Things to Do
The island is one minute wide and easy to love. Tap a pin, then go walk it. Historic Pass-a-Grille Way is the north-south road on the bay side, the right-hand road if you are facing the gulf, running next to Dog Beach. The two beach houses are at 201 Gulf Way, so the island spots below are a stroll from there. The Bayway at the north end is the drive to Ft De Soto.
The Short List
Gulf Way
The cottage and the beach house are at 201 Gulf Way. The beach is across the street, and 8th Avenue is a walk from there.
Paradise Grille and the Sunset Bell
Toes in the sand at 900 Gulf Way, at the foot of 11th Ave. Stay for sunset: someone rings the bell 15 times, a tradition since 1997. You can ask to be the ringer.
The Hurricane
The green three-story landmark at 809 Gulf Way, on the corner at 9th Ave. Rooftop sunsets since 1977.
The Brass Monkey
Gulf-front at 709 Gulf Way, a block south of the Hurricane. Second-story deck, sunsets, the name and sign everyone remembers. They like to say they overlook nothing but the Gulf.
8th Avenue
The one-block brick main street between the gulf and the bay. Ripley's Believe It or Not once called it the smallest main street in America. Grace, The Dewey, the galleries and the ice cream are all here.
Merry Pier
Fishing and the Shell Key Shuttle from the bay end of 8th Ave, doing it since 1902. Bait, bikes and dolphins on the way out.
Gulf Beaches Historical Museum
The island's memory inside a 1917 church at 115 10th Ave. Free, small, genuinely charming.
Hurley Park
The island's playground at 1501 Gulf Way, on 15th Ave. Tennis, pickleball courts, basketball, dog park and baseball, right across from the sand.
The Wharf and Red, White & Booze
The waterfront restaurants everyone asks about, side by side on the bay around 21st and 22nd Avenues. Docks out back; come by car or boat.
The Bayway Bridge
The causeway at the north end by the Don. Drive to Ft De Soto that way; keep going and you hit the mainland.
The Don CeSar
The pink palace at 3400 Gulf Blvd, holding the north end of the beach since 1928. Sunset drinks, Sunday brunch, a lobby worth wandering.
Historic Pass-a-Grille Way
The north-south road on the bay side, next to Dog Beach and the docks. Walk it and you will pass the green historical marker: fishermen grilling their catch, the French name Passe-aux-Grilleurs, homesteaded 1886, a National Historic District since 1989.
Dog Beach
The island's one dog-legal beach: bay side, south end, between 1st and 3rd Avenues. Calm channel water, sunset views of Shell Key. Historic Pass-a-Grille Way is the road right beside it.
The South Tip
The locals' shelling spot at the very end of the island. A jetty, a small fishing pier, 180 degrees of saltwater quiet, Shell Key across the channel.
Morning on the Bay, Evening on the Gulf
Island Posters
Back across Gulf Way
The beach houses look across Gulf Way at the sand. When the walk is done, that is the way back. Blue Heron is a different trip, on the Manatee River in Ellenton, and it is not pinned on this map.
Check DatesBlue Heron is not on this map
Blue Heron Riverfront Retreat is at 503 Manatee Avenue, Ellenton, on the Manatee River. Sarasota is about 20 to 30 minutes. Tampa is about 45. Siesta Key, Lido, and St. Pete Beach are day trips from the river house. This watercolor map stays on Pass-a-Grille for the cottage and the beach house.
Blue Heron