This place is awesome!! Have so many great memories here . It's great to kayak, Canoe, Paddle board, fish off the bridge in the estuary , also during high tide fun to jump off the bridge . Low tide is great for exploring the estuary . Make sure to wear water shoes that are very tight !! You will lose them when your feet sink inn the muck . Watch where you step & be respectful of ocean wild life big & small . You can go to big to the small & big island . Idk how to spell them correctly . But, historical site on big island . Awesome little hike . Also , gift shop has tons of educational aspects as well as aquarium & marine creatures to see . I could go ooh and on . Been going there for about 25 years or more . I hope I can find some pictures to add . Most were taken before digital cameras or smart phones were even a twinkle . read more

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Living here I have the beauty of being able to go to MacArthur park frequently. The beach is stunning if you are a beach goer. I love to kayak there as the surroundings are beautiful. I would probably give this a five star but today I'm not. As we approached one of beaches out in the lagoon to take a water break we did a complete U turn. A young couple thought it was their private beach to be naked and have sex. I guess they thought families with kids never kayak. Takes bird watching to a another level. read more

One of the friendlier and nicer locations for kayaking. Come here early so you miss the tide and make your way to one of the small islands for a picnic or just to soak up the sun. Of course if you missed the tide paddling out, you will be experiencing it when returning to shore. Can be a fun experience as well - I promise! I heard that they also offer a shuttle that takes you to the beach locaction. Prices are right at about 15 - 25. Definetively a must visit place if you live in South Florida. read more

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park - Parks Near Me - Palm Beach, Florida

Awesome place to visit. Make sure to ask for a pamphlet at the entrance when you pay so you can get lay of the land. Decent parking area that leads to a 1,600 foot board walk to the beautiful blue ocean. If you don't / can't walk that, A state park official will pick you up in a 6-seat golf cart (lovingly referred to as a tram on park signs) between 10am and 4pm. There's lots of wildlife to see here, and it's worth at least a couple hours of kayaking time. Check the tides before you head out though to avoid paddling against the current! Also if you're kayaking, bring your kayaks back ON TIME. JD charges $1 A MINUTE if you are late. There's men's and women's restrooms (clean enough for a state park), a gift shop next to the kayak rental office, and lots of trails to wander through. It's loved by locals and visitors alike. Very kid friendly. Go check it out, you won't be disappointed! read more

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It's an awesome nature place and a beautiful beach. Plenty recommended. A perfect place for your family read more

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Awesome, beautiful beach!! Loved that cart ride out to the beach and the aqua blue water. Beware of sharks right off shore.

The family and I came here to walk the nature trails this morning. For $5/car (up to eight people), it's quite a steal! We learned about a myriad of plants both native and non-native to Florida. The best part of the trail was arriving to the beach... absolutely stunning (and super clean!). It's a shame that we didn't bring our bathing suits. At the Nature Centre, you will find a gift shop and activities (kayaking and how-to-kayak classes) that you can sign up for. In the summer months, you can take snorkeling classes too. If you're not sure how to kill 2 hours in Palm Beach, why not visit MacArthur Park? A solid 4 star ~ read more

This Florida State Park is something for residents to be proud of! I have been enjoying the trails through the mangroves, overlooking the waters from the walkway to the barrier island to the beach, and the pristine beach. My husband has been taking advantage of the kayaking and we look forward to snorkeling on the reef very soon. We are excited to catch another concert here tonight! MacArthur Under Moonlight Concert Series APRIL 4 @ 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | $5.00 MacArthur Under Moonlight Concert Series Rod MacDonald; Folk Music Saturday, April 4, 7-9:00 p.m. (Doors open at 6 p.m.) Join us under the full moon for a magical night of music. No reservations required, Friends Members attend free, public admission is $5.00 per person. Call for more information (561) 624-6952.http://www.macarthurbeach.org/events/ + GOOGLE CALENDAR+ ICAL EXPORT read more

