There is more to the St Petersburg/Clearwater area than beaches and boating; there are quiet pockets of nature filled with beauty and wild creatures. Weedon Island Preserve is one of those spots. Located on the northwestern shores of Tampa Bay, it is a quick 20 minute drive from downtown St Petersburg. This 3190 acre marine ecosystem is accessible by kayak, boardwalk, pier, and a small system of upland trails. We rented kayaks for a half-day and paddled through a well-marked water trail. Sweetwater Kayak Rentals delivered the kayaks to the water’s edge and provided life vests, paddles, and good advice. With a bit of a shove, we were off onto the waters of Weedon Preserve. We paddled in sheltered bays watching American oystercatchers and egrets scavenge for food. We glided through earthy-scented mangrove tunnels where the outside world melted away into quiet paradise. Another day we watched the sunset from the fishing pier. A Great Blue Heron walked along one railing while we leaned against the other, content to savor the late afternoon light. A swish in the water heralded a small group of dolphins, one a youngster. A walk up the observation tower is rewarded with an expansive view of the mangrove “islands” with the downtowns of Tampa and St Petersburg just a glimmer in the distance. For more information about Sweetwater Kayaks, check here.
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Kayaking Weedon Island Preserve, Minutes from downtown St Petersburg, FL
There is more to the St Petersburg/Clearwater area than beaches and boating; there are quiet pockets of nature filled with beauty and wild creatures. Weedon Island Preserve is one of those spots. Located on the northwestern shores of Tampa Bay, it is a quick 20 minute drive from downtown St Petersburg. This 3190 acre marine ecosystem is accessible by kayak, boardwalk, pier, and a small system of upland trails. We rented kayaks for a half-day and paddled through a well-marked water trail. Sweetwater Kayak Rentals delivered the kayaks to the water’s edge and provided life vests, paddles, and good advice. With a bit of a shove, we were off onto the waters of Weedon Preserve. We paddled in sheltered bays watching American oystercatchers and egrets scavenge for food. We glided through earthy-scented mangrove tunnels where the outside world melted away into quiet paradise. Another day we watched the sunset from the fishing pier. A Great Blue Heron walked along one railing while we leaned against the other, content to savor the late afternoon light. A swish in the water heralded a small group of dolphins, one a youngster. A walk up the observation tower is rewarded with an expansive view of the mangrove “islands” with the downtowns of Tampa and St Petersburg just a glimmer in the distance. For more information about Sweetwater Kayaks, check here.
