Park is One of Florida's Hidden Treasures

Alfred McKethan Park Boasts White Sandy Beach and Glorious Sunsets

Mar 23, 2009

This small park on the Gulf Coast has something for everyone with volleyball, a playground, restaurant and white sand beach that crowns the peninsula of Pine Island.

About an hour north of the large tourist beaches of Clearwater, Fla., tucked away on the remote Pine Island is one of the best places in Florida to view the setting sun as it disappears into the Gulf of Mexico.

But while the sunset provides as wonderful end to the day, the rest of the amenities at Alfred McKethan Park in Hernando County make this beach a must stop for any Florida trip.

Getting to Alfred McKethan Park is as much of a Florida experience as the beach itself. Pine Island is mostly undeveloped and is covered by swamp.

The roads to the park wind through this natural area and the kids can marvel at the bear crossing signs near the Weeki Wachee nature preserve.

The beach is made of fine white sand that you would be hard pressed to find anywhere else. The sand covers the tip of the island’s peninsula that jets out from the island, giving beach goers three areas of swimming.

Through the center of the beach runs a walking path that leads to an observation deck right over the water for viewing the tiny schools of fish that sometimes venture to the shore.

With so much area for swimming, it is easy to stake out a spot with easy access to the swimming area which only gets about waist deep out the buoys some 60 yards out making it great for children.

Also for the children, a large play area is located near the parking lot for some time out of the surf and a chance for adults to sit on the shaded benches.

The park also offers barbecue grills for cooking out along with a volleyball court making this a great place for large groups to gather.

If making your own food is not your style, the park also is home to Willy’s Tropical Breeze, a restaurant serving traditional American food including hamburgers and hot dogs.

Willy’s completes the look with tables equipped with umbrellas made from grass to give it that authentic tropical feel.

While all of Alfred McKethan Park’s features are worth the visit, the most memorable part of the visit is the sunset. With the peninsula it sits on facing a west, the beach offers an unobstructed view of the sun as it goes down over the water.

Locals and tourists alike gather at the park as dusk sets in to watch the spectacle from the many vantage points offered by the park. And with palm trees dotting the beach area, photo opportunities are plentiful.

The bright colors dancing off the ocean is certainly a memory you will want to capture on film.

Go Early or Late

While the park may not be on many travel itineraries, it is a small beach with limited occupancy.

Getting there early in the morning when the park opens at 8 a.m. is a good way to get a spot. If you have more time and patients late afternoon is generally less crowded as well.

The latter option may be the best bet for those who want to watch the sun set over the gulf.

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