The scoop: Ben T. Davis Beach comprises the bulk of Tampa's " shoreline," a few hundred feet of white sandy beach fringing the Courtney Campbell Parkway and overlooking Tampa Bay. Don't be fooled by its size or location. This is a beautiful little beach, with plenty of parking (metered), park benches, picnic shelters, concessions, grills, volley ball nets, a cordoned swimming area and lifeguard stands.

Get there: The beach is located at the Tampa end of the Courtney Campbell Causeway.

Why go? The views are great and the setting peaceful, especially on a weekday afternoon.

Time stamp: We visited on one of those highly recommended weekday afternoons. It was just us and the sea gulls and oystercatchers.

Field Report: Captain Ben T. Davis was the Tampa capitalist responsible for the Courtney Campbell Parkway, which was originally known as - you guessed it - Ben T. Davis Causeway when it opened in 1934. Back then it cost 25 cents per car and driver to cross to Clearwater, plus a nickel per passenger (kids were free).

Interestingly, while the beach is named for Davis, the causeway is now named for the fellow who improved it and developed its roadside parks, like Ben T. Davis Beach. It still costs a quarter to visit the beach - per 30 minutes in the parking meter. But it's not a bad deal.

The sand is soft and clean, and the is beach wide and inviting. On weekends, you're hard pressed to find a place to park your towel. But on weekdays, think of it as your own personal waterfront. The kids had a great time chasing gulls and dabbling toes in the warm water. I enjoyed sitting on the shady guard shack deck. It wasn't hard to imagine myself in a tropical cabana.

Upon further review: This is a great place for a lunch break, or just to pull over to catch your breath and a little perspective. hile the traffic is nonstop on the causeway behind you, the oceanlike sounds blend well with the ambiance.

Do it again? This will always be a stop on our weekday travels on Courtney Campbell. It's a soothing break from the urban bookends on either end of the causeway.