October 1, 2009
This event which will be held in the coastal town of Port St. Joe, Florida is foreseen to become a yearly event. Port St. Joe will host songwriters and musicians from Nashville and other places. Tourists and local residents are encouraged to take part and enjoy in the festival as this is free of charge.
Seven musicians will perform the opening number. Collectively, they have already written hundreds of songs, many of which have topped the charts. The proceeds of the event will be given to the Educational Foundation of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.
Come, hear the songs and meet the artists! Join us from October 16-18.
Schedule is as follows:
October 16, 6 pm: The Thirsty Goat; October 17, 6 pm: Dockside Cafe; October 18, 3 pm: The Indian Pass Raw Bar
For more information, visit http://www.blastonthebay.com
September 24, 2009
Beach jogging is a great way to start your day during a vacation. It is an excellent method to stay in shape because of the high number of calories burned in the body. Most joggers prefer doing it in the morning because it gets the metabolism started but no matter when you do it, jogging has been a proven exercise to boost the cardiovascular health, strengthen muscles and tone the body.
A good pair of running shoes should be worn at all times to prevent any injury on the feet, ankle or hips. Before going for a jog, do some stretch and warm-up exercises especially if you are planning to jog for a long distance. Since the beach terrain is different from any other flat surface, always pay attention to the running surface.
Beach jogging is an activity that does not only bring wonderful health benefits; it also offers psychological benefits such as stress relief, empowerment and creates release of endorphins that causes euphoria. A morning or afternoon jog at St. George Island is a good way to relax. A light breeze helps make the jog cooler and comfortable. Feel the gulf wind, hear the rippling tides and relish the panoramic views when jogging.
September 23, 2009
This coming October 3, Saturday, the Forgotten Coast Community Yard Sale is happening at 8 a.m. in Apalachicola, Carrabelle, Panacea, St. George Island, Mexico Beach and Port St. Joe. Now’s your chance to browse through vintage collections, antique decors, furniture and other attic treasures that you can’t easily find in malls. This multi-community yard sale along Coastal US 98 and the Big Bend Scenic Highway is a fun community event to attend. For inquiries, call 850-653-9419.
Another event on October 3, which is the 3rd Annual Bay Day, will be held at the St. Joseph Bay Preserve Center from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. The event highlights fresh food, great live music from Neil Jones and Jon Copps, local photography exhibits and even guided trips throughout the Buffer and St. Joseph Bay. The spacious Preserve Center deck overlooking the bay is the perfect dining setting beginning at 11 a.m. There’s a $10 meal donation to take part in the culinary feast prepared by Low Country Boil featuring shrimp, kielbasa sausage, corn on the cob, potatoes, coleslaw and beverages.
Even if these events will take place during the same day, you don’t have to miss one event in order to attend the other since the yard sale is all over the Forgotten Coast.
September 22, 2009
St. George Island (SGI) has long been considered an amazing getaway beach. With its remote location, old Florida feel and delectable Southern cooking, you can escape from the urban jungle for a few days and have a laid-back and quiet vacation that is totally different from other touristy beach destinations.
SGI is a sanctuary for people who want to be close to nature. It is a place where beachgoers have the opportunity to lounge on their decks at night or sprawl on the beaches and observe the moon and the stars without anything obstructing the skyline because high-rise buildings are not permitted in the island. It is the perfect beach for sunrises and sunsets and for appreciating seascapes.
People say SGI is a place abandoned by time and yes, there’s truth in this. Life slows down here and once you step into this place, somehow you get a chance to clear your thoughts and have the opportunity to relax and let stress fade away. The appeal of SGI as a coastal vacation destination will never disappoint; in fact, it will continue to grow as people begin to appreciate the peace and quiet that only the pristine beaches of SGI can offer.
September 21, 2009
What else can you do on the beach for entertainment that’s easy on the budget? One thing I’ve recently rediscovered is reading. This was my form of leisure in the old days until I became too busy juggling office work and home errands. Also, because everything can be accessed in the internet making the publishing world a thing of the past, I’m quite ashamed to admit that I have limited my reading to entertainment news and online newspaper opinion columns and headlines. I haven’t exactly cracked a book open in a long time.
My holiday trip to the quiet beaches of St. George Island with my family can be summed up in two words: pure relaxation. Before the trip, I brought a book along with me that I have started a couple of times but constantly have no time to finish. The vacation was my chance to finally finish reading it. Looking back, my favorite moment was sitting every afternoon on the deck of our vacation rental home, reading the novel while keeping an eye on my 10 and 12 year old kids building sandcastles.
The tranquillity and gulf breeze in St. George Island creates a great ambience for reading. I strongly encourage it to beachgoers who want to spend some peace and quiet during their vacation. If you forgot to bring reading materials, there’s a library in the island which you can borrow from. Go on, pitch a towel on the beach and engross yourself in a good story.
