Eden Gardens State Park

Gorgeous state park with a few nice little walking trails and really beautiful scenery. There's not a lot for kids to do but there are some excellent covered picnic areas which are awesome for having a bite to eat (that you bring yourself). There are azaleas everywhere, proving a stunning backdrop to the cool mansion and grounds on the park. Parking is $4 per car, worth it for a nice quiet excursion.

The house is beautiful and really interesting too walk through. But the gardens and nature hike are even better!

This is an incredibly beautiful park environment on the grounds of an old mansion what was once built by a lumber baron. The house is open for tours and the grounds are full of paths to walk amongst the beautiful trees leading down to a lake. A great way to spend a sunny afternoon. Also -- there is an adjacent state park campground. The house tour is very informative, but no pictures or video are allowed inside the house

Eden Gardens State Park is such a peaceful spot. The gardens and oak trees are beautiful, and it’s a great place to just slow down and enjoy nature. I brought my dog and it was perfect for walking the trails and exploring the grounds. Everything is well-kept and there’s plenty of shade which made it easy on both of us. A hidden gem that’s definitely worth the visit if you want a relaxing day outdoors.

Such a beautiful park and experience. They really so upkeep the whole state park and keep the history alive. It costs $2 for bikers or walking entrance, and $5 for a vehicle. But you get access all day and you know that entrance fee goes towards taking care of the land. There are trails, kayaking, picnic areas, and a museum to tour of the house on property. Also the photos you can get anywhere in this park are STUNNING. Most definitely recommend for a day trip, picnic, and to cross it off the bucket list of things to do in the area.

Beautiful park and gardens. Nice, easy hiking paths. Beautiful view of the water with a dock. It gets hot fast in summer, so go early and wear bug spray. The Wesley house costs additional to tour. The entrance fee was $4 and the honor system, so bring cash, or scan the qr code on the board with the map near parking.

Good experience on the trails and fountain area. Enjoyed the time with toddlers. Ample parking space. Scenery was amazing.

Very beautiful place! Camellias were in their glory. Very quiet place despite a good number of ppl being there. Very nice picnic & walking place. Has grills available at the water front. If I lived here, I'd go regularly just to walk.

Beautiful park to take a walk in. We came for a couple of hours to check it out. You pay at the entrance, bring cash. It's the honor system. You put four dollars in an envelope. Parking was easy and plentiful. The house is pretty and the trees surrounding it are really cool. You can tour the house but we did not do that since we had little kids with us. There's a small gift shop where the tours start. There's a fountain in front of the house with koi in it but the water was full of algae. It was really hard to see the fish. I felt bad for them. There's a butterfly garden on the side of the house and we did see butterflies, dragonflies, bees and even a little frog. You can walk out on a pier over the water. There are picnic areas there of you would like to bring a lunch. Some of the water areas have warnings about gators and the trails have warnings about bears. Fortunately we did not run into either.

Nice state park to check out. It's not huge, probably wouldn't spend more than a half day here. It's $4 per car to enter and you just stick cash in an envelope. The park is centered around the historic Wesley House. You can actually tour it but we didn't as we had toddlers with us. We did the nature trail which was nice and not strenuous. It is pretty stroller friendly too if you have a decent one. We also checked out the koi pond and butterfly garden. The koi pond was gross and so murky you could barely see the fish. I felt bad for the fish. The garden was great and my kid's really enjoyed it and saw lots of butterflies. Nice half day activity if looking for something different to do in the area.

This is a beautiful little hidden gem! I was in the area and saw it on the map and impulsively decided to check it out. This is a smaller park but it is so well maintained and easy to enjoy. The weekend I went there were just a few others - some picnicking, some just talking a walk, and a few touring the home. I really just wanted to decompress some after driving and paid the entrance fee to see it. The fountain with lily pads and fish, the massive wedding tree, and the quiet spots by the water were all so lovely. Opted to walk the path on the east side of the park and skipped the house for time reasons. And the restrooms on that side were definitely open and clean (saw some comments about none being available).

A pretty property with amazing trees! At first I was not enjoying my visit because of lawn mowing noise. But once that ended I had a nice time despite getting bitten by mosquitoes. There is a nice waterfront bay view.

It was beautiful the tour was very informative! Loved it! They had an enormous yard and pond, wonderful easy trails great for simple stroll. And a little area where you can buy plants!

The prettiest part ever. We saw lots of nature, 2 maternity photo shoots taking place and gorgeous wedding setting taking place. We enjoyed being in the garden and would love to come back!

Beautiful small state park in the area. Great for picture taking, nice stroll, picnic...you name it. We absolutely loved the oak trees, the Wesley house, the wildlife, and the flying fish near the dock. We did not take the official tour of the home inside but walked the outside grounds and looked up some of the information. Great little spot to check out if you're in the area.

