Forgotten Coast Visitor Guide
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FORGOTTEN COAST® VISITOR GUIDE APALACHICOLA . ST. GEORGE ISLAND . EASTPOINT . SURROUNDING AREAS OFFICIAL GUIDE OF THE APALACHICOLA BAY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE APALACHICOLABAY.ORG 850.653-9419 Centrally located near shops, eateries and park. 1 block from the beach Fabulously friendly innkepers! • Pet Friendly • Free WiFi & DirecTV • Individually appointed rooms and suites, 850-927-2903 some with kitchenettes and Jacuzzi www.stgeorgeinn.com • Every room/suite with private bathroom [email protected] • Wrap around porches Reserve Online 135 Franklin Boulevard, St. George Island, FL 32328 We provide detailed financial information concerning vacation rental properties • Freddie Mac residential listings in 3 counties Olivier Monod, CCIM • We communicate and show properties in Broker Mandarin Chinese, French and even English! 850.899.7999 • Commercial investments 850-927-4000 www.AnchorFL.com REALTY OF ST. GEORGE ISLAND, INC. [email protected] 131 Franklin Boulevard, St. George Island, FL 32328 elcome to the Forgotten Coast, a place where you can truly relax and reconnect Wwith family and friends. You will find miles of pristine secluded beaches, endless protected shallow bays and marshes, and a vast expanse of barrier islands and forest lands to explore. Discover our rich Furry family members are maritime culture and history and enjoy our incredible welcome at our beach fresh locally caught seafood. Shop our one of a kind home rentals, hotels, locally owned and operated shops and galleries. and shops. Look for the throughout the guide. Getting Here There are also dog-friendly The Forgotten Coast is located on the Gulf of Mexico in trails and public beaches. North Florida’s panhandle along the Big Bend Scenic Byway; 80 miles southwest of Tallahassee and 60 miles Contents east of Panama City. The area features more than 700 hundred miles of relatively undeveloped coastal Apalachicola . 5 shoreline including the four barrier islands of St. Eastpoint . 8 George, Dog, Cape St. George and St. Vincent. The coastal communities of Apalachicola, St. George Island, St . George Island . .11 Eastpoint, Carrabelle and Alligator Point are accessible Things To Do . 16 via US Highway 98. By air, the Forgotten Coast can be reached through commercial airports in Tallahassee Events . 23 http://www.talgov.com/airport/airporthome.aspx and Surrounding Areas 26 Panama City www.iflybeaches.comand by private airports in Apalachicola (850) 653-1366 and on St. Fishing & boating .28 George Island (850) 927-2312. By boat, on Gulf Where to Stay . 33 Intracoastal Waterway from Florida’s West Coast enter at St. George Sound through East Pass, between Dog Where to Eat . 42 Island and St. George Island, or through Bob Sikes Cut. From the west, take the ICW through East Bay from Shopping . 46 Panama City on past White City Special Occasions .54 and continue east through Lake Wimico to the Jackson Personal Services 58. River, which will lead to the Apalachicola River. The Forgotten Coast Visitor’s Guide is published annually by the Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce, 122 Commerce St., Apalachicola, FL 32320, (850) 653-9419, www.apalachicolabay. org. All rights reserved. Design/Production: Bay Media Photography: Richard Bickel Pho- tography, Robinson Brothers, Debbie Hooper, Lane Autrey, Journeys of SGI, Brett Martina, RedFly Studios, Ted Ruffner, Vic Ramos, Terry Kemp, Resort Vacation Properties. Palmer Philyaw apalachicolabay .org 3 Because Medical Emergencies Don’t Take A Vacation... You hope it never happens but if you need medical care during your visit, we’re here for you ... Walk-ins Welcome 135 Avenue G . Apalachicola . 850-653-8853 Weems Medical Centers • 24-hour Emergency Services East - Carrabelle • Inpatient acute care services 110 NE 5th Street, Carrabelle, FL • Swing-bed rehabilitation 850) 697-2345 West - Apalachicola Diagnostic and Outpatient Services 137 12th Street, Apalachicola, FL • X-rays (850) 653-1525 • Radiology • State-of-the-art CT scans Quick care • Primary care • Laboratory services Diagnostic services including: • Colonoscopy X-rays • Laboratory services • Endoscopy www.weemsmemorial.com Apalachicola Apalachicola’s rich history and maritime culture is complimented by the area’s bountiful natural resources. palachicola or “Apalach“, as it Apalachicola is also noted for having is known by locals, is far from a some of the finest oysters in the coun- Atypical tourist town. Established in try. They have a pure, mild, briny flavor 1831, it was once the third largest port on that has been recognized by top chefs the Gulf of Mexico. Wide, tree-lined streets throughout the country. Smaller open bay are proudly graced by picturesque homes boats moored or trailered each day, tong that give visitors a glimpse of the wealth for oysters in the many shallow areas of and craftsmanship that existed here in the Apalachicola Bay. Larger fishing vessels 18th and 19th centuries. line the waterfront and regularly net fresh Apalachicola’s vibrant history and rich local shrimp and fish. Eat at one of our maritime culture can also be seen on its acclaimed restau- working waterfront. Buildings that once rants that feature served as 19th century ship’s chandleries, fresh, local seafood net factories and a sponge warehouse now harvested daily. house a mix of eclectic and trendy shops, The Apalachicola restaurants, galleries and meticulously Bay Chamber of restored hotels and B & B’s. These locally Commerce start- owned and operated businesses create a ed around 1842 quaint and friendly atmosphere for visitors making it one of the as well as local residents. A grand theater oldest Chamber of lies in the center of town. Restored in 1997, Commerce’s in the the Dixie Theatre hosts professional theater United States still in and musical events January through March. operation. apalachicolabay .org 5 Apalachicola has more than 900 historic homes, buildings and sites listed in its extensive National Register District, and the city was selected one of America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations in 2008 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The National Trust for Historic Preservation chose Apalachicola as one of its 2008 Dozen Distinctive Destinations based on its unique character, exceptional charm and dedication to historic preservation. Awarded to only a handful of communities throughout the nation, this designation confirms Apalachicola’s commitment to preserving its working seafood industry, maritime culture and history. TRADITION Specializing in Historic Homes in Apalachicola BUILDING ON THE ALACHICOLA Call Anna-Maria AP for the latest in Apalachicola Real Estate! Florida Residential & Commercial General Contractor License RG291103744 Call Erin today for a conversation about your project. Anna-Maria Cannatella, Broker 49 Avenue G Apalachicola, FL 32320 850.323.1600 tel www.ApalachicolaHomes.net Erin Rodriguez Construction, LLC [email protected] 850-323-1601 [email protected] 6 apalachicolabay .org APALACHICOLA A History Rich with Steamboats, Timber and Seafood he port of Apalachicola was estab- shape in the City. Home to large cypress lished in 1831. Shipping cotton was forests, Franklin County developed several Apalachicola’s big industry and it big lumber mills in the late 1800s. Lumber T magnates built many of the magnificent soon became the third largest port on the Gulf of Mexico. By the 1850s, the water- historic homes that line our streets. front was lined with brick warehouses and By the end of the 19th century, har- broad streets to handle the loading and vesting oysters and seafood became an unloading of cotton. Steamboats laden important industry. Today Franklin County with cotton came down the River and were harvests more than 90 % of Florida’s oys- unloaded. Then small shallow-draft schoo- ters and 10 % of the oysters consumed in ners (lighters) shuttled the cargo to ships the nation. Shrimp, blue crab and finfish moored offshore. are also very important commercially, As the railroads expanded throughout bringing in over $14 million worth of sea- the United States, a new industry took food to Franklin County docks annually. Baptism in Florida’s Camel Lake, 2005 RICHARDBickelPHOTOJOURNALIST FINE ART BOOKS • FINE ART PRINTS • FINE ART POSTERS VISIT THE GALLERY IN HISTORIC DOWNTOWN apaLACHICOLA 81 market Street, apalachicola • 850.653.3900 www.richardbickelphotography.com apalachicolabay .org 7 Eastpoint There are endless pristine shallow bays and marshes, plus miles of forest to explore. ateway to Tate’s Hell State Forest, Eastpoint is also home also to the new St. George Island and the Apala- Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Gchicola National Forest, Eastpoint Reserve Center, a 5,000 square foot re- is the central point of the Forgotten Coast. search and nature center near the foot of There are thousands of acres in Tate’s Hell the bridge to St George Island. The center, and the Apalachicola National Forest for open to the public Tuesday through Satur- hiking, birding, hunting and fishing. Wild day, houses many exhibits representative of flower savannahs and marshes attract out- the coastal ecosystem, popular educational door enthusiasts nationwide. It is a place exhibits of the plant and animal life found one can truly feel untouched by today’s in this region, live fish tanks, oyster boat, world. natural resource and history information. 8 apalachicolabay .org EASTPOINT The waters of the Apalachicola Bay are make up almost one-third the value of among the cleanest and most productive commercial marine landings