & Postcard Sunsets by Frank T. Hurley Jr.)
Corey Avenue in St. Pete Beach
The first bridge to Long Key, now known as St. Pete Beach, was built in 1919. It was a toll bridge that cost 25¢ to cross, each way.
St. Pete Beach’s first mayor was Bill Upham, whose family donated Upham Beach, the Chamber of Commerce Building and the block that the Gulf Beaches Elementary School, now a Math and Science Magnet School, sits on, among other gifts to the city and county.
The second bridge to St Petersburg Beach was built to end on Corey Avenue, which is now the city’s Downtown shopping district, but a block south of the current Coery Causeway.
City Hall and the only full service U.S. Post Office on the South Barrier Islands are near Corey’s east end. There’s a beautiful view of sunset from two city parks at Corey’s west end. One park, aptly named “Sunset Park” offers views through “Blind Pass” to the Gulf of Mexico.
St Pete Beach is the official “Sunset Capital of Florida” – 2010.
Tierra Verde
Tierra Verde was once the home of “Port O Call Resort” owned by Guy Lombardo where Frank Sinatra, Marlene Dietrich, Liberace, Mel Tormé, and many other musical & theatrical stars performed.
Fort De Soto Park
Pinellas Counties largest park with the biggest boat launch facility and the only public campground is also home to a world famous beach and a fort that has become a tourist attraction in it’s own right.
A Civil War era steam powered tugboat, the USS Narcissus, shipwrecked in 1866 two miles from Egmont Key State Park , running aground and causing her boiler to explode. The wreckage, in 15 feet of water, is an easy dive with mask, snorkel and fins. Imagine a magnificent new place to snorkel.
John’s Pass – Madeira Beach
There seems to be a few different theories as to howJohn’s Pass received it’s name. Although the theories differ there seems to be one common thread among them–a man named John LeVeque. Some accounts have John sailing the Gulf of Mexico as a pirate collecting treasure. Other accounts say he was simply a landowner living on land offered by the government. No matter which version you believe to be true, the next part of the story seems to be agreed upon by all.
On September 27, 1848, a hurricane passed through the area now known asMadeira Beach and destroyed much of the shoreline. John was sailing his ship homeward and looking for a way to pass through back to safe harbors. Theorists agree that he might have been looking forBlind Pass, or evenPass-a-Grille, but instead he found a more northerly opening never seen before. It was from this time that the new opening was to be calledJohn’s Passion honor of John LeVeque’s first passage.
Today John’s Pass, has become one of the top tourist destination on Florida’s West Coast. It is home to waterfront shops, dining, marinas, charter fishing, sunset cruises, watercraft rentals and entertainment of all types. There is always something to do at John’s Pass and each year thousands of visitors, seasonal residents, and locals all converge here to spend their days enjoying the scenery and atmosphere.
Treasure Island “Sand Sculpture Capital of Florida”
Treasure Island was originally settled in small communities by the Tocobaga natives around 300 CE. The Timucua traded with other Native tribes in the area until 1528. The arrival of Pánfilo de Narváez decimated the natives before the Spaniards left the area in search of gold.
So, you ask, how did Treasure Island get its name? Several property owners attempted to boost sales of the properties being developed on the island, around 1915 by burying several wooden chests and pretending to discover the treasure chests on the beach. The news of the discoveries spread quickly. People began to call the island …Treasure Island!
In 1848, a Great Gale carved out a pass on the island’s north end and split off two smaller islands. (now the Isle of Palms and Isle of Capri).
Treasure Island had a surge in growth with the residential home and hotel development following World War II through the 1950s. These ventures were usually built on fill from dredged material.
Treasure Island is home to the Champion Sand Sculpting Team ‘Sanding Ovations’ who host a worldwide competition here each year. This year’s main event is November 19 – 22nd 2014.
BEACH AWARDS
Fort De Soto Beach Awards:
“Best Family Beach” – USA TODAY (2013)
“No. 4 – America’s Top 25 Beaches – 2013” – TripAdvisor
“No. 20 – World’s Top 25 Beaches – 2013” – TripAdvisor
“Best Family Beach” – Parents magazine (2011)
“No. 1 Beach in America” – Dr. Beach (2005)
Anclote Key Preserve State Park:
“Best Hidden-Gem Beach” – USA TODAY (2013)
Caladesi Island State Park:
“No. 11 on America’s Top 25 Beaches for 2014” – TripAdvisor
“No. 12 on America’s Top 25 Beaches for 2013” – TripAdvisor
“No. 1 Beach in America” – Dr. Beach (2008)
Clearwater Beach:
“No. 21 on America’s Top 25 Beaches for 2014” – TripAdvisor
“No. 18 on America’s Top 25 Beaches for 2013” – TripAdvisor
“Best Beach Town in Florida for 2013” – USA TODAY
“Best Place to Watch a Sunset” – USA TODAY (2013)
“Best Beaches in the U.S.” – Peter Greenberg (2013)
Pass-A-Grille:
“No. 15 on America’s Top 25 Beaches for 2013” – TripAdvisor
St. Pete Beach:
“No. 9 on America’s Top 25 Beaches for 2014” – TripAdvisor
“One of America’s Top 10 Best Beach Towns for 2013” – Parents magazine
“America’s No. 1 Beach for 2012” – TripAdvisor
Other notable area awards:
Clearwater Marine Aquarium: “Best Florida Attraction” – USA TODAY (2013)
St. Petersburg: One of the World’s “Top Places to Go in 2014” – The New York Times
Top Florida Tourism Statistics from Visit Florida
In 2013, Florida had 94.7 million visitors — A Record!
On any given day, Florida has 1.7 million visitors. That’s more people than live in 12 different U.S. states & District of Columbia.
In 2013, Florida visitors spent a record 76.1 billion. That’s an average of $209 million a day.
550 million visitors spent nearly 550 million vacation nights in the Sunshine State in 2013.
Tourism generates 23% of the state’s sales tax revenue
Nearly 1.1 million Floridians are employed in the tourism industry, equal to 14.4% of working Floridians.
Florida had international visitors from 186 countries from around the world in 2013.
General
Taking your shoes off at the front door helps keep you from tracking in pollen and allergen-loaded soils. AARP
A 10-second hug will help lower someone’s blood pressure by increasing a feel-good hormone oxytocin and also lower one’s stress chemical cortisol. AARP
If you drink a glass of watermelon juice, it will help relieve muscle soreness because of the watermelon’s high levels of an amino acid called L-citrulline AARP
EAT Your Peas! Fresh sweet peas have more vitamin C than if you had two large apples and more protein than a whole egg or a tablespoon of peanut butter. AARP
Great Explorations is the only children’s museum in Florida and one of eight children’s museums in the nation to be AAM-accredited!
Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo WAZOO was named one of the “10 Great Beer Festivals in the country” by USA Today. Their 19th WAZOO August 2 will feature 275 beers and beverages from around the world.