Dunedin, Florida; Blue Jays, Beaches, Beer and Great Shopping

The Dunedin Marina is a short block from downtown. There's a lively bar and small restaurant on the water and a nice, shady park alongside where the kids can run and play. The Best Western Plus Yacht Harbor Inn is adjacent to the marina and has nice rooms.

The Pinellas Trail runs through the middle of Dunedin and is a great place for biking, jogging and other activities. The train runs for dozens of kilometers, run St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs. There's a nice coffee shop right on the trail in downtown Dunedin.

Casa Tina is one of several fun and tasty food spots on Dunedin's Main Street. You'll also find casual bars, an Irish pub, a very good barbeque place nd a lively spot with a patio out back called Kelly's. Try Pan Y Vino for Italian. The Living Room is a nice restaurant with a lovely patio out front. There's even a nightclub on Main Street that has occasional drag queen bingo nights.

Honeymoon Island State Park is a lovely spot with calm waters and acres of white sand beach. It's a short drive from downtown Dunedin to the park. You'll pass several other beaches on the way, some of which have kayaks and stand up paddleboards for rent.

Downtown Dunedin has several fine home decor shops and antique stores that sell a variety of cool collectibles. You'll also find the requisite t-shirt shops and casual stores selling Florida knick-knacks and the kind of clothing you'd expect to find at a Jimmy Buffett concert.

The Toronto Blue Jays play their home spring training games in Dunedin. The ballpark is only a few blocks from downtown, making it easy to find a place for a post-game meal. Tickets aren't expensive, but they often sell quickly to baseball-loving Canadians and other visitors.

Dunedin has a number of casual cafes with outdoor dining. You'll also find several very good coffee shops and places for ice cream and other treats. Dunedin is only a half hour or so from Tampa International Airport.

Dunedin Brewery was the first craft brewery in Florida. They serve a wide variety of excellent beers, some of them seasonal. There's also good food and occasional live music. It's only a block or so from Main Street and close to the marina. There's a Holiday Inn Express just a few doors away.

Dunedin is a very walkable town, with lively shopping and a small downtown park with a bandstand. The Meranova Guest Inn is a lovely B&B in the heart of downtown, with terrific, friendly owners and a small pool out in back. A posh new hotel called the Fenway, a Marriott Autograph property, is due to open in Dunedin in the coming months.

Caladesi Island is a marvellous place for walking or running, with lovely, shaded nature trails. There's also one of Florida's best beaches here, with great shelling and lovely sunsets. You can reach the island by taking a cute pontoon boat from Honeymoon Island State Park. It's also reachable from Clearwater Beach at low tide.