If you prefer a beach vacation without the crowds or city skyline, without the nightlife and amusement parks, but with your dog, you'll find St. George Island, Florida, the perfect vacation spot. This small strip of land in the Gulf of Mexico, about 80 miles south of Tallahassee, offers plenty rental properties—on the Gulf side, Apalachicola Bay side, and inland—but none of the crowds of Florida’s more popular beaches on the peninsula.
St. George Island’s Simple Pleasures
St. George offers an island vacation the simple, old-fashioned way: beautiful sunrises across the water, casual strolls on the beach, locally owned, low-key restaurants with the freshest seafood around, and a great respect for the island’s natural wildlife, both plants and animals.
The native grasses and other plants are well protected, as are the loggerhead turtles that nest and lay eggs from mid-spring to mid-fall. If you rent a house on the Gulf or bay, you can turn on the porch lights that face the street side, but regular light bulbs are not welcomed at night if they shine toward the water. The turtles prefer to hatch their young by the light of the moon.
Island Food
There are several restaurant/taverns on the island, a couple of local markets, one little produce stand, and two convenience stores (one with a gas station). Some of the restaurants, such as the Blue Parrot on the Gulf side, allow your pet to join you for lunch or dinner on the large decks overlooking the water.
One of the markets, The Marketplace, features seafood, beef, chicken, and pork, as well as a good variety of condiments, snacks, bread, cereal, juice, dairy products, paper products, and produce. The produce stand has a good variety of fruits and vegetables, but its hours are irreglar. Just plan accordingly to take advantage of this reasonably priced little stand with a good selection.
For the best seafood, there are two fish trucks on the island—Doug’s and Dail’s. You can walk or drive up, read the hand-scrawled signs noting the offerings, and come away with delicious fish and shellfish to prepare back at the house.
Dog-Friendly Beaches
It’s not easy to find beaches in any part of the United States that allow pets to enjoy the sand and surf with their families. St. George Island is animal-friendly and even people without pets accept the critters romping in the sunshine.
The regular rules apply, however. Owners must be responsible for their pets’ activities and clean up after them. That keeps everybody happy, including the government of Franklin County, Florida, which allows pets to be there in the first place.
St. George Island: A Place to Relax
If you think Daytona when you think Florida beaches, forget it. If you're a college student looking for a place to party, forget it. And if you want to hang out on the beach for a while then head downtown for some nightlife, forget that too. You'd have to drive 80 miles back to Tallahassee!
The "forgotten coast" got its name for a reason. St. George Island is a beautiful gem just off Florida's panhandle, and no matter how many beach houses populate its shores, it seems bound to retain its peaceful, relaxing environment. The government—and the turtles—will have it no other way.
Pamela Steed Hill - Pamela Steed Hill is an editor, freelance writer, and home cook. She has published over 250 food articles and recipes online.
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