St. Petersburg • Clearwater 2008 - (Page 58) Fort De Soto Park is a family playground. » Saltwater Submersible As much as tarpon fishing lights my fire, nothing melts away the stress like a casual swim. The conditions in the waters off Clearwater Beach or Fort De Soto Park seem perfect, a lovely combination of sunshine, refreshing Gulf waters and beachgoers under the spell of the lapping waves, absent of angst and impatience. I enter Fort De Soto – the largest park in the Pinellas County Park System – and find it easy to follow the direction markers. After some experimenting, my favorite sites turn out to be the North Beach Clearwater Beach is wide, with white, soft sand. Swim Center and the East Beach Swim Center. The transformation occurs the moment I slosh into the surf and my toes nestle in the sand in about four feet of water. As I submerge until just my neck protrudes, I’m not exaggerating to say that it’s a spa-like experience. Wading and swimming without the need for chatter seem to take me to a higher level of tranquility. LEARN Get inside knowledge about bait & tackle shops, charters for hire and beaches at www.FloridasBeach.com I also love Clearwater Beach on weekends. I’m a people-watcher, so on a recent weekend, I arrive early, find a nearby parking space and claim a patch of sand for my beach towel and belongings. After wading into the water, I get comfy and feel quite amused to behold the human parade jostling along the surf line. For a change of scenery, I admire sailboats and other vessels cruising by. I swim parallel to the beach in several short spurts, and just chill out. After a couple hours’ sojourn in the company of sand and sea, I leave, feeling relaxed and recharged. : ON THE WEB 58 : It' s a l l a b o u t t h e wa te r http://www.FloridasBeach.com
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