Little Lake at Grayton Beach

[kkcobb]

Hi!
Newbie here. We are coming to SoWal in June. Staying in Santa Rosa due to a great rate with a rental agency we've used when we stayed in Destin. Never been further east than Destin (sad huh!).......anyway Little Lake in Grayton looks like a blast for kids, and I have three little ones. Will we be able to access that part of the beach from the State Park (with a reasonable walk)? Also, any other suggestions for "must-do" activities. My kids are 9, 7, 2. Thanks a million. Love lurking around this site, and dreaming of retirement! :wave:

[kurt]

:welcome:

The walk would be a little far for your youngest, but you could park at the public access in Grayton.

Where is your rental? There may be a lake closer to you.

[steele mama]

Hi!
Newbie here. We are coming to SoWal in June. Staying in Santa Rosa due to a great rate with a rental agency we've used when we stayed in Destin. Never been further east than Destin (sad huh!).......anyway Little Lake in Grayton looks like a blast for kids, and I have three little ones. Will we be able to access that part of the beach from the State Park (with a reasonable walk)? Also, any other suggestions for "must-do" activities. My kids are 9, 7, 2. Thanks a million. Love lurking around this site, and dreaming of retirement! :wave:
I haven't heard anyone call it Little Lake in a long time. That is what it has always been in our fam. Just drive on down to Grayton and spend the day! Don't try walking from the State Park with the 2 yr old.

[jdarg]

I haven't heard anyone call it Little Lake in a long time. That is what it has always been in our fam. Just drive on down to Grayton and spend the day! Don't try walking from the State Park with the 2 yr old.

Or really really pregnant in August.:blink:

[kkcobb]

Great! Thanks, we will just try the public access. We are staying at GulfPlace. Any suggestions for things there, or nearby that we need to do?

[Smiling JOe]

That "Little Lake" happens to be the largest one in SoWal. It's named Western Lake.

[greenroomsurfer]

If it is nice like it supposed to be, the Yellow Slide crew will be there Saturday. I looked at Western Lake this morning and it's close to busting out again. Real fun for the kids!!!!

[kkcobb]

I guess I have my terminology wrong. I'm calling the wading "pool" adjacent to the beach (I have seen online)......"Little Lake"?? This actualy spills over from Western Lake, correct? When you say the yellow slide crew- I think I have seen these photos on this site. TOO cute!
:D

[shakennotstirred]

Great! Thanks, we will just try the public access. We are staying at GulfPlace. Any suggestions for things there, or nearby that we need to do?

Yes - dine at Amore in Gulf Place. You won't be disappointed! http://www.amore-pizzeria.com/

[steele mama]

I guess I have my terminology wrong. I'm calling the wading "pool" adjacent to the beach (I have seen online)......"Little Lake"?? This actualy spills over from Western Lake, correct? When you say the yellow slide crew- I think I have seen these photos on this site. TOO cute!
:D
No, you've got it right! That part of Western Lake is "Little Lake". ;-):wub:

[sowalgayboi]

Great! Thanks, we will just try the public access. We are staying at GulfPlace. Any suggestions for things there, or nearby that we need to do?

In Gulf place you have Amore as mentioned above, there is also My Daddy's Cheesecake Factory, and Smiling Fish. Not far from there is Enzo's for a full Italian menu. Stinky's fish camp isn't too far down the road and excellent food. Further down the road is Elmo's, this is a kids favorite.

:welcome:

[liquorqueen]

Just a suggestion...when your kids play in the water at the local lakes, it's always been a good idea (in my family) to put either alcohol or peroxide in their ears for a few seconds when they go up after their showers. We, kids, always got ear aches from too much lake water in our ears. It just takes a few seconds and saves many days of aches.

And that would be rubbing alcohol, not drinking alcohol, whereby if you need some you can ride down the road a few miles and purchase some at Blue Mountain Liquors, located in Blue Mtn. Beach. tee hee. Thanks.

