What a day! We woke up this morning and looked out on the water, where Ken spotted this heron fishing.
We packed a picnic lunch and headed to St. George Island, crossing the five-mile-long bridge from the mainland. The first thing we saw on the island was the reconstructed lighthouse. We visited the museum housed in the reconstructed Keeper's House. Both are monuments to civic involvement and the passion of the many volunteers who painstakingly cleaned the bricks from the fallen lighthouse and rebuilt.
On the advice of some folks at the museum, we headed next for the St. George Island State Park, which occupies the east end of the island. We walked a one-mile nature trail through some slash pine next to the East Slough.
Then we spent some time leisurely strolling along the beach being constantly entertained by the antics of the many shore birds and the diving feats of the pelicans and some smaller white birds.
Around 4:30 p.m. we decided to shower and clean up for a visit to nearby Apalachicola, a historic town that now attracts visitors with its charm (or so the Chamber of Commerce says). Apalachicola was an important cotton trading port. Now in addition to the tourist business, it continues to be a center for local seafood.
We ate at the Owl Taproom. The happy hour craft beer on tap was delicious, as was the meal. We had deep fried jumbo Gulf shrimp, french fries, Owl slaw and a house salad. Everything was delicious. We topped the meal off with a dessert featuring house-made sea salt caramel ice cream and chocolate mocha rum fudge cake. The service was friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was casual and not too loud. Just right to finish a day at the beach.
After dinner we walked around the town and checked out the waterfront.
This area calls itself "Florida's Forgotten Coast." It's definitely a hidden gem.
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