Newspaper Page Text
PAGE12A
THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2008
Features
SCENIC VIEW
Casa De Chill offers a scenic ocean view for its guests. A private boardwalk takes visitors right onto the beach. Deck chairs provide
a great spot to watch the amazing sunsets and sunrises.
Birding, boating among outdoor adventures
KNOWN FOR OYSTERS
Franklin County, Fla., is known for
its sweet Apalachicola Bay Oysters.
Shown getting a load of oysters
on a recent afternoon are George
Ward (front) and Kendall Schoelles
(back), a 25-year oysterman.
Photos by Angela Gary
CHILLING AT THE BEACH
Casa De Chill, a huge, luxurious beachfront home offered t
by Resort Vacation Properties, has three stores facing the
ocean. The home has four bedrooms, a huge living room
and kitchen and a screened in porch facing the ocean. It's a
great location for a family gathering.
BY ANGELA GARY
Birding, boating and amazing sun
rises and sunsets are just a few of the
natural delights to be found in Franklin
County, Fla. With more than 87 percent
of the county being protected land as
state or federal parks and wildlife pre
serves, Franklin County offers a natural
escape for visitors.
Franklin County includes St. George
Island, Apalachicola, Carrabelle,
Alligator Point, Dog Island and
Eastpoint. Each corner of the county
offers something unique from the out
door adventures to charming stores,
historical building, working waterfronts
dotted with shrimp and oyster boats
and scrumptious dining options.
For bird-lovers, Franklin County
offers a wonderful chance to see a
wide range of rare and unusual spe
cies. Whether you take a special bird-
ing tour or take time to look for birds
as you travel through the island, you
will see plenty of variety. Prime bird-
ing areas are St. George Island State
Park, St. Vincent National Wildlife
Refuge, Tate’s Hell State Forest, the
Apalachicola National Forest and
the Apalachicola National Estuarine
Research Reserve.
Among the boating opportunities
are fishing, sunset cruises, shelling
tours, kayaking and canoeing. Franklin
County is known for its fresh and
saltwater fishing opportunities. The
Apalachicola River Basin is home to
186 species of fish and the bay system
serves as a critical nursery are for more
than 95 percent of all species harvested
commercially and 85 percent of all
species harvested recreationally in the
Gulf of Mexico. Seventeen local mari
nas are located throughout the county.
Professional guide service and charter
boat rentals are offered throughout the
county.
Journeys of St. George Island has
been providing ecotours of the area for
16 years. Jeannie McMillan founded
the operation in 1991, and it is now
overseen by her son, Justin. Journeys
offers guided kayak, canoe and boat
tours. They also rent sailboats, power
boats, kayaks and canoes.
For more information on Journeys
of St. George Island, located at 240 E.
Third Street, go to www.sgislandjour-
neys.com or call 1-850-927-3259.
For some beach time, go to St.
George Island State Park, located at
1900 E. Gulf Beach Drive. Among the
things that make the park so special are
the secluded, pristine beaches, nature
trails, camping and youth camps. The
nine-mile beach is located on 2,000
acres. Last year, 180,000 people visited
the park, and more are expected this
year.
For more information on St.
George State Park, go to www.flori-
dastateparks.org/stgeorgeisland or call
1-850-927-2111.
SONGWRITERS PERFORM AT DIXIE THEATRE
Charlie Black, Dana Hunt Black and Steve Bogard were the featured songwriters during a recent
performance at the Dixie Theatre. This evening featured the songwriters performing some of the
hits they wrote that were made famous by such top stars as Alan Jackson, George Straight and
Rascal Flatts.
OTHER THINGS TO DO
Outdoor adventures aren’t all that
you will find in Franklin County, Fla.
Other stops worth some of your time
include:
•Dixie Theatre, 21 Avenue E,
Apalachicola, Fla., www.dixietheatre.
com or 1-850-653-3200. Be sure to
check out the schedule when you’re
in the area. We were lucky enough to
catch “Nashville Does Dixie.” This
evening featured songwriters perform
ing some of the hits they wrote that
were made famous by such top stars
as Alan Jackson, George Straight and
Rascal Flatts. Steve Bogard, Charlie
Black and Dana Hunt Black were the
featured songwriters. Charley opened
up the night by telling the audience
about the songs to be performed.
“Some of them are big hits,” he said.
“You will recognize them. Some of
them ought to be big hits. They are in
our hearts.” It’s really special to hear
the stories behind the hit songs from
the person who wrote the words.
•Camp Gordon Johnston World
War II Museum, Carrabelle, Fla.,
www.campgordonjohnston.com or
1-850-697-3395. This museum is dedi
cated to the Amphibious World War II
soldiers who trained at Camp Gordon
Johnston.
•Crooked Creek Lighthouse,
Carrabelle, Fla., www.crookedriver-
lighthouse.org or 1-850-697-9790.
This restored lighthouse is surrounded
by forest and located near covered
picnic shelters and a playground. It’s a
great place for a family to stop during
their visit to Franklin County.
•John Gorrie Museum State Park,
Apalachicola, Fla., www.flori-
dastateparks.org/johngorriemuseum
or 1-850-653-9347. Gorrie developed
an ice machine used to cool his yel
low fever patients’ room. It led to Dr.
Gorrie receiving the first U.S. patent for
mechanical refrigeration in 1851.
•Orman House State Park, 177
5th Avenue, Apalachicola, www.
floridastateparks.org/ormanhouse
or 1-850-653-1209. This 1838
Greek Revival home overlooks the
Apalachicola River and was built by
Thomas Orman, a cotton merchant.
SHOPPING
Natural sponges, beachwear, home
decor and jewelry are some of the
items you will find in the charming and
unique shops in Franklin County. A
few must stops include:
•Avenue E in Apalachicola has “old
Florida attitude with fresh new style.”
Antiques, interior decor and more are
CROOKED CREEK
LIGHTHOUSE
Crooked Creek
Lighthouse is a
restored lighthouse
surrounded by for
est and located
near covered picnic
shelters and a play
ground. It's a great
place for a family
to stop during their
visit to Franklin
County.
found at this store located at the corner
of Commerce Street and Avenue E in
the historic Zingarelli Building.
•Blue in Apalachicola has tons of
unique items for the beach and home.
It’s located at 31 Avenue E.
•Apalachicola Sponge Company has
natural sponges, handmade olive oil
and goats milk soap.
•Riverlily, a “shop for your senses,”
has a huge variety of bath products,
perfume and other fun personal prod
ucts. It’s located at 78 Commerce Street
in Apalachicola.
•Southern Sage, located at 82 Market
Street in Apalachicola, has antiques,
local products and some great T-shirts
with advertising from Bay City Packing
Company.
WHERE TO EAT
Seafood lovers will be delighted with
the opportunities in Franklin County.
Those wonderful Apalachicola Bay
Oysters are reason enough to visit the
area. I made sure to have some oyster
dish each meal, with oyster soup, fried
continued on page 8B
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