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| Pine Island Beach – View to the Gulf of Mexico |
So Veterans Day came and went…how did you spend it?
My family and I took some time (in between writing an offer for a customer in Ohio in the morning and Marching Band Practice at Springstead High School in the evening) to go visit one of our favorite spots in Hernando County…Pine Island Beach. Far from the commercial beaches of Clearwater, Pine Island almost feels like a private beach…it takes no more than 4-5 minutes to walk from one side of the park to the other (at a leisurely pace) and it never feels crowded.
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Contrary to popular belief (at least to those who don’t already live here), Pine Island is the only real “beach” in Hernando County. Many think Hernando Beach is “the beach” but it’s actually just the name of a waterfront community (3, actually…Hernando Beach North, Hernando Beach Central, and Hernando Beach South) of houses with canals leading out to the Gulf of Mexico.
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| Walkway towards the pier |
There are so many wonderful things about Pine Island Beach…The dolphins come swimming right up close, the water (even 100 yards out) is only waist deep (which makes it incredibly warm and relaxing), the sand is soft just like you’d hope, and perhaps the most surprising thing is Willy’s Tropical Breeze Cafe.
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| Willy’s is absolutely fantastic – a must-stop while you’re in Hernando County |
Walk up to the window, place your order and take a seat either on the picnic tables in the sun or under the Tiki Hut for some shade. 5-10 minutes later your food is ready, freshly prepared and shockingly good.
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| Willy’s from across the parking lot. |
Given the “beachside shack” feel of the place, you’d expect heavy greasy food from a fryer with not much flavor and overpriced as well….but not here. Natalie was amazed at the best coconut shrimp she’s “ever had” (and she’s had some pretty darned fancy coconut shrimp before…I’d even go so far as to say she’s a connoisseur of coconut shrimp). I had the crab cakes with french fries and cole slaw for $10.95 and they were fantastic as well…definitely a wonderful place to have lunch for both the food, price, and scenery.
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| The Park at Pine Island Beach |
Have kids with you? No problem at all! For your (their) enjoyment, Pine Island has a beautiful grassy park.
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| Excellent entertainment for the kids! |
Including a beach volleyball court and a fort/pirate ship/fire station/etc.
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| Beach-front cabanas shade picnic tables and each has its own BBQ pit |
So the next time you’re thinking about Hernando County – think about Pine Island Beach – one of the best reasons to live on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
::Post-Script (added 10/26/2009)::
In response to a couple of the comments below, I felt it to be a great idea to include a couple of photographs sent to me by Trina Bowden of AAA Insurance as well as a flyer for the Bark Island events (where you can bring your pooch to the beach for some fun in the waves!).
Bride on the Beach at Pine Island
Wedding Vows at Pine Island Beach
Guestbook Theme
First Kiss on the Pier
::For Dog Lovers::
Click Here to View the Flyer for Bark Island
For reference Trina is an Insurance Agent for AAA in Spring Hill and she is writing home and auto package policies saving people lots of money. So if you know anyone looking to save on insurance, feel free to send them her way. 352-683-3446 Ext 2242 – tbowden@aaasouth.com
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About the Author
Josh Hanoud is the #1 Top Producing Agent at Tropic Shores Realty in Spring Hill, FL and in the top 3% of all real estate agents in Hernando County, Florida (2007). He also happens to be the co-founder (along with Natalie) of the
Hernando Luxury Homes website which aims to showcase the best properties that Hernando County and the surrounding Nature Coast has to offer. Whether buying, selling, relocating, or investing - Josh & Natalie are proud to offer a higher level of service. Contact them today at 352-397-5182 or Josh@HernandoLuxuryHomes.com to see what they can do for you.
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i would love to have my wedding on pine island beach and i would like to know who i can contact to make it happen? i’ve been at this beach before and i thought it was so beautiful, i loved it. so if i can get information that would be great, thanks
Hi Ashley – I would contact the Hernando County Parks & Recreation Department using the following information:
Charles “Pat” Fagan, Director
Hernando County Parks and Recreation 205 E. Fort Dade Avenue, Brooksville, Florida 34601
Phone:(352) 754-4027 Fax:(352) 754-4427 E -mail: patf@co.hernando.fl.us
Best of luck! Send us some photos – we’d love to post’em up online!