[sowalgayboi]

Just a suggestion...when your kids play in the water at the local lakes, it's always been a good idea (in my family) to put either alcohol or peroxide in their ears for a few seconds when they go up after their showers. We, kids, always got ear aches from too much lake water in our ears. It just takes a few seconds and saves many days of aches.

And that would be rubbing alcohol, not drinking alcohol, whereby if you need some you can ride down the road a few miles and purchase some at Blue Mountain Liquors, located in Blue Mtn. Beach. tee hee. Thanks.

It's not just lake water, happens to kids a lot with pool water too.

[beachmouse]

I grew up as a swim team kid and some of the pools we practiced in could get pretty nasty. We always did the alcohol in the ears thing after practice to cut down on ear infection rates.

[momof3]

Could someone please tell me what the "yellow slide crew" is and why "little lake" is so much fun for the kids? I'm can't seem to find out any information on either of them.

Thanks

[singinchicken]

Let's not forget Draper Lake just down the road from Gulf Place. Use the beach access behind Goatfeathers. Hang a left at the end of the stairs and walk about 200 yards...

[dana k]

My kids are 10, 9, 5, and 2, and we'll be in Grayton for our family's annual 2-week vacation beginning June 28th. Our kids have always called it the "Little Water". They spend more time there than the ocean, and you don't have to worry about the small ones in the waves. Bring nets for small fish and crabs. They can spend hours fishing, giving the adults lots of time for sitting on the beach enjoying cold beverages.

[Coconuts]

I have a 3 and 5 year old... We LOVE the "little lake" and are there almost every weekend. The locals (especially those of us with kids) love it because we can buy beach access passes for our 4-wheel drive vehicles and can drive our car-loads of toys, coolers, chairs, towels, etc. right out onto the beach. No need to lug all the stuff and children.

[Smiling JOe]

There is really no need to lug it out there, whether you have a truck or not. That "little lake" offers so much entertainment for kids. They can find a stick, shells, seaweed, etc, and make a fish and crab fort, swim, play, splash, etc. Kids can be very creative if given the right tools, which usually means no tools.

[momof3]

Could someone please tell me what "little lake" is and where to find it?
Thanks!

[cp]

It's where Western Lake flows into the gulf (sometimes ).You just go to Grayton Beach,park past the Red Bar (public parking) start walking on the board walk and you'll see brown looking water that looks like a small creek winding toward the ocean. Its a light brown but clear water that is wonderful for small children to play in. I'll try to find some pictures but if you look at Kurt's pictures labeled Grayton you should find one .
Hope this helps:wave:

[sowalgayboi]

>>>Clicky (http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=30.328249,-86.163862&spn=0.007946,0.013218&t=h&z=16)<<<

Aerial View

[scooterbug44]

There is really no need to lug it out there, whether you have a truck or not. That "little lake" offers so much entertainment for kids. They can find a stick, shells, seaweed, etc, and make a fish and crab fort, swim, play, splash, etc. Kids can be very creative if given the right tools, which usually means no tools.

I find it hilarious when people drag all these toys around for their kids and the kid has more fun playing w/ an empty cracker box or a piece of seaweed. Who needs toys when there is water, sand, fish and crabs to chase, birds, and funn!

[olive]

Let's not forget Draper Lake just down the road from Gulf Place. Use the beach access behind Goatfeathers. Hang a left at the end of the stairs and walk about 200 yards...

That's our favorite "day at the beach" access. In our house, it's called Goat Beach!:biggrin:

[cp]

That's our favorite "day at the beach" access. In our house, it's called Goat Beach!:biggrin:I love it!

[sowalgayboi]

That's our favorite "day at the beach" access. In our house, it's called Goat Beach!:biggrin:

There's got to be a story behind that. Come on....

[ShallowsNole]

No, you've got it right! That part of Western Lake is "Little Lake". ;-):wub:

Or, the pass...;-):wave: