John's Pass is Pinellas County's #1 tourist attraction  This quaint turn-of-the-century fishing village features more than 100 unique shops, inviting eateries, and an 1,100-foot Boardwalk. The Village provides easy access to a wide variety of water sports, boat trips, deep-sea fishing, sightseeing, eco-tours, and breathtaking views of famous Gulf sunsets. Dolphins, pelicans, egrets, herons and an occasional manatee, osprey and bald eagles entertain all along the Boardwalk! The beach is a short stroll away and parking is easy and plentiful. Conveniently located near St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Tampa, and just a short drive to the Orlando area. Open daily!

John's Pass is both a historic area, tourist attraction, and modern residential community. Every year, it seems, more of the old is torn down to make way for new condos, shopping areas, etc. Recently a new higher drawbridge replaced the long-standing structure between Madeira and Treasure Island.

John's Pass Village is the major tourist attraction and shopping/dining area. Here you can find anything from kitschy souvenirs and beach clothing to high end art. There are numerous specialty shops including Wild Time, a clothier featuring Jimmy Buffet's fashion line and other Caribbean/reggae style goodies.
Construction began in 2005 on a new mall and parking garage at the west end of the boardwalk, which opened in 2008. When complete, it will include a museum, several new restaurants including a Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., and dozens of new shops.

Restaurants range from boardwalk hot dog and ice cream stands to seafood specialists. Sculley's (topside) and The Hut (under the boardwalk) are good choices for specialties such as grilled local fish. The Friendly Fisherman (boardwalk) is a family style option. There are numerous bars, grills and ethnic places dotted around John's Pass Village and surrounding streets.

Attractions include the Pirate's Ship Cruise, dolphin watching nature cruises, bird watching and shell hunting trips, para-sailing, boat rentals, personal watercraft/jet ski rentals, and fishing charters.

The Pass, itself, is one of nature's natural phenomenon, created after a hurricane swept through and divided the land, virtually cutting off this island community from it's neighbors to the south. The fishermen, who made their living from the sea, settled on the shores of Madeira Beach and built this beautiful haven into a thriving commercial and pleasure community. Today, there are over 100 gift shops, fine restaurants, coffee houses, motels and watersport entrepreneurs that provide goods and services to tourists from all over the world The wooden boardwalk and rustic shops exude an atmosphere of rustic charm.

Visitors flock to this land of sunshine, every year, to enjoy the beautiful sunsets and watch the delightful sight of dolphins playing in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The sounds of the surf lull them into restful sleep after a full day of shopping, fishing, or visiting any one of the numerous local attractions.

In the Fall, the Seafood Festival creates a fervor of activity as merchants introduce visitors to the tasty seafood delicacies, as well as exhibit the beauty of these creatures through arts and crafts. There is always plenty of entertainment and festivities to fill the three-day event.

The merchants of John's Pass Village extend warm hospitality to their friends from around the world and provide shopping pleasures as well as entertainment activities. Weekends are lively, with arts and craft shows, or musical groups providing relaxing enjoyment. Nearby, is the world renowned Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary, where thousands of seabirds have sought relief and recuperation from man's careless habits.

John's Pass Village Great Seafood has made the Village at Madeira Beach the largest Seafood Fare anywhere on the West Coast of Florida. Lucious Grouper (the native five) you won't want to miss. Also Gulf of Mexico Lobster, Shrimp, Red Snapper, Tuna, Stonecrabs, Oysters, Clams, Scallops, olde tyme Smoked Mullet . . . it's all here. . . just for you.

Weathered wood, nautical artifacts and tin roofs all enhance the hospitality you'll find at John's Pass Village. The Boardwalk on "Fish Famous" John's Pass attracts visitors from around the world. The guests rate the Village most highly for its unique shops, boutiques and art gallery shops.

Focus on personalized service and hospitality - take a dolphin watch cruise, a shell island adventure, a half-day fishing trip or fish right from our jetty in the Gulf of Mexico. If you like adventure and excitement, you'll want to try a parasail ride, high above the waters of the Gulf, soaring high like a bird. Or maybe you'll want to try a jet ski, or waverunner. . . you're in charge! What about a sunset sailing cruise? This experience consistently exceeds our guest's expectations

We hope you will visit John's Pass Village and Boardwalk. . . it's a great place to spend a day or longer in one of our quaint motels in the area. It's entertainment for the entire family!

Madeira Beach

Geography: Madeira Beach - often described as "two miles long and a smile wide" - is located virtually in the middle of Pinellas County's beaches. It is a complete destination city with hotels and motels, condominiums, single-family homes, apartment complexes, lots of stores, restaurants and, of course, the famed John's Pass Fishing Village. It is accessible directly from the mainland via the Tom Stuart/Welch Causeway Bridge just west of Bay Pines, from the south via the John's Pass Bridge, and from the north along Gulf Boulevard.

A little history: The city was officially incorporated in 1947, but its recorded history goes back a century when two early explorers from New Orleans, Joe Silva and John Levique, discovered a hurricane-created pass dividing the island from what is now Treasure Island to the south. Over the years, the island community grew, starting with small beach-front cottages and fishing docks at what came to be known as John's Pass.

The beach: Madeira Beach is blessed with easy access to its beaches from several public parks, as well as from public beach access points scattered throughout its 2-mile length. Restrooms and showers can be found at Archibald Beach Park, as well as at John's Pass Park/South Beach, and a county park on Gulf Boulevard. Some have pavilions, as well, where you can get out of the sun. Beach chairs and umbrellas are available for rent at many locations. Also of note, Madeira's beaches are among the few in the county where you can openly drink alcohol -- just be sure it is in a plastic container. The only exceptions are on any of the city's beach easements, the picnic shelter at Archibald Park, Kitty Stuart Park or any of the city's beach parking lots where open containers of alcohol are banned.

Amenities: Madeira Beach is known most of all for John's Pass Village where visitors can shop for the ubiquitous T-shirt, visit art galleries, dine at a variety of restaurants, rent watercraft, sail out for a day of charter fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, take a fishing cruise, and even go on a "ghost tour." Each summer, the Village celebrates its discovery during the pirate-themed John Levique Days festival. If you come by boat, you can tie up at the city-owned marina near the causeway.

Parking: Parking is not an issue in Madeira Beach. Although not free, spaces can be found at John's Pass Village, Archibald Park, Kitty Stuart Park, John's Pass Plaza Parking Garage, the county park and at public beach access points up and down the beach city.

Bottom line: Madeira Beach welcomes visitors and offers everything a beach addict would want -- lots of white sand and activities to suit any taste.

World Famous Gulf Boulevard runs north and south along the length of Madeira Beach.

For a "Bird's Eye View" of Madeira Beach, Click Here

Madeira Beach is located at: 27°47′45″N, 82°47′26″W and has a population of 4,511.

Madeira Beach has a total area of 3.3 square miles. 1.0 square mile of it is land and 2.2 square miles of it (68.50%) is water.

The City's slogan is "Two Miles Long and a Smile Wide".

Be a tourist for a day at John's Pass

By STEVE SPEARS, Times Staff Writer
In print: Sunday, July 13, 2008

Chances are spending the day at John's Pass Village isn't something that has crossed your mind since the in-laws from Ohio visited a couple of years ago.

That's okay, because with Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. set to open a huge restaurant at the tourist-friendly Madeira Beach retail area, now's a good time to rediscover a sometimes-forgotten center of Florida culture and kitsch.

Before you head out, some quick tips: Bring a ton of change for parking meters, pick up a map of the center when you arrive, and budget extra time to navigate through all the road work and bridge traffic at the beach.

Here are some highlights we found on a recent visit:

Watch the clock

One quarter buys just 15 minutes of time, and there's a 4-hour limit on loading up the meter. There's a parking garage, though, so you might be better off with their rates if you plan on staying for the day.

The Wal-mart of beach stores

Welcome to Beach Zone, a huge stand-alone building where everything seemingly is on sale. Want a Hawaiian shirt for $10. No problem. Two tank tops for $14? Deal. Still searching for that "The South Will Rise Again" beach towel? It's here, along with 120 other towel designs, hats, inflatable rafts, bathing suits and more.

Just bead it

On the ground floor of the new addition to John's Pass is Celestial Beading, where custom necklaces and earrings await do-it-yourself hobbyists and beading fans. There are classes for beginners or walls of supplies for those ready to jump in.

Gimme some water

John's Pass is on the water, so boating options are everywhere. Along the boardwalk, boats will gladly take you shelling, snorkeling, deep-sea fishing, dolphin-watching and even pirating. The Pirate Ship departs for three cruises daily. During the two-hour journeys, kids (for $23) can get their faces painted, search for treasure and engage in water-gun battles while adults (for $33) swill free drinks.

Bean there, done that

In the new part of John's Pass, Addicted to the Bean offers iced coffee and smoothies — a welcome treat during the hot summer months.

Play dress-up

Ever dream of being Capt. Jack Sparrow? You can at Pirates of the Pass, an old-time photo studio where — starting at $23 — visitors can dress up and pose in either pirate or old west sets.

Best place to find a giant squid

Stick with the furry, plush variety, which sells for $18.89 at The Shipwreck Store, along with both real and replica coins and religious artifacts from shipwrecks.

Time to ruin the diet

On the top floor of the new wing awaits Kilwin's, the Willy Wonka of John's Pass. No need to ask directions. Your nose will find it. The Michigan-based purveyor of chocolate and ice cream intoxicates visitors with the scent from more than 60 types of chocolate treats, 40 types of super-premium ice cream and a dozen variety of caramel apples.

Get fried

Looking for small bites? Sea Side Sandwich tempts tourists with deep-fried bites of alligator, crab cakes, shrimp and clams. It's a menu that visitors assume Floridians live on daily. (We don't, but we like to keep our relatives in the dark.)

The big meal

Until Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. opens its doors, Sculley's Boardwalk Restaurant and The Hut remain the big dogs at John's Pass. The giant fish house and neighboring tiki hut serve up bowls of she-crab soup, plates of raw oysters, giant half-pound burgers and platters of fried and blackened seafood.

Smoke on the water

Casa Havana Cigar sits seemingly quiet across from Sculley's, selling hand-rolled cigars and Cuban coffee. But on weekends, the place fills with fans of salsa music as live bands and dance classes spice up the nights.

Where the locals munch

Sculley's and The Hut might be the star attractions for now, but locals will quietly confess that it's the fresh fish and daily menu specials from Waltz Fish Shack that keeps the small restaurant filled.

Need a plastic alligator?

You can find a dozen or more kinds of rubber gators, sharks and other water creatures at Merry Mouse, the super-store for kitschy Florida souvenirs. Looking for a salt-and-pepper set made up as palm trees, shells, crabs or starfish? It's all here, along with more shot glasses than a frat house uses on homecoming weekend.

Just getting started

You think that's it? It's only the beginning. John's Pass has more than 100 businesses selling items from T-shirts and sharks' teeth to frozen custard and Florida wine.