Author: Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA
Hammock Park – Dunedin Florida’s Best Kept Secret
Hammock Park is indeed Dunedin Florida’s best kept secret! Located south of Michigan Blvd and east of Bayshore (Alt 19), this 90 acre nature preserve is Florida at it’s finest!
This amazing coastal forest is one of the last remaining examples of how West Central Florida looked before the land development companies moved in. From tiny hummingbirds to the graceful osprey, from fox and raccoon to wild tangerine and orange trees, this park offers a real learning experience.
You can enter the park on San Mateo Drive and park just beyond the Butterfly Garden that is the latest addition to Hammock Park. The Butterfly Garden is home to more than thirty-five species of butterflies!
Next to the Butterfly Garden and directly on San Mateo Drive is historic Andrews Memorial Chapel, which has it’s own interesting history and was built in 1888. 
There are also areas to park your car and enter the park on Harvard Avenue and off McCarty Street. The Harris Woods Entrance off McCarty Street has limited parking. There is a foot trail entrance off Mira Vista Drive and San Mateo (the Sugarberry Entrance) as well but there is no place to park at this entrance.
No matter where you enter the park, Hammock Park is a real treat with well maintained trails that meander through the lush vegetation. This is just one more example of the beautiful parks and nature preserves in and around the Dunedin Florida area!
Caladesi Island State Park – Dunedin Florida
Caladesi Island State Park is a completely natural island off the coast of Dunedin Florida that comprises over 650 upland acres of land and more than 1800 acres of grass flats and mangroves. To get to Caladesi Island you must travel by boat. The Florida Park’s Department makes that possible by having a ferry connecting Honeymoon Island State Park to Caladesi Island State Park. The ferry runs hourly during the winter months and every half hour from mid-February to mid-September. 
Once you get to Caladesi Island State Park, you can enjoy over three miles of nature trails for hiking, over three miles of relatively empty beach for your bathing pleasure, restrooms and showers in the pavilions that are provided by the park service and some of the best shell collecting opportunities around! Caladesi Island State Park also offers shaded picnic and grilling areas, a children’s playground, a snack bar and gift shop. Naturally, there are also fantastic fishing areas and kayak paddling trails through the mangroves. Don’t have your own kayak? No problem, the park offers kayak rentals as well as chair and umbrella rentals. There is even a marina that offers electric and water hookups!
If you are interested in boat camping on Caladesi Island, you need to make reservations. It is possible to make reservations up to 11 months in advance and it is indeed a good idea to take advantage of these advance reservations to get the time slot that you are after! Everybody loves camping on this pristine island that offers the sounds of the waves breaking on shore to lull you to sleep. You can come with your own boat (up to 40 ft in length), tie up to your reserved dock slot and enjoy a night or several nights of memorable camping on Caladesi Island State Park! You can also bring your private boat over to the island and dock for the day to use the beach, café and facilities. To dock for the day (no overnight boat camping) the fee is $6 (up to 8 people can be on the boat). So there are several ways to enjoy this great park!
Honeymoon Island State Park – Dunedin Florida
Honeymoon Island State Park located just off-shore from Dunedin Florida, is indeed breathtaking year round!
To get to Honeymoon Island, one takes the Dunedin Causeway and travel’s west. The gate opens at 8 am daily, 365 days a year, and remains open until sundown.
Here you can not only enjoy beautiful sandy beaches, collect magnificent seashells and bath in the sparkling waters of the Gulf of Mexico, but you can also bring your pet pup and romp in the doggie park! There is a specific doggie park complete with shower area for poochie! Pets must remain on a 6 foot leash at all times while in the park. They have really thought of everything here.
If you would prefer taking the ferry over to Caladesi Island, the ferry launch is also within Honeymoon Island State Park.
No need to bring lunch since the park has a restaurant. There are also restrooms and showers at the pavilions. You can enjoy hiking the 2.5 mile trail through the Osprey nesting area of slash pines or walk over 4 miles of breathtakingly beautiful shoreline! There are picnic and grilling areas, kayak launching areas as well as a playground on the north end of the island. Kayaks, beach umbrellas and beach chairs are also available for rent at Cafe Honeymoon or at the Honeymoon Pavilion. You can call 727-736-2132 for more information.
Be sure to check out the Nature Center to learn more about the island’s history, as well as about native plants and animals. If you decide to go fishing, remember that you do need a fishing license, even for shoreline fishing!
Honeymoon Island State Park is a wonderful place to enjoy our great seashore. Open every day of the year, it is my personal favorite place to go to the beach as well as to collect seashells to decorate the home and garden.
