Johnson Beach National Seashore

When my son was little, he was my adventure buddy. We would go on hikes, catch crawdads in mountain streams, canoe, take nature classes, visit parks and wildlife centers in neighboring towns. Outside was our playground and we had so much fun together.

Naturally, as he grew, he became interested in different things and our adventure days together became fewer and fewer.

Last week, we found that we both had a free day together. It was a typical hot summer day here on the Gulf coast, but there was a steady breeze and a fluffy cloud cover -- a perfect day for heading to the beach.

Personally, I'm not very much into just sitting on the beach, I'm an explorer. I need to interact with my environment. Johnson Beach National Seashore is the perfect place to do just that. White sandy beach, clear turquoise ocean to the right of the entrance, and a calm lagoon on the left. There's also a walking trail on the lagoon side, and a kayak launch.

The entrance fee was $25 for a 7 day pass, or $45 for an annual pass. I purchased the annual pass, and I can't wait to go back and use it!

Because we didn't bring kayaks, we spent most of our time on the beach. We got a great parking spot at the pavilion. People were clustered on the beach near the pavilion, but it was a short walk to more privacy.

We staked our claim on a spot near several ghost crab holes. They were very wily, so I wasn't able to snap any photos, but I did happen to snag a few photos of my elusive teenager.

After we were done beaching, we drove over to the lagoon side and checked out the kayak launch and walking trail. Here's a video of the view from the kayak launch and a view of the clear, sandy launch area. There were crabs and little fishies. After I stopped recording, a huge crab emerged from the grass and scuttled into the deeper water. I can't wait to bring my kayak out and explore this area.

Below are three photos of the informational posts at the launch. I didn't know this, but this put-in is actually part of the Perdido Key Blueway. Look at all of the amazing wildlife that lives in the lagoon!

I could have stayed at the seashore all day, but alas, there's a point where dehydration and sun exposure creep in and ruin all the fun. This trail beckons and I will find my way back to it soon!

I hope this post is helpful and inspires adventure!

Until next time.
Carpe diem, my friend!

Melissa Anne