Location: Apalachicola
Top Things to do in Apalachicola
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Top 10 Things to do in Apalachicola, United States
Apalachicola ('æpʰəlætʃ,koʊl) is a city in Franklin County, Florida, United States, on the shore of Apalachicola Bay, an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico. The population was 2,231 at the 2010 census. Apalachicola is the county seat of Franklin County.
Restaurants in Apalachicola
1. Orman House Historic State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 195 reviews
Reviewed By J D - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Didn't actually have a chance to tour the inside of the house but the grounds here and in the Veterans Memorial Park are clean and very well kept. After driving through the city and many side streets just to get some local flavor, this is a nice spot to swing in and visit.
2. Oyster City Brewing Company
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 187 reviews
Reviewed By Karl V - Birmingham, Alabama
Two words: Hooter Brown! Excellent high gravity ale, heavy on the malty flavors. They also had several hoppy IPA-type brews. The brewery and tasting bar only accept cash - be prepared. About 8-10 brews are available, several of them changing out seasonally. Nice bench seating is available outside, but it is limited. Apalachicola does not allow alcoholic drinks on the streets, so if they're crowded, you have to stand. Take home growlers are available, but no bottles or cans.
3. The Raney House Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 119 reviews
Reviewed By Bob B - Parkville, Missouri
Great tour by Linda Thompson. Very knowledgeable of the area, with her family living there for nine generations. Lots of Apalachicola history and Civil War history. We have been to Apalachicola several times but never stopped to visit the Raney House. Glad we took the time.
4. Apalachicola Maritime Museum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 194 reviews
Reviewed By Lyndal C - Toronto, Australia
The museum is a good presentation of the history of boating and fishing. A wooden boat building class was underway and we enjoyed a conversation with the participants and instructor.
5. Chestnut Street Cemetery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 80 reviews
Reviewed By Ben H - Dade City, Florida
I was in Apalachicola over the 4th of July weekend and was walking to the Pig when passed the Cemetery and decided to check it out. Being a history buff I was fascinated at how old some of the grave stones were and how short many of the lifespans were at that time. Its an interesting stop if your a history buff.
6. John Gorrie State Museum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 97 reviews
A one room museum.
Reviewed By peanutsNewYork - New Smyrna Beach, Florida
We visited the museum just as the remodeling was being completed. If you don't know who John Gorrie is, you will soon learn how important he was to our well being today. They have volunteers to lead you through and they are excellent.
7. Three Servicemen Statue
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 47 reviews
Reviewed By Dakotagirl777 - Sioux Falls, South Dakota
I walked through the gardens and enjoyed the statue. I look quiet parks that are well kept and peaceful. This is a nice place to go and relax.
8. Bowery Art Gallery and Studio
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 18 reviews
The Bowery Art Gallery & Studio is a fine arts and crafts gallery. We feature original works by local and regional artists. We show a broad range of unique fine crafts, pottery, jewelry, contemporary paintings, photography and sculpture. 57 artists and guest artists are currently on exhibit.
Reviewed By Loretta-Bruce P - Bradenton, Florida
Bought a coffee mug there made by a local artist. The owner was very pleasant. Nice art and nice selection. Would recommend.
9. Saint Vincent National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 26 reviews
This barrier island is located in Florida's Apalachicola Bay.
Reviewed By Allan K - Port Saint Joe, Florida
Very rustic tour - informative - old history of the area - bring bug spray and cool water - very reasonable cost for boat transportation to the island - wagon ride is the preferred means of travel - teens could handle the self guided walking tour -
10. Dixie Theatre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 23 reviews
Reviewed By Candonjan - St. Catharines, Canada
How many times have you gone into a store and noted a sign on the front door warning, "Toilets for customers only!" or some version thereof. (One Gulf Shores eatery advertises "$10 to use restrooms if not a customer!") Even if you understand why, it feels like an invisible hand pushing you back out the door. In the charming, historical northwest Florida community of Apalachicola, you are more likely to encounter a sign like this (on the door of the Dixie Theater): "Gotta go? Go here. We appreciate your business. Our restrooms are for everyone. We welcome all who have to go." Along with it's stunning setting on the salt marshes of Apalachicola Bay and beautiful historic downtown and residential areas, it is this welcoming atmosphere that makes Apalachicola a truly special community. Once the third largest US port on the Gulf of Mexico, the city fell on hard times with the loss of the cotton and lumber trade and later the sponge fishery. But it is precisely because of its isolation (heck, it's on the Chamber of Commerce-embraced "Forgotten Coast"!) and economic decline that it managed to avoid the over-development and tawdriness that has afflicted so much of Florida, including the nearby communities of Panama City and Destin. You hear the hype "old Florida" a lot these days, but here the term really seems to really mean something.
And obviously, the community gets it. A major renovation project in the 1980s made the once-abandoned, gracious Gibson Inn a magnificent restaurant and hotel once again, and other projects have rebuilt several of the remaining brick warehouses along the waterfront. Public toilets and a very helpful city tourist information office are located downtown. New shops have taken up residence in nicely restored old retail buildings. A dozen excellent restaurants -- most featuring the justifiably famous local oysters -- and bars have opened. Ecologically-oriented tours are available, and an estuarium attracts visitors, as well as a small marine museum (where you can build a real pirogue if you have the time.) Historical markers (the town dates back to the early 1800s even before) are situated throughout the downtown. To ensure the community and surrounding area (check out the stunning beaches on nearby St. George Island), the county has enacted a law that limits development to three stories.
Apalachicola is really a must for any visitor to Florida who wants to see what things looked like before it was discovered -- and then ruined -- in the 60s and 70s. But don't just stay in the cute downtown. Take the time to walk along the shady avenues toward Lafayette Park, enjoying the magnificent cottages and Victorian homes that line the streets. At the park, walk out on the public wharf into the salt marsh and appreciate the beauty and richness of this remarkable resource, as clearly the locals do. Apalachicola is a town that is reinventing itself. Perhaps with the confidence of Shoeless Joe in "Field of Dreams," they figured they would build it and they will come. Well, they didn't build --they renovated, and buildings that have abandoned for 50 or more years have been brought back to life and brought new vigor to this lovely Florida community. Desperate as we are these days for anything that seems authentic, anything that's real and connects us with our past, tourists are indeed coming. Personally, I hope the "Forgotten Coast" remains that way, at least for those who are looking for Wal-Marts, fast food restaurants, jet-skis, and highrise condos.
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