St Andrews State Park

This is one awesome park. We have camped in the majority of the Florida State Parks and have never bern disappointed.  We have loved each and every one for the own attributes but I got to say this one has them all hands down as far as the ones we have visited.  The are 176 camping sites and over 50 of those are waterfront. We are in the Pine Grove Campground, whose sites are more private than the other campground here, which is the way we like it. Although I was too late in booking to get a waterfront, we can clearly see the water from our site.

And the view from just two sites down

The park is full of large sand dunes, made from quartz sand originally from the Appalachian Mountains that eroded over millions of years that the rivers carried and deposited here, as well having salt marshes.. History lesson for the today.

There is not only have a fishing pier, but a boat ramp, play ground, lots of picnic areas, a camp store and many trails.

They are boats for rent and a boat shuttle that goes to Shell Island every hour for a small fee.  It was just a little windy out for us, though.

And a flashback in time to a reconstructed turpentine still.

 I found a little private beach.

The Day Use Park.

As seen in the Campground
A fish out of water
His was found on the road but Big Bob returned him to his home.

Our kind of peeps

A hand built camper by the couple traveling in it

Did this tow a trailer here?

And  "I don't get it"

We will miss this park.

Next Adventure - Fort Walton Beach Area

April 22- 25 Panama City Area

The weather has been really nice overall.  Our first night we were under a tornado watch and had some  bad rain, but that was at night so in did not interfere with anything.  The daily temperature has been around 70 with some wind.

We have settled in nicely to a daily routine. After breakfast I go for my hour walk and Big Bob  retreats to his 'Man  Cave".

But the dynamics have changed.  I find myself on the grill and he is the one inside heating up in the microwave.  Roles have reversed!


Monday - April 23

After exploring the campground  we headed  into Historic St Andrews.

We walked around a bit and then as per usual talked to a local for the best place to eat and boy was it.  Big Bob may not look all that happy waiting for a table.

But once the oysters arrived and we tasted, it was Oh Happy Day. I don't eat them but he said they were the best he has had.  Too bad he had already ordered lunch and only got 1/2 dozen as an  appetizer:

Next stop was the Harley Dealer next, of course.

 I love the sign the had out front.

We couldn't find any T-shirts we liked (most of their new stock was still packed up as they were preparing for a big rally on May 3-6).  But they told us about their satelite store at Pier Point.  And what a place that is.  A mega shopping and restaurant extravaganza.

We found what we were looking for in the Harley store and wondered into a few other specialties stores as well. and then across the road to the Pier, which went over the beach.

Next stop was Margaritaville since I just happened to be wearing the shirt.

 Nice sitting there sipping a margaritta and looking at over the water.

Then it was back to the campground for dinner and to rest up for the next day's adventures.

Tuesday  - April 24
We spent most the day riding the beaches. In Panama City Beach, they are similar to what happened to our beaches in Pinellas County; full of hotels and condos blocking the beach, except they also have huge water parks, a Ripley's Believe It or Not, Bungee Jumps, etc. But as we drove further down Alt 98 for Laguna Beach, we saw what Pinellas County beaches looked like when we were teenagers. Plenty of access and views of the beach.  Of course, the sand is different (like sugar), as well as the surf and the dunes. So pretty and natural still.  

We had lunch at a cute little place close the the campground:  Oyster Stew for Big Bob and steamed clams for me.  It was yummy.  The restaurant had a different approach to displaying dollar bills - hanging form the ceiling.

Wednesday  - April 25

We took a trip to downtown Panama City.  Another beautiful drive there.

 Lots of old buildings and galleries.  We stopped at the American Legion Post 392 and really enjoyed the folks there.  The bartender had lived in St Pete and Inverness so we had lots to talk about.  And as always, the veterans were super friendly.
 

Our luck ran out today on great food.  Today's left alot to be desired.  Oysters from Texas and grouper throats not checks. .  Hopefully that will be only time of this trip as we like to eat our lunch out at as many local places as we can.  There is always next time.

Tomorrow we leave this beautiful park and head 1 1/2 hours down the road to Rocky Bayou State Park.

Destination St Andrews Park Accomplished

We left home on Saturday.  I met Big Bob at Crystal River Mall and we hooked up the car there.  That way we avoided all the nasty traffic on US 19 that’s under construction, while we were towing.

The trip to Crawfordville was a nice relaxing drive.  US 19 is really a pleasant drive once you pass Crystal River, very little traffic and relaxing views of the country side.  We took US 98  all the way to Crawfordville, where we spent the night at Newport Campground   It is a small county park and I had the feeling of “what have I got us into” when I saw it.  It is set up in the typical circle with green space in the middle and sites backing up to the woods surrounding it.  To reach our pull thru site, so we didn’t have to drop the car, Big Bob had to go through the middle of the open space and in between trees.  But no problem for him (I did not look). Site worked out just fine for us. 

The bath house was immaculate and the little campground is very nice.

We were in for a few surprises when we went for a walk the next morning.  The is an  Observation Walk Way from the campgrounds and within 100 steps in opens to the St Mark’s River. 

There is also a board walk to the boat ramp.  The campground also had a nice fish weigh and cleaning table for the campers.

We left just before noon on Sunday and headed to St Andrews Park. Rather than travel the way Tom the GPS wanted us to go we elected to take US 98 and were not disappointed. We were on the Big Bend Scenic Byway, one of the scenic road ways of Florida.  Another ‘done it” we can cross of the list of roads to travel.  The pictures do not do it justice, (but they were taken while moving and through the coach’s window).

 

 

We continued 98 and were so glad we did.  The travel was awesome. 

It gives a person a warm fuzzy feeling know that Florida is not all concrete yet and is still beautiful.
We are here at St Andrews Park for the next four days and I can tell we will busy exploring the area.

Next Destination:  Exploring Panama City Area