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park - Parks Near Me - Palm Beach, Florida

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Named for the man who donated the land in the 1970s to create this park and preserve the fragile ecosystem. It is now part of the Florida State Park System, and you can get in with the annual pass, or pay $5 a car, or $4 single in a car. You can also join Friends of the Park online, but not at the entry for an annual membership that admits member for one year unlimited visits. They have a kayak launch site if you bring your own kayak. Or you can rent them but prices seem QUITE high for kayak rental to me. You can visit an exhibit with fish and marine systems. You can see one loggerhead turtle in a tank. There is a large long walkway over the lagoon to the beach. There is a man who will take you if you don't want to walk for free in an electric cart. Multiple showers are situated in the beach areas. I went mid week in late May and few people at the beach, less than a dozen. If you fish you can fish from walkway or kayak or standing in the water but you must have Florida fishing lic and observe all fishing rules and regulations. There is a place to watch three different videos on the park and the eco systems and conservations efforts. It holds about 50 people, but I was the only one there. Don't wait for it to start. You might think it will, but it only starts when you get up and press one of the three buttons you pass before you see the chairs along the wall. If you want to see one of the other videos when its done, press one of the other buttons. Overall its a nice park. I don't think they sell any food so pre plan accordingly. read more

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So beautiful and has a nature center a long pier with a shuttle cart a shady walk and beautiful Beach read more

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For such a large (400+ acre) and well-kept park, there appear to be remarkably few walking trails (just two - and those are almost entirely un-scenic). The footbridge across the channel is lovely and provides a nice stroll to the beaches - the "dune trail" is really nothing more than a path to access the beachfront. Nature center seems fine as is the gift shop but park users might be left wanting more park for their park experience. Is there more park hidden away somewhere in the park? The park maps are not terribly helpful in figuring this all out and solving the "missing park" conundrum. read more

It was peaceful and beautiful. Nice place for kayak and explore the nature. I loved it read more

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Today my husband and I went on the First Day Hike 2016. Our group's guide was Lu. She did a fantastic job conducting the tour. It's nice to see someone who knows and likes their job. Even though I've taken this tour previously, I enjoyed it. I learned new things about the park, the creatures, and the vegetation that inhabit the park. Admission is $5 per car. The tour was nearly 2 hours so I'd say our money was well spent! Take the tour if you can to learn about and appreciate this beautiful park. read more

We went on a Sunday and all the kayaks had been rented out by 11am. Put our names on a list and was able to go a couple of hours later. Kayaks were okay but didn't have any seat or back support which gave everyone a back ache later. Other places we have rented from had back supports. This is our 2nd time renting here, beautiful spot for kayaking and we love the area. read more

Love it here. Staff is so friendly eveytime that I visit. I take full advantage of my annual pass for kayaking. The beach is pristine and clean. Love the hiking tails. Always happy to donate to this amazing park. read more

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park - Parks Near Me - Palm Beach, Florida

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LITERALLY one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever been to in America. I can't stop thinking about it. PERFECT.

Every time I come to West Palm Beach, I come here. With the great, sandy beaches, tropical hiking trails, and kayaking, it's literally the happiest place on earth. read more

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park - Parks Near Me - Palm Beach, Florida

A relaxing Christmas Eve afternoon. Always one of my favorite visits when I'm in the Palm Beaches.