Brooker Creek Preserve In Tarpon Springs Florida
Brooker Creek Preserve in Tarpon Springs Florida covers approximately 8700 acres and is the largest natural area within Pinellas County. Established in 1992, Brooker Creek Preserve is located off of Keystone Road and consists mostly of forested wetlands. It is one of my favorite places to visit since your chances are excellent of running into wildlife here. With over four miles of hiking trails and well over nine miles of horse trails, this is a great place to connect with nature.
Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center offers educational classes, exhibits, workshops, presentations, public outreach activities and guided hikes through this vast natural setting. The physical Center is a three building complex with over 25,000 sq ft which includes indoor and outdoor classrooms, a 6,000 sq ft exhibit area and an auditorium that can handle two hundred visitors. The Center also offers the public assistance with such things as identification of local plants, landscaping with local plants and retention pond reclamation. There are educational programs for the entire family and also specifically for children of various age groups. Schools also take advantage of all that Brooker Creek Preserve’s Environmental Education Center has to offer by bringing children out on field trips from the local public and private schools.
One of my personal favorite things that the Education Center does is offer various summer camps for the local children. What better way to become familiar with the habitat and have a great time doing it?
Looking for something to do on the weekend? Brooker Creek Preserve also offers guided tours on Saturdays. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult and pre-registration is required. The winter months are a wonderful time to take advantage of these tours and those weeks when the kids are off for the Holidays lend plenty of time to take advantage of this great opportunity to get to know more about Brooker Creek Preserve!
Rusty Bellies Waterfront Grill – Tarpon Springs Florida
Rusty Bellies Waterfront Grill in Tarpon Springs, Florida is a great destination for fresh seafood cooked to perfection. Located in the historic Sponge Docks area, this family owned and operated restaurant has its own boats. You can dine inside or out back, overlooking the bayou. From there you can watch the boats being unloaded.
Be sure to check out the outside bar area. There is waterfront seating there as well and what I love is that there is always a great breeze! Live music all weekend and plenty of parking make this a great destination. Located on the west end of the Sponge Docks, give them a call at 727-934-4047 to check for reservations. This is one restaurant that you will be visiting again if you love fresh seafood.
While you are there, be sure to check out the family owned and operated seafood market directly next door to Rusty Bellies, Pelican Point Seafood. Pelican Point Seafood accepts local commercial fishermen’s fresh catches and then sells it to you, the consumer. That is called getting it really fresh!
Remember both of these locations, Rusty Bellies and Pelican Point Seafood, the next time you are in Tarpon Springs Florida.
Local Golf Courses – Central & South Pinellas County
Local Golf Courses – Central & South Pinellas County Florida
Central & South Pinellas County Florida have many wonderful golf courses and a convenient list is something that every golfer appreciates! With that in mind, here is a summary of what awaits you in our county if you are south of Clearwater:
Baypointe Golf Club 727-595-2095
This public par 61 course allows walking but electric carts are also available.
Bardmoor Golf Club 727-392-1234
Home of the PGA JCPenney Classic, the Bardmoor Golf & Tennis Club of Largo offers many great packages for family enjoyment.
Bayou Club Golf 727-399-1000
The Bayou Club course offers 16 water hazards on this 18 hole course. Tom Fazio designed this Largo course with a state-of-the-art practice facility.
East Bay Golf Club 727-581-3333
Located in Largo Florida, this semi-private par 71 course is convenient to the Gulf Beaches.
Isla del Sol Golf Club 727-906-4752
A par 71 course, this 18 hole course is part of the Isla del Sol Yacht & Country Club in St Petersburg.
Mainlands Golf Club 727-577-4847
This 40 year old public golf course located in Pinellas Park Florida is a par 67 course.
Mangrove Bay Golf Course 727-893-7800
Mangrove Bay Golf Course is an 18 hole 72-par course on 180 acres in northeast St Petersburg.
Pasadena Country Club 727-381-8337
The Pasadena Golf Club is part of the Pasadena Yacht & Country Club, located in southwest St Petersburg. Founded in 1924, this 18 hole course has been played by many famous golfers such as Arnold Palmer and Walter Hagen.
Pinecrest Golf Course 727-584-6497
A semi-private par 55 short course allows walking and also offers golf carts. Located in Largo Florida.
Renaissance Vinoy Golf Course 727-896-8000
Located in beautiful Snell Isle, this private 71-par 18 hole course is one St Petersburg course you will want to check out.
Seminole Lake Country Club 727-391-3318
This 18 hole championship course offers magnificent views of Long Bayou and Lake Seminole. Another course that Arnold Palmer has played.
St. Petersburg Country Club 727-867-2111
St. Petersburg Country Club was first opened in 1924 and has a long history that includes being home to the New Year’s Invitational, which is the South’s oldest amateur tournament. This private par 72 course borders Boyd Hill Nature Preserve.
Tides Golf Club 727-393-8483
A semi-private par 72 course located along Boca Ciega Bay in Seminole Florida, this course was established in 1973. This course is convenient to the Gulf Beaches.
