The best way to beat the Florida summer heat is to get wet. And Florida’s Sports Coast offers several ways to take the plunge – some natural, some man-made.

Whether it’s diving and collecting our native seafood, wading into the Gulf from a remote beach, paddling through mangroves, or conquering a water obstacles course made of inflatables, you’re sure to get refreshed and energized in and on the water on Florida’s Sports Coast. 

Scalloping

Of all the water activities on Florida’s Sports Coast, scalloping is probably the most unique. Unlike fishing, you have to get wet when pulling these delicious mollusks from the seagrass beds of the Gulf’s coastal waters. And it just so happens that scallop season is in the summer, during some of the warmest weeks of the year, 40 days in July and August. Wearing snorkeling gear, scallopers dive from a boat in four to eight feet of water, scoop them up, put them in a mesh bag, resurface, deposit them in the boat, then dive down for more. After an exhilarating, refreshing day in the water, you’ll get to enjoy ultra-fresh (and ultra-delicious) seafood.

Beaching It

Anclote Key Preserve State Park features one of the most pristine beaches on Florida’s Gulf coast. It remains that way largely because it’s only accessible by watercraft. (Ferry services are available.) It’s well worth the trip. Wade into the warm, clear Gulf water, have a leisurely swim, toss a ball, don a mask and snorkel, whatever your water-loving heart desires. Relax and dry off on a soft, white sand beach. Under the warm Florida summer sun, you won’t even need a towel! (But bring one anyway.)

Frolicking in Water Parks

Florida’s Sports Coast offers three magnificent water parks, all of which provide surefire experiences to get wet and beat the heat. They make for perfect family fun. Epperson Lagoon in Wesley Chapel is a seven-acre man-made lagoon with turquoise water and gleaming white sand. It includes a floating obstacle course of inflatables, water slides and more. Adults can cool off their own way, at the swim-up tiki bar. Five miles north in San Antonio you’ll find a Mirada Lagoon, which opened in June of 2023. At 15 acres, it’s the largest man-made lagoon in the nation. The park has inflatables, slides, beaches, paddling and more. Along the coast, you’ll find The Lift Adventure Park, with three different experiences: Wake Park is for wakeboarding (appropriate for beginners); Aqua Chimp is a jungle gym on the water; and SunWest Park features an inflatable playground, slides, swings and more. All of these parks have white-sand beaches, lounge chairs, concessions and other amenities. You can also kayak and paddleboard.

Paddling

There are so many places to kayak, canoe or paddleboard on Florida’s Paradise Coast that it would be impossible to cover them all here. But here are a few keys spots: Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park is a 4,000-acre wetland made up of mangrove islands, tidal springs, marshes, and four miles of Gulf coastline (so you can paddle in open waters). The park has many marked trails. For a swim or frolic in the Gulf, take a short paddle out to Durney Key. The Pithlachascotee, or “Cotee,” River, is a deep and slow-moving blackwater river. The best place to explore it is the James E. Grey Preserve in New Port Richey. A canopy of Spanish moss surrounds the Cotee, making it blissfully quiet. It also runs right into New Port Richey, where you can paddle through neighborhoods and dock at waterside restaurants. Farther east is the Withlacoochee River, another peaceful retreat with lush mangroves on its banks. An ideal access spot is Withlacoochee River Park near Dade City. As for leaving your craft and taking a dip, the Withlacoochee is preferable. It has clearer water.

Jet Skiing

Rent a state-of-the-art jet ski at Port Richey Watersports, hit the throttle and tool around Millers Bayou, the Pithlachascotee River and out into the Gulf. There’s a pretty good chance you’ll encounter a school of dolphins that just might put on a little water show for you. Summer is a terrific time to visit Florida’s Sports Coast. With so much to see and do – and so many ways to make a splash — there’s no limit to the ways you can play here!