Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park — Loop A

On a barrier island fronting historic Apalachicola Bay, Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park offers visitors a little strip of paradise. St. George is a favorite destination for beachgoers, birdwatchers and anglers, offering spectacular Gulf of Mexico sunsets and the best stargazing in the Panhandle. Miles of undeveloped beaches on this barrier island provide the perfect setting for the park, which offers ample opportunities for sunbathing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, boating, fishing, hiking, camping and nature study. On the Gulf side of the island, enjoy perfect blue waters and miles of sugary white sands, and perhaps catch sight of a pod of dolphins. On the bay side, healthy marshes are home to wading birds and abundant saltwater fish. Nature trails thread through vast scrubs and pine forests, where red-cockaded woodpeckers and bald eagles linger in the canopy and brilliantly blue five-lined skinks dart through the undergrowth. Few parks offer better opportunities for shelling and beachcombing. The shoreline is active during the summer months when sea turtles and shorebirds such as the snowy plover, least tern, willet and black skimmer lay their nests within the park.