I really enjoy bringing my geopups (Phoenix and Dagger) to this
park. It is one of the only places I know of in the area that one
can bring a dog to the beach and enjoy the sand and surf with them.
The "boys" really love to retrieve the frisbee from the shallow
water and love rolling in the sand. Unfortunately, many
irresponsible owners who bring their dogs here are jeopardizing it
for the ones who obey the rules. More and more folks are NOT
cleaning up after their dogs, letting their dogs run and dig in the
dunes, and letting them off lead to have the run of the beach. I
talked with Joe Haas (head ranger at this park) and he told me
there is impending talk of NOT allowing dogs at this park in the
future.
That would be a real shame for those (especially responsible
locals) who frequent this area with their dogs. Smyrna Dunes Park
is a beautiful area for all folks to enjoy with picnic tables,
grills, showers, restrooms, and an intrerpretive trail, as well as
easy access to both the inlet and the beach. You are seeking a
cache that is hidden in an area that you are allowed to be off the
boardwalk. You should exercise caution and stealth when retrieving
and replacing this, but you should have ample opportunity to do it
without being busted. You won't need to stray away from the
structure to find it, but I would definitely keep shoes on while
searching, as there are lots of stickers in the area. It would
probably be best to keep the geopups on the boardwalk area while
you search to protect them from these as well.
Make a day of it and finish your journey with a trip to the
beach - with or without your dog!