We love it here, we visit every time we vacation at the beach. My kids love seeing all the sea life…read moreup close. I wish when you were walking in they gave more instructions and required parents to watch small children closely as there are many touch tanks were small children could hurt the sea life. Probably not ideal for the animals, and the touch tanks and looking tanks are set up the same so kids are tempted to dip their hands in all of the tanks. It's a cool experience but I could see why people are concerned for the sea life that call this lab home.

This place is truly at the heart of what the forgotten coast is all about. This little place here…read moreon our gorgeous, forgotten coast is dedicated to so many invaluable missions when it comes to taking care of and preserving land as well as the creatures that dwell here whether they be on the land, in the sea or most comfortable in the air. It's very clear that everybody working here has such a heart and a passion for the reptiles, marine life, animals, birds, that they help in represent here in the community. This annual fundraiser for Gulf Specimen Marine Lab is such a fun way for all of us to try to drum up awareness & support for the mission here while getting to have a wonderful time playing dress up & bidding on really cool things at the silent auction. This year alone in our area they helped take care of hundreds of stunned sea turtles when the weather got well below what it typically is persistently for this area and that mission alone is more than worth heading over for a visit getting to learn about the wildlife in this area and supporting their endeavors! Not to mention the fact that there are so many, very interactive ways for both adults and kids to be entertained here while learning about our local wildlife & conservation!

An absolute beautiful hidden gem of a beach. Came here as I was traveling down from Tallahassee and…read moreover to Panama City. Decided to take a detour and I am so glad I did. I was able to catch the sunset at this little beach and had the best time enjoying God's beauty by myself. Thankful I came here and the views were surreal.

The beach was cute and quiet. Perfect if you like the privacy. Parking is somewhat limited. No…read morebathrooms. I believe there are 2 different acceses to the beach. It was a chill evening with the family. We'll be back to chill again.

What a deal this park is. Nearly beach front, clean,cement level sites and cheap. Cant beat florida…read morestate parks!!

My favorite beach ever!! The sand bar is fun to swim to! The waves are really good! It's great to…read morego to with friends! I 1000% recommend!!!!

Tony and I went over to Shell Point Beach off the Gulf Coast in Florida near our Airbnb. This beach…read morehas a lot of condos and senior citizens communities. It was free to go to beach it's open sunrise to sundown. There is plenty of parking and public restrooms but no lifeguards so you swim at your own risk. Very lovely beach with some shells. Definitely recommend and will go back when in the area.

Originally we were going to go to another beach, but we wound up at Shell Point Beach due to time…read moreconstraints. It was practically sunset and the day was nearly done, so four of us went and just ate snacks and chatted the night away until we got kicked out. Beach is small, water is blah, but the views are lovely and the wind in my hair felt nice. We managed to snag a table right in front of the action and we saw many people pass us by. Coming from Miami, a beach like this one is unlike anything I've seen before. It's not crazy full of people doing who knows how many things at once. In all honesty, I only wish I had brought a paper and pen with me. It was the type of scene that gave me inspiration to write.

St. Marks, Florida. Late March, 2025. We were on a road trip, visiting the southeastern corner of…read morethe US. We saw the sign for the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, and just had to stop. For those unaware, the National Refuge System (System) is an extensive network of lands and waters protected and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, especially for wildlife and its habitat. There are over 560 refuges, stretching from above the Arctic Circle in Alaska to the subtropical waters of the Florida Keys. The St. Marks Refuge was established in 1931 to provide winter habitat for migratory birds, and is one of the oldest refuges in the System. It encompasses about 86 thousand acres, and includes about 43 miles of north Florida's Gulf coast. About 350 thousand visitors come to St. Marks NWS each year to birdwatch, photograph, hike, fish, picnic, hunt, bike, and relax. We only touched the surface of what was available to do at the refuge. *We stopped at the Visitor Center, where you can pick up maps and view displays about Refuge wildlife and habitats. *We drove Lighthouse Road, which is a slow-moving 7-mile road which connects the Visitor Center to the historic St. Marks Lighthouse at the end of the road. (See my separate listing on Yelp). The road is shared by people in cars and on bike who are hopeful to spot migratory birds, monarch butterflies, and even alligators. *We parked at the Lighthouse (which was closed to visitors), walking around the short paths there, and taking photographs of the lighthouse and surrounding waters. Note that this is a fee-area, and entrance fees are required of all Refuge visitors traveling behind the Visitor Center on Lighthouse Road. Passes are accepted. You can also support your national refuge by supporting the Nature Store, where you can buy field guides, postcards, t-shirts, sunscreen, insect repellant, and more.

While attending the annual butterfly fest this year we had to wait for an hour or more then we're…read moretold it was another 7 miles to the actually lighthouse and where they were releasing the butterfly's. The lighthouse was beautiful and wildlife was wonderful. A big thing with this even was it stated very directly in the instructions no Dogs allowed. There were many dogs there some of which were not properly being attended to. One lady brought 5 or 6 small puppies then when a Ranger explained she needed to get them away from the water because the alligators would come out of the water and take them out of her arms she argued with her that she had already taken them but she would not move away from the waters edge.

At one time, sinkholes served as dumpsters for locals. Cherokee Sink was one of these "free…read moredumpsters" for a long time until a few years ago. People used to chunk beer bottles into the water. Rumor has it that someone torched a stolen car out there, but I wouldn't know anything about that. There was a clean-up effort a few years ago when the sinkhole became part of Wakulla Springs State Park. They built platforms and boardwalks. All seemed improved. Shortly after that, the sinkhole closed down. As one reviewer mentioned, the closure occurred because of a lack of facilities necessary to run a state park. Now, however, the sinkhole has reopened. But things have changed. If you've come here in the past, you may remember being able to drive 70 mph on a tiny, winding path through the woods and then park almost close enough to the sink to drive your vehicle into the water. Not so anymore. Be prepared to walk about a mile. The county shut that road and turned it into a "nature path," though there is really nothing remarkable about the scenario. Also, no alcohol allowed--and there is always a park ranger out looking for someone to fine. The boardwalks and platforms are still there, but there is no longer a spot to jump from the platform. In short, the county cleaned up the sinkhole and baby-proofed it, and now it is a pretty spot for family fun if you are ready to walk a mile through the woods on a thick sand trail to get there. Also, you have to pay to park.

It's still here- just a mile away down a pretty, sandy shaded path. My husband has found memories…read moreof hanging out here playing in the water. We finally took a walk out here together and it really is lovely. I had never heard of a "sink" outside of my kitchen but apparently these are somewhat common in north Florida. It's like the ground just opened up here ages ago and "sank" and all that remains is a very deep clear freshwater pool. The water did look inviting in a natural way. Facilities here could be enhanced but for a natural setting it is clean and nicely preserved. Worth the modest hike if you are in the area!