Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:Melbourne Beach, Florida
Few beaches keep everyone happy. Sunbathers, surfers, boaters, fishermen, eco-tourists, and family-oriented beachcombers won't agree on the best beach vacation destination. Enter central Florida's Sebastian Inlet State Park Beach, however, and no one will fill out a complaint card after a day on the beach's sand and surf. It is a catchall, can-do kind of place with top-notch everything. One of the best saltwater fishing spots on Florida's east coast, Sebastian Inlet State Park Beach draws anglers from across the country to its jetties for snook, Spanish mackerel, and bluefish catch. Equally beloved by the surfers, Sebastian Inlet State Park Beach is considered one of the most solid surfing sites on the East Coast, and several big-deal surfing competitions are held at Sebastian Inlet yearly. Boaters and paddlers join Sebastian Inlet fans, plying the park's three miles of waters along the Atlantic Ocean, touring the estuarine waters of the Indian River, and then docking at the local full service marina. With wading pools and picnic pavilions for family folk, shelling along the soft sands, snorkeling and scuba diving sites for underwater summer fun, the Sebastian Inlet State Park Beach is in a coastal class of its own. Oh, yes, and let's not leave out the nature nerds: bird watching along the mangrove-lined Indian River Lagoon, sea turtle nesting grounds (during June and July), woodsy campsites and well-equipped cabins will keep the eco-tourists happy campers, too. But don't take our word for it—spend time in Sebastian Inlet State Park and let the beaches speak for themselves.
With more than three miles of shoreline and 800 acres near Melbourne, Florida, it is good to know the Sebastian Inlet State Park lay of the land before tackling its long list of offerings. Swimmers spout nothing but praises for the waters north of the jetties and west of the bridge but those looking for a little solitude and seclusion should head to the stretch of sand south along the Atlantic near McLarty Treasure Museum. Lifeguards are on duty from Memorial Day to Labor Day but you can watch the waters for manatee and schools of sting ray year-round. For toddlers willing to just get their little toes wet, the Indian River side of Sebastian Inlet State Park offers a family-friendly wading pool. To catch the best swells surfers generally congregate beyond the north jetty, and Monster Spout, on the southside, is legendary among longboarders. An on-site surf shop can offer the ins and outs of the waves along with any missing gear you may need. After a waterfront tour of Sebastian Inlet State Park, boaters should head to the south side of Sebastian Inlet to sink anchor or hook up with the full service marina. There you can rent kayaks, canoes, paddleboats, and pontoon boats on-site.
With some of the best fishing in Florida, it is hard to say just which area of Sebastian Inlet offers the best angle for the anglers. Surf fishing is often hottest around the McLarty Treasure Museum stretch of sand, but most of the fishing action takes place on the jetties along the Atlantic, Sebastian Inlet, Indian River Lagoon, or Indian River Aquatic Reserve. Snook, mangrove snapper, sheepshead, croakers, jacks, ladyfish, and tarpon are common catch, but if you want to add a little local flavor to your fishing routine, try Sebastian Inlet's shrimping, crabbing, and clamming.
With a list of amenities nearly as long as the Sebastian Inlet itself, you can find just about whatever you need within Sebastian Inlet State Park. In addition to all of the sun-sand-water-surf recreation one could hope for, you can also hang out in the four waterfront picnic pavilions, snack bar and restaurant, and two on-site museums. Of course, multiple restrooms and bathhouses are on standby should you need them. A bastion of water recreation and wildlife observation, a please-all kind of a place, Sebastian Inlet State Park is the ideal beach vacation outlet. Bring the whole family and have a great time!