Every time I go to the Sunshine State, I try to squeeze in beach time. Unfortunately, during my stay a few months ago, I didn’t have time for an all day trek to the beach. So I did what most beach bums would do, I scoured Google Maps and found Cypress Point Park and Beach. It was close enough to the airport that I was able to squeeze in an hour of beach time, catch up on some prayer and relaxation, and see planes heading to and from their destinations.
I lived in Tampa for many years and I always went to the beaches in Clearwater, St. Petersburg, or Ft. DeSoto. The beaches in these places are wonderful, but sometimes crowded. I didn’t know about Cypress Point until I Googled. I am so glad I found Cypress Point because it was the perfect place for me to relax and get my beach fix without risking missing my flight. I wish I’d known about it when I lived there.
My family traveled to Florida and we planned a beach day at Ft. DeSoto. The forecast all over the bay was rain, except for one small stretch of land that happened to be Cypress Park and Beach. We scrapped our Ft. DeSoto plans and headed to the hidden gem.
When we arrived around 10 am on a Friday, we were the only ones there. We enjoyed the beach to ourself for about 2 hours until two fisherman, a mother with 3 small children, and someone on his lunch break came and joined us. The water was perfect and the kids enjoyed making sandcastles and exploring the lush greenery surrounding the beach.
While the seclusion was a perk, there are many other perks that make a visit to Cypress Park worth the trek.
Fly High
Since the airport is so close, visitors to Cypress Point can see planes traveling to and from the airport. This view is both fun for adults and children and even makes a fun counting activity for small kids. We had our three year old niece with us on the trip and she really got a kick out of seeing the planes.
Food and Fun
There are pavilions and grills sprinkled throughout Cypress Point which provide a great opportunity to spend all day at this beach. Bring your own food and barbecue supplies and enjoy the day. The park opens at sunrise and closes at sunset so there is a great opportunity to plan your day at Cypress Point.
Exercise Trail
Want to take care of some physical wellness while enjoying the sights and sounds of the beach? Then Cypress Point is the place for you. There are .9 miles of asphalt trail and .44 miles of nature trail. I enjoyed a stroll on the trail with my son and at times I forgot I was on the beach because of the beautiful greenery and animals.
Animal sightings
We saw five dolphins swimming close to shore, two rabbits hopping about the green area, and a lizard sunbathing on the walking trail. Of course their were seagulls and other birds, but seeing the land animals was a pleasant surprise.
There is also a play area, clean restrooms, and beautiful dunes with plenty of native plants and great views. Don’t overlook this gem and check out Cypress Point Park and Beach.