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[Bill Forrester]

The second of our Florida articles.
Fort de Soto is located at the entrance to Tampa Bay on Mullet Key and is the largest park within the Pinellas County. It consists of 1136 acres and is made up of 5 interconnected keys. Amongst the park features are over 7 miles of waterfront including 3 miles of white sandy beaches. These beaches, especially around the fishing piers are very accessible to wheelchair visitors as are the fishing piers themselves and the associated picnic pavilions. The park gives expansive views over the entrance to Tampa Bay, the Sunshine Skyway and the Gulf of Mexico. There is a 2200 foot fully accessible interpretive nature trail adjacent to the visitors centre. The fort is historically significant for its 12 inch mortar battery which was used as a gunnery and bombing range during World War II. The guns were never fired in anger but are the only examples of the 12 inch Seacoast Rifled Mortars in existence in the continental United States.The Fort was added to the National Register of Historic places in 1978. An accessible car park provides direct access to the fort and its gun emplacements. An elevated walkway, which is fully accessible from the car park gives a commanding view over the beaches of Mullet Key, the Fort and the Gulf of Mexico. At the entrance to the park, on Madelaine Key is a major boat launching facility giving access to both the Gulf and Tampa Bay. The launching facility is over 800 foot long and has eleven floating docks. For boaters with a disability it is an excellent facility with close parking on a wide flat surface. Each of the docks have gentle slopes and flat access from the hardstand parking area.







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[KarenB]

We've been to the campground at Fort De Soto. While there aren't any campsites that are specifically marked as accessible most of them are very accessible. The sites are hard packed sand with enough room to park a RV and a car or pitch a tent and still have plenty of wheelchair maneuvering space. The tables have overhangs on the ends so it's possible to pull a wheelchair up close. The restrooms have handicapped toilet and shower stalls but they are a bit cramped and some wheelchair users may find them difficult to use.

Besides the interpretative nature trail there's a seven mile paved bike/walking trail which follows the roads and accesses all of the parks features.

Nice place to visit!