We have taken many guests to Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs. The beach/island is about a mile out in the Gulf via a causeway. Be sure and have a GPS or good directions to get there as you drive through the neighborhoods of Tarpon Springs to get to the park. There are no restaurants on the beach just an island with parking lot, sand and the Gulf. Very quite place to enjoy the beach without fighting the traffic. After you enter the park there are picnic areas with swings and is great for a picnic before or after the beach.
If you are looking for a nice laid back beach and don't want to fight the traffic. This is the place.
See links below.
Fred Howard Park - Tarpon Springs - Reviews of Fred Howard Park - TripAdvisor
https://www.pinellascounty.org/park/06_Howard.htm
https://plus.google.com/109412739829...ut?gl=us&hl=en