Dunedin: The Scottish Town on the Gulf Where Bikes and Breweries Rule

The town was named after Edinburgh by two Scottish merchants who opened a general store in 1885 and decided their new Florida home deserved a proper Gaelic name. More than a century later, Dunedin still hosts Highland Games, but the kilts now share the sidewalks with cycling jerseys and brewery T-shirts.

Scotland on the Gulf

J.O. Douglas and James Somerville petitioned for the post office name change from Jonesboro to Dunedin, derived from “Dun Eideann,” the Gaelic name for Edinburgh meaning “castle on the rock.” The Scottish roots run deep: bagpipe bands still march through downtown, and the annual Highland Games draw competitors from across the Southeast. But Dunedin has layered a distinctly Florida personality on top of its heritage, with palm-lined streets, Gulf sunsets, and a downtown that feels more like a neighborhood than a tourist strip.

Bikes, Brews, and the Trail

The Pinellas Trail, a 54-mile paved path connecting Dunedin to St. Petersburg and Tarpon Springs, runs right through the heart of downtown. Cyclists park their bikes outside taprooms and hop from stop to stop. Dunedin Brewery, founded in 1996, is the oldest craft brewery still operating in Florida. Today, a half-dozen breweries line the trail corridor, making this tiny town one of the state’s most concentrated beer destinations.

Spring Training and Island Hopping

The Toronto Blue Jays have trained in Dunedin since 1977, making it the longest continuous spring training relationship in Major League Baseball. TD Ballpark sits just off Main Street. And when the last pitch is thrown, Honeymoon Island State Park is a short causeway drive away, offering some of the most pristine Gulf beaches on the Pinellas coast.