This is the most amazing beach I've ever been to, something exciting is always happening. First of all the parking lot is really small but that's ok, once the spots are filled you can just start parking wherever you want. Park half in the grass and half in the loop, hop the curb of the island and park underneath the shade of the seagrapes, park wherever you see grass, if feeling adventurous drive straight into the seagrapes and make your own spot. There's only a small chance you may run over a homeless camp hidden in the dunes, depends on how close it is to the first of the month. Once parked, no need to lock your doors, security is based on an advanced honor system, grab your gear and be prepared to walk through the tunnel of seagrapes which lead to the boardwalk. One of the things you'll notice as you meander down the concrete walkway beneath a thick vegetative canopy is how the noise from the highway and the outside world begin to fade away while simultaneously being replaced with the roar of the ocean, the banter of birds, and the uneasy feeling that you are being watched by an ominous unseen force. But then you reach the opening to the boardwalk and the true beauty of what Seagull has to offer is on display. If there is any swell coming in, you're sure to find a rag tag group of surfers and fisherman staring towards the horizon, squinting into the sun, scanning the waters looking for whatever it is that keeps calling them to the sea. Tired, disheveled, sun damaged and salty as hell, these are the Seagull locals. The cast of characters changes over the years but their main purpose is the same, protect the park, patrol the line up, and keep the beach clean. The same as any beach park. If you stand within earshot to a cluster of them in conversation, you're sure to hear numerous entertaining anecdotes. Anything from chemtrail conspiracies, the fear that too many solar panels will drain the sun, how AR 15's are needed for hunting hogs, the barrier islands were originally Indian burial grounds or that the entire neighborhood was originally founded by a government think tank to test the long term effects of splicing alien and human DNA into unwitting subjects then monitor their offspring's susceptibility to propaganda and subliminal messeges through special courses designed to stretch the abilities of the mind. All the schools are graded A here! But once your feet hit the sand you won't be thinking of that, you'll be wondering why the floor is lava. The sand and sun are so hot then when the snowbirds are down its hard to check the surf for too long without salivating, all the pale, flabby, yankee meat roasting, being seasoned by the salt air, it creates a primal hunger not easily quenched. Plus, there's always cool pieces of temporary art to found along the beach. From the standard child's sandcastle to the painstakingly intricate ritualistic pagan offerings made to appease the sun god. And once you get to the water it's time to have fun. First of all, I hope you like coquina rock as much as I do because just beyond the shore break is littered with them. It's exciting because one second you're shuffling through shin deep water over sand and the next step you're chest deep in the sea with a craggy ledge of coquina grinding into your stomach. Where are they? What creatures hide among them? Who knows! That's part of the excitement. But hey, you made it this far so why not go for a surf. Well the surf probably sucks because everyone knows Seagull is the worst breaking wave around. No one goes there for the surfing, everyone goes for the shark sight seeing. The combination of bait fish feeding off the coquina and a deeper water trough closer to the coast make Seagull prime real estate for our buddies in the grey suits. You may not see them but don't worry they are definitely out there. You can't fully appreciate their beauty until you paddle out and sit on your board, legs dangling below, bobbing to the rhythm of the ocean, eyes unfocused pointed toward the horizon, a sense of calm meditative tranquility emanating form your soul and intertwining with the forces of nature...BAM!!! torpedo tooth monster explodes through a pod of bait fish 10 yards beside you, just a flash of fins and teeth and its gone. But the shark is not gone, its somewhere below you, maybe hunting you, maybe it has friends. See, tons of excitement! Also, no lifeguards, no bathrooms, the Purge takes place between the hours of 6am-8pm every weekend including holidays, topless bathing is appreciated, PICK UP YOUR GARBAGE!!! read more
