Snorkeling for Scallops in Florida

Scalloping season is June 27 - September 24, 2015.

While most water activities can be enjoyed year round in Florida, certain activities follow a season.  Scalloping is one of them. 

Think of a treasure hunt, Easter egg hunt, and underwater adventure rolled into one.  Scalloping is a great experience and one that should be included in any Florida trip.  From the moment you enter the water, it becomes a different world.  As you swim over the turtle grass, you get such a sense of tranquility that you will almost forget you are there to hunt scallops.  Jelly fish, barrel sponges and more all make an appearance to make your experience memorable.

Scalloping is an activity that can be enjoyed by the whole family and makes for a great day on the water!       

As your search through the underwater grasses  begins, you find yourself caught up in the hunt.  The adventure has begun.  While scallops can be a little hard to find, as they tend to blend in with their surroundings, their electric blue eyes (yep, eyes, and lots of them) make them noticeable in the tall grass. Once you find the first scallop, locating them becomes much easier.  Just watch out for the swimmers....catching them mid swim is a blast but watch your fingers.  I can tell you from experience that when the shell closes on a finger, it hurts! 

So, you've met your limit of scallops, now what?  You can have them shucked dockside for a very reasonable price.  After that you only have to ask yourself.......

Pan Seared or Bacon Wrapped?



Happy hunting and "bon appetit!"

Tis the Season....for Monarch Butterflies

"Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."

Nathaniel Hawthorne

At Gulfside Resorts, we always anticipate the beginning of Spring as the owner (Lee Wilkerson) has planned and planted our garden area at 810 Gulfside to attract Monarch butterflies.  With 4 generations last year and the emergence of our 1st generation this year, we are looking forward to another year of delighting our guests (and ourselves) with our butterfly garden.

Getting ready for transformation....into....

   Ta-da...introducing the first and most recent addition to the Gulfside Resorts family.

You too can plant a butterfly garden, regardless of your location.  The following link (please click picture) will take you to a regional butterfly garden guide:

 

 Here you will find recommended feeder gardens for both butterflies and caterpillars.  

So grab a spade, your own little corner of the yard and get to planning and planting.   Below is Mary Wilkerson's successful experiment with urban gardening, one large planter, 24" of dirt, 3 milkweed plants.... she increased the monarch population by 25... :-)

Happy planting!

Cycling our beaches and trails...

 

The Pinellas Trail stretches from St. Petersburg in the south to Tarpon Springs in the north.  It has 42.5 miles of bike trails taking you through some of the most beautiful scenery in the county.  

From tree lined trails to white, sandy beaches along the Gulf of Mexico.... your bike ride will be a very memorable one.

                                       

Honeymoon Island to the north....Fort Desoto to the south.... the only question you need to ask "Which way to go?"

From Gulfside Resorts in Indian Rocks Beach, pick up the trail in either Largo or Belleair.

You can visit Pinellas Trail and view the discovery map for a list of pick up points throughout Pinellas County.

Following are a few pictures from different points of the trail....

                                         Our 15 minutes of fame......Hall of Fame that is!

 

                                         Safely cross major roads with the bike bridge

                                          Hungry? Stop in Dunedin....The Boxcar Cafe

                                          Anclote Wetlands....

                                          Ozona....

                                          Taylor Park....Just down from Gulfside Resorts

So, bring your bicycle, or take one of ours, and enjoy your ride through our little corner of paradise!