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park contains one of the few pristine beaches that remain in South Florida, and is also the only state park in Palm Beach County. It is located between Riviera Beach and North Palm Beach, and opened to the public in 1989. It is well-known to be a sea turtle nesting ground, and its best feature is the large, secluded, intact beach (this is the same beach where the turtles lay their eggs from spring to summer). For those who don't want to spend too much time on the beach, there is also the option of a couple of nature trails, visiting the nature center (which has exhibits as well as educational movies), or renting a kayak and paddling the estuary and Lake Worth Lagoon. There is a free tram service for those who are unable or unwilling to walk across the boardwalk, and the boardwalk has resting benches as well for those who need to rest. There's also a playground for kids, shelters, and picnic tables, with grills nearby. Dogs are not allowed on the boardwalk or the beach, but they are allowed in other areas of the park. The park entrance fee is $5 per vehicle, and as long as you have your receipt, you can come and go as you please on the same day, just show the receipt to the attendant. It is quite a large park (437.60 acres), though most of it consists of the beach. Shelling here is great, especially after the tide starts to recede. The water is a beautiful color of turquoise, dark blue, and light blue, like something from a postcard, but there are no lifeguards on duty, so be respectful of the sea and be responsible. Check the beach warning flags and don't go too far into the deep waters, in case there are rip currents. There are sand dunes that make it look as if you're walking on hills, though you're asked to not interfere with them, or some of the environmentally unique protected plants along the way that have signage indicating same. Though this park claims to have a variety of wading birds, I only got to see Gulls on the beach, a Great Blue Heron and a Snowy Egret. Their website also states that this is a popular Roseate Spoonbill spot (which was my main reason in coming), but I did not see any. Asking several of the park employees, none seemed to be able to provide definite Spoonbill sighting spots. Better luck next time! Despite someone claiming this is a nude beach (and it was in the 60s and 70s and some claim, even into the 80s), no nude sunbathers were on site. People were fully clothed or wearing swimsuits. It is not a protected nude beach, as it is now a state park (see http://ruththewriter.blogspot.com/2012/06/sand-sun-and-lot-of-skin.html for more). While a small section of the beach in a remote area may host a rogue clothing optional sunbather, any part of the beach that connects with the park is not considered clothing optional nor is this allowed, and park rangers frequently check the area. The park closes at sunset, so even if people wanted to have sex on the beach, as one reviewer claims, unless they live in one of the Singer Island condominium buildings that connect with the park and have complete beach access at all times, they would be unable to do so. read more

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Located on Singer Island this park is a great way to spend a Saturday. The entrance fee is $4 per car. The first smart and endearing aspect was the mini shuttle service/golf car limo taking visitors over the bridge between the Nature Center and the beach, about a 5 minute ride. Once you get there to the actual beach, you'll find it isn't overly crowded and is definitely family friendly. While there we noticed a lot of people had small diving flags and learned they're mandatory for even snorkelers, near the shore so save yourself a trip back to the Nature Center and bring your own or rent one before you take the golf limo over the bridge. read more

Its brochure reads 'The Real Florida' -- and the real Florida is what you get. Kayaking in the estuary, close to mangrove trees and a flock (yes, a flock) of pelicans can be unsettling in an area known for glitzy condos and high-end shopping. It's the peace and connection to nature I need every so now and then when I visit South Florida. After kayaking, I walked across the wooden foot bridge to the ocean and spent about an hour on the beach. TIP 1: The cost to park for the day is $5, but if you are alone, they only charge you $4. TIP 2: Unlike other outfitters, you do not pre-pay for your kayak rental. The park rangers simply take a credit card or $100 cash as deposit. You pay once you return -- and they either pro-rate your rental, or charge you for a half-day or full-day -- whichever is less. It was a very fair system. read more

Beautiful! I was definitely concerned at first once I drove into the park and felt like I was in the middle of the woods. Don't get me wrong - I'm from Michigan - I love the woods. But that is just it, I was in Florida and I wanted the beautiful beaches that I can't get at home. I walked over to the visitors center which was big and nice and had great clean spacious bathrooms and changed into my swimming suit. I checked out the sea turtle swimming around in the giant aquarium - worth it - and headed down the path that supposedly lead to a beach. A few steps in I was looking across a rather large river that apparently once crossed would lead me to the ... beach...? Maybe? While I was starting to get nervous, a stretch golf cart (Not sure how else to label this) drove up and offered a ride to the beach. I asked how far it was and he explained it was only about a third of a mile, but this was the last run of the day (it was 4 pm) so I took advantage on the way there knowing I could easily walk back later. After climbing some stairs and turning a corner... BAM! Big beautiful beach stretching as far as I could see! So worth it. So basically while on the beach there is so much wildlife around due to all the mangrove trees and natural habitat left behind you, and in front of you, the big beautiful ocean. Paradise. I'd have to say this was my favorite spot that I went to while in Florida. I'd love to go back - looks like there is kayaking available and I know there was a lot more to explore that I just didn't get a chance to enjoy during my hour spent there. Such a well done beautiful state park. Check it out if you are in the area! read more