We are having difficulty locating properties (homes)
for sale on Pine Island….Can you help?
Hi John & Janice – I can absolutely help – when you have a chance, head over to the Buyer Search Request page and we’ll set up a custom MLS Search for you specifically for properties on/around Pine Island!
I would like to know what time the park opens
please.
Hi Linda,
The park opens at 8:00am and generally closes at sundown.
Can you bring your dog on the beach?
Hi Blaire – while the park doesn’t have any specific “dog areas”, and I’ve never SEEN any dogs running around there… I don’t know whether it’s dog-friendly or not. I would call Willy’s Tropical Breeze Cafe and ask them (they work there every day and would know much better than I). Their number is (352) 596-0700. While you’re at it, you should sign up for the Keep Willy’s at Pine Island Park Facebook Group! After building this business for over 18 years, the county is considering kicking Willy out because they think they can get a higher lease-rate from someone else (because of Willy’s hard work!). Sign up for the group – head out to the beach, get some food, and sign the petition to keep Willy’s at Pine Island Park!
Caught a sunset at Pine Island the other day – Click the link to take a look at some more photos of Pine Island Beach!
Hi Josh,
I got married on Pine Island back in 2005 and it was picture perfect. I’ll email you some of the pics.
Also, for the lady who was asking about taking her dog to Pine Island, they have Bark Island days set aside for when you can bring your dog. It runs every other Saturday starting 9/26 and runs through 3/20. I’ll email you the flyer from their website.
I’m an Insurance Agency for AAA in Spring Hill and we are writing home and auto package policies saving people lots of money. So if you know anyone looking to save on insurance, feel free to send them my way. 352-683-3446 Ext 2242 tbowden@aaasouth.com
Trina – thanks very much for the information! I’ve updated the main post above to incorporate a couple of the photographs you sent me as well as the flyer about Bark Island (when you can bring your dogs to the park!)
Thanks again
-Josh
I’d like to know if metal detecting is permitted at the Pine Island Beach. I’m a member of FMDAC (Federation of Metal Detecting and Archaelogical Clubs) and a member of the Miami Valley Coin and Relic Hunters Club in Fort Wayne, IN. Very responsible, comply with our Code of Ethics, fill in all holes, and cover them up. Please contact me by Fri. a.m.
Thank you.
Trudy
Hi Trudy – thanks very much for getting in touch!
Regarding metal detecting on Pine Island Beach, I would recommend the same thing that I said to Ashley earlier (as follows)
I would contact the Hernando County Parks & Recreation Department using the following information:
Charles “Pat” Fagan, Director
Hernando County Parks and Recreation 205 E. Fort Dade Avenue, Brooksville, Florida 34601
Phone:(352) 754-4027 Fax:(352) 754-4427 E -mail: patf@co.hernando.fl.us
Alternatively (and this is not “professional” advice…just a random suggestion floating around in my head…), I would just go and do your thing (being concientious and filling your holes in and whatnot as you go) … If someone says something (which most likely won’t happen), you say “oops, I had no idea I wasn’t supposed to do this here” and then go from there… In the meantime, if nobody says you “can’t” do it… I’d suggest that you can?
If you call the Hernando County Parks & Recreation Dept, please come back here and let the rest of us know what their response was to your question – and if you find anything really neat, take a picture and email it to Josh@HernandoLuxuryHomes.com and we’ll post it up!
Thanks again for getting in touch, and if I can be of any further assistance, don’t hesitate to call, email, facebook, text, or comment on the blog any time!
-Josh
How do you get to Pine Island from Port Richey/Hudson area?
Hi Shelly,
Head up US-19 until you get to SR-50/Cortez Boulevard. Take a left at the light onto Cortez Boulevard and follow it down until you get to The Bayport Inn at the corner of Cortez and Pine Island Drive. Take a right onto Pine Island Drive and just keep going until you get there (it’s at the end of Pine Island Drive)!
Click Here to View a Google Map!