St Andrews State Park & Sea Turtle Nest, Panama City Beach

May 21 through May 29, 2009

This travellog covers about 8-days days on Panama City Beach where we enjoyed long walks on the beach, watching sea turtle nest & the campground in St Andrews State Park.

We stayed in St Andrews State Park. Campsites at St Andrews State Park are $26 for 30-amps & water with central sewage, paved interior roads with dirt sites. Commercial campgrounds in the area start at $50 a night and quickly escalate from there.

Beach in St Andrews State Park Panama City Beach, Florida

It is a rough life but someone has to watch over this beach in St Andrews State Park. Today it is Joyce and Mike. The sparkling sand and azure waters of the Gulf of Mexico come together to form this stunning matrix.

Snowy egret in St Andrews State Park Panama City Beach, Florida

Joyce captured this stunning picture of a snowy egret about to catch lunch. Note the golden slippers on this snowy egret. They look like they have waded in a shallow dish of yellow paint.

Beach at St Andrews State Park Panama City Beach, Florida

A recent storm in the Gulf blew seaweed high up on the beach to add color to the otherwise pristine white beach.

Freighter in pass at St Andrews State Park Panama City Beach, Florida

Commercial traffic such as this freighter transit the pass at St Andrews State Park on their way to and from the port of Panama City.

Grandchildren at St Andrews State Park Panama City Beach, Florida

The children in this sunset picture are our two grandsons; Stephen and Bennett who are visiting us for a few days here in St Andrews State Park.

May on the beach in St Andrews State Park Panama City Beach, Florida

At the right time of day you can be the only people on the beach in St Andrews State Park.

Sea Turtle Nest on beach in St Andrews State Park Panama City Beach, Florida

The sticks and red tape mark a sea turtle nest in St Andrews State Park. Sea turtles spend the summer in the Gulf of Mexico where they mate over and over. The female will come ashore many times during the summer to lay a clutch of eggs in the warm sand. She always does this under the cover of night. Turtle patrols mark the nest to keep them protected until the eggs hatch in about 60-days.

Sea turtle nest St Andrews State Park Panama City Beach, Florida

Every effort is made to protect the eggs in that nest as you can see by this notice marking a sea turtle nest in St Andrews State Park.

Pristine beach scene in St Andrews State Park Panama City Beach, Florida

What words can adequately describe the snow white beaches along Florida's panhandle? And it would be hard to find a better place to enjoy those beaches than St Andrews State Park.

Palm flower in St Andrews State Park Panama City Beach, Florida

I just loved the colors in this palm flower sprout.

Snowy egret in St Andrews State Park Panama City Beach, Florida

This snowy egret was busy standing in his buffet line. He is so clean & white he looks like a tide commercial.

Tropical Plant bloom Panama City Beach, Florida

This unusual flower was on a tropical plant isn't it gorgeous.

Shell on beach in St Andrews State Park Panama City Beach, Florida

Joyce has never seen a shell she doesn't like.

Sunset from St Andrews State Park Panama City Beach, Florida

What more could you ask for, the woman of your dreams, white sandy beaches, sea oats and a sunset to die for ---- now where is my blanket. VBG

Pier into Gulf of Mexico in St Andrews State Park Panama City Beach, Florida

Joyce took this picture from St Andrews State Park looking west. While the State Park remains somewhat rustic --- wall to wall condominiums stretch for 20 uninterrupted miles to the west. Thankfully, the state saved this small section of paradise.