I'm not that lenient. My kids are restricted to the park. They found plenty to occupy them. Visitors can enjoy sunning and shelling on the gulf beach or the pristine shores of Shell Island, a barrier island just across the pass. The park owns a 700-acre parcel of the island, ensuring that it remains undeveloped.
Shuttles run regularly, and tickets are sold at the gulf-side concession area.
Or, like Mike McGuire and his son, Jake, of Jacksonville, visitors can bring their own boats. They planned to come back into the dock with a mess of cobia or Spanish mackerel. This is a great one. Fishing, picnicking, scenic overlooks and nature trails, swimming, boating, biking. Stores at the gulf beach and near the boat ramp offer snacks, souvenirs, bait, fishing licenses, grocery items and rental of chairs, umbrellas, snorkeling gear, canoes, kayaks and bicycles.