Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area

Came here after moving right next door. The park itself is well maintained, and has a vast walking path. The entrance price is fair, and is pet friendly.

A park
for
a
hero
The Gamble Rogers Memorial Park is a 145 acre recreation area right on the water. A lovely place that has all kinds of cool things to do. Volleyball, a natural trail, kayak and canoe rentals and even a camp ground. A very popular and busy place.
It’s also a great place to see birds and lots of nesting aquatic birds use the area to raise a family. Egrets, herons, ibis, storks, ducks, and lots of ospreys. A great place for bird watching. Three types of sea turtles also lay eggs on the beach.
There is also a cool nature trail that wanders through the park and has nice views of the water and has signs that label the different Floridian plants and trees. All kinds of cool stuff.
A while back Florida started renaming all the parks after people deserving of the honor. I’m not sure what this place was originally called but now it is named after a song writer and musician from the area.
The songs that he wrote didn’t get him the honor but his heroism did. He was enjoying the park one day in 1991 and he saw a child in trouble out in the huge waves. He unhesitatingly jumped in the water and attempted a rescue. Always a very dangerous and difficult thing to do as every life guard knows.
Unfortunately he didn’t succeed in his valiant efforts and he and the child both drown. But he did try and gave his life trying to save another. That makes him a true hero. Now this wonderful place of nature will forever have his name and hold his memory.

We were driving down A1A (to get the correct location on an on line map, use 3100 S. Oceanshore Blvd), and saw the campground right along the ocean. We turned around and checked to see if they had a night available. We ended up staying a week.
The staff was the one of the nicest bunch we’ve met. The facilities were clean, although I would have liked more water pressure in the shower (thats why it got 4 instead of 5 stars). You don’t have much privacy here but did I mention it’s right on the ocean?!
If you have a pup with you, you can’t take them on the beach at the park. But if you go about ¼ mile South, your buddy can frolic like crazy in the surf.
Just at the North end of the park is a great dive bar/​restaurant, High Tide at Snack Jacks (check them out on Unilocal,too). You can walk there by the beach and stumble back if you’ve had too many cold ones.
We were there during Biketoberfest and had a great stay.