This Stunning State Park Has Emerald Ocean Waters, Sugar-white Beaches, and Rare Coastal Dune Lakes

"What makes this area special is the fact that it's not urban, it's not suburban, and it's not rural-it's a combination of all three,"

"You have the Gulf, you have these coastal dune lakes, and you have Point Washington State Forest protecting so much of the land. All these natural barriers keep development in check, so it's really easy to be immersed in nature in a lot of different ways."

"This tiny stretch of 30A is surrounded by nature on all sides. That's what makes it really, really special."

Soft morning light and sugar-white dunes frame Grayton Beach State Park, where nearly 2,000 acres of protected shoreline, pine flatwoods, and rare coastal dune lakes create a landscape balancing wild habitat and human presence. A mile-long stretch of cool alabaster sand meets Western Lake's brackish edge, where paddlers slip past marsh grass and ospreys circle overhead. Trails wind through salt-twisted oaks and magnolias, and nighttime reveals deeper stillness. Natural barriers, including the Gulf and Point Washington State Forest, limit development and foster immersion in nature. The park is open daily 8 a.m. to sundown; non-pass holders pay a $5 vehicle entry fee.

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