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2/25-3/2/2025, Tuesday-Sunday - Biked the Pinellas Trail Loop

  • joraintree
  • Mar 3
  • 4 min read

We saw the really long Pinellas Trail Loop on the map, so we decided to bike it, of course. We did it in sections, over several days. The Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail is 46 miles long and runs in a rough "C" shape from Tarpon Springs to St. Petersburg. It is the main part of the 75-mile Pinellas Trail Loop which uses other trails to complete the loop, although there are still a couple of discontinuities on the east side.


2/25/2025, Tuesday - Biked Tarpon Springs to Dunedin


On Tuesday we drove to Tarpon Springs, parked, and hopped on our bikes to explore the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail.


We started in downtown Tarpon Springs and headed south on the trail.
We started in downtown Tarpon Springs and headed south on the trail.

It is sooooo nicely separated from the road. :)
It is sooooo nicely separated from the road. :)

The town marker signs are cute.
The town marker signs are cute.

The wider path is for cyclists and the narrower path is for pedestrians - good thinking.
The wider path is for cyclists and the narrower path is for pedestrians - good thinking.



Eric spied an osprey that had built its nest on top of the tall fence to the left. See zoomed in pics below...
Eric spied an osprey that had built its nest on top of the tall fence to the left. See zoomed in pics below...


Osprey!!! :)
Osprey!!! :)

We stopped in Dunedin to walk around and find dinner, as well as a place to park the following night.


We enjoyed Happy Hour and Taco Tuesday specials at a lovely bar/restaurant called Senor Rita's Tequileria & Margarita Factory.
We enjoyed Happy Hour and Taco Tuesday specials at a lovely bar/restaurant called Senor Rita's Tequileria & Margarita Factory.

This picture doesn't even begin to show the enormity of my margarita!
This picture doesn't even begin to show the enormity of my margarita!

I had 2 vegetarian "Hippie Tacos" and a Tostada - delicious!
I had 2 vegetarian "Hippie Tacos" and a Tostada - delicious!

Eric had 3 different meat/seafood tacos, and all were very good.
Eric had 3 different meat/seafood tacos, and all were very good.

After dinner we biked back to Tarpon Springs, making it a 21.1-mile ride for the day.


2/26/2025, Wednesday - Biked Dunedin to Largo and Clearwater


On Wednesday, after getting some work done at a coffee shop in the morning, we drove to Dunedin and hit the Pinellas Trail again, continuing the route southward.






There was one little bit on a wide sidewalk, and a busy road crossing, but other than that, it was a nicely separated trail that is super relaxing to ride.
There was one little bit on a wide sidewalk, and a busy road crossing, but other than that, it was a nicely separated trail that is super relaxing to ride.


When we reached Largo we decided to turn back and take a slight detour to Clearwater for Happy Hour.
When we reached Largo we decided to turn back and take a slight detour to Clearwater for Happy Hour.

Belleair
Belleair


Coachmen Park on the waterfront in downtown Clearwater...
Coachmen Park on the waterfront in downtown Clearwater...





Downtown Clearwater
Downtown Clearwater

There was still a ton of reconstruction being done. Lots of places were closed, and some had just reopened.
There was still a ton of reconstruction being done. Lots of places were closed, and some had just reopened.


We stopped in at Clear Sky on Cleveland for Happy Hour. We love trying brussels sprouts dishes to find a great recipe for us to make. This one had Thai peanut butter and raspberry jam. Not perfect, but it gave us some ideas.
We stopped in at Clear Sky on Cleveland for Happy Hour. We love trying brussels sprouts dishes to find a great recipe for us to make. This one had Thai peanut butter and raspberry jam. Not perfect, but it gave us some ideas.

It was nearing sunset, so we headed back to the waterfront and decided to get a better view from the bridge to Clearwater Beach.
It was nearing sunset, so we headed back to the waterfront and decided to get a better view from the bridge to Clearwater Beach.

Up the roundabout ramp we go...
Up the roundabout ramp we go...







It was dark when we left downtown Clearwater, but it was a nice ride back to Dunedin - 17.3 miles in total.
It was dark when we left downtown Clearwater, but it was a nice ride back to Dunedin - 17.3 miles in total.

Back in Dunedin we walked around a bit, had dinner at Tios Pios Food Truck, and drinks at HOB Brewing Co.


Thursday was a work day for us, then we drove to St. Petersburg and walked around downtown.


2/28/2025, Friday - Biked St. Pete to Largo


After getting some work done in the morning we hit the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail from the other end in St. Petersburg and rode toward where we had left off in Largo.
After getting some work done in the morning we hit the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail from the other end in St. Petersburg and rode toward where we had left off in Largo.

This sign says the trail is in the Rail Trail Hall of Fame, and we can definitely see why!
This sign says the trail is in the Rail Trail Hall of Fame, and we can definitely see why!

I love all the incredible murals around St. Pete.
I love all the incredible murals around St. Pete.


These raised sections of trail to avoid busy roads and intersections are simply amazing!
These raised sections of trail to avoid busy roads and intersections are simply amazing!




A cool home seen from the trail that Eric and I both liked.
A cool home seen from the trail that Eric and I both liked.


Seminole
Seminole


Largo!!! We met up with the spot where we had left off in Largo.
Largo!!! We met up with the spot where we had left off in Largo.

We decided to detour here for dinner before heading back.
We decided to detour here for dinner before heading back.

We went to Sekushi at the Plaza in Belleair Bluffs for happy hour specials. We sampled many dishes. This is Eric's Shrimp Tempura.
We went to Sekushi at the Plaza in Belleair Bluffs for happy hour specials. We sampled many dishes. This is Eric's Shrimp Tempura.

My yummy vegetable gyoza.
My yummy vegetable gyoza.

It was well after dark when we reached St. Pete again.
It was well after dark when we reached St. Pete again.

For some reason the Relive video only logged the first half of the ride, and not our return. So, the video says our ride was 21.85 miles, but it was really a total of 42.6 miles that day.




On Saturday we expected to go to the farmers market downtown, but it wasn't happening because there was an F1 race going on in that area. So, we charged the bikes then checked out the Grand Central District of St. Pete, a little west of downtown. We loved the vibe there.



We found a place to play pinball, of course.
We found a place to play pinball, of course.

I found more awesome murals.
I found more awesome murals.



3/2/2025, Sunday - Biked from Safety Harbor


On Sunday we drove over to Safety Harbor to start cycling from there. I picked it because it looked like it had a little walking district, plus a couple of nice trails that would connect us up with the east side of the Pinellas Trail Loop.


We started from downtown on the Bayshore Trail.
We started from downtown on the Bayshore Trail.

It soon also becomes the Ream Wilson Trail.
It soon also becomes the Ream Wilson Trail.


At a park along the way we saw a sign about not molesting the alligators, which we laughed about, then immediately we saw this gator!
At a park along the way we saw a sign about not molesting the alligators, which we laughed about, then immediately we saw this gator!


We turned to follow the Ream Wilson Trail west, and it took us through some beautiful parks.
We turned to follow the Ream Wilson Trail west, and it took us through some beautiful parks.





Great egret (I believe)
Great egret (I believe)


We met up with the Duke Energy Trail, which is part of the north/south section on the east side of the Pinellas Trail Loop.
We met up with the Duke Energy Trail, which is part of the north/south section on the east side of the Pinellas Trail Loop.

The trail basically follows along high power lines. Not the prettiest scenery, but it's nice to have the trail.
The trail basically follows along high power lines. Not the prettiest scenery, but it's nice to have the trail.

We went a little way, then decided to turn back and check out Safety Harbor.
We went a little way, then decided to turn back and check out Safety Harbor.

We decided to take a short side trip to check out the bike path on the bridge to Tampa, and we saw this along the way. Look closely - the vehicle being trailered is a boat, not a car!
We decided to take a short side trip to check out the bike path on the bridge to Tampa, and we saw this along the way. Look closely - the vehicle being trailered is a boat, not a car!

We looked at the bridge crossing then turned back.
We looked at the bridge crossing then turned back.

Otter Crossing - oooh, I would have loved to have seen one! :)
Otter Crossing - oooh, I would have loved to have seen one! :)

Back in Safety Harbor we had a nice sushi dinner at Happy Salmon. This is Eric's Fantasy Roll.
Back in Safety Harbor we had a nice sushi dinner at Happy Salmon. This is Eric's Fantasy Roll.

My Vegetable Tempura Roll.
My Vegetable Tempura Roll.

We rode roughly 21 miles this day and loved every minute of it. While we didn't complete the entire Pinellas Trail Loop, we did much of it and liked it. Exploring it made for a really fun week.

 
 
 

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