Paradise by the Sea sits on St. George Sound between Carrabelle and Eastpoint, on Florida’s Forgotten Coast. Carrabelle, Eastpoint, Apalachicola and St. George Island are each a short drive, and Tate’s Hell State Forest is right across the highway. Here is what our guests enjoy most, plus a few things you should know about the beach.
What’s happening this week
Oyster Radio, 106.5 FM. The local station out of Carrabelle plays classic rock, blues and beach music, and it’s the best way to hear what’s going on around town. You can listen live here:
FCLive – Forgotten Coast Live. For live music, festivals and events in Eastpoint, Apalachicola and Port St. Joe, follow Forgotten Coast Live on Facebook. Check it before your trip and again when you arrive.
Right outside the door
The beach and the sandbar. The water in front of the house is shallow for about 100 yards, so at high tide it’s a giant wading pool and at low tide the tidal pools are full of crabs, shells and small fish. Fishing and shrimping off the sandbar are excellent.
Kayaking. The house has a kayak. Paddle along the shore toward the creeks, but read the warning about the outgoing tide below.
High Bluff Coastal Hiking Trail, Tate’s Hell State Forest. The trailhead is just across the street. The trail is 8.9 miles in two loops, so you can do a short walk or a full day, through sand pine scrub, old dunes, salt marsh and wetland boardwalks. There is a small parking fee, and hunting is allowed in the forest in season, so wear something bright in fall and winter. Trail details.
Stargazing. There are almost no lights out here. On a moonless night you will see more stars than you knew existed.
In and around Carrabelle
Crooked River Lighthouse. Just west of Carrabelle, a few minutes from the house. You can climb to the top on open days (children must be at least 44 inches tall). Check current hours before you go.
World’s Smallest Police Station. A phone booth on US 98 in downtown Carrabelle that really was the town’s police station. It’s a quick, fun photo stop.
Camp Gordon Johnston WWII Museum. Carrabelle was a major WWII amphibious training base. The museum has photos, uniforms and stories from the soldiers who trained on these beaches.
Dog Island. The island you see across the Sound. It can only be reached by boat or plane, and it has empty beaches, marsh and pine forest.
More ideas from the local chamber: carrabelle.org.
Day trips
Apalachicola. A historic fishing town known for its oysters, seafood restaurants, galleries and shops. Southern Living’s guide to Apalachicola and the Apalachicola Bay Chamber list the highlights.
St. George Island. If the kids want big waves, St. George Island has them, along with a state park and miles of beach. Visit Florida: St. George Island.
Wakulla Springs State Park. One of the world’s largest freshwater springs, about an hour east. Take the river boat tour, where you are likely to see manatees, alligators and birds, and bring a swimsuit. Wakulla Springs.
Big Bend Scenic Byway. A beautiful, quiet drive through forests and along the coast. Florida Rambler’s guide and the official byway site.
For the whole region, see Florida’s Forgotten Coast.
Wildlife
This is a spectacular location for wildlife viewing. Bald eagles frequently soar overhead. Dolphins play in the water. But even the original paradise had serpents, and we have our share of beasts too, so you need to be a little more aware of your surroundings than you are used to. There are several varieties of venomous snakes in the woods and grasses. There are bears in the forest, and they sometimes roam the beach or raid the trash cans. There are stingrays and jellyfish in the sea; shuffle your feet when wading. Those ant hills are built by fire ants, and they will bite a lot.
The fishing is amazing in the area. Be sure to get a Florida fishing license. Coral is illegal to possess, as are live shells. Please don’t clean fish on the deck. Near the faucet, the deck drains onto the ceiling of the garage, and discarded bits get trapped below the deck floor, making a stinky mess that is expensive to clean.
The sea
You may walk freely anywhere below the mean high tide line, which basically means the wet beach. Above the mean high tide line is private property. Most people don’t mind if you walk in their sand a little, but it isn’t your right; please be respectful.
The rust color you sometimes see in the water is not red tide. It is naturally occurring minerals and organic material that wash out of the forest after heavy rains, and it is not harmful. It feeds the sea creatures and brings more birds and better fishing. You can see the deep red color in the nearby creeks when you walk the beach.
Beach erosion is a serious problem and must be managed carefully. The sand dune and the sea oats that grow around it are important to keeping a sandy beach. Please don’t play on the dunes, and stay out of the sea oats bordering them. Don’t disturb the bits of fence and rocks you find there; they slow the wind and trap sand.
WARNING: When the tide is going out, there is a strong offshore current that will pull you out through the gap between St. George Island and Dog Island. Do not go past the sandbars when the tide is going out. Wear a life jacket in the kayak. If someone in your party is in deep water and seems to be struggling to get back to shore, call 911 right away.
Fires
No fires on the deck, and no campfires on the property. People have been seriously burned by embers buried in the sand, and sparks landing in the forest can start an inferno quickly, so there is a big legal liability and insurance issue. If you do make a fire on the beach anyway, all adult guests accept responsibility for the fire. Make a fire ring out of rocks, set up near the water, and keep it small. Bring a fire bucket, put the fire out with water until it is cold, clean up, and bury the ashes. Leave no trace.
Neighbors
All the neighbors are very friendly. Most houses in the neighborhood are rented out occasionally, but a few are full-time residents. The old log cabin to the west was heavily damaged by Hurricane Michael and is being restored. It’s interesting to look at, but it is not a tourist attraction; please respect the owners’ privacy. The tumbled-down house to the east and its retaining walls are dangerous; stay away. The lot and RV just to the west belong to a local couple who visit often.