September 18, 2009
Also known as Cape St. George Island, this uninhabited barrier island west of St. George Island was formerly part of the main island. When a ship channel (Bob Sikes Cut) was constructed, this part was eventually separated. It is now called the Cape St. George State Reserve after it was purchased in 1977 under the Environmentally Endangered Lands program to protect and preserve its natural state.
If you seek for privacy in your vacation or if you just want to explore the area, Little St. George Island is open to swimming, bird-watching, hiking and fishing. You can even spend the night primitive camping on the island. There are few mammals, except for raccoons because of the distance from the mainland.
You can kayak 6 miles to the island and enjoy the beautiful bayside scenery. Observe bald eagles, osprey and dolphins preying on mullet. Invite your friends and family members for a picnic in this rustic paradise. If you visit during off-peak season, you’ll stand a chance of having the island all to yourself even for just a few hours!
September 17, 2009
When was the last time you took a few moments to watch a sunset?
It’s definitely not a complete beach vacation without watching the sun rise or set in your vacation destination. St. George Island in particular, has one of the most spectacular sunset views. Best viewed with a loved one or even wistfully and serenely alone, sunsets often remind us to appreciate the glory of nature that we so often forget in our busy lives.
View sunsets at the bay-side of St. George Island. The St. George Island bridge causeway is also an ideal venue to park and watch the sun set against the bay. Moreover, sunset cruises are delightful for families and romantic for couples. Enjoy the fresh breezes while drinking your favorite beverage on board. Don’t forget to bring along a camera so you can capture those great moments!
Boating trips are also offered all over the island. If you’d rather venture on your own to make the moment more special and private, boat rental facilities are available. Have a nice meal during your sunset cruise while enjoying the ambience and scenic views. Don’t dare miss this privilege while on vacation in St. George Island!
September 16, 2009
There are some beach hazards that others might not be aware of or wouldn’t know how to respond to when faced with such problems. Beach hazards may come from punctured wounds, marine toxins and other risks. It is important to be guarded and aware when out in the water.
Cuts from barnacles and punctures from sea urchins are painful and take a lot of time to heal. A stingray injury is quite severe. Stingrays can be camouflaged in shallow water areas, beneath the sand so you might unavoidably step on them. To avoid this injury, you should move around a lot while wading in the water. The victim can receive treatment in an emergency clinic but in case this is not possible, quickly remove the stinger, immerse the area in hot water (45°C) for up to 90 minutes and also in vinegar, take pain relief, and be wary for shock and infection treatment.
Jellyfish stings are quite common. To remedy this, flush the area with saltwater, remove tentacles with tweezers, wash with vinegar to neutralize venom and take pain reliever. In case of allergic reaction, dial 911.
Getting caught in a riptide can cause panic to swimmers. Remain calm to reserve your energy and do not swim against the current. Instead, swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current’s pull.
Always take precautions so you can have a smooth sailing beach vacation!
September 15, 2009
It’s good to know that even if you are on a remote beach vacation and away from the conveniences of urban life, St. George Island and its neighboring towns of Apalachicola and Eastpoint offer services that can still cater to your daily routines and unique needs. For those who want to work out, Apalachicola Fitness Center has 18 Cybex machines, 10 cardio units including treadmills, elliptical and exercise bicycles and a free weights section. Pilates, kickboxing, cardio sculpting classes are offered and supervised by personal trainers.
There’s a hair styling salon service called The Cut owned by Patty Reynolds who hails from Los Angeles. A nice and relaxing massage is also available at Daybreak Massage in Eastpoint. Shelley Mclean, a licenced therapist offers Swedish, hot stone, deep tissue and stretch massage. Riverfront Therapy Inc. & Spirit of the River Spa and Balanced Energies Inc. in Apalachicola also offer the same kinds of massage services.
Le Debut offers facials and waxing and make-up services while Andrea’s Nails & Make up is a full service salon both located in Apalachicola. You can get your nails done at Unique Nails & More in Eastpoint.
Get all the pampering you need with all these wonderful services available during your vacation in Franklin County!
September 14, 2009
Carrabelle is celebrating the seventh annual Kingfish/Grouper Shootout Tournament on September 26 & 27, 2009. Carrabelle, known primarily as a fishing town, is located at the eastern end of the Florida Panhandle. It is around 40 minutes northeast from St. George Island.
The host of the event is C-Quarters Marina. All proceeds will be donated to the Leukemia Research Foundation. This exciting weekend will give fishing enthusiasts a lot of opportunity not just in terms of competition and camaraderie but also a chance to promote a worthy cause to support cancer research that leukemia patients can benefit from.
A big prize of $10,000 awaits the lucky winner in the Kingfish category while a prize of $3,000 in the Grouper category. Cash prizes will also be given away to runners-up. For additional information, visit www.c-quartersmarina.com or call (850)697-8400.
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