Apalachicola / Port St. Joe
Panhandle of Florida

Apalachicola is located in Franklin County on Florida’s panhandle, approximately 80 miles southwest of Tallahassee. Miles of pristine beaches, four barrier islands and acres of State and National forests make this the perfect destination for those wanting to get away from it all. Apalachicola began life in 1831 as a cotton port - business was good and it soon became the third largest port on the Gulf of Mexico. Lighters - small shallow draft schooners - ferried the cotton from the many brick warehouses that lined the docks out to the waiting cargo ships moored off shore.

THE OYSTER CAPITAL OF THE WORLD...
By the late 1800s, with the decline of the cotton industry due to the expansion of the railroads, the area turned to a new industry, lumber. Because of the abundance of cypress forests several big lumber mills grew up, but by the end of the 19th century the area had moved on again. Now known as the oyster capital of the world, the area produces more than 90% of the oysters eaten in Florida and up to 10% of those consumed nationally. Apalachicola Bay produces some of the best oysters in the nation and they are harvested in much the same way today as they were over a century ago. Oystermen fish from 20 foot wooden boats using tongs, that resemble two rakes attached like scissors, to bring the oysters aboard, they are then sorted and bagged in burlap bags.

MUSEUMS...
The area's historical legacy can be seen today with more than 200 homes and buildings on the National Register. One such home is that of John Gorrie, a young doctor who moved to the area in 1833. Concern for his yellow fever patients led him to invent a method of cooling their rooms. The museum houses a replica of his ice-making machine, a forerunner to what we know today as air conditioning!

For the four years between 1942 & 1946, the beaches and woods along the coast echoed to the sound of gunfire and explosions. Camp Carrabelle, now the Camp Gordon Johnston, was where America’s young men trained for the D-Day invasion of Europe. The Camp Gordon Johnston Museum holds comprehensive histories of the units that trained at the camp and there is a photographic display of the area and life as it existed at the time.

CONSERVATION AND WILDLIFE...
The St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1968, is a 12,490 acre managed conservation area located offshore at the mouth of the Apalachicola River. The refuge has ten separate habitats that are home to some of the nation's endangered species. Bald eagles nest in the pine trees, loggerhead turtles come ashore to lay their eggs and indigo snakes make their homes in gopher and tortoise burrows.

Twenty miles further along the coast is the city of Port St. Joe, known as 'the Constitution City'. It was here in 1838 that representatives from Florida’s territorial counties came together to draft Florida’s first state constitution.

AT ONE WITH NATURE...
The area now relies on nature-based tourism, giving visitors a chance to become at one with the land. Kayak and canoe enthusiasts enjoy the many waterways and bird watchers gather at the bird sanctuaries at Cape San Blas and Port St. Joe. If you want to take things easy why not relax with a drink and enjoy the stunning sunset over the Gulf of Mexico.

The area is home of the world famous 'Tupelo Honey', immortalized in the song by Van Morrison. It has one of the shortest harvesting seasons at only 14 days in late April/early May. The honey is produced from the Tupelo gum trees, is light amber in color with a distinctive flavor and will not granulate.

THE WORLD'S BEST FISHING...
Gulf County claims to have the 'world’s best fishing' and you will be spoilt for choice whether you prefer saltwater or freshwater fishing. The area is renowned for its surf/pier fishing, deep sea fishing, bay fishing and freshwater fishing.

AND MOUTH WATERING SCALLOPS...
Scallop day is held over the Labor Day weekend in Frank Pate Park alongside the St. Joseph Bay. Come and celebrate the famed scallop, this festival gives visitors the chance to taste fresh scallops cooked to perfection in every conceivable way.

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