Bald Point State Park
Nature's Paradise on the Forgotten Coast
Oh man… Have you ever had to pinch yourself multiple times in the same setting to be sure that you were really awake and weren’t dreaming some perfect, realistic, but too-good-to-be-true dream? That was me on the day of our visit to Bald Point State Park, just south of Panacea, Florida. This oh-so-dreamy state park rests on an unincorporated part of Florida’s Forgotten Coast called Alligator Point, right where the Ochlockonee and Apalachee Bays meet.
Naturally, we included this stop on our list of places we couldn’t miss during our camping trip to Ochlockonee State Park, which we talked about in the last post, because it’s just a stone's throw away on a beautiful scenic drive. How could we not? You know us by now. We squeeze a lot into our adventures and, if we can fit an extra state park in, it’s added to the itinerary. Honestly though, I grossly underestimated how much we’d enjoy this glorious treasure of a park.
The Panhandle, unarguably, boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, but sometimes I find myself guilty of secretly feeling less excited about a new beach than other types of state parks we visit. After all, growing up in Florida, I’ve seen so many of them... What’s another long stretch of sand and water? I mean, how different could it be? Oh goodness be, don’t make my mistake. This day at Bald Point, and the Gulf Specimen Aquarium we went to afterwards in Panacea (which we'll be talking about later), made for some epic memories for our family.
Sea oats (seen to the left) blanket the dunes at Bald Point State Park and play an important role in stabilizing dunes against erosion as well as feeding many endemic coastal species.
Bald Point State Park is anything but just another beach park.
After all, there are 4,800 acres of protected beach, wetland, tidal creek, and upland habitats here! The richness of the diverse habitats, observable wildlife, and incredible uniqueness of landscape is just about indescribable. Be prepared: because the beaches face the brackish water of the bays, the water was not turquoise in color, but rather tannin stained and teeming with estuarine life! Totally ok by us!
Ohhh say can you see... all those Sea Oats?!
The beaches of Bald Point are pristine and absolutely beautiful... but we fell in love with what we saw BETWEEN the upland areas and the water's edge. Sea Oats, everywhere! In many areas we've visited, this vital plant has suffered a drastic drop in numbers because of habitat loss and people playing in on or around the dunes they grown on. We were floored by the amount of sea oats we saw blowing in the wind atop the sand dunes at Bald Point.
Did you know...
Sea oats not only look beautiful, but also play a critical role in stabilizing the dunes against erosion that occurs from wind and rains and especially our tropical storms. Their swaying stalks may look flimsy above the sand but, down below, all of the plants are connected deep within the dunes by extensive root systems and horizontal rhizomes. Their strength is hidden, but mighty... and it comes in numbers. That's why we teach our kids that no matter how pretty, we never pick them or disturb the dunes they grow on. Their seeds are also important food sources for awesome dune critters, like beach mice and rabbits! Super amazing plant all around.
Hermit Crabs!
After enjoying the Apalachee Bay side of the beach for a while, we wandered over to the shores of Ochlockonee Bay, near the mouth of the tidal creeks that wind their way through the park. This is where we ended up spending the majority of our time, and where I'm guessing your kids will want to play most as well. The incredibly calm, brackish water of the Ochlockonee Bay, with it's high organic content made it an absolute HOT SPOT for hermit crabs by the hundreds!
They were just everywhere in the shallow waters... Along with lots of little baby blue crabs and oyster beds. Gah... So cute! We're not big fans of keeping critters in cages at home, and, when you see them here in their natural habitats, it's easy to see why. They have so much space to wander and forage, and play their own important roles in the ecosystem.
Here's a thought. Instead of buying your next hermit crab, come to Bald Point State Park and see dozens in their own home. Gawk at all the unique pretty shells and different sizes.. Just make sure you put them back after having a look. Remember the golden rule of exploring our wild lands responsibly: Take only pictures, leave only footprints. (Leave No Trace) Although, responsible fishing IS permitted at this state park, and there's a great little dock out into Ochlockonee Bay that we saw some guys catch a pretty big red drum on!
Listen close!
Here's a fun thing to catch if you're there at the right time... As the tides go out of the bay and expose the oyster beds, the oysters will begin snapping shut in order to preserve the moisture inside their shells until the next high tide. You will hear audible "clicks" and see bits of water squirt out as they do! The kids think it's suuuper fun and interesting. Yours will too, I'm sure of it! It's amazing what we can pick up on when we tune in to nature.
The stunning tidal creeks of Bald Point
My personal favorite part of the this whole state park, besides seeing my kids go crazy over crabs, was walking the boardwalk out over the winding tidal creeks... Wowzers. It seriously doesn't get any more beautiful than this, people! Sigh... marsh grasses blowing in the wind, easy meandering water making it's way out to sea. It was just so peaceful.
Thousands of fiddler crabs crawling all over the newly exposed mud left by the receding tide made the ground look as if it were moving. Long after the kids and hubby headed back toward the car, I found myself just listening and staring. The sounds of the marsh are beautiful... from the snapping and popping of oysters closing, to the chirping of birds and insects to the wind blowing through marsh grasses.. I love it all. This part of Florida is something special, ya'll.
Gulf Specimen Marine Lab & Aquarium: The PERFECT Compliment to Bald Point State Park
After we spent most of our day exploring Bald Point State Park, we decided the most perfect way to close out our afternoon was with a visit to the incredible Gulf Specimen Marine Lab and Aquarium in Panacea, FL. Talk about some serious ah-ha moments!! This amazing aquarium and research center dedicates itself to environmental education, specifically relating to the marine wildlife of Florida's Gulf Coast. The kids (and mom and dad!) were absolutely wonderstruck! We were able able to see, up close, and even touch some of the animals that live, hunt, forage, and raise their young in the very waters we were playing in earlier that day! I just adore seeing them make the connections between animals and their environments in the natural world... and begin to see how we, humans, tie into the equation as well.
There are very few aquariums that still have touch-tanks, as not all members of the public can be trusted to be careful and gentle with the real, living creatures who await their fates with little to no protection from less-than-cautious guests. The fact this this aquarium does, therefore, is a treat for sure. If you have children with gentle hands, and are willing to keep a close eye on them, be sure to bring them here while they still allow touching. I really do believe that close encounters and hands-on learning experiences with and in nature ignite more than just a retention of book knowledge... they light fires of wonder, curiosity, and empathy. Mindful parenting and a bit of awareness will go a long way to keep these experiences available here at this awesome aquarium.
All in all, we had a wonderful time on our day at Bald Point State Park and the Gulf Specimen Marine Lab Aquarium. Your little nature lovers will love it just as much, I promise. Make sure you don't miss these stops on your next visit to Florida's Forgotten Coast. As always, thank you so much for following along with our Wild Florida Family. Leave us a comment so that we know you stopped by! We hope you're inspired to get your family out and about in wild Florida.
Just the Details
146 Box Cut Road
Alligator Point, FL 32346
850-349-9146
There's tons to do here, but no campground. Just one boat-in primitive campsite on Chaires Creek. This is one to visit when you're staying just up the road at Ochlockonee River State Park.
Some more pictures we love from Bald Point State Park, the aquarium, and Alligator Point.
