If a trip to the Tampa Bay area is in your plans and you want to find some great places to inline skate, you will be happy to know there are several wonderful trails just waiting for you.
Ft. Desoto
Ft. Desoto has consistently been rated as one of the top 5 beaches in the country. It was numero uno in 2005! There are 7 miles or skateable trails constructed from crushed coral and are almost as smooth as new asphalt. There are 3 piers with concession stands and rest rooms along the trail. You will roll by Ft. Desoto, a historic fort built just after 1900 as a defense against an invasion/retaliation from the Spanish American war. You may find it windy along the trails but it is definitely worth it. To get to Ft. Desoto, take the Pinellas Bayway exit (exit #17) west off I-275. You will go through a $.50 toll booth to the second traffic light. Turn left at that traffic light onto hwy 679 (also well marked with signage) to Ft. Desoto. Go through the $.35 toll booth and you will be in the park. Go to the T-intersection and turn right and turn into any of the parking lots you pass on the left. If you take the time to stroll one of the many beaches, you most likely will see dolphins playing in the Gulf.
Pinellas Trail
The Pinellas Trail is a 34 mile long crushed coral path that runs from the historic Greek sponge fishing town of Tarpon Springs at the north end to the southern tip of St. Petersburg. This trail has several overpasses along the southern half and one on the northern half. These overpasses are concrete ramps with a series of short, flat places on both sides of the overpass. One should be comfortable with their balance if you bomb the ramp coming down or at least be able to use your brake. The trail also passes through several coastal towns such as Dunedin, Clearwater and Seminole. In quite a few places the trail will cross roads so you need to be cautious. To get directions or a trail map, visit the website at http://www.pinellascounty.org/trailgd/default.htm.
Withlacoochee Bay Trail
Good news/Bad news. The good news is that this trail is one of the best trails I have ever skated. The bad news is that it is not convenient from most vacation locations. First you have to find Crystal River, FL, which is a Gulf town about 50 miles north of the Tampa Bay area. Once you locate Crystal River, the trail head is on the east side of hwy 19 ten miles north of Crystal River. The trail parallels a Florida Barge Canal. The trail is as smooth an asphalt trail as you will ever find and as flat as you will ever find. There are several covered pavilions and rest rooms along the 5 mile long trail which goes west and ends in a covered shelter overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. For more information and a map, visit the website at: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/crossflorida/trails/with_bay.htm.
Withlacoochee State Trail
Not to be confused with the Withlacoochee Bay Trail, the Withlacoochee State Trail is a 46 mile long crushed coral trail that runs through small towns, ranches and natural areas as it makes its way south from Citrus Springs to Trilby, FL. The trail, like most trails in Florida, is flat. There are outhouse rest rooms along the trail where it passes through towns such as Inverness, Floral City and Istachatta. The trail runs north - south and is north of Tampa. The best waay to find the trail is to get directions from the website at: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/westcentral/trails/with_state.htm.
Suncoast Parkway
The Suncoast Parkway Trail is a 41 mile crushed coral trail that parallels the Suncoast Parkway running north - south with the southern trailhead located just minutes north of the Tampa International Airport. There are a couple of highway intersections that it crosses and a couple that it overpasses. This is a relatively new trail (opened September 2001) and there are outhouse rest rooms along the trail. The only issue I had is that the trail is within view of the Suncoast Parkway the entire route. The Parkway is a toll expressway so you would have a wonderful view of the cars zooming along the road. Here again, for more information - directions and maps, visit the website at: http://www.dot.state.fl.us/turnpikepio/EMO/SuncoastParkwayPage.html.
Walsingham Park
Walsingham Park is located west of Tampa in the town of Largo, FL. This park has a very smooth and flat trail which has nice gentle turns and is very scenic. One loop is 3.5 miles. There are rest rooms and parking throughout the city park. The trail is a combination of crushed coral and concrete. To access the park, from Tampa go south on I-275. Exit west on Ulmerton Road. Ulmerton to highway 19A (not highway 19). South on hwy 19A to Walsingham Road. West on Walsingham to the park's north entrance which will be on the south side of Walsingham Road. There is a convenient parking lot and indoor rest room on the right as you enter the park.
Mike
Merriman
Certified Inline Skating Instructor
Zephyr Inline
Skate Tour Guide