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Some days you’re excited before you even leave the dock, and my trip to Egmont Key was one of those days. I was going out on my son’s boat with him and his girlfriend, and I could hardly wait. I love being on the water, but getting to spend the day out there with family made it even better.
We left from Gulfport Marina, but first we had one very important Florida boat-day requirement to take care of — Publix subs. 😂 Because apparently you can’t head out for a day on the water in Florida without stopping for Publix subs to take along.
With lunch packed and everything loaded on the boat, we were finally ready to head out. I was happy, excited and just ready to see where the day would take us.
The Ride Out Was Part of the Adventure
The weather couldn’t have been much better. It was hot, because this is Florida after all, but not unbearably hot. There was a slight breeze and a few clouds in the sky, but none of those dark gray ones that make you start wondering if you should have checked the radar one more time. 😂
Even the ride out felt like part of the adventure. We passed seagulls gathered under the bridge, and then we had dolphins jumping behind the boat. There’s just something about seeing dolphins out in the wild that never gets old. No matter how many times you’ve seen them, you still stop and watch.
Between the breeze, the water, the dolphins and knowing we were headed toward an island I was excited to explore, I was already enjoying the day before we even got there.
I Had to See the Lighthouse
You can see the lighthouse before you even reach Egmont Key, so of course that was already where my attention was going. Once we anchored near the beach and got off the boat, I didn’t waste much time.
I went pretty much straight from the water to the trail leading toward the lighthouse. I’d been excited just to get out on the water that day, but once my feet were actually on the island, my curiosity took over. I wanted to see what was there.
There’s something about an old lighthouse on an island that makes you want to know its story. Standing there and seeing it in person was completely different from just looking at pictures of it.
Exploring the Island on My Own
My son and his girlfriend had already explored the island before, so they were ready to swim. I hadn’t seen it yet, and there was no way I was just going to sit on the beach when there was an island to explore. So I headed off on my own.
I quickly learned my first lesson for next time: bring better shoes. I had flip-flops on, and the deep sand made them difficult to walk in, so I took them off. That didn’t last long. The sand was so hot I had to put them right back on — and I’m not exactly tender-footed. I grew up in the Florida Keys walking barefoot, even on pavement, so I was genuinely surprised by how hot that sand was. 😂
Once I got going, though, the trail was beautiful. There was even a picnic table tucked off to the side where you could stop and rest for a while. I kept looking for one of the island’s turtles but never spotted one. I did see different birds nestled among the trees as I walked.
I was enjoying just wandering along and taking everything in when I started seeing the old ruins. That’s when my curiosity really kicked in. I couldn’t wait to get closer and see what was inside.
Walking Through the Past
When I first saw the old structure, my immediate reaction was just, wow. I couldn’t wait to get closer and look inside.
There is a feeling you get standing next to something that old that is hard to put into words. I kept thinking about how long it had been standing there, everything it had survived and all the people who had once walked through the same places I was walking.
Once I started looking inside, even the smallest details caught my attention—the old openings in the walls, the rusted metal, the worn concrete and the little arched areas that were still there. I found myself looking into every room and wondering what it had once been used for and what had happened there all those years ago.
Even the sunlight made it feel different. The bright Florida sun came through the openings and cast shadows across the old walls and floors. There I was, surrounded by palm trees and sand on a beautiful island, while standing inside something left behind from another time.
I could have spent a long time just wandering around and imagining what this place must have looked like when it was still being used.
A View I Couldn’t Resist
Not far from the first structure, I came across even more old ruins scattered through the sand. I honestly had no idea what some of them had once been, which naturally meant I had to go investigate. 😂
Some were partly buried in the sand with plants growing around them, and others looked like pieces of something much larger that time and the island had slowly taken over. I kept walking around trying to imagine what everything might have looked like years ago.
And then there was the sign: Danger — No Climbing or Diving From Structure.
I probably shouldn’t admit this, but curiosity got the better of me. I did climb up far enough to get a look out over the beach and water. I’m certainly not recommending anyone else ignore the sign — those old structures have been exposed to the weather for a very long time — but that view is one I won’t forget.
Looking out across that beautiful blue-green water with the old ruins beneath me was amazing. It was another one of those moments where the history and beauty of Egmont Key seemed to exist right beside each other.
Cooling Off — With a Little Surprise
I eventually came out of the trail on another part of the island, so I walked along the beach to make my way back to my son and his girlfriend. After walking through all that deep sand and exploring in the Florida heat, I was definitely ready to cool off.
Before doing anything else, I stopped and just sat at the edge of the beach with myself partly in the water. After being hot from walking the trail, that cool water felt so good. I just sat there for a little while, looking out over the water and enjoying where I was.
Then I joined my son and his girlfriend and we went snorkeling. Everything was going just fine until I heard my son shouting that there was a barracuda right by me. 😂
I hadn’t even seen it. The barracuda had apparently managed to sneak up on me, and the only reason I knew I had company was because my son spotted it and started yelling. Nothing like peacefully snorkeling in beautiful Florida water and finding out there’s a barracuda swimming nearby!
It definitely added another memory to a day that already had plenty of them.
Back to the Boat — and Those Publix Subs
By the time we finished snorkeling and made our way back to the boat, we were hungry. Thankfully, those Publix subs we’d brought along were waiting for us. 😂
After all the walking, exploring, swimming and snorkeling, sitting on the boat and finally eating lunch hit the spot. Sometimes food just tastes better after you’ve spent the day outside and on the water.
Once we finished eating, it was time to head back toward the marina.
What I’d Bring Next Time
If I go back to Egmont Key — and I hope I do — one thing I’ll definitely change is my shoes. Flip-flops were fine for the boat and beach, but they weren’t the best choice for walking through deep sand and exploring the trails.
Next time, I’d bring a lightweight pair of water shoes or comfortable shoes that can handle both sand and water. My feet learned that lesson the hard way. 😂
A Day I’d Happily Do Again
What started as a day I was excited about because I got to be on the water with my son and his girlfriend turned into one of those Florida days I’ll remember for a long time.
I got to explore an island on my own, walk through pieces of its past, see that beautiful lighthouse, cool off in clear water, go snorkeling and even have a surprise encounter with a barracuda. Most of all, I got to spend the day doing something I love with people I love.
I’d absolutely go back to Egmont Key. Next time, though, I’m bringing better shoes. 😂