North Beach at Fort DeSoto Park, Tierra Verde, Florida was voted 2011 top 10 beaches for families in America by Parents Magazine. This 1,136 acres of preserved land is made out of five interconnected islands. The water is still and the park is covered with natural beach plants, wetlands, mangroves and edible seagrapes. According to the Park, the park's natural ecosystems have over 290 species of birds. It is also a refuge for loggerhead sea turtles, nesting between April and September.
The lagoon at the North Beach area is barely four feet deep. It's a safe area for children to swim and play (supervised of course). While we were there, we caught some tiny hermit crab, tiny fish swimming around among humans and jelly looking creatures (harmless and not sure if they were jelly fish.)There is plenty of shades, picnic tables and benches, brick grills, pavilions, restrooms, playground for children with swings, slides and many more.
I discovered something new on this trip...seagrapes. Janet our friend from Jamaica was picking the grapes with her grand daughter and her friends when we arrived. We have seen these trees and never knew they were edibles. The fruit is tangy, sour and tastes nothing like the normal grapes that you find in supermarkets. Kids could climb up the tree trunks to pick the fruits.
This evergreen shrub is native to coastal areas in Florida, Mississippi and the Caribbean islands like Barbados, Jamaica and Bahamas. It's scientific name is coccoloba uvifera.
Birds feast on this fruits and disperse seeds all over the area.This evergreen shrubs are great as dune stabilizers, shades and coastal windbreak. Seagrapes grow well on sandy beaches by the ocean.
Have you seen or eaten seagrapes? I was so fascinated with my new findings that I had to share. Please leave your comment below.
I love your travel stories, Claudia! I am traveling vicariously through you, I guess. Never heard of seagrapes before!
You are stretching us Claudia; I have never eaten any seagrapes, never knew they existed LOL. But, I would try them for sure if I would have a chance. Thanks
I have heard of birds getting a bit tipsy on seagrapes when they get over-ripe and begin to ferment on the trees.
I love these posts 🙂 I've never even heard of this place! & I want some seagrapes, i'm going to get some when I go!
Wow, Claudia, I have never heard of seagrapes, and I even lived on the coast of Mississippi for awhile! Looks interesting!
Sea grapes... totally new to me! I can just imagine how much fun kids would have climbing the trees to get these fruits. What a delightful day, and once again, you've given us eyes, ears, and taste buds to exotic places - thanks!
I've never heard of Sea Grapes before, wow! Your blog always makes me so aware of how much I haven't seen. Great pictures as always.
Hi,
I just moved to Ybor in Tampa, FL from PA. I've been taking my Yorkie to the Fort Desoto dog beach for the past few weekends. We find mangrove seeds floating in the ocean and swept onto the beach with another seedling that I don't know the name of. I saw what you're calling seagrapes, but mocked the idea of eating them. Didn't think it'd be safe. But now I'm tempted!
Welcome to Florida Leah. Initially I had the same feeling. They tasted great.