Tales from the Road: Returning Back to Nature at the Beach

It’s only fitting that for Earth Day that I talk about the ways I communed with nature during my visit to Panama City Beach, Fla.

If you haven’t figured it out by now, I really enjoy finding places of natural beauty in destinations and while at the beach this past weekend, I spent time in two such places.

One of them was St. Andrews State Park, located on the east end of Panama City Beach. Here you can discover a great combination of beaches,  marshes and pinewoods. Spend the morning hiking along the nature trails, the afternoon fishing off the piers or the jetty, and the evening at the beach. Looking to experience what it would be like to have nearly an entire beach all to yourself? Take the boat shuttle to the undeveloped Shell Island. If you don’t feel like relaxing, rent a kayak to go exploring on your own or discover the underwater world by snorkeling. Extend your experience by camping overnight (tent or RV) at the park.

Located on the west end of Panama City Beach is Camp Helen State Park. Just because it’s smaller than St. Andrews, doesn’t mean it lacks in beauty. The key feature here is Lake Powell that is the largest coastal dune lake in the state. Camp Helen happens to be surrounded by the lake and  the Gulf of Mexico on three sides. So, yes, there are ample fishing opportunities here. There’s also walking trails that lead to the beach as well as places to relax and take in the surroundings.

You won’t get any arguments from me about the beauty of the beaches here. However, don’t limit yourself when can further extend that visual/experience/feeling by visiting either one of the nearby state parks.

photo credit: personal photos