Washington Oaks State Gardens

Washington Oaks State Gardens is a historic park between the Atlantic Ocean and Matanzas River featuring formal gardens, oak hammocks, and coastal rock formations. The grounds span 425 acres and combine areas of manicured landscaping with natural wooded sections and rocky shoreline.

The Young family built their winter residence here in the 1930s, creating a Mediterranean estate. The property was later added to the National Register of Historic Places and is now a public park.

The formal gardens display Florida landscape architecture with native and non-native plants arranged in geometric patterns around reflection ponds. You can see how generations have maintained the planting to create harmony between structured design and natural growth.

The park is open daily year-round from 8 AM until sunset and is located at 6400 N. Oceanshore Boulevard. Easy walking paths connect the formal gardens with the wooded areas and beach, allowing visitors to access different sections without difficulty.

The Atlantic shoreline contains substantial coquina rock formations that create natural tide pools hosting numerous marine organisms. These rocky areas offer a rare chance to explore coastal depths and observe marine life up close.

Location: Florida

Inception: 1964

Website: https://floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/washington-oaks-gardens-state-park

GPS coordinates: 29.63500,-81.20390

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:57