A short ferry ride from Fort De Soto's bayside boat ramp lands you on Egmont Key, a 280-acre uninhabited island that is both a state park and a national wildlife refuge. The 1858 lighthouse still works, and the brick ruins of Fort Dade — a sister fort built in 1900 — are scattered through the palm scrub. There are no cars, no shops and no food, so bring water, sunscreen, and lunch.
Gopher tortoises wander the paths in the hundreds, completely unbothered by people. The beaches are some of the best shelling in the area precisely because so few people come, and the snorkelling around the submerged fort ruins on the south end is surprisingly good. Ferries leave from Fort De Soto and St Pete Beach several times a day in season — book ahead in winter, when manatees and bottlenose dolphins regularly join the crossing.