Destin has a lot to offer, and although its beaches are world-famous and its seafood delicious, there are hundreds of hidden treasures in the surrounding area of Northwest Florida that yield for fun adventures, day trips and weekend getaways. This column which will be featured on Wednesdays, will follow the wanderings of reporter, Savannah Vasquez, and explore the many opportunities in Destin’s surrounding area. I invite you to explore with me Beyond Destin.
After the Christmas celebrations my husband and I were ready for some fresh air, and not wanting to travel far away, we chose a place close to home for an afternoon trip to Grayton Beach State Park in Santa Rosa Beach.
What drew us to the beach this overcast Saturday was a chance to hike on the sand dunes. We had heard that the otherwise protected Florida dunes are available to explore via the park’s Barrier Dune Nature Trail.
We began our one-mile hike near the Western Lake, a brackish waterway fed by the nearby Gulf. Within minutes we were surrounded by a forest of twisted Live Oaks that made for a calm and picturesque scene. A bench within the grove allows hikers a moment of peace and quiet and a poem printed on a placard nearby adds to the reflective atmosphere.
The short hike follows the edge of the lake into another forest, this time of tall pines. A wooden walkway leads the way through the pines as the scenery changes to that of a rainforest with Florida thatch palms on either side of the path. Hikers are informed by small signs along the hike of the different types of flora and fauna, and specifically in the pine forest are told to be on the lookout for raccoons. Other animals common to the park are alligators, blue herons, pelicans and several species of marsh ducks.
Besides it’s location along the Gulf of Mexico the park also features three major dune lakes. The Western Lake, the Alligator Lake and the Little Redfish Lake. Visitors are encouraged to bring paddleboards and kayaks or if you do not own a watercraft, canoes are available for rent at the park’s entrance. Fishing is also available both in the beach surf or in the dune lakes with the proper licensing.
After our dune hike, Cristian and I took a stroll down to the beach to watch the waves. The mile-long stretch of beach is one of the most pristine and natural beaches in the area, as the protected dunes back up to the beach and the view extends for miles in both directions.
Grayton Beach also offers 30 two-bedroom cabins for rent year-round as well as 34 campsites for R.V. or tent camping. Also throughout the park are pavilions equipped with picnic tables and charcoal grills. All pavilions are open to use and do not require reservation.
For those looking for slight challenge, Grayton Beach is located along a paved 10-mile path that leads through several communities on Scenic Hwy. 30-A.
So whether you are looking to relax by sea or by land, Grayton Beach State Park is the perfect place to venture.
WANNA GO?
Grayton Beach State Park is located at 357 Main Park Road in Santa Rosa Beach. The park is open from 8 a.m. to sunset 365 days a year and costs $5 per vehicle or $2 for bike-riders or pedestrians. For more information or to reserve a campsite call 267-8300.