March 1 – 3, 2016
DAYS 21, 22, 23
St George Island is on our list of favorites.  Fantastic views start on the ride through historic downtown Apalachicola, over the bridges to St George and right on into the State Park.

   There is a blog in the archives, that talks about the awesome hiking, biking, kayaking, beach combing and birding on the island. 

Dogs are not allowed on the beach in any Florida State Park. They are allowed on any St. George Beach as long as they are on a leash.

This is our third time here and the weather is always a mystery.  Our first time we had to wear winter coats, hats and gloves.  This time sweatshirt mornings and t-shirt afternoons.  Perfect, if you ask me.
David added a bit of adventure to this trip.  He has been reading a murder/mystery series of short stories, by author Dawn Lee McKenna. Guess where the stories take place?  If you guessed St George Island and Apalachicola you guessed right.  Main character,  Lieutenant Maggie, says the best place for fried chicken in the U.S. is  A J’s Neighborhood Bar and Grill on the corner of Martin Luther King Ave and 9 th St. in Appalachicola.

    I was a little apprehensive walking into A J’s.  The neighborhood was a little sketchy and at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday night, we were the only customers.   David walked in like it was old home week.  First thing he did was start chatting up the waitress about the stories he’d read and the fried chicken.  The waitress was very cute and wrote the authors name down and said she would tell the owner.  She said she thought it would be creepy to read murder mysteries about where she lived and worked,  I agreed.  Between the neighborhood and the lack of customers, I was glad I hadn’t read them.
A J’s does a great take – out business,  but we were the only sit down customers.  David ordered the fried chicken and I ordered the grilled blackened chicken.  Lieutenant Maggie, did not exaggerate.  This was the best chicken ever.  We have added it to our list of favorite “take out” restaurants.
Last time we were in the area, we ate at Boss Oyster, which according to Lieutenant Maggie, has the best oysters in the U.S.,  David agreed.  It is right down the street from this awesome waterfront park. 

Next time our plan will be, pick up take-out at A. J’s and then at Boss’  and have a picnic in the park.
I’ll take a quick paragraph here for a romantic tip, I learned from my Grandmother.  She was a firm believer in the “way to anyone’s heart was through his/her stomach”.  To clinch the deal, take them on a picnic.  Combine, delicious fried chicken, oysters and  potato salad with a fine bottle of wine,  while sitting on a blanket, enjoying ocean views and you’ll be reeling in your catch!
If by the very remote chance the picnic doesn’t work, Lieutenant Maggie, suggests a visit to the Old Fashioned Soda Fountain for a banana split. 

I didn’t ask David why we HAD to order the banana split.  Again, I was glad I hadn’t read the stories.  I did keep an eye out for shady characters in the soda fountain, but the coast was clear.
Just before heading back over the bridge from Apalachicola to St George we stopped at the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve.  Admission is FREE.  This is a find.  The nature center and estuaries are fascinating.  the hiking trails are awesome.  They are all boardwalked, very nice!

This is not a sign we expected to see … both in Apalachicola  and St George Island.  Do Bears Swim???

Next Stop … Tallahassee, for a Passport America Rally.   Passport America  is an organization that connects Rv-ers with Campgrounds that offer discounts to promote there facilities. This will be our first Rally and first time in Tallahassee.