Grayton Beach State Park

by Tim Hackett
(Hobe Sound Fl)

We wondered how if received a number one national rating after starting at Navarre Beach and traveling east to Ft Walton, Destin, Seaside, and the long list of great beaches of the panhandle of Florida.

The journey there was long and left question as the beach is fairly remote but then the drive along the panhandle of Florida is generally that way.

As you drive over the bridges leading to the park you begin to see the potential with the clear blue waters of the cuts and bays.

We arrived in the park in the morning and without notice a fog rolled in and we could not see 100 yds in front of us but within 30 minutes it blew away to expose the high sand dunes of the park and the absolutely magnificent clear ocean water and miles and miles of white white sand.

There are the first set of dunes with seaoats at the shore and then on the inland side of the road wind beat trees covered the tall tall dunes.

Nature paths thru the dunes lead to bays on the inland side filled with natural wildlife, together with bays of oysters and clams. Limited but well maintained restrooms, showers, and boat ramps exist within the park.

Parking lots are occupied by naturalist painters catching the sun coming thru the wind swept trees on the high dunes or the sea oaks on the naturally pristine beach.

A birdwatchers delight for shore birds as well as those that forge in the heavy tree canopy of the inland dunes and the sea grasses and marshes on the inalnd side.

Then there is the water. It is like looking into a glass of bottled water. You walk out to waist deep water and see your feet clearly on the floor of the white ocean sand.

This receives a number one rating and I suggest anyone looking for truely the "best beaches in florida" look through the state and federal parks.

Protected and managed and preserved for all of us. We thought we had seen the best beach in Navares next to pensacola, then the clear blue water of the Destin cut was like being in the Florida Keys with clearer water then we got to Grayton beach after stopping at 6 or 7 other beautiful beaches along the route to Apalachacola and Grayton Beach.

Next on our list would be Gasparillo Island and Boca Grande. Beautiful white beaches, magnificent emerald blue water in the cuts leading to the Lighhouse at the Boca Grand Cut.

A wonderful brilliant sunset and great local seafood in the town of Boca Grande. These beaches rank far above the Sanibel, Captiva, Daytona, Cocoa Beach, Vero Beach, Tampa, St Pete, Clearwater beaches we have been to not as vacation destinations but as beautiful beaches.

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