st joseph pennisula and st george island state parks

If you are on St. George, the Blue Parrot has really good seafood. For awesome pizza, hit BJ's. We just got back from a week at the SP and have already booked for next year. The mosquitos were horrible as usual, but the beach and the bay made up for it.

NCWriter wrote:
Another vote for the Owl Café in Apalachicola. We stumbled upon it in the old downtown, a block or two from the waterfront.

A good spot if you want a lunch or dinner one day with nice atmosphere and food. No need to dress up but definitely a cut above seafood joints.

Clicky for Owl Cafe

The Owl is total awesomeness...and so is Up The Creek Raw Bar! They have a nice deck with some of it enclosed and some open, all sitting on the river where you can watch shrimpers and oyster boats pulling in from fishing

Another vote for the Owl Café in Apalachicola. We stumbled upon it in the old downtown, a block or two from the waterfront.

A good spot if you want a lunch or dinner one day with nice atmosphere and food. No need to dress up but definitely a cut above seafood joints.

Clicky for Owl Cafe

seems like everybody at st joseph was scalloping. and alot of scallops cause we seen them...the gulf breeze campground might be larger...we seen alot of large rvs there and some on cement pads....i still cant get over the huge mosquitos at st george ...

So I am ready to go scalloping, which would most recommend. I haven't been to St Joe in a few years, and that was either with tent or rented ALiner. I have a 28TT and need to be able to get it in easily. I do remember lots of trees in the way at Shady Pines in St Joe. I have driven through St George and know I can get a site there, but just can't decide which area would be easier to have access to bay for scalloping.

Unless things have changed there are more restaurants and guides available at St George.

What do those who have been to recently think?

We like St George campground better. But the bugs ate us alive. Nothing worked. We will not go back went in April twice that was enough. Could not enjoy for the no seeums...

gapeachy wrote:
So is oct a good time also... i usually love the burning hot july at the beach but the bugs were unbearable, thinking of going back in oct and would love to still be able to swim and play in the bay, also what is the name of a good fish market there?

October is a VERY good time to go. Temps are warm usually in the 80's (tho one year it was in the mid 90's) and the water temp is still very warm from the summer months. Surf fishing is usually good unless the 'ladyfish' are about and then not so much. They are fun to catch but not good to eat. Kids are back in school so its primarily an older crowd. Sunsets are amazing in October and the monarch butterflys are everywhere...they are migrating to South America and St Joe is directly in their path.
Fish mongers...closest and best is St Joe Shrimp Co. on 30A. I always pull over with TT in tow on the way in and pick up something for the grill. Otherwise 13 Mile Seafood Market in Apalachicola is also good. I'm sure there are other good markets in the area as well.
For dining with a true rustic experience check out Indian Pass Raw Bar. Its not too far from the campground, otherwise Apalachicola has some excellent restaurants.
Here is a link to my Picasa St Joe:

So is oct a good time also... i usually love the burning hot july at the beach but the bugs were unbearable, thinking of going back in oct and would love to still be able to swim and play in the bay, also what is the name of a good fish market there?

Just remember that there are no fish markets on the Cape; got to go to Appalachicola or Port St. Joe.

We always enjoy the time at St. Joe, just bring everything that you need.

craigt wrote:
We go to St. Joe most every Thanksgiving.

It doesn't generally fill up until the Friday after, with most folks staying at home for Turkey Day.

Weather is generally quite pleasant unless there is a storm in the area, then it can get cool.

Water temperature is still warm enough for the Yankees to swim in, but us Southerners usually watch them from the sunny beach. Fishing doesn't seem to be very active at Thanksgiving, but people still try.

Thanks for the info. We are looking forward to making it there for Thanksgiving week. I am a surf fisher so that part sounds a bit disappointing but, there are always the fish markets Heh, heh...
Storms are no bother here, we've weathered some bad ones but of course would prefer nice fall weather!