Pricing Your Home For Sale – What Is Involved?
Pricing your home for sale is something that Realtors do on a daily basis and why you need to work with a Realtor.
Your Realtor will first take a complete inventory of what features your home has to offer. Naturally the number of bedrooms and bathrooms as well as the square footage plays a role in the price but there are so many other factors that are involved. Have you updated the kitchen and bathrooms? How about those appliances? How old is the air conditioning system? Did you just get a new compressor or was the entire system replaced? How about the roof? How old is it and when you updated the roof, did you do it recently enough that it meets the newer hurricane safety standards? The same applies to the cage around your pool – is it up to par with the latest code for hurricane winds? These are just some of the things that are going to assist in determining the list price.
There are many other factors involved. The flooring is extremely important. Most people today do NOT want carpeting in any rooms except perhaps the bedrooms. I remember in the sixties; shag carpeting in the bathrooms was the thing. Today people realize that carpet hides so many organisms that they generally don’t want it in the house. When was the last time the house was painted – inside and out? What do the gutters look like? How about the landscaping? Great landscaping can make the difference between getting people out of the car and into the house! That first appearance DOES count!
This may sound like an enormous laundry list but they are ALL items your Realtor takes into consideration when pricing your home for sale. Remember, this information as well as what other homes in the area have sold for within the last six months, is all combined to reach that magic number. It is a process that takes a little time and the better you have cared for your castle, the higher that number is going to be.
Listen to your Realtor when suggestions are offered on things you can do NOW to increase the selling potential of your home. We do this daily and know what we are talking about! There are many things you can do to make showing your home flow seamlessly. Crate those pets, clean that litter box daily, keep the trash cans out of sight and empty, the kitchen should be spotless. Sound like a lot? Your Realtor wants you to get top dollar. Work with a Realtor. Together you can be a winning team that will get your home SOLD.
Purchasing Waterfront Property In The Palm Harbor Florida Area
Purchasing Waterfront Property In The Palm Harbor Florida Area – Tips & Advice
What are some of the things you need to know about purchasing waterfront property here in the Palm Harbor Florida area:
Type of Waterfront Property: The term ‘waterfront’ can mean anything here from direct ocean access and view to being on a salt water canal with direct ocean access, salt water canal with fixed bridges, canals with no ocean access, fresh water canals and lakes, ponds and even retention ponds. ALL of these are ‘waterfront’ classifications!
Sea Walls: If you are purchasing waterfront property and there is a seawall, you need to have a seawall inspection completed by a seawall specialist or a structural engineer. The inspection will cover the condition of the actual seawall as well as any cracks or structural issues in the area of the dock.
Boat Docks: The dock also needs to be inspected prior to purchase. What condition is the dock in? If you are intending on adding a dock, be sure to contact the local government office responsible for permits to make sure that you will be allowed to add that dock after purchase.
Lifts and Davits: Unless your boat is so large that it must be in the water at all times, most boat owners will choose to keep their vessel out of the water. Inspecting the davits is always recommended!
Not all canals are equal! Often homes located at the end of a salt water canal farthest from the open sea will find that there are times they cannot put their boat into the water due to low tides. If you think this may be an issue, check the depth of the water behind your prospective property during low tide prior to purchasing.
These are all items that you need to be aware of if you are considering purchasing waterfront property. The Palm Harbor Florida area has numerous waterfront homes currently on the market. Contact me for a list of homes available and let’s begin your search!
Blue Sink Of Palm Harbor Florida – Now Part Of Hidden Lake Subdivision
Blue Sink of Palm Harbor Florida was once a popular swimming hole. Those who grew up here remember being able to go swimming in Blue Sink back in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s. The sink hole is 190′ deep and the kids used to swim and dive down there. The majestic live oak trees at the water’s edge provided a place to hang a swing and the limbs were great diving platforms!
Back then, the area was surrounded by orange groves and the kids got there via their bikes. With a shot gun slung over his shoulder, my partner Ron used to go there with his buddies to cool off after an afternoon of target practice once they got out of elementary and middle school. That was in the 50’s and 60’s, when nobody thought anything about a kid on a bike with a shotgun over his shoulder. They were boys just being boys.
During the 1980’s the property was developed, homes were built (the Hidden Lake Community was established) and the property around Blue Sink was purchased. This property consisted of just under three acres of land with the fabulous Blue Sink in the middle. A three bedroom two bath home was built, fences put up and that was the end of the kids being able to swim in the sink hole.
While the Hidden Lake Community of Palm Harbor Florida does have a great public park on a large lake complete with tennis courts and playground, it would have been great if the developers had included this land into the public park area. Perhaps one day the land will be returned to the public. In the meantime, the only views to the public are aerial and the only swimming done in Blue Sink is done by the Koi Fish that call it home.