The Nature of Grayton Beach

Trails and Grayton Beach State Park

Grayton Beach is proud to have so much state land surrounding us. Instead of many-storied mansions, we are more partial to thick pine trees and dense palm fronds. And so we have many great trails and parks in our vicinity, including Grayton Beach State Park, which is within walking distance.

Grayton Beach State Park offers an exclusive look at the Coastal Dune Lake’s ecosystem and a look at what it’s like to be enveloped by the scrub oak maritime forest. It’s a great place to bring your family to experience the “Real Old Florida”. And participate in any of the other activities mentioned on this page.

Photography

Because we live in such a beautiful place, it’s easy to take beautiful photos. There’s inspiration all around us. Many locals and visitors enjoy taking a camera on their walks, capturing photos of our famous sunsets. Or perhaps the kingfishers on our coastal dune lakes, or the dolphins working together to drive fish closer to shore.

Surfing and Grayton Beach Surf Club

Grayton Beach has more gentle waves than are typical for surfing which is more conducive to learning and experimenting with the sport.

Grayton Beach Surf Club started as an informal group of like-minded surfers, and is now a bustling small business. They have surf boards for reasonable prices, and if you don’t know how to surf, they even have lessons.

While you’re out there, enjoy the beautiful Emerald colored waters full of plants and animals. It’s common to see rare animals such as sea turtles and eagle stingrays – a sight to remember for sure! Embrace the sweet smell of the ocean under the warmth of our clear Florida sun.

Biking

Grayton Beach is in the very center of 30A – not only by car, but also by bicycle, and we have an abundant supply of bicycles! Big Daddy’s Bike Shop has been around almost as long as we have, and we can’t recommend enough. They have everything from zippy electric bikes to laid-back cruiser-style bikes.

Many of us haven’t ridden a bike in too long. Feel the nostalgia of long bike rides through beautiful Old Florida!

Paddle Boarding

Ride through the lush, winding canals of Western Lake, through the reeds and tall grass, out on the outfall that often opens to the Gulf. There is nowhere else quite like this in the world. If you already enjoy, or are interested in, paddle boarding, this is a great location for it.

Gulf Therapy provides an accessible opportunity to paddle board on Grayton Beach’s Coastal Dune Lake. Every other Friday, just a ten-minute walk from Hibiscus, paddle boards are available for $10. “Let’s tackle mental health issues with a simple recipe – saltwater, sun, and sand.” – Amanda Abbott

Plants and Mushrooms

Personally, one of my favorite pastimes is walking through the woods after a rainy week and identifying plants and mushrooms. If you know anything about Chanterelle mushrooms, then you know how desirable they are, and they grow by the dozens here in our forests. We have other mushrooms here too, like ringless honey mushrooms, indigo milk cap mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, and even lion’s mane mushrooms. (Obviously, don’t eat them unless you’re experienced in foraging and identification.)

Also, take note of the long-leaf pines that fully surround you. Believe it or not, these unique trees are classified as endangered. It is important to witness their beauty. Conveniently we have a number of them on our property here at Hibiscus.

I find foraging to make my nature walks feel more like a treasure hunt, and you really start to appreciate how much things really change from day to day in these ecosystems.

Animals

Observe the local wildlife while you’re here. Grayton Beach and the surrounding area are booming with biodiversity. Some of the animals you might see are:

• White Tail Deer
• Otters
• Alligators
• Black Bears
• Armadillo
• Red Fox
• Bobcats
• Snakes & Lizards
• The Florida Panther
• Blue Herrings
• Hawks
• Bald Eagles

Although this is not an exhaustive list of the animals you may encounter here, it’s a window into our wild world.