The Florida panhandle is noted for its white sugar sand beaches. This park, located near Panama City, is just over the dunes from the beach and offers plenty of white sand beach, biking and hiking trails, and it is about 1.5 miles from Seaside, a really neat resort with great restaurants, pubs, interesting buildings and night life.
Alas, it was raining when we arrived. Had the dunes, the beach and the parking lot to ourselves while we waited for our site to be vacated.
We didn't have to wait long and got into our really private site in the "old" loop. The site, 34, is packed sand, level and thank goodness drained well. On two sides was a swamp (frog concert every night), on one side a lot of shrubbery.
The entire old loop is like that. Sand sites and limestone road. Very nice. Lots of shade on most all the sites in this loop.
Also, on this loop sites 8 thru 18 offer a view of Western Lake. Not all are this open, but offer some view of the lake. There is a path along the water's edge.
The "new" loop is a little different. 50 amp full hook up services and paved loop road and sites. But, no shade and the sites are closer together.
Enter the beach. Moderate current warning this week. Windy on the beach. The sun finally came out.
Great beach for fishing and sunning.
White sugar sand beach as far as the eye can see.
Dunes to beach.
Partially sunny, windy day.
On the other side of the dunes is a short, easy hiking path.
Once proud tree now wood art.
The trail leads into a hammock.
A rest area in the hammock.
And, back out along the dunes.
Then, into a flatwood hammock.
But, this week the trail through the hammock ended abruptly. A week of rains saturated this portion of the trail.
Across from the campground entrance is the 30-A Trailhead. A 4.5 (one way) bike and hike trail of easy/moderate level to 395 Trailhead. Also, Hwy 30-A has a wide bike path going east and west of the entrance.
Between the dunes and the campground is Western Lake. Kayaking and paddle boarding opportunities. Don't know about swimming....alligators and snakes call it home.
The campground across Western Lake from the beach parking lot. Sites 8-18 provide a glimpse of the lake.
At the beach parking lot are pavilions and change/rest rooms.
Things along the way:
Red Corn Snake
Blanketflower, or Firewheel
Purple Milkweed
Spiderwort. And, it's edible.
Sort of driftwood like art.
Southeastern Five-Lined Skink
I'm really curious as to what this is. Or, will be.
Sky-Blue Lupine
Blackberry
Wind creating grass etchings in the sand.
Near sunset on our last evening.
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