Off the coast, there is a strip of shore that you may miss if you blink.
"Two and a half miles long and a smile wide," said Madeira Beach City Manager Shane Crawford.
The city of Madeira Beach on the Gulf of Mexico is only two miles long and wants to shake a long-standing reputation.
"Two years ago it was pretty rough," said Bill Byrd, a beachgoer.
"The City of Madeira Beach stood still for a while,” Crawford said. “We were stagnant. It was nobody's fault. I don't think there was ever an initiative to get things rolling."
Today, the community is ready to welcome visitors back to the beach, like Kris Mohn.
"Now that it is re-done, there are more families, people, and it's nice," Mohn said.
Just off the beach, discover shopping at the kitschy John's Pass. It’s where fishing for gators is always in season, not to mention kissing one as well.
After spending time on the beach and doing a little gator fishing, John's Pass is perfect for lunch.
On the boardwalk, you can find casual dining at The Hut, undercover or on the water, where the fish tacos are legendary.
"We are the center of the barrier island,” said Mayor Travis Palladeno. “We are the gateway to the Gulf of Mexico with Johns Pass, off the interstate. It's just a matter of 15 minutes from 275 out here to the beautiful Gulf of Mexico."
"This is my vacation spot every weekend," Byrd said.