Northwest Florida Getaways 2008 - (Page 12) water ST. GEORGE continued from page10 Lighthouse Rebuilding The Cape St. George Lighthouse fell into the Gulf of Mexico in October of 2005 due to beach erosion. Since then, locals and lighthouse buffs have worked to rebuild the lighthouse on safer ground. Bricks have been rescued, foundations are being built and the light cage has been reconstructed for visitors. See www.stgeorgelight.org. Sambar Deer on St. Vincent Just to the west of St. George Island is the St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge. This 12,300-acre barrier island is only accessible by boat, but its remoteness helps maintain the island’s pristine state. Established in 1968 to provide a safe, secure resting place for migrating birds, it has done much more than that; today the refuge has become one of the most popular birding spots in the eastern United States. The refuge is close enough to shore to visit by kayak, but visitors can also arrange for private transportation. (The Apalachicola Chamber of Commerce keeps a list of providers.) Hikers can explore the island on foot via a series of sand roads that follow the natural dune ridges, evidence of the fluctuating sea levels of millennia past. In between the dunes, you will find a variety of habitats, from freshwater ponds to upland pine forests. While hiking, don’t be startled if you see large, strangelooking hoofed animals in the marshes. These 500-pound animals are sambar deer, an elk-like animal from Southeast Asia, introduced years ago when the land was still a private hunting preserve. (Yes, there were zebras too.) St. Vincent also has the unique honor of being one of the few places in the Southeast where red wolves are being bred for re-introduction into the wild. After the pups are weaned, they are released in a refuge in North Carolina where predators once existed in large numbers. St. Vincent is a popular destination for hunters, so be sure to check the most current regulations before planning your trip. The park has two boat ramps, but don’t try launching anything larger than 21 feet. The surrounding waters can be tricky and a shallow draft vessel is recommended, especially if you want to fish the grass flats for flounder, redfish and trout. Anglers can also fish from the beach. Surfcasters will catch Spanish mackerel during the fall and spring, as well as the occasional cobia and pompano, some of Florida’s most highly prized sport fish. (Check with the Florida’s Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission at www.myfwc.com for the most current regulations.) You won’t find a coastal state park in Florida better suited for kayaking and canoeing. Both types of watercraft are available for rent within the park or feel free to bring your own. The bay side of the island offers the most sheltered paddling, but you can explore the Gulf beaches on days when the seas are calm. When You Go Contact St. George Island State Park at (850) 927-2111 or visit www.floridastateparks.org. For St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge, Call (850) 653-8808 or visit www.fws.gov/saintvincent. Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce at 122 Commerce St., 850-653-9419 or www.apalachicolabay.org. Franklin County Tourist Development Council, 17 1/2 Ave. E., Apalachicola, 866-914-2068 or www.anaturalescape.com; Gulf County Tourist Development Council, 1000 Cecil Costin Sr. Blvd., Ste. 310, Port St. Joe, 800-482-4853 or www.visitgulf.com. Sambar deer at the St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge. Courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The bay side of St. George. 12 VISITFLORIDA.com/northwest http://www.stgeorgelight.org http://www.myfwc.com http://www.floridastateparks.org http://www.fws.gov/saintvincent http://www.apalachicolabay.org http://www.anaturalescape.com http://www.visitgulf.com http://VISITFLORIDA.com/northwest
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