Sunset Beach and Howard Park Beach

We will be visiting Florida in May and we would like to find a quiet beach on the gulf coast. From what we%26#39;ve read these beaches seem great for having very few people but what are the beach conditions like. How is the sand and the water? Are they very windy? Any recommendations on which beach is better? We are not looking for a beach that offers much in attractions. Just a nice picnic. Any information will be appreciated.

Sunset Beach and Howard Park Beach

I%26#39;ve been to Howard Park Beach and love it - it%26#39;s quiet - there are picnic pavillions and restrooms, wide, clean, white sand and the water is very clear - I am sure you will enjoy this one -it%26#39;s more of a family style beach but every time I%26#39;ve been there it%26#39;s been pleasant.Be sure to bring plenty of food and drink - no concessions. Also if you are in saint petersburg try Fort Desoto State Park - big park with choice of two long beaches, and an historic fort to explore. really a great park - NO ADMISSION CHARGE! I live in Florida and have explored lots of the beaches. Trust me.

Sunset Beach and Howard Park Beach

If you decide to go to Sunset beach, try and be there around 2:00 on any given day. If you you have kids with you, make sure you take a wide empty bucket so they can catch hermit crabs. My kids have a blast doing this. I always have them release them at the end of our day so they don%26#39;t die. We are going today with some people to go crabbing... That should be interesting. No admission fees, no parking fees, and not a long walk at ALL to the beach/water area like some other beaches.

You might also enjoy going about 7 miles south on Alternate 19 to the Dunedin Causeway and go to Honeymoon Island. Nice to walk and collect shells.

They are pretty close together, so you could see both. But, out of those two, I prefer Howard Park. It just seems like when you are at that beach, you really are %26#39;away from it all%26#39;. As far as wind, there will just about always be a sea breeze, but that is nice. If it%26#39;s an especially windy day, you will feel it there, but then you would no matter what beach you were at. It%26#39;s not any windier than any other beach.

In my opnion Howard Park is the nicer of the two just because there is a very large park area with shelters and grills for having cook outs. The beach area is similar at the two locations.