The drive onto St. George Island is stunning. I turned off the scenic byway and went over a long bridge, heading towards the island. The very first thing that caught my eye was the St. George Lighthouse. I love lighthouses so I could not just drive by. I had to just go take a quick look around the grounds before heading to the park.
Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park was all the way at the end of the island. We entered the park and discovered it went on and on for miles. Both sides of the park were filled with gorgeous sand dunes and inviting water. The gulf side had such pretty water and the sand was so white and soft. The bayside was my favorite because there were marshes and nature trails. I could not get enough of that place. The road just kept going and I just kept following it!
It was at this park that I discovered how big the oyster industry was to that area. I didn’t connect the Apalachicola Bay oysters to the Panhandle until I read the plaque on the display at the park. I am not a seafood fan so it was never really that important to me. It was still very cool to make that connection.
I could have spent days there and still not have seen everything. This park will require multiple visits to feel fulfilled. Plus, depending on the time of the year, the wildlife visitors change. How exciting is that? Reason enough to go back over and over again. When it was time to go my heart was sad but knowing that I am only a car ride away made me feel a little better and off I went to the car.
Before you visit, make sure you check out the parks website for all of the up-to-date park information: https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/dr-julian-g-bruce-st-george-island-state-park