This park is beautiful. Kids can play freely; however, minimal to no public restrooms for park visitors. Do not choose this park for weddings or birthdays, as the event will be ruined. My niece got married during the rainy season. Eden park forced guests to (including bride) to get drenched because it wasn't convenient to use the covered area. The photographer, shelley took photos of everything except people. Sherry the catering manager was too easy going with the staff. Many guests lost personal belongings, only to never be recovered by sherry or the staff. For such an exclusive area, the park is an embarrassment. Parks are treasures and Santa rosa residents are losing something precious :(

The park is absolutely beautiful. However, don't plan to stay long unless you feel comfortable going to the bathroom in the woods or have an iron bladder. They used to have restrooms for the public, but they recently started locking them or blocking them off. This town is obsessed with privatizing everything from its beaches to the restrooms at the state park. You would think they would at least offer an outhouse if they are going to charge admission.

This was a really beautiful place! Definitely a must see spot if you are in the area. We walked the entire property and saw tons of really cool lizards and plants that I haven't seen anywhere else in the area. You can also walk right up to the water in the back of the park. It's a really pretty area.

This is our nearby picnic escape. We sit under the trees close to the water and rarely see any other people. A weekday or a Sunday off season when its a little cooler is perfect. We are often joined by Cyril Squirrel. It's all very picturesque and serene. You can leave your picnic and stroll around before returning for that final hard boiled egg.

Beautiful place! My family love making the short drive out there to just hangout for a bit. Awesome place for a picnic!

The Wesley house mansion is very stately. It looks like a miniature White House. We had to wait for a tour of the house for the next hour. You have to pay cash for the tour and it's $8 per person. The tour guide gave us a lot of information about the history of the house, Its renovation and the antique collection inside the house. The mansion is surrounded by gardens. However, they were not impressive. The property is located on Tucker Bay, which is beautiful.

We came here for the first time recently for a family picnic and had a great time. What did we like? - Picnic tables by the water shaded by lush, tall trees - Watching and hearing wildlife, from pelicans to bait fish - Flat, grassy park ground for a stroll - Plenty of parking We'd love to visit again!

I'm giving this place 2 stars because there's ticks in the wooded areas. Lots of them. My dogs came back with tiny ticks all over. I had to scrub them out pick them off and pray none got on me. Almost as bad a lice. My dogs are on flea and tick prevention but they still got many on them and 1 attached to her leg. So I recommend don't bring your dogs on the trails. Otherwise it's a cute park.

The Eden state park grounds was gorgeous and the trees surrounding the old historic house was definitely worth the trip. The tours of the house were closed when we visited so there wasn't much activity just a beautiful place to pack a lunch or wander around. The nature trails looked flat and simple, The flower gardens looked promising if they were in bloom. Plenty of butterflies and squirrels

A nice little state park, with lovely grounds to walk through we stopped in here while exploring the 30A area. It was self-service at the front area for payment to get in. The trees, flowers and manicured grounds are really beautiful. We did not go into the historic home, but the gift shop which is attached was surprisingly self service as well. There were some folks having picnics on the grounds, and a woman making some flower arrangements. Clearly this park is a favorite of the locals.

This is a gem of a small park. We walked the grounds in about an hour on our self guided tour. We didn't tour the house because we were low on cash and they wanted $4 a person to enter the house. Perhaps next time we will. We were just out seeing stuff and ran into a sign for this location so we decided to go check it out. Lots of people walking their dogs. Some groups with kids. The bathrooms were clean There is not a whole lot here to keep the interest in kids but it is a great location to learn a bit about the history of the area and the house and gardens makes for a beautiful spot to take pictures. In fact on our way out a huge group from some company arrived to take a company picture.

Beautiful state park. The hike was lovely through trails of pine trees and magnolias. Lots of interesting plants that you don't see a lot of in central Florida. The rose garden and butterfly garden were also a sight for sore eyes. We sat for almost an hour on the dock at the bayou. It was a type of quiet you rarely can find. The air was so fresh. We also took a tour in the house. It was nice to hear about the history of the house. It's incredible. We easily spent over 3 hours hear. A great way to experience North Florida and take a step away from all the hustle and bustle. Henry was very informative and answered all my questions about the home, grounds, and surrounding area. He also gave me information about more to see in Sandestin. Side note I learned the movie Frogs was filmed at this location. I will definitely have to check that out

This is a nice, small state park in the 30-A area. There is a historic postbellum home on the site (the Wesley house) with beautiful oaks on the front lawn. You can walk down the lawn to the ferry landing, which was featured in the film The Truman Show. The park has a nice diversity of trees and flora. There is also a short, easy nature trail. Very beautiful and a nice way to spend a couple of hours. The home is currently closed for indoor tours due to covid-19.

