One of our favourite day trips when we are in Orlando is to Passe a Grille beach beside St Pete Beach on the Gulf Coast. We pack a picnic, load up the car and head for St Pete Beach. Once you leave the causeway over to St Pete beach take a left at the traffic lights at the Don Cesar Hotel and head south. The road follows the coast right down to the tip and you can look over the intracoastal water to the magnificent beachside mansions or watch the antics of the pelicans which roost on the mooring posts. The road then turns back on itself and you head north again along side the beach. There is ample on street parking – metered, so remember your quarters – and lots of cross paths through the dune system to the beach.
There aren’t a lot of facilities on Passe a Grille beach but the sea is warm and shallow and the beach isn’t wide so it is suitable for families with small children. About halfway along the beach is the main entrance to the beach with a small café which has limited opening hours, showers and bathroom facilities. Looking north you can see right up the island which is St Pete Beach and it is possible to walk right along it if you so wish. We enjoy just the total relaxation – this beach doesn’t get as busy as the main St Pete Beach and the kids just love to go in and out of the water at their will. We bring boogy boards although the waves might not be good for body boarding the boards are useful for just floating about , we can stay in the sea for hours, just make sure you have plenty of waterproof sunscreen. We usually stay on the beach until early evening, weather permitting! !
In the evening, either we head across the road to Hurricane’s restaurant and bar for something to eat – the seafood and burgers are good here or else we head up into St Pete Beach to Philthy Phils bar and diner, which has become a firm favourite. It’s at the very end of St Pete Beach and just before you turn inland take a left and head towards the sea. Philthy Phils overlooks the sea and has a roof terrace and indoor dining. We can recommend the ceasar salads, the chicken strips and the chips in a bucket.
Once all appetites are sated and the kids are sleepy, we pack them into the car, get them comfy and they usually sleep the whole way home.
There aren’t a lot of facilities on Passe a Grille beach but the sea is warm and shallow and the beach isn’t wide so it is suitable for families with small children. About halfway along the beach is the main entrance to the beach with a small café which has limited opening hours, showers and bathroom facilities. Looking north you can see right up the island which is St Pete Beach and it is possible to walk right along it if you so wish. We enjoy just the total relaxation – this beach doesn’t get as busy as the main St Pete Beach and the kids just love to go in and out of the water at their will. We bring boogy boards although the waves might not be good for body boarding the boards are useful for just floating about , we can stay in the sea for hours, just make sure you have plenty of waterproof sunscreen. We usually stay on the beach until early evening, weather permitting! !
In the evening, either we head across the road to Hurricane’s restaurant and bar for something to eat – the seafood and burgers are good here or else we head up into St Pete Beach to Philthy Phils bar and diner, which has become a firm favourite. It’s at the very end of St Pete Beach and just before you turn inland take a left and head towards the sea. Philthy Phils overlooks the sea and has a roof terrace and indoor dining. We can recommend the ceasar salads, the chicken strips and the chips in a bucket.
Once all appetites are sated and the kids are sleepy, we pack them into the car, get them comfy and they usually sleep the whole way home.