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Beachin' on One of the Best
St. George Island offers 23 miles of broad, uninterrupted, white sand beaches for as far as the eye can see. Named one of the Top 10 Best Beaches in America, the St. George Island State Park, as well as the rest of the island's uncrowded beaches, are ideal for shelling, sand castles, volley ball and badminton, sunbathing, kite flying, or just reading that beach book under the shade of a colorful umbrella. The Gulf of Mexico's warm, clear, blue-green waters fringed with lacy white sea foam are superb for swimming and wading, shore fishing, boogie boarding, and body surfing. Watch the dolphins swim by and arch out of the water, almost close enough to touch. See osprey and pelicans dive for dinner. Listen to the laughing gulls. Smile at the sandpipers and sanderlings as they dig for snacks along the water's edge. For beauty, beach combing, fun and relaxation, it's hard to beat this beach!
Go Fish!
Recreational and game fishing are major attractions in this north Florida area. Cast your line or net from the shore, off piers and docks, or from boats and kayaks. Whether deep-water Gulf of Mexico angling, fly fishing on the Apalachicola Bay flats, or venturing up nearby rivers and creeks, the fish are plentiful. Whether on your own or with one of the area's many professional charter boat captains, you are bound to bring in the "big one." To name a few, grouper, flounder, redfish, sea trout, snapper, sheepshead, pompano, cobia are all good-eating saltwater catches. Striped, largemouth, white and sunshine bass are up the rivers. Grab mask and snorkel to catch scallops in the summertime. It's an angler's paradise, and the island's bait, tackle and fishing supply shops cater to making your fishing experience one to write home about.
Fresh As It Gets
Generations of commercial fishermen, shrimpers, crabbers and oystermen have plied the waters of the Gulf and Bay to deliver their succulent seafood harvest to the region and to the nation. Apalachicola Bay oysters, considered by aficionados to be the sweetest, are served fresh in all the island's restaurants, along with wild caught Gulf shrimp, scallops, blue crab, and various saltwater fin fish. Ninety percent of oysters served in Florida and 10 percent of the nation's come from Apalachicola Bay. Enjoy the freshest seafood, right off the docks, as well as landlubber favorites, at award-winning island and mainland restaurants ranging from gourmet dining to family-style "down home" casual.
History Comes Alive
In the mid 1800s, sailing ships were guided by the St. George Island Lighthouse into the port of Apalachicola where they brought goods from all over the world, and took away great cargoes of cotton. Over the next hundred years, a number of intrepid lighthouse keepers and their hardy families made the island their home. Today, the restored lighthouse stands in the center of St. George Island, a stalwart welcome to all who come, by vessel or by bridge. A climb to the top offers expansive views of the island's far-as-the-eye-can-see white sand beaches and azure, foam-laced waters, the Gulf of Mexico on one side and Apalachicola Bay on the other. A visit to the adjacent Keeper's House Museum displays the lighthouse's history and contribution to the area's maritime heritage. The mainland offers antebellum homes, estuarine displays and maritime museums, and a fascinating cemetery with markers bearing the names of Union and Confederate soldiers who fought over this territory.
Your Pleasure Is Ours
What's your vacation pleasure? Swimming, boogie boarding, or body surfing in the warm Gulf waters? Fishing? Shelling? Golfing? Dining and sipping a cool margarita on the decks of waterfront restaurants? Bicycling, skate boarding, walking or jogging along approximately eight miles of multi-purpose paths? Hiking through old Florida palms and pines in the state park? Kayaking? Sailing on a schooner at sunset? Browsing through quaint, intriguing shops? Spying eagles
and osprey on the wing? Great blue herons and snowy egrets? Marveling at a 300-pound marine turtle as she comes ashore to lay and bury her eggs. Watching the Milky Way up close and personal in our dark night skies? St. George Island invites you to enjoy adventure and respite. Your pleasure will be ours.