TOP TEN RATED BEACHES, St. George Island State Park, near Apalachicola, and St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, near Port St. Joe. Both parks contain miles of undeveloped beaches, emerald waters and white sugar sand. Other nearby attractions include St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge, an unspoiled barrier island just offshore from the mouth of the Apalachicola River in the Gulf of Mexico. The island is a haven for endangered and threatened species, including bald eagles, wood storks, sea turtles, indigo snakes, gopher tortoises and red wolves. It is accessible only by boat.
A favorite is Wakulla Springs State Park, one of the world's deepest freshwater springs, with swimming, nature boat rides and glass bottom boats. Wakulla Springs is known as the shooting location for several Tarzan movies, Creature from the Black Lagoon and Airport '77. From the river boat and glass bottom boat tours, you can see alligators, many species of wading birds, water fowl, fish, turtles, and snakes, in and among the crystal clear waters emerging from the depth of the springs. Kids love diving from the diving platform into the refreshing spring waters, which remain a constant 68-70 degrees year round. The St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge features the St. Marks Lighthouse, and offers a habitat for all kinds of Florida wildlife. (Bald eagles are often spotted here - so keep your eyes peeled!) So the guys want to go fishing and you ladies don't ...NO PROBLEM! While they are catching speckled trout, Spanish mackerel, grouper, redfish (the list goes on), you can visit historic Apalachicola. Once a bustling sea port, this quaint village of about 5,000 still boasts a large shrimp fleet, a downtown shopping area with antiques, boutiques and local art, and beautiful restored houses from a bygone era. Once the third largest cotton port along the Gulf Coast, the Apalachicola/East Point area still harvests and processes 90% of the oysters consumed in Florida. Locally caught seafood is prepared in the many fine restaurants located in Panacea, Carrabelle, and Apalachicola. If you prefer to cook it yourself, fresh shrimp, oysters, and the catch of the day are available in the seafood houses dotted along the coast from Panacea to Port St. Joe.