Doing our announcement pictures there for our first baby this year was an absolute success! Eden gardens has such a beautiful and fresh environment with gorgeous scenery's making it very easy to provide us with the perfect back drop in every photo! My husband and I had alot of fun! We also really appreciated how clean, peaceful, and airy it is there! Such a wonderful place for families, weddings, etc. We will have our photos to remember forever, thank you for being part of our special announcement!

This was a great hiking park! They allow doggies and even have dog water out for them at the bathrooms! Very peaceful and not busy at all! Paid $4 for the car to get in and then $2 per person. Well worth it! Don't wear flip flops on these trails! Fair warning

We had a very enjoyable afternoon visiting this beautiful place. The huge moss covered live oaks frame a very picturesque mansion, surrounded by flowering azaleas and camelias. We were there in Feb and I can't imagine how gorgeous it would be in another couple of months. The property is all very accessible with a couple fountains, and there is access to the bay behind the lawn. There are picnic tables and a separate building that had a special event with live music being performed while we were there. There is also a nature trail around the perimeter with a brochure explaining numbered trees, which I found informational and well-organized. This is a state park so there is a $4 entrance fee to drive in plus an extra fee to tour the mansion. Highly recommended.

Loved this place! The beautiful trees and property. My friends and I plan on coming back when it's cooler outside to walk the trails!

One of the most beautiful places in the world . This park has so much history and the largest trees in the world there beautiful and draped with moss . The park connects to the bay were you can Dolphins swimming. It's also surrounded by tons of hiking trails and tons of beautiful flowers . And did I mention they also have weddings in the park under the Wedding tree . It's a must stop .

Beautiful. Tranquil. Oasis. These are some of the words that came to mind as I strolled through Eden Gardens State Park, a place I hadn't visited until recently, on a beautiful day in January. I didn't take the tour of the beautiful 19th-century plantation-style mansion on the grounds, and since it was January the perennial gardens were dormant for the Winter, but the lush green vegetation against the brilliant blue sky made for quite an impression. Eden Gardens is a modest-sized park featuring old oaks accented with ferns and Spanish moss, fern, rose and other perennial gardens, a nature trail, picnic facilities, a partially covered stage for weddings (for instance), a modest but impressive reception/event hall and a pier on Tucker Bayou for fishing. There are bike racks, ample parking, bathroom facilities and pet-friendly resources, as well. Located only a few miles North of Seaside on Hwy 395, it's a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the over-crowded beaches of Santa Rosa, if only for a moment. This is a beautiful park, and while it's ideal for taking pictures for family, wedding announcements, etc, I was content to merely take a stroll and take pictures of the back-lit Spanish moss, of which I am a huge fan. And I gotta hand it to you, folks (and by 'you', I mean 'visitors'). I saw not a single cigarette butt or gum wrapper. Good job, keep it up!

Another beautiful Florida State Park! Pack a lunch and come have a picnic by the water, or grab a camera and get some shots of the picturesque property, maybe even some shots of your family. Grab a book and spend some time soaking up the beauty. Whatever you choose to do here just relax and enjoy it.

I came here for a short hike while in the area. What a beautiful place! When I parked, I walked toward the water and was able to watch dolphins and pelicans hunting fish together- it was so neat! There wasn't a lot of "hiking" to be done but the little path through the woods was so nice, with the spanish moss-covered trees and moss, etc. I wasn't able to take the tour though the house that day but I sat on the porch and enjoyed the sunshine and view of the big trees surrounding the fountain. I saw that there's a venue that'd be perfect for a nature-esque wedding, as there are so many flowers and the entire area provides a lovely backdrop for formal pictures.

Absolutely beautiful grounds. The Wesley house is so beautiful. It's worth taking the time to visit while you're in Florida. Put it on the top of your list!

Most people coming to the Emerald Coast are probably here for the sugar-white beaches. But if you've had your fill, and are looking for another way to enjoy the outdoors, Eden Gardens is a beautiful park to enjoy the day with a plantation-style home that can be toured to boot. Most people probably miss this location because it's off the beaten path, but on any given day there's a dedicated number of people who enjoy the grounds. For people who like gardens, there is a lovely rose garden, as well as azaleas and other types of flora that adorn the grounds. For those who enjoy the natural splendor that foliage offers, old trees line the gardens with dramatic branches which drape down to the ground and back up again. A nice reflecting pond can be found behind the home and a large lawn is a great place to have a picnic. The lawn runs down to the waterfront, although it's not a particularly fabulous view of the water, and frankly for views of water around here you can't beat the beaches, but it's still nice. There are also some paths you can take through more wooded areas of the gardens with a playful sculptures lining the way. The house itself can be toured and boasts the second largest collection of Louis XVI furniture (according to their website) in the states. The gardens themselves are free; the tour if I remember correctly are not. I didn't get a chance to go on the tours, so I have no idea what it's like, but I can certainly say that a great time can be had on the grounds even if you don't go on the tour. Another aspect that I haven't had a chance to participate in but have heard about, are the numerous events that occur at the gardens every year, from Easter egg hunts to a Christmas event. Again, I have no idea what it's like, but it certainly sounds fun and worth a look. I also understand that private events can be held here. On a final note, the bathrooms on the grounds are also not bad at all, for those who are concerned about these sorts of things! In summary, I can gladly recommend the gardens to anyone looking for an alternative to the beaches and for all outdoor lovers in general. It's certain to be a refreshing and delightfully surprising change from the shops and beaches that occupy the vast majority of most vacation trips down here.

