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stan

Beach Comber
Sep 21, 2005
15
0
Hey gang, I know this may be a little off topic, but I am looking for some information.

My family has vacationed in SoWal since the late 60's. I have been staying in dune-Allen since I was 2, and the past few years have moved down the road and stayed in Grayton. We haven't missed a time at the beach since I have been born.

Recently, my Dad has told us he would like to try St George Island. He has asked the rest of us to see what we can learn. Even though we have been coming in October the past 10 years or so, Dad is hoping to find something a little less crowded.

There are days I agree with him, but am reluctant to give up an area I know better than my own hometown. (plus add an extra 90 miles to the trip) As I told him, it does not take me any time to unwind and relax when I step out of the car in SoWal.

However, curiosity has got the best of me. Has anyone been or stayed on St George Island? I realize it won't have all the amenities, or local flavor of SoWal, but surely there are a couple of restaurants or watering holes.

Any information anyone could provide would be great, even if it is don't do it.

Thanks for your help.
 

OnMackBayou

Beach Lover
May 15, 2005
227
0
Mack Bayou, Sandestin
I've been to St. George Island 3 or 4 times, including the State Park. Considering the experience you have with South Walton, you'll probably be pretty disappointed once you compare. The beaches aren't as pretty, even though they pretend they're the same, and the water isn't as clear. At least not the times I've been. There are a few watering holes, but overall the pickings are slim. You'll have to trek to Appalachicola to find some charm and character.

Don't get me wrong, the beaches and the water are nice. And it does make for a quiet getaway. And if you can go there and try not to do the comparison, you'll be fine. (But you won't be able to)
 

Santiago

Beach Fanatic
May 29, 2005
635
91
seagrove beach
stan said:
Hey gang, I know this may be a little off topic, but I am looking for some information.

My family has vacationed in SoWal since the late 60's. I have been staying in dune-Allen since I was 2, and the past few years have moved down the road and stayed in Grayton. We haven't missed a time at the beach since I have been born.

Recently, my Dad has told us he would like to try St George Island. He has asked the rest of us to see what we can learn. Even though we have been coming in October the past 10 years or so, Dad is hoping to find something a little less crowded.

There are days I agree with him, but am reluctant to give up an area I know better than my own hometown. (plus add an extra 90 miles to the trip) As I told him, it does not take me any time to unwind and relax when I step out of the car in SoWal.

However, curiosity has got the best of me. Has anyone been or stayed on St George Island? I realize it won't have all the amenities, or local flavor of SoWal, but surely there are a couple of restaurants or watering holes.

Any information anyone could provide would be great, even if it is don't do it.

Thanks for your help.
The beaches and water do not compare. Having said that, your dad will probably love it. My parents go every year and although they love visiting here, they still book their house on St. George. It is very quiet, with only a couple of dining options. The Inn has a restaurant and there is a pretty cool bar/restaurant right on the gulf called the Blue Parrott I think as well as another one next door whose name escapes me. Apalachicola is right across the bridge with several restaurants and grocery stores. I personally enjoy the area but OnMackBayou is right, you won't be able to compare it to here. Its apples and oranges.
 

aquaticbiology

fishlips
May 30, 2005
799
0
redneck heaven
if your are not used to it - it can be pretty different - I'd say to take a day while you're here and drive down to see it, while down there, check out Jack Rudloe's Gulf Specimen Company/Marine Labratory - well worth the drive for all ages even if you aren't impressed with st. bored http://www.gulfspecimen.org

note: everyone on this board should have at least read Jack Rudloe's The Sea Brings Forth, if not the rest of the books about the area - if you haven't then you don't understand anything and will always be a sucker!
 

Henry

Beach Comber
Feb 9, 2006
10
0
71
Seattle, WA
We drove down one day to check it out, and it's a lot to take in in just one day. An overnight where you could take more time in the area would be nice if you can swing it.

Our impressions are pretty much what others have said. The beach and water aren't as nice, but compared to Atlantic and Pacific beaches it's good. There's two sides, the one facing the bay has a different flavor, it's quieter, more vegetation, more privacy.
 

aquaticbiology

fishlips
May 30, 2005
799
0
redneck heaven
Henry said:
We drove down one day to check it out, and it's a lot to take in in just one day. An overnight where you could take more time in the area would be nice if you can swing it.

Our impressions are pretty much what others have said. The beach and water aren't as nice, but compared to Atlantic and Pacific beaches it's good. There's two sides, the one facing the bay has a different flavor, it's quieter, more vegetation, more privacy.

I've spend many a day up to my knees in the lovely muck on the sound (bay side) scooping up netfulls of critters! Best ecosystem I ever saw and I'd love to go back and visit someday.
 

Paula

Beach Fanatic
Jan 25, 2005
3,747
442
Michigan but someday in SoWal as well
aquaticbiology said:
if your are not used to it - it can be pretty different - I'd say to take a day while you're here and drive down to see it, while down there, check out Jack Rudloe's Gulf Specimen Company/Marine Labratory - well worth the drive for all ages even if you aren't impressed with st. bored http://www.gulfspecimen.org

note: everyone on this board should have at least read Jack Rudloe's The Sea Brings Forth, if not the rest of the books about the area - if you haven't then you don't understand anything and will always be a sucker!

Here's a review. I'm off to amazon.com to order a copy:

BIZARRE CATCH, THE NEW YORK TIMES
by Edward Garside, June 9, 1968

"In a word this is simply a beautiful nature book. It is brimming with interesting information about marine creatures, their fantastic shapes and adaptations, so expressive of the fierce poignancy of the struggle to survive that informs all life. Beyond this, Mr. Rudloe is remarkably evocative of the Florida Gulf Coast fishermen with whom he worked, their working life, closeness to nature, racy speech and solid presence. The author, despite his youth, is already a biological collector of national reputation. To this one can add that he has the writer's gift that magical ability to reveal the wonder in all things."

THE BOOKSHELF, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
"Fish Stories" by Edmund Fuller, May 17, 1968

"As interesting and enterprising a young man as you are likely to meet in a decade is Jack Rudloe, whom you can get to know in is lively book, "The Sea Brings Forth". Twenty-four years old, a college drop-out, he makes important contributions to academic research with his flourishing, complicated business, the Gulf Specimen Company. It was built by his own energy and diligence. All of its materials were in the sea, but knowing how and where to find them, applying the skill, knowledge and hard work to get them and ship them, required more capital of character than of cash....

"Some specimens are collected along the beaches and by wading and skin diving. But the most important source is Rudloe's tips as a working passenger on the shrimp boats and crab boats of his strip of the Gulf Coast. The nets of the shrimpers,in particular, bring up enormous quantities of "trash fish," among which is Rudloe?s gold.

"At the end, Rudloe faces the fact that his business can no longer be a one-man operation. He will have to expand and equip it by investment and take on the responsibilities of employees. To do this, he declines the tempting offer to take a job with a California university to be their own collector. At the start he had educated himself for the work by "books and more books on invertebrate zoology and marine fishes." He reflects, "The kind of education I had been amassing was not honored with a diploma but it had a solid and practical foundation, one that no university could offer.
 
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