Accessible only by boat or ferry, Cayo Costa State Park encompasses an unspoiled barrier island with nine miles of pristine beaches and 2,500 acres of wilderness. The park is renowned for exceptional shelling with numerous rare specimens found along its shores. Primitive cabins and tent camping sites offer an authentic island wilderness experience. The interior […]
Beaches for Hiking
Crandon Park Beach
Crandon Park Beach on Key Biscayne features two miles of pristine beach with calm, shallow waters and swaying palm trees. The beach was formerly a coconut plantation, giving it a tropical oasis feeling despite proximity to downtown Miami. The offshore sandbar creates exceptionally calm, shallow waters ideal for families. The Crandon Park Nature Center offers […]
St. George Island State Park
St. George Island State Park encompasses nine miles of undeveloped shoreline on the eastern end of this barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico. The park features pristine beaches with sugar-white sand, emerald waters, and majestic dunes. The area is excellent for birding with migrating species visible throughout the year. Due to minimal light pollution, […]
Bowditch Point Park
Located at the northern tip of Estero Island, Bowditch Point Park offers beach access on both the Gulf and back bay sides. The park combines recreational beach areas with a 17-acre restoration zone featuring native coastal vegetation and wildlife habitats. Walking trails wind through the preservation area with interpretive signs about local ecology. The location […]
Santa Rosa Beach
Santa Rosa Beach is part of South Walton’s scenic Highway 30A area, known for turquoise waters and sugar-white sand. The beach community has an artsy, sophisticated vibe with upscale dining and shopping options. Nearby Point Washington State Forest offers 15,000 acres of natural beauty with hiking and biking trails. The area combines natural beauty with […]
Bowman’s Beach
Bowman’s Beach is the most secluded beach on Sanibel Island, accessed via a long boardwalk through natural vegetation with no buildings visible from the shore. The beach is world-famous for shelling opportunities, particularly after storms or at low tide. Amenities include picnic areas, grills, and a playground while maintaining a natural atmosphere. The beach has […]
Honeymoon Island State Park
Honeymoon Island offers four miles of pristine beaches and a rare virgin slash pine forest. The park features both Gulf swimming beaches and a dog-friendly beach area. It’s a paradise for nature lovers with osprey nests, abundant shorebirds, and occasional dolphin sightings. The Osprey Trail provides hiking through native Florida landscape with opportunities to spot […]
Caladesi Island State Park
Accessible only by boat or ferry, Caladesi Island remains one of Florida’s last untouched barrier islands. The beach features pristine white sand, blue-green waters, and natural coastal environments without development. Visitors can kayak through mangrove forests on the three-mile kayak trail, hike the interior island trail, or enjoy the peaceful shoreline. The island was once […]
Grayton Beach State Park
Grayton Beach State Park features consistently ranked among America’s most beautiful beaches with sugar-white sand and emerald green water. The park is unique for its rare coastal dune lakes, a natural phenomenon found in few places worldwide where freshwater lakes intermittently connect with the Gulf of Mexico. A 4.5-mile hiking trail winds through a coastal […]
Henderson Beach State Park
Henderson Beach State Park preserves 6,000 feet of pristine shoreline and natural coastal scrub ecosystem in the otherwise heavily developed Destin area. The beach features brilliant white quartz sand and emerald-green waters characteristic of the Emerald Coast. A nature trail winds through ancient dunes, some over 30 feet tall, providing habitat for wildlife including migratory […]