I just came here for a tiny, brief, and beautiful wedding of our two friends. They got married under one of their big trees with the big white house there in the background. We were there maybe 35 seconds ha-ha. Maybe like an hour so we didn't get to really explore much. What I can say is this....it's very pretty. It is a great spot to take pictures and it's an even better spot to get married. Congratulations Shepards.

The grounds were beautiful. A great wedding venue. The reason for the 3 stars is due to the tour guide Deana I think was her name. She was not very enthusiastic about touring the home. I think at one point she said "this room in general just bores me." But other than that the home is beautiful!

This place was great for photos, but kind of small for a state park. Would definitely go back only to take photos as it's beautiful.

beautiful grounds, quite the hidden gem. the house and gardens were really beautiful. the house was surprising because it wasn't historically accurrate so on the tour there was a lot of talk from the guide about how the previous owner made it look less plantation and more victorian. still a beautiful park with access to the lake, (not to swim but fish or look) a nice diversion on a cold week where we couldn't swim

Tour guide Cara was terrific. She was very knowledgeable about Wesley house and presented well. Tour in December was extra special as local groups competed to win best-decorated room for Christmas. Saw no dolphins in the bayou, but did see striped mullet fish leaping. Park published useful literature identifying numbered points of interest on the grounds. Pamphlets were in the gift shop.

This fairly small (160 acre) state park is centered around an 1897 vintage two story house with antebellum style columns, a wrap around porch, and a cupola with a widow's walk; accompanied by ancient moss draped oaks and beautiful lawns and gardens.. Originally the home of a local timber baron, the house was purchased by a wealthy New York publisher in the 1960s who had it remodeled in an interesting fashion and furnished with a treasure trove of furniture and paintings, including 1700s vintage French furniture (Louis XVI era, the age of the French king who got his head chopped off in the French revolution), original John James Audubon prints , an excellent Dutch painting, interesting primitive art, and many other fascinating items.. The furniture is just amazing.. The tour of the house costs $4, well worth it! The same woman who remodeled the house made quite nice botanical gardens around it (and left the name "Eden Gardens"), and near the house are very impressive old oaks.. This looks like an antebellum plantation home from Louisiana, although it is not actually old enough to be one. The tour was quite informative, the tourguide seemed knowledgeable. I happened to be visiting the day of a Camelia Festival (11 Feb 2011), a celebration of the blooms of the camelia flowers in the gardens featuring a number of people dressed in civil war era gear demonstrating various aspects of everyday life at the time (such as how soap was made, how confederate and Union civil war soldiers made camp and loaded their rifles, how weaving was performed, how antebellum ladies in the south typically dressed, and other things..) This event was fascinating and very informative.. There is a nature trail which goes through the woods around the periphery of this waterfront park, which is located next to a sort of bay and wetland known as Tucker Bayou. This park is presumably most impressive to visit in March or April, when the gardens have more things in bloom.. The house is currently undergoing some renovations, I was told these renovations would be complete by around mid-March 2011; at which point I plan to visit again for sure.

I got married at Eden Gardens last week and it exceeded our expectations! The weather was perfect and there are so many beautiful areas to get photos. Lauren was very helpful through the entire process and answered all of my many questions. I couldn't imagine there being a more beautiful venue. You are able to choose everything ourself here to make your wedding your own!

This place is beautiful! My favorite place in the park was definitely the historic mansion from the 1800's. They offer tours of it. I also enjoyed going to the bayou in the park and watching the striped jumping mullets. (They really do jump!) Many people like to get married there as well as take marriage photos and family photos. Overall, if you're looking for a calm, relaxing retreat filled with both history and nature, this is the place to go.

What a gorgeous state park!! Like a movie set. Worth the short drive from the beaches to see the 500 and 600 year old oak trees draped in moss and ferns. We enjoyed the Wesley House tour, the guide was engaging and the house and property are full of history. We stayed just over an hour and got some lovely family pics, others had packed food and it looked like fun to make a day of it. Less than a mile north of Hwy 98, plenty of parking. $4 per car to use the park and $4 each for the home tour.