City Profile: Dunedin

By VISIT FLORIDA staff
Published: March 17, 2009
Last Updated On: February 16, 2011

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Dunedin

Caladesi Island State Park

Dunedin's Scottish heritage is celebrated in a yearly festival, while its dedication to nature is seen in open parks and undeveloped barrier islands.

A natural wooded and subtropical setting, open waterfront, and quaint village-like setting all combine to make Dunedin an enchanting Florida getaway. Visitors will readily see why it is recognized as one of the most desirable places to live and work in Florida. Boasting over 1,400 acres of unspoiled park land and a view of the Gulf of Mexico that is unobstructed by the development prevalent in other coastal locales, it is easy to understand why many seasonal residents end up making the area their permanent home.

Called "Delightfully Different," Dunedin offers visitors a unique experience. Steeped in Scottish heritage, the town of Stirling, located in Scotland, is Dunedin's sister city. The Highland Games and Festival, held every spring, showcases this legacy while bringing an international flavor to the area through the varied cuisine and the competing bands and dancers from around the world.

Or take a guided walk led by a park ranger to learn about the many birds which make the islands their home, including endangered species such as the Great Blue Heron, Wood Storks and Snowy White Egrets.

Visitors to charming downtown Dunedin can stroll brick sidewalks while stopping in fine restaurants, antique stores and art galleries. A portion of the Pinellas Trail, a 47-mile-long linear park, winds right through downtown, offering bikers, walkers and rollerbladers a chance to stretch their legs.

The Dunedin Fine Arts Center presents a unique view of Florida's environment, history and people via the "Florida Treasures" Art Mural. This fascinating mural is 85 feet long and is comprised of hand-painted glazed ceramic tiles.

Dunedin's natural escapes include Honeymoon and Caladesi Island State Parks, among the few remaining undeveloped barrier islands on Florida's coast. Caladesi, in fact, is so untouched that it is accessible only via a public ferry or private boat. These unspoiled refuges are ideal locations for family picnics, swimming, boating, fishing and shelling. Or take a guided walk led by a park ranger to learn about the many birds which make the islands their home, including endangered species such as the Great Blue Heron, Wood Storks and Snowy White Egrets. Whatever activities you choose, be prepared for peaceful seclusion and a view of Florida in its pristine state.