Honeymoon Island State Park

Welcome to Honeymoon Island State Park. As an environmental historian, I can assure you that there are few places in Florida that offer such a compelling mix of pristine natural ecology and utterly fascinating sociological…

As we stand near the main beach area, we are actually standing on ground with a profoundly entertaining and uniquely American history. Long before this was a pristine, protected state park, it was a privately owned barrier island…

We have now moved inland, leaving the bright glare of the sandy beach to arrive at the trailhead for the Osprey and Pelican Cove Trails. This area features excellent public infrastructure, including well-equipped trail head…

You are now deep within the interior of the virgin slash pine forest. Take a moment to look straight up. …

We have emerged from the forest and driven past the main beach areas, arriving at the remote North Parking Lot. For the analytical traveler seeking adventure and solitude, this is the true starting point. …

As we progress further up the north sand spit, the landscape takes on an almost surreal, skeletal quality. We have entered an area often referred to by locals as a 'boneyard beach.' Scattered along the shoreline and half-buried…

We have reached a geographical anomaly that dramatically illustrates the raw, terrifying power of nature. We are standing at the edge of the 'New Cut,' also known by locals as Hurricane Pass Number Two. …

As our extensive exploration of Honeymoon Island State Park comes to a close, it is fitting that we turn our attention westward, toward the expansive horizon of the Gulf of Mexico, as the sun begins its daily descent. The…