 VIBE: Relaxed Archibald Beach Park, 15100 Gulf Blvd, Madeira Beach, FL 33708 What is one of the best beaches to see dolphins in Florida? Madeira Beach, near Clearwater, has an Intracoastal Waterway that's perfect for viewing dolphins. It's been awhile since we visited Madeira Beach: five years to be exact. We went back again to relive the memories that made our first visit so special. There are a lot of unique things about Madeira Beach. Not only does it offer a beautiful white sand beach, but it also has one-of-a-kind shopping at John's Pass, dining and a unique lift bridge. Madeira Beach was named the No. 9 Beach in the U.S. by Tripadvisor for 2021. We think Tripadvisor should take another look in 2022! Madeira Beach Sand  Photo: 1111651 © Bo Widerberg | Dreamstime.com All of the Clearwater, Florida beaches are famous for their white sand. Madeira Beach is included in this sugary textured sand that is completely natural to the area. Like Siesta Key, even on the hottest day the sand is cooler on your feet than other beaches because of its crystal-like quality. Madeira Beach is flat with no steep drop off into the Gulf. The beaches are clean and groomed daily for visitors. Madeira Beach Water  Madeira Beach shares the incredible clear, turquoise water found at Florida Gulf beaches like Bradenton Beach. It is perfect for wading and swimming. Most of the time you can see right down to your feet. It's not uncommon to see a wide variety of fish swimming around you, some of them quite large! It's unlikely you will find waves at Madeira Beach. Calm and gentle water is the trademark here. Madeira Beach Parking and Amenities  Oh dear, the parking. There are a lot of private residences that are oceanfront, so it is not easy to get to the beachfront. Archibald Beach Park has metered parking but get there early. You may find other beach access points on Gulf Blvd. with some limited parking. Close to the John's Pass Plaza, Village & Boardwalk there is plenty of parking, but you will have to pay more for it than metered parking. In addition to surface parking spaces, John's Pass Plaza also offers a 6 level parking garage with 323 spaces. The garage is located in the Southwest Corner of John’s Pass Plaza at 179 Boardwalk Place, Madeira Beach. Here are some precise directions. Be prepared for line-ups to get in and out of the area during the busy tourist season, as well as $20+ fees to park. However, this Gulf beach area has a beach shuttle so read more below to take advantage of the service. Madeira Beach Activities A free local door-to-door shuttle service to the beach is available using an app you can download. Be prepared to tip the driver. Free Beach Ride is open from 8am–3am, every day. No trip to "Mad Beach" is complete without a visit to John's Pass. This well-known shopping destination is very "touristy" but has some unique shops you are sure to love. Over one hundred merchants inhabit the Village including restaurants. We took some time to eat at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company and watch dolphins swimming by. Delicious and what a view!  Great lunch and drinks at Bubba Gump  Photo Credit: Ricardo Liberato flickr Look Out! This Could Happen...  Photo: Red Tide courtesy of NOAA Red Tide is a bad thing that can happen on Florida's Gulf beaches. In the Gulf of Mexico, some harmful algae blooms can cause respiratory illness and eye irritation in humans. It can also kill marine life, and leave beaches littered with dead fish. Bloom impacts vary by beach and throughout the day. We have experienced this a few times and had to leave the beach. Before you head out on a road trip to the beach, check the forecasts for red tide blooms in the Gulf of Mexico (and East Coast of Florida). You can find the forecasts and up-to-date conditions by clicking here. What We Really Think About Madeira Beach  Beer at Bubba Gump's We really enjoyed visiting Madeira Beach. There is no way you can get bored at this Gulf beach location. We went shopping, walked over the lift bridge, dined on the water and enjoyed the beachfront. The parking garage was a big help although it isn't cheap beach parking. The water was warming up during our visit and walking along silky sand was perfect. It might be worth an overnight stay to do all the exploring you desire. Madeira Beach Hotels  John' Pass Hotel Madeira Beach Dining  Bubba Gump's at Mad Beach You Might Also Enjoy: Comments are closed.
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