Is there anything cool to do in or around Apalachicola?

The best experience I've had in a long while was a day trip out to Little St. George Island. You can try to call the National Estuarine Reserve at Apalachicola and see if they are still doing those tours. They go out about once a month. Delightful and informed park rangers (both had master's degrees). Or you can sign up for the Coastal section of the Florida Master Naturalist Program through the SoWal TDC. Great 10-week program that gets you behind the scenes in our areas premier environmental treasures. Check for cost and scholarships available. Uplands course is signing up now, so be sure to ask for Coastal if that is your interest. All the programs are great.

The Consulate is the BEST!! We have stayed in the Port Captain and the Ambassador and both are amazing. The conch fritters and smoked salmon dip at the Blue Parrot on St. George Island are to die for. If you own a pet, Petunia's is the place to go. There are 2 Two Gulls shops that have the cutest novelties, etc. Always get the cutest cocktail napkins there. Caroline's, at the River Inn has the best mimosas and Sunday brunch around, not to mention the food at Boss. Appalach is my all-time favorite weekend getaway for total relaxation. Take time and enjoy the slow pace!

Would St. George Island be a doable day-trip from Grayton....a beach daytrip that could turn into an evening for dinner? are there changing facilities anywhere?

Girlfriend needs to rinse off after the beach, I'm not a bikini-under-the-mini-and-go girl anymore.

That would be a lo-ong day. There are no changing facilities as far as I know.

A boy was fishing off Cape San Blas about 3 years ago and lost his leg to a shark.
A kid on my son's soccer team got his foot nipped by a bull shark while surfing; he was on the bench for the rest of the soccer season. But I still regularly went swimming off the Cape or in the Bay. We did see squadrons of stingrays frequently.

Another really cool thing to do there is go on a tour of St Vincent's Wildlife Refuge off Indian Pass. Red wolves and other critters live there. Plenty of bald eagles, gators etc.
Good shelling, too.
http://www.fws.gov/Refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=41650

Would St. George Island be a doable day-trip from Grayton....a beach daytrip that could turn into an evening for dinner? are there changing facilities anywhere?

Girlfriend needs to rinse off after the beach, I'm not a bikini-under-the-mini-and-go girl anymore.

I would call the State park as they are still rebuilding from Hurricane Dennis. Not sure if they are done. The public (county) beach access does have bathrooms and limited changing facilities at the base of the bridge when you cross over. That would be a very long day trip especially if you've been out in the sun all day. Not sure if I would attempt it.

A day trip is possible if you pace yourself. Drink your coffee on the way, enjoy the beach during the early part of the day, have a late lunch, shop and explore around before you head back. Time your trip to miss some of the "RUSH HOUR" traffic in Panama City. The sun is setting around 7:40 p.m. this time of year, so you can watch the sunset on your way home and still have a full day excursion and not get back home too late.

i love that area! my family rents a house at indian pass for 2 weeks each summer. it is such a slow pace. we always go into apalach at least once for lunch & shopping. i agree that papa joe's is better than boss oyster. also, the owl cafe is really good for lunch. i have always wanted to one of those murder mystery weekends, too...but i don't know if they still have them.

when my husband still ate meat, we had a tradition of stopping at tally ho's in panama city on the way home for some good, cheap, greasy food! the tater logs rolled in sour cream & chives & then deep fried & some onion rings & a big ol' cheeseburger! yummy! it is a drive-up & is a great place to stop! it's right where 231 intersects 98.

Tally-ho's ewww, if you can't make a pit stop before sowal I wouldn't recommend that.

i love that area! my family rents a house at indian pass for 2 weeks each summer. it is such a slow pace. we always go into apalach at least once for lunch & shopping. i agree that papa joe's is better than boss oyster. also, the owl cafe is really good for lunch. i have always wanted to one of those murder mystery weekends, too...but i don't know if they still have them.

when my husband still ate meat, we had a tradition of stopping at tally ho's in panama city on the way home for some good, cheap, greasy food! the tater logs rolled in sour cream & chives & then deep fried & some onion rings & a big ol' cheeseburger! yummy! it is a drive-up & is a great place to stop! it's right where 231 intersects 98.

Ahhhh Sweet memories.... thanks Foodie!:roll: I remember my dad taking me there when my brothers and I were somewhere in the 5-9 YO range. I think the last burger I ate there must have been 6 or 7 years ago. I miss it and may just have to take a trip there tomorrow.

Thanks again for the memories

Not to mention the bull sharks.

You're not kidding I have had them approach me multiple times while wade fishing in the turtle grass just to the west of the launch on the cape in the state park. Respectably sized critters, too. Not a comfortable feeling when you are waist deep and 150 yards from the beach.