This park is on the same stretch of beach where my parents condo is situated. One time, my dad and I took the challenge of swimming to the park. But for the walkers, this park delights as there are trails you can walk on, and don't forget, there is the big expansive beach... When I was there last, during one of the walks on the beach, we saw 3 manitees which were uglier than I had envisioned, and much slower than anticipated. The threesome were actually swimming slower and behind us. That was the most exciting creature we saw on this trail. Next time, my parents and I want to partake in the Turtle trail where you get to see the dangerous journey of new baby turtles to the ocean. Because there is not much amusement in the immediate area, I think this state park is a great family place to chill. Kids will definitely enjoy seeing the various wildlife, and if lucky, a manitee or two. read more

Bring Umbrella! My hubby and I made a spontaneous stop here while vacationing in WPB a couple of weeks ago. The sand is really sharp and in August SUPER hot so bring appropriate foot protection. The water, though the perfect temperature, was too rough to actually enjoy this time. The park itself is pretty cute... there is a little shuttle that takes you out to the beach. You can rent canoes and kayaks.. The parking situation is a little confusing although I think they were doing repairs so they had allot of signs that just sent you into an empty lot. Eventually we found the right place though. All in all I enjoyed my time here.. i wish the beach would have been better but thats not the parks fault. read more

Very nice walk on the boardwalk to the beach. Stroller friendly. Awesome value for the small entry fee! Would love to go kayaking here too.

Way better than all the other S. FL beaches I've been to. The ocean was great and perfect temperature. There were large, numerous patches of seawood at times but it cleared out with the change of the tide. The beach here wasn't overcrowded and I found the long boardwalk out to get there pretty impressive- even more so that they have a small tram transporting people to and fro to get there all day. If you plan to get back and forth more than once walking though, prepare for it to take a while! Theres a good Nature Center and gift shop with ice creams, drinks, rentals etc that adds some nice creature comforts to the experience. I enjoyed looking at all the guest book entries- people from all over the world had visited and commented, many who saw sharks and other sea water life. All enjoyed their visit. I brought my snorkels but didnt find it that worthwhile as there was hardly anything under the water really at all here. There is a cute rescue sea turtle in a float tank out in front of the gift shop/Nature center. I felt very sad for him as there was absolutely nothing in the tank at all. It was just a basin of water in which he endlessly swam side to side in. read more

Beautiful beach park, but what's with the sea turtle in the tiny aquarium at the gift shop? I am far from a tree hugger but it seems clear to me the aquarium is too small and the turtle is stressed. No need for this display, if you want to see turtles, visit Loggerhead Marinelife up the street where they rescue and rehab them. read more

Such a great park!! Beautiful, clean and serene. Great paths to the stunningly gorgeous beach. Staff was extremely friendly and helpful. We rode our bikes to this park and the staff let us know where we could and couldn't ride. I love that when you buy anything in the gift store, all the money stays in the park. Definitely worth the $2 per bike cost to get in!! read more

We got there late and were unable to rent a kayak as we'd planned. Keep in mind that even though the park is open until sunset, the kayaks have to be returned by 4pm and there is usually a list. We walked the 1600 ft boardwalk across Lake Worth Cove and then explored the beautiful beach for about a half mile. The weather had just turned and the wind was kicking, lots of Man O' War in the water and on the shore so we didn't chance swimming. We took in the Education Center and it was small, but informative. A breathtaking centerpiece is the aquarium with artificial mangrove roots, and live fish. Next visit to South Florida we will return and get a much earlier start so we can kayak the cove and check out the estuary, and Munyon Island. read more

A gem. The ranger (volunteer?) leading our 10 a.m. walking tour was so friendly and informative. The beach is gorgeous - clean and scenic. We visited at high tide, but I'd love to come back at low tide to see a different perspective. Truly a fascinating glimpse of Florida before it was ravaged (er, I mean 'developed'). read more

I've been a member of this park for 5 years. It is paradise! Kayaking, bird watching, turtle walks and many other activities are included in the membership. read more

Every time I am in this area this park is always a place I must stop. Its so tranquil and peaceful and an amazing place to do some snorkeling and have a great picnic lunch. Its heaven on earth! read more

Only a guarded beach, and, naturally, reversal of climate change, could bring this place closer to perfection. read more

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park - Gatehouse. - Parks Near Me - Palm Beach, Florida

Love this section of Hutchinson Island. It is not heavily populated and the gazebo is perfect to lay out on. The water seems to have a steep drop on both sides, but very nice locay! read more

One Sunday morning my boyfriend and I decided we'd drive down A1A from Boca and find a cool place to visit. We came across this state park and decided to stop and explore! Welcomed with a $5 entry fee (which ended up being totally worth) we started off by walking down one of the nature trails which was enjoyable (typical tees, couple wood benches), then we saw a long bridge type thing that we started walking down to discover that it lead to the beach! AWESOME! Beautiful beach. I would highly recommended spending a day at this park, I wish I knew about this place sooner. Wasn't crowded at all, very peaceful place (it was a little chilly out, may be why a lot of people weren't there) I will be returning ASAP. (Only state park in Palm Beach County) read more

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Amazing gem, but best part was the sweetest lady ever in the Nature Center, thank you so much for making my friends and I feel welcomed. Strongly recommend taking the scenic route and walking the nature trails.. Beach is amazing, only $5 to get into the park, there's kayaking, wildlife everywhere. Its an amazing park. read more

I was unimpressed. If you're just looking for a beach to hang out on, there are similar (less costly) options nearby that don't require a 3/4 mile walk to get to the sand, or an irregular trolley golf cart that (for no discernable reason) won't pick you up once you've started walking. If you're here for the kayaks or very limited nature center (for the kids) you may have a better experience than I. As for me, I won't be back. read more

I really wish we had known about this place before we went to any other beach. This one has kayaks, snorkeling, nature trails, nature center, and you see so much wildlife. It is a long walk to the beach and apparently we came too late. But took lots of pictures and we did have rain so not a lot of people. Saw lots of crabs and a ton of fish in the water after the rain jumping and people fishing. Very beautiful and peaceful. read more

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park - This was a little bit after a storm hit. The beach is beautiful and so natural. Lots of shells to collect! - Parks Near Me - Palm Beach, Florida

This was the perfect nature getaway for 5$!! It has so many facts to learn about that I'm sure many people don't realize about the palm beach areas. Such neat creatures and activities to do. And if kayaking or hiking isn't for you- stroll across the estuary to the beautiful secluded beach and maybe get to see some unique wild life while you're walking across! There is a great little gift shop to check out too. I highly recommend stopping in the nature center too and learning all the neat facts and watching the 15 minute movie in there that really explains so much- I loved it all! Great for all ages. E read more

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park - Great secluded beach - Parks Near Me - Palm Beach, Florida

There is no complain at this park. I come here every time I'm in West Palm. It's a convenient park to navigate that only charges you a $5 per car to enter. I also love bringing home native potted plants for sale by donation at the Gift Shop that I have planted in my yard. read more

John D. MacArthur Beach State Park - Parks Near Me - Palm Beach, Florida

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