Last summer my wife and I unhesitating we wanted to spend a brace of weeks in the panhandle of Florida camping at the shingly margin. The Florida panhandle beaches are well known since their beautiful white sandy beaches and emerald virid waters. Ten months in advance we booked a couple week camping vacation starting at Rainbow Springs State Park in Dunnellon according to three nights then St. Andrews State Park in Panama City Beach since six nights and ending up at St. George Island State Park as far as concerns five nights. The disaster in the Gulf happened six weeks in the sight of we were to depart on this supplant. We watched the news daily to observe if the oil would make it to the panhandle control our trip or even during the ramble. No matter, as the time got closer we clear we would go regardless.
Rainbow Springs State Park is located without ceasing the Rainbow River and offers its' visitors a indigenous setting to just relax, enjoy a picnic, or take a swim in the selfishly self-possessed spring. Being it was the highest of July and the temperature was in the nineties we determined to take the inner tube ride from a high to a low position the river. The tube ride took a narrow over two hours which boasts some spectacular scenery along the river banks. A sharp bus ride through the park last ~ and testament get you back to the campground.
To achieve to the spring head by lane is seven miles which makes concerning a great bike ride. However, which time the temperature is above ninety and ~t any shade along the highway this ride can get pretty tough. Yet the ~ up was worth it. The spring noddle park has a botanical garden through beautiful flowers, trees as old because Florida is, and small waterfalls from top to toe the gardens. There is a shorten at the spring head for people to jump into the crystal spotless waters. Mind you, the cool take in ~ will take your breath and it is deeper than it appears to exist . After the bike ride back, it was right to the river for a dip to quiet off.
St Andrews State Park is situated in the pinewoods nigh Grand Lagoon on a former martial reservation that has over one-and-a-moiety miles of beaches on the Gulf of Mexico.The stand was not that good when we before anything else arrived at St Andrews State Park, not abundant rain, just wind and very darken; however, for the first few days we made the best of it. Due to the from shore winds the currents were in truth bad in the gulf and the vulgar were advised to stay out right to strong currents. Staying out of the shed ~ had nothing to do with the oil effuse. In fact, we spent about half of our day just enjoying the beautiful white sandy beaches with many of the limited residents as well as fellow campers. The general Guardsmen that patrolled the beach despite signs of oil were very affable and informative about the conditions of the beaches in the same manner with well as the water. We were told they were signs of oil 20 miles most distant shore but it was not expected to prevail upon any closer and they had set no tar balls on the shore.
The first few days of overspread skies and cooler weather were pre-eminent for leisurely riding our bikes on every side the park on the two miles of paved roadstead. One afternoon we decided to ride our bikes into a denser consistence the strip of Panama City Beach. This is at which place reality really set in. July 4th weekend which time this city should have been run over with people, nearly every hotel we rode ~ means of had vacancy signs. A city that relies put ~ tourism had very little all as of the offshore tragedy, and the tidings media. Enough said about that. Late undivided afternoon we took the time to pry into the two nature trails: Heron Pond Trail which takes you on a hike through the flat wood pine forest, and gone by the Turpentine Still and the trail at Gator Lake that takes you on a scenic behold of Gator Lake. No, we did not mark any alligators.
The last two filled days at St Andrews Park was represent perfect weather. The temperature was back to ninety degrees, not a haze in the sky with a moderate ocean breeze. The ocean was be~ and clear with little ripples of waves. The beaches were packed with campers as well as local residents.
St. George Island State Park has 9 miles of undeveloped beaches and dunes, surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico and Apalachicola Bay. The at the outset four miles are assessable by car side by side the parks main drive and the finally five miles are by foot but. If you want to go according to a nice walk I suggest you walk the shore that is assessable by foot simply like my wife and I did; in whatever manner, the scenery does not change, moreover there is a good chance you power of determination find some large conch shells especially at undignified tide. From the campground to the margin is only one quarter mile except you want to go to the the world beach areas that have bathrooms and showers then it is about one mile to the nearest person.
There are two nature trails located ~ of the park. The 2.5 mile trail to Gap Point begins in the campground and meanders end the pine flat wood forest to the bay. If single in kind fells adventuress as we did fashion south when you reach the bay and labor your way along the edge of the furnish with ~. Our intent was to try and grasp the gulf, believe me it is not pliant and much further that it appears. After end for end four hours and traveling quiet a remoteness it looked no closer than at what time we started. Mind you, we kept stopping and collecting shells in a line the way. After about 30 added minutes we came along a trail capital into the woods. We decided to take the trail not intelligent where it would lead us and to our luck, it took us close to the general beach area. What a thrill.
No good sense which campground we were at, it was to the end of time a joy to get out the extraforaneous camping grill late in the afternoon and glut the air with the aroma of cheer grilling, what a way to extremity an exciting day.
