Fort DeSoto Park 3500 Pinellas Bayway, South Tierra Verde, FL 33715 (727) 582-2267

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Named one of the top beaches almost every year by “Dr. Beach,” Fort De Soto has a lot to offer. The beaches are fine sand and perfect for a day of sand castle building. Inside the park are the remains of Fort De Soto that have a history dating all the way back to the 1500s, when the Spanish conquistadors clashed with the Tocobaga Indians. The Fort was actively used as recently as WWII and offers the grandchildren a great place to explore. Rent a six-seat bike with a surrey on top and peddle your grandchildren through the park. Two fishing piers provided lots of opportunity for creating stories about “the one that got away.” With over 1,000 acres made up of five connecting islands, Fort De Soto will keep the grandchildren busy all day.

Info: Free

Hours: Daily dawn to dusk

Age: Tdlr./Pre-Schl. (1-5), Elementary (5-9), Tween (9-12), Teen (12+)