Welcome to St. George Island Florida Vacation Rentals |
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St. George Island, Florida is a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico bordered by Apalachicola Bay in Franklin County, connected to the mainland by a bridge. St. George Island is the heart of Florida’s Forgotten Coast. Noted for its 22 miles of white sand beaches, nearly one-third of the island is the Julian G. Bruce State Park and other state-owned lands. There’s a small commercial area in the center of the island with restaurants, shops and stores. Real estate on St. George Island is primarily single family beach homes; waterfront lots are also available. Most of the vacation beach homes rent by the week to tourists from around the world. On the mainland is Apalachicola, a small coastal town full of historic homes and a working waterfront. Carrabelle is the boating center of Franklin County. Seafood, tourism and real estate are the main industries on St. George Island, in Apalachicola and throughout Franklin County.
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St. George Island Vacation Rental Homes |
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St. George Island Attractions and ActivitiesHISTORYDuring most of its 5,000 years of existence, St. George Island was uninhabited by man. During the early and middle 1900s, the island's pine forests were turpentined. Many scars are still visible on the island's larger slash pines. During World War II, the island was used by troops for numerous training exercises that were carried out over the area's vast dunes. Acquisition of land for the park in 1963 and completion of the causeway in 1965 led to increased use of the beaches for recreational activity. In 1980, construction of the park facilities was complete, and the park was opened for public use. GEOGRAPHYThe natural features of the park include extensive beaches and dunes, forests of slash pines and live oak hammocks. The ocean and bay support an abundance of marine life, while small freshwater ponds and sloughs provide a limited aquatic habitat in an otherwise arid climate. The waters of this area are some of the most productive commercial and sport fisheries in Florida, with a thriving oyster industry at the mouth of the Apalachicola River. St George Island Vacation Rentals, Homes, Condos, Villas and Beach RentalsSt George Island is the largest of four barrier islands that sits five miles out into the Gulf of Mexico off the northwest coast of Florida. It is situated across the Bay from the town of Apalachicola and offers visitors 28 miles of secluded white beaches, as well as fishing opportunities. There is also plenty of St George Island vacation rentals for visitors to stay in! With beautiful clear water on the Gulf side, swimming and boating are also popular activities, and thats why St George Island vacations are so appealing. The island has been developed for vacationers and offers some of the best dining and lodging accommodations in the area. St George Island beach condos and other oceanfront St George Island vacation rentals will ensure that your view is great inside and outside! The Dr. Julian G. Bruce State Park sits on the east end of St. George Island and contains a series of boardwalks and hiking trails from which to enjoy tranquil and unique scenery. St. George Island State Park has nine miles of undeveloped beaches and dunes – the longest beachfront park in the state of Florida. Sandy coves, salt marshes, oak forests and pines provide shelter for a variety of wildlife, including bald eagles and ospreys. You can also indulge in biking, canoeing, snorkeling and shell gathering on St. George Island. St George Island vacations are favored by nature lovers from around the world. So why not book one of the great St George Island rentals listed here? St George Island beach condos, luxury villas, pet friendly homes, and much more are available. That means that you have lots of choices. Unlike hotels, renting St George Island vacation homes by owner saves you money and ensures that you experience the vacation of your dreams. St George Island is accessed by the Bryant Patton Bridge off U.S. 98, approximately eight miles southeast of Apalachicola. So ditch the hotel reservations and instead consider renting St George Island vacation homes by owner; you wont regret it! ST GEORGE ISLAND VACATION RENTALSSt George Island is one of the islands of Florida that is located in the northern Gulf of Mexico. This 22 mile long barrier reef island has some of the finest beaches that are known for shelling and sunbathing. Besides, these beaches also provide excellent opportunities for swimming, fishing, and other kinds of beach activities. Exploring the nearby bays and inlets on a kayak is one of the most exciting things that one can indulge in. The nightlife is highly active where you can entertain yourself with some live music, or play various types of games like darts and billiards. St George Island vacation rentals will be one of your best choice for accommodations as they come within an affordable range and also promises a luxurious stay. The stunning Mexico Beach is located within close proximity that can be conveniently reached from the various Mexico Beach vacation rentals. ServicesJourneys’ five-hour kayak trips up in Tate’s Hell State Forest allows visitors to view all of the spectacular offerings up close and most of the time at eye level. Gators, birds, fish, and a plethora of flowering plants add to the primitive feeling of unspoiled natural Florida. Full-day kayak trips to the Wakulla River allow paddlers to float down the crystal clear spring fed river that is host to the most famous local resident, the manatee. The cool 72 degree F water draws these magnificent animals north to wait out the heat of the summer months. The Wakulla River was the backdrop for 1950s movies Creature from the Black Lagoon and Tarzan, and the wild areas still make visitors feel like they traveled back in time. All day trips include picnic lunch The three-hour eco-tour paddle at the St. George Island State Park lets guests get close to oyster bars and sample oysters fresh from the water. Guides will shuck the oysters for you and also teach you to throw a cast net. Younger paddlers will enjoy the chance to watch hermit crab races and play kayak games. All kayak trips include transportation, kayaks, all necessary paddling gear, Journeys sports bottle/with water, kayak lesson and knowledgeable guide. ActivitiesBeaches: The park offers 9 miles of some of the most pristine beaches along the Gulf coast of Florida. Visitors can access 4 miles of beach along the parks main drive. The last 5 miles to the East Pass is accessible only by foot or special permit for four wheel drive vehicles. Boat Ramp: There are two natural, not paved or maintained, ramps for boat access to Apalachicola Bay. One ramp is located at the Youth Camp area and the other is 2 ˝ miles from the entrance station. Both ramps are restricted to small craft less than 24’ in length with shallow draft. Knowledge of local conditions is required for safe boating in the area. Boating: Canoeing and kayaking are favorite activities around the park. Both can be rented on the Island, call the park for more information. Small offshore boats are used around the island for fishing. Keep in mind that the bay is very shallow. Fishing: Surf and bay fishing may yield catches of flounder, redfish, sea trout, pompano, whiting or sometimes Spanish mackerel. A saltwater fishing license is required in Florida. Full Facility Camping: This 1,962 acre barrier island park has 60 campsites with electric and water hookups available for reservation through Reserve America. Picnicking: The park offers 6 large shelters on the beach equipped with restrooms and showers. Each shelter has grills for cooking and several picnic tables for visitors. These shelters can also be reserved. Call the park for more information. Swimming: Swimming and sunbathing are popular activities on the white sandy beaches and clear Gulf waters. AttractionsNine miles of undeveloped beaches and dunes, surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico and Apalachicola Bay, provide the perfect setting for St. George Island State Park. Occupying 1,962 acres at the end of a long, narrow barrier island, St. George is a combination of sandy coves, salt marshes, shady pines and oak forests. During most of its 5,000 years of existence, St. George Island was uninhabited by man. During the early and middle 1900s, the island's pine forests were turpentined. Many scars are still visible on the island's larger slash pines. During World War II, the island was used by troops for numerous training exercises that were carried out over the area's vast dunes. Acquisition of land for the park in 1963 and completion of the causeway in 1965 led to increased use of the beaches for recreational activity. In 1980, construction of the park facilities was complete, and the park was opened for public use. The natural features of the park include extensive beaches and dunes, forests of slash pines and live oak hammocks. The ocean and bay support an abundance of marine life, while small freshwater ponds and sloughs provide a limited aquatic habitat in an otherwise arid climate. The waters of this area are some of the most productive commercial and sport fisheries in Florida, with a thriving oyster industry at the mouth of the Apalachicola River. The arid conditions, coupled with the park's island location, limit both the number and type of resident animal life. Osprey may frequently be seen fishing in the waters, and their nests are found in the tops of living or dead pine trees in the park. Raccoons and ghost crabs may be observed, along with the salt-marsh snakes and diamondback terrapin that reside in the marsh and bay waters. Birds such as the snowy plover, least tern, black skimmer, willet and many other species of shorebirds frequently nest alond the park's sandy shores and grass flats. The barrier islands of the Gulf Coast are important rest stops for a wide variety of migrating birds during the fall and spring. The best time to observe migrating birds is after the passage of cold fronts. A young physician named John Gorrie moved to Apalachicola in the early 1800s when it was a prominent port of trade, commerce, and shipping in Florida. Gorrie served as postmaster, city treasurer, town councilman, and bank director. Concern for his yellow fever patients motivated Gorrie to invent a method for cooling their rooms. He became a pioneer in the field of air conditioning and refrigeration by inventing a machine that made ice, and received the first U.S. Patent for mechanical refrigeration in 1851. A replica of his ice-making machine is on display at the museum, as well as exhibits chronicling the colorful history of Apalachicola, which played an important role in Florida's economic development. Events & Festivals
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