2285 Coastal Highway 98 West, Carrabelle Beach, Florida 32322
(850) 697-8593


If you can tear yourself away from the gentle pleasures at Jasmine-by-the-Sea, close by you can explore timeless glimpses into Florida's pristine and elegant past.

You could build a lazy day around a superb lunch at either a modest family restaurant or a sophisticated restaurant, or visit Wakulla Springs, one of the largest springs in the world, or linger through the many antique shops in Apalachicola, or visit the wildlife sanctuary on St. George Island. Or, just head out the back door on a country walk.

For specific area attractions and other information, please visit these helpful websites:
LOCATION

Carrabelle is located along U.S. Highway 98 on Florida's "Forgotten Coast," approximately 50 miles southwest of Tallahassee. It is a sleepy little fishing village that, at one time, was not so peaceful. It was once the training ground for troops heading to Normandy for the D-Day Invasion, and at the turn of the 20th century, yellow fever ravaged its people. Today, however, things are quite serene and Carrabelle is a quiet coastal community with no crowds, no high rises and almost no traffic. It is known for its excellent fishing in its bays, inlets and flats. It is said that the "fish practically jump into the boat" around Carrabelle. This area is also filled with state parks, beaches and recreation areas that offer miles of hiking and biking trails, and other outdoor recreational activities. St. George Island, the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, St. Joe Peninsula, the Ochlockonee River and Bald Point, are just a few of the nearby places to explore. In addition, Hollywood has recently taken note of Carrabelle - the movie "Yulee's Gold," starring Peter Fonda had scenes filmed in Carrabelle and St. George Island, and in May of 2004, another movie, "Coast Lines," starring Josh Brolin and Sara Wynter was filmed here. Carrabelle is unique for its freshwater and saltwater fishing (a well-kept secret of this tiny coastal town) and is a boat lover's paradise. Carrabelle is home to the world's smallest police station, The Big Bend Saltwater Classic (fishing tournament), and the St. James Bay golf course designed by the well-known golf course architect Robert Walker.

NEARBY PLACES TO VISIT

Apalachicola: Where the Apalachicola River meets the bay and the quiet sugar sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico on the northwest Florida Panhandle’s forgotten coast, Apalachicola is oyster, shrimp and seafood heaven. Historic gingerbread old Florida homes line lanes shaded with live oaks and drenched with Spanish moss. Boutiques and quaint restaurants border antebellum cotton and lumber wharfs. It is Florida as it once was.

St. George Island: St. George is a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico that shelters the Apalachicola Bay. Its pristine beaches offer 27 miles of sun swept shores for sunbathing, picknicking, shell collecting, fishing, bird watching and just relaxing. Located in the center of the island is the quaint business district, where you will find unique shops, restaurants, and a little bit of nightlife. Julian Bruce State Park on the eastern end of the island has been consistently rated in the top 10 beaches in the nation. St. George Island is a premier destination for naturalists!

Wakulla Springs: Wakulla Springs and the historic Wakulla Lodge are at the center of the 6,000-acre Edward Ball Wakulla Spring State Park. Wakulla Spring is one of the single, largest springs in the world, with an average of 250 million gallons of water flowing daily from Wakulla’s giant cave system to form a nine-mile long river. The Spring Basin. A 4-acre natural pool forms above the deep Wakulla Spring cave. In the basin, swimmers can plunge into the cool waters and visitors gaze into the depths for a glimpse at fossilized mastodon bones. The River. The Wakulla River flows southwest from Wakulla Spring’s basin for nine miles before it meets the St. Marks River. The first three miles of the river are protected as a wildlife sanctuary within the Wakulla Spring State Park. The Wakulla River is one of few rivers in Florida that delivers almost all of its flow from springs.

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge: This unique refuge was established in 1931 to provide wintering habitat for migratory birds. It is one of the oldest refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System. It encompasses 68,000 acres spread out between Wakulla, Jefferson, and Taylor counties along the Gulf Coast of northwest Florida. The refuge includes coastal marshes, islands, tidal creeks and estuaries of seven north Florida rivers, and is home to a diverse community of plant and animal life. The refuge also has strong ties to a rich cultural past, and is home to the St. Marks Lighthouse, which was built in 1832 and is still in use today. St. Marks Unit: The St. Marks Unit of the St. Marks NWR is the location for the refuge head quarters and visitor center. A seven mile drive winds it way from the visitor center through fresh and brackish water impoundments and ends at the foot of the Apalachee Bay, near the historic St. Marks Lighthouse. Boat ramps, nature trails and a picnic area are located within this unit, and a road-side auto tour booklet is available for purchase in the visitor center. Uplands forests, forested swamps, fresh & brackish water marshes and a pristine salt water estuary ecosystem compose this unique area of Florida’s Gulf Coast, making the St. Marks Unit a favorite for birders and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Federal entrance fees are in effect.

St. Marks Lighthouse: St. Marks was a prominent Spanish town of the early 1800’s. A lighthouse was first built here in 1831, and then moved and rebuilt in 1840 when erosion threatened. During the Civil War the tower sustained tremendous damage, with a full one third of its base blasted away. The tower did not collapse, was reconstructed and relit in 1867. The lens in the 73 foot tower was originally a fourth-order, is now a fifth-order. St. Marks had a woman keeper from 1904 to 1919. Sarah Fine finished her husband’s partially-completed log entry for June 18, 1904, without any explanation for what happened to him! Judging from the signs I saw in the wetlands surrounding the lighthouse, an alligator may have gotten him! The grounds are freely accessible within the National Wildlife Refuge, but the tower is only opened during special occasions. St. Marks is a very picturesque location, and the refuge had stunning beauty and bird-watching opportunities galore. Call 904-925-6121 for info. / St. Marks Lighthouse Events: (850) 925-6121

Cape San Blas: Ranked as America’s #1 Beach in 2002. Other gulf coast beaches have earned the top spot in the continental US, however this marks the first time a mainland beach has taken the ultimate crown from a Hawaii beach. This recognition has called attention to this rare stretch of white sand that juts out into the Gulf of Mexico in the form of St. Joseph’s Peninsula.

Tallahassee, Leon County: A drive through Canopy Roads and Country Lanes Centuries ago, Native Americans traveled the hills of Leon County, creating a network of trails followed later by Spanish explorers and American settlers. While in the area, take a day to travel these same historic routes. Venture along picturesque canopy roads where majestic live oak trees drip with Spanish moss and embankments, cut ten feet deep into the rich red clay of the earth. Follow Leon County’s rural roads back into history.

DISTANCES TO NEARBY AREAS

Alligator Point, Florida (16.1 mi), Sopchoppy, Florida (17.7 mi), St George Island, Florida (17.8 mi), Panacea, Florida (20.9 mi), Apalachicola, Florida (17 mi), Shell Point, Florida (26.6 mi), Indian Pass, Florida (31.9 mi)




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