Florida Outdoor Getaways 2008 - (Page 4) cities&towns APALACHICOLA by Terry Tomalin, St. Petersburg Times outdoors editor Apalachicola on the Apalachicola M ost folks approach this tiny seaside town from the east or west, along Route 98, the country highway that links Florida’s seafood capital with Tallahassee and Pensacola. But to fully appreciate the beauty and culture of Florida’s “Oystertown,” I paddled in from the north, down the river that gives the rural town its name. Oysters on half shell, The Boss Oyster. The Apalachicola River, Florida’s largest in terms of water volume, flows south 106 miles from the Georgia border through some of the wildest country the state has to offer before emptying into Apalachicola Bay at Apalachicola. In its heyday, this mostly Victorian seaport town served as a major transit point for paddle-wheel steamers traveling between the Gulf of Mexico and the Deep South. Today, arriving in Apalachicola, the river is quiet, except for the occasional fishing or oyster boat. Like the river, the live-oak-laced incorporated city is a time-piece. Well preserved but not too precious, it boasts both an art scene with almost a dozen galleries and a flourishing culinary scene that is drawing the attention of travel writers from just about every major newspaper in the country. The city of Apalachicola, population 2,340, is the perfect departure point to discover Florida’s Forgotten Coast and other destinations in Franklin and Gulf Counties. Start your visit at the Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce on (of course) Commerce Street. They provide a map with a 35-point walking tour of Top, downtown Apalachicola bookstore and yarn shop. Photo courtesy of Apalachicola Bay Chamber. Right, downtown Apalachicola. “Apalachicola” is a native word for “people on the other side.” Locals, however, say that Apalachicola really means “land of the friendly people.” 4 VISITFLORIDA.com/outdoors http://VