The best place to see the sun set in the Tampa Bay area is Pass-a-Grille beach. Pass-a-Grille is a small town at the southern end of the outer islands of Pinellas County. It is a town 32 blocks long and one block wide. Stand on many of the blocks in the town and you can see the Gulf of Mexico to the west and the Inter Coastal Waterway to the east. The unusual name for this town has been attributed to the French fishermen sailing through the pass who stopped to grill their dinner, becoming known as Passe-aux-Grilleurs.

My cutie and I usually park at the north end of the public beach about an hour before sunset. This gives us plenty of time to walk south on the beach to the fishing jetty and then return in plenty of time to see the sun drain into the Gulf of Mexico.

Usually, when we arrive on a weekday evening there are a few people on the beach either walking or jogging and some other folks looking for that beautiful seashell to add to their collection. By the time we return and the sun is ready to set, the beach is filled with adult couples having their evening drinks, families with young children and other young couples wanting to share a romantic moment.

You can hear the gentle surf of the Gulf and the lead seagull summoning the flock home. The gulls will take off just as the sun sets adding to the photographers dream shot. There are ample chances to take that prized vacation photo whether its composition includes the sailboat crossing in front of the setting sun or the young children playing in the surf with the warm light tones. There is also the high likelihood that dolphins will make an appearance as they catch their evening meal before dark. They will jump through the air as they travel north and south along the beach. If the clouds roll in, the clouds will reflect the colors from the sun and fill the sky with red, pink, blue and purple hues - when this happens the “audience” will almost always applaud. Be sure to look east after the sunsets. The colors will linger in the clouds for a short time after the sun spills into the water.

Needless to say, Pass-a-Grille beach is our favorite place to watch sunset. There are no large hotel chains on Pass-a-Grille. The town is populated with vacation homes and small hotels that sit facing the beach from across the street.

What is it that draws so many people down to the beach each evening? Is it the pure beauty of the scene? Is it the wish to say goodbye to another satisfying day and the hope of a better day tomorrow? Is it the idea that the sun is doing exactly what it is suppose to do? Every night we know the sun will set and every morning the sun will rise – the two things we can count on in this world of change and uncertainty.

How to find Pass-a-Grille: In St. Petersburg, take 275 South to last exit before the Skyway Bridge, Exit 17 – Rt 682 West – Pinellas Bayway/St. Pete Beach. Pay the .50 toll and continue west until you reach the The Don Ce Sar. Turn left at the light. Continue on Pass-a-Grille Way to 22nd Ave and make a right and turn left on Gulf Way and find a parking spot.