Florida is a magnet for families, you have your theme parks in Orlando, you have your beaches in Miami, and you have the swamps in the Everglades. This beautiful (and fun!) location mean that a lot of places which would be ‘amazing’ by the standards of other states are left undiscovered. Indian Rocks Beach is one such place.
A Hidden Gem
Indian Rocks Beach is a small city found in Pinellas County. At the last census, it had a population of a little over 4,000, which should give you an idea as to the size of the place. It is rare that tourism will boost the population of Indian Rocks Beach too much either. It really is one of those ‘hidden gems’. It is a great shame really because IRB(as we like to call it!) is immensely beautiful.
Indian Rocks Beach is what is known as a ‘barrier island’. I am not going to get too technical with what barrier islands are here, don’t worry. Just know that barrier islands tend to be gorgeous geological sites. They are formed over millions of years. This particular island (which is connected to the mainland!) has stunning views over the Gulf of Mexico.
Related Reading: 50 GREAT THINGS TO DO IN AMERICA
No Tourists Here
Our family use to own a condo in IRB so spending summers on the beach for endless hours was no stranger to us. IRB has pristine sandy beaches that are constantly overlooked for the more infamous Clearwater, Florida beaches that are a 20 minute drive down the road.
Of course, you can sit on a beach in many places in Florida, however, IRB brings something else to the table. To start; this is very much a tranquil city. With just 4,000 inhabitants, it gets incredibly quiet, even in the height of the summer season. None of your typical tourist onslaught. It is not uncommon to have huge parts of the beach to yourself. Despite the small population, Indian Rocks Beach is surprisingly facility rich too.
You have a plethora of parks, large and small, that you can explore. It is Indian Rocks Beach Nature Preserve which often attracts the most visitors, however. It is here that you will be able to explore unique wildlife in the area, in one of the most stunning settings imaginable. Yes, you are also going to get those views over the Gulf of Mexico.
What to do at Indian Rocks Beach
IRB offers your usual ‘beach activities’ around the area including boating expeditions where you can relax, or maybe do a bit of snorkeling in the waters. Of course, you don’t even have to do that. You could just relax and take it easy in one of the many small bars and restaurants here. We personally love Crabby Bills for a bite to eat and some brew.
If you are ever in this part of Florida and want to avoid all the tourists then you should definitely consider renting a place in Indian Rocks Beach and live it up.
The Indian Rocks Beach looks unreal! That place seems to be exactly what we are usually looking for. It’s funny because that, one way it’s great to learn about it, but then, it’s almost like it would be better for no one else to know about it so that it stays that way! We only visited Florida once but we loved all the beaches and wildlife. Maybe time to go back 🙂
Is the beach photo you featured here is from Indian Rocks Beach, FL? I live in IRB and there are no rock formations along the coastline that I know of. 🙂
Love this photo Indian rocks beach, I’d really like to know where on the beach it was taken!