Franklin County: Coast, Nature and Maritime History
Accommodation in Franklin County
Franklin County combines 53 miles of mainland coastline with numerous parks, barrier islands and a maritime history that dates back to the oyster industry of the 19th century. This gives you a wide range of options when planning your trip: You can focus on beaches and water activities, explore natural areas or make historic sites and museums the centerpiece of your visit. If your family has varied interests, you can sensibly base your vacation-rental search on the experiences you want to have.
Beaches, Islands and Water Experiences
The barrier islands of St. Vincent, Cape St. George, St. George and Dog Island protect the Franklin County coast. Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park is particularly diverse. On a barrier island in historic Apalachicola Bay, you will find miles of undeveloped beaches. The park offers swimming, canoeing, kayaking, boating, fishing, hiking, camping and nature observation. Nature trails lead through scrub and pine forests inhabited by red-shouldered hawks and bald eagles.
A different coastal landscape awaits you at Bald Point State Park on Alligator Point, where Ochlockonee Bay and Apalachee Bay meet. Coastal marshes, pine flatwoods and oak groves characterize the park. Two beaches on Apalachee Bay offer opportunities for swimming, fishing, canoeing, kayaking and windsurfing. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore first consider whether undeveloped beaches, nature observation or a variety of water sports will be the deciding factor for your trip.
Forests, Rivers and Wildlife Observation
Even away from the islands, Franklin County remains strongly shaped by nature. Tate's Hell State Forest lies between the Apalachicola River and the Ochlockonee River. U.S. Highway 98, County Road 67, and State Highways 65 and 319 provide points of reference. The pond cypress trees create a distinctive landscape: Some of these trees are more than 300 years old but grow no taller than about 15 feet. From the Ralph G. Kendrick Boardwalk with its observation tower, you can look out over a particularly dense stand. In addition, 35 miles of rivers, creeks and waterways are available for canoeing, boating and fishing.
St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1968 to protect and preserve migratory birds. It covers a total of approximately 12,492 acres across two islands and two mainland areas. Fishing, hunting, wildlife observation, hiking, cycling, kayaking and nature photography offer different ways to experience this natural area. In addition, the Nature Center at the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve offers free admission, 18,000 square feet of educational space and two research laboratories.
History, Architecture and Maritime Tradition
Franklin County is also well worth visiting for travelers who want to combine coastal scenery with culture. Orman House Historic State Park includes an antebellum house built by Thomas Orman in 1838, overlooking the Apalachicola River. The building was used for business and social gatherings and features architectural details of the Federal and Greek Revival styles. These include wooden mantelpieces, molded plaster cornices and wide-plank floors made from longleaf pine.
In Apalachicola, John Gorrie Museum State Park commemorates Dr. John Gorrie, who received the first U.S. patent for mechanical refrigeration in 1851. Exhibits include a replica of his ice machine and other artifacts. Cape St. George Light also tells a story of change and rebuilding: The original lighthouse collapsed into the Gulf on October 21, 2005, and the reconstructed Cape St. George Light opened to the public on December 1, 2008. Visitors can climb the 92 steps to the top. The two-story brick building, opened in summer 2011, houses a museum about the lighthouse and its keepers.
The Franklin County Maritime Heritage Museum is located in the former Lombardi Oyster Plant, a facility dating from the 1940s. The site includes a restored oyster-processing plant, boat-launching facilities and a waterfront promenade. In the Apalachicola Historic District, you can see more than 900 historic houses and buildings from the 1830s on a walking tour of the National Historic District. The regional cuisine completes the picture: Oysters have been sold locally in Franklin County since 1836; you can also sample local seafood such as clams, shrimp, blue crabs and the catch of the day from the Gulf of Mexico.
A Suitable Base for Different Days of Travel
Whether you spend your mornings by the water, prefer nature trails and river landscapes or want to explore historical topics in greater depth, your choice of vacation rental should match the focus you want to give your trip. For further orientation, you can also consider Apalachicola and Eastpoint as destinations in their own right. This way, Franklin County becomes more than just a coastal region: It becomes a destination where nature, water, history and local cuisine can be experienced together.
For the higher-level travel overview: Florida.
More Destinations
More places within the same destination:
