Golden Sands Park — Attraction in Orchid Island

Golden Sands Beach – Where Your Skin Gets Exfoliated and Your Will to Live Gets Washed Away**

Ah, Golden Sands Beach. The name alone conjures up images of paradise. Too bad the reality feels more like Mother Nature’s idea of a practical joke.

Let’s start with the ocean—aka Poseidon’s treadmill. Step one foot into the water and whoosh—you’re instantly yanked off your feet and sucked into a surprise ledge made of quicksand and regret. I’ve had friendlier experiences with vacuum cleaners. The waves? Aggressive. The current? Hungry. It’s less “relaxing swim,” more “fight for survival.”

The sand is… how do I put this delicately? Nature’s belt sander. Full of broken seashells that’ll make sure you leave with a DIY exfoliation, whether you wanted it or not. I’m still finding shell fragments in places I didn’t know could exfoliate.

As for seashell collecting—sure, if you like your souvenirs in shattered form. Every shell we took home looked like it had been through a blender. So… yay?

Crowds? Absolutely! Everyone conveniently piles up like beach-season sardines right at the entrance. Makes for a fun obstacle course if you’re trying to get in or out without stepping on toddlers, tangled towels, or someone’s Bluetooth speaker blaring Pitbull.

The water looks gorgeously blue… from a distance. Up close? It’s got the visibility of a latte. You’ll have no idea what’s touching your foot—and honestly, it’s better that way.

Bathrooms? Surprisingly clean. (Congrats, Golden Sands, your MVP is the janitor.) Although, be ready to wade through a mini-lake from the outdoor showers just to reach the door. Bring floaties.

Bonus feature: A small playground for the kids! Too bad it’s hotter than the surface of the sun with zero shade. Nothing like a molten slide to teach your toddler about consequences.

Accessibility? Let’s just say if you have mobility issues—or dignity—this beach is not for you.

Final thoughts? It’s a “once-in-a-lifetime” kind of place… because I’m...

On July 24 Sunday 12:00 PM I went out in the ocean. I was having a real hard time Keeping my head above water I watch two life guards talking in there stand I kept going under two gentlemen notice me having a hard time with Rip tides. Thanks God there were near by me there help me get out of the ocean. Then I was out of breath they help to a chair. I have a disability multiple sclerosis. Finally after I rested I went and ask the Life Guard and said did you see me having a Difficulty time. Yes we saw you. You didn’t look like you was having a hard time. I said when two people one in the water and one running from the ocean to rescue me. And you both stood there and did nothing. I said do you work for the county. They both said yes. I ask them for there Names they both refuse to give me there names. In which the Public people is paying their salary. They both had very bad Attitude servicing the public this was at Golden sands Park. I would not recommend coming to Golden Sands Park. I will be sending a message to the county about what happen. After we got home My wife had a big red mark on her leg I ask her what happen She said there was A very low spot in the sand and She had a very bad fall. I said did one of the lifeguard come down and help you she said no I said there was a bad low spot She said yes . I said to them about the low spot. I ask her what did they said. He said they would look at it later I said you have to be Kidding 3 hours later it was still not taking care of. How can they have incompetent. Life guards that cannot do their job helping people when needed. A follow up supervisor Jonathan return my phone call and talk to me all about it he was an excellent person. And assured me the Two lifeguards will be talk to about this problem. Thanks Jonathan...

I metal detect 3-5 days a week for years here on the treasure coast. I was detecting basically in a tide pool. The law is that you can detect from the foot of the dune, to the mean low tide line. With the full moon, wind, and storm, the tide was kept in very far, very little beach showing. One of the lifeguards who had been collecting shells the whole time I was there, decided to try to discourage me from metal detecting, telling me that I could get in trouble for doing so where I was. Then he also told me that he has worked there for years, and that where the tide was then, is the normal low tide line. I have lived here for over 10 years, and am at the beach pretty much daily. I guess I was infringing on the area he likes to detect. This is all aside the fact that I have permission to detect the surf in Vero from the company that has the lease rights to the area. I left there for the day, but plan to go back with the owner of the company that has the lease rights, and see if it happens again. I was not even looking for shipwreck treasure, I was looking for an engagement ring that had been lost there last week, so I could hopefully reunite the rightful...