Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:North Palm Beach, Florida
A day at John D. Macarthur Beach State Park is a trip back in time. With 25 acres of preserved uplands and 535 acres of submerged lands, maritime hammocks and hardwood forests, you can walk the 1,600 foot wildlife-viewing boardwalk and subtropical coastal trails to see southeastern Florida the way it once was. Before urban sprawl, neon lights, and fast food joints claimed the coast, there was John D. Macarthur Beach. Perfectly preserved, this park is the prime spot for connecting with the wilder side of beach life, the world as the animals live it—without computers and cell phones. Head out on a guided turtle walk to watch leatherback, green, and giant loggerhead turtles bury their eggs in the sand under a starry, moonlit sky. Stretch out somewhere along John D. Macarthur Beach State Park's nearly two miles of pristine sands, gaze up at the great, wide, open sky and watch the gulls and brown pelicans cruise the clear blue heavens. Snorkel or dive the offshore limestone reef to see the vibrant colors under the sea. Kayak the mangrove-lined estuary to keep company with cormorants, snowy egrets, and brown pelicans. Located in North Palm Beach, FL a day at John D. Macarthur Beach State Park is a day very well spent.
Donated as a public park by businessman John D. Macarthur, the lands were intended to help educate about preserving the planet. But if you need a refresher course in the birds and the bees, John D. Macarthur Beach State Park might give you that, too. Once a clothing-optional beach (Walt Disney skinny dipped at John D. Macarthur Beach State Park in the 1960s), today only a few people continue the nudist tradition in the more secluded areas of the sands. That being said, you are far more likely to spot a blue heron than you are a beach bum in the buff. Nowadays, sunbathers on John D. Macarthur Beach State Park are all about getting back to nature. And bird watching is the most popular sand sport. The mangrove hammocks attract warblers during the summer months and you can easily spot terns and shorebirds basking in the sun along the dune crossovers leading to the beach. Of course, if you want to do a little basking and bathing of your own, by all means; the beaches are also ideal for human recreation. John D. Macarthur Beach State Park's sands are not life guarded, so swim under your own supervision.
If you want nature with a little nurture, John D. Macarthur Beach State Park offers plenty of guided tours and hikes. Ranger-led snorkeling, kayaking, and hiking tours are held throughout the summer months. Green, leatherback, and loggerhead sea turtles prove that slow and easy wins the race as they make their crawling trek across John D. Macarthur Beach State Park for a little family vacationing of their own. One of the highlights of John D. Macarthur Beach State Park are nighttime guided turtle walks held June through mid-July to observe these beautiful beasts lay their eggs, nesting along the sands.
John D. Macarthur Beach State Park is a natural beach setting, but don't worry, should nature call you've got options. With restrooms, changing rooms and showers, and a concession stand, the beach basics are all there along with ample parking and kayak rentals to boot. To put the wilder side of life back in the classic beach vacation, John D. Macarthur Beach State Park is a natural choice!