Pine Island Park

A 3-acre park on the Gulf of Mexico located at 10800 Pine Island Drive (off County Road 495 west of Weeki Wachee). Includes beach and swimming area, picnic tables, shelters, barbecue grills, observation point, volleyball court, playground and concession stand. 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. Houses on stilts alert beach goers that the park and the ocean are near.