Apalachicola…Why You Should Visit!

Imagine…you’re walking down a quiet road with your dogs, smiling at neighbors you pass by, smelling the salt air and listening to….well not much really. Does this sound like a place you want to be? Then read on as we share our favorite reasons for visiting Apalachicola, Florida, a small fishing village two hours south of Tallahassee. It’s not your typical tourist town…

1. St. George Island:

Just off the mainland of Apalachicola sits St. George Island, a sliver of land in the Gulf Coast, consistently ranked one of the best beaches in the US, which is accessible by car or bicycle via the long bridge crossing the Apalachicola Bay. It is a more upscale tourist destination with beach houses lining the shore, but definitely worth a day trip to enjoy the beaches, the ocean and the few cafes and bars there. (For more shops and restaurants, Apalachicola has more to offer. More on that later)

St. George Beach, a state beach, is a gorgeous white sand beach which sets off the turquoise water of the Gulf of Mexico. The beach is very popular with tourists, especially in the summer, but the winter is much more peaceful. Note: there are no dogs on this particular beach. What sets this beach apart from the rest of the island is the absence of houses. Just sand and sea…lovely.

All along the St. George Island are more beaches lined with houses, but the plus is most are dog friendly. So if you bring Fido with you, these beaches are a great choice. Another great spot if you prefer solitude over pristine, is a small slice of sand just off the bridge on your left, just before entering St. George. It is a very quiet place to chill by yourself and you can even get in some fishing and hopefully catch some local favorites; Grouper, Snapper and Red Fish.

2. Small Fishing Village Vibe:

If you are looking for hi-rise condos, a lot of restaurant options and a lively night life, then Apalachicola may not be your place. Instead, ‘Apalach’ (as the locals refer to it) has a quiet, small town vibe, a real fishing village instead of a big tourist area. It does have some quaint shops to spend some time perusing. (Check out the Sponge Company for, of course, real sponges and Tupelo honey) There are a few art galleries too, a dog store where they make homemade biscuits, some touristy shops and, what I like to call, the “Everything” store, an antique and collectible store where you could spend hours looking through all the interesting and eclectic items he has.

The ‘Downtown’ is small, and it doesn’t take long to see it all, but still worth taking a 1/2 day or a full day to see it. But once you visited the downtown shops, you’ll have more time to chill and enjoy the quietness of the small town.

3. Walking and Biking:

There is not much in the way of beaches in Apalach proper. But they are not too far away. One need only to go to St. George, about a 20 minute drive, or travel 15 minutes or so west on US 98 for some isolated beaches or even farther to the big beach towns of Panama City, Seaside and Destin. But the absence of big beaches is what keeps Apalach small and quiet. One of the best ways to explore the town is by foot or bike.

We loved taking a walk everyday through the quiet streets, greeting neighbors and enjoying the architecture of the old houses. Or head towards downtown in the morning and you’re likely to be the only one there aside from a few locals at the coffee shop or fisherman getting ready for the day. Strolling along the waterfront is also wonderful and you might get to witness fishing boats coming in with their catch.

Biking is also a great alternative. Just like with walking, the quiet streets make it easy to enjoy the warm air and sea breeze of this coastal town. If you keep to the neighborhood streets, car traffic will be minimal or non-existent. Crossing the main highway, US 98, you will encounter some traffic but still not too bad.

If you want a longer bike trip, consider riding all the way out to St. George Island. It will take a little over an hour, but you’ll get to see the bay and the gulf as you cross the long bridges to the island. Then of course you’ll have the reward of the beautiful, white sand beaches of St. George to relax and enjoy before you head back to Apalach.

4. Local Gathering Places:

As far as places to visit for an evening, there are several restaurants and bars in downtown. Two we would recommend are The Bowery Station and The Hole in the Wall bar.

The Bowery Station is a no-frills place with only beer as their alcohol offering, but makes up for it with their daily live music. The owners wanted a place where people could gather and listen to great live music everyday. They do have a good selection of beer but the highlight is the music from great artists. Definitely a fun evening stop.

The Hole in the Wall bar serves up the normal bar drinks, beer, wine and cocktails. As its name suggests, it is a small bar with lots of old-fashioned charm, from the hats covering the walls to the eclectic decor and signs with fun quotes. One of the best parts is the fabulous lady serving up your drinks and food who has been there for years. She’s quite a character to experience. Also, try the fresh oysters and the hush puppies. Yum!

5. Fresh Seafood:

Being a fishing village, it goes without saying that fresh seafood is great here. But Apalachicola prides itself on the fresh oysters available. So much so, it calls itself the ‘ Oyster Capital of the World’. Although, we’re not sure of the authenticity of the title, oysters here are definitely good and should not be missed.

So that’s our round up of some of our favorite reasons to visit Apalachicola. It may not be the luxurious beach town like some of its neighbors to the west, but this quiet, small town should be on your list of places to see when visiting northern Florida.

Thanks for reading and remember to make your Someday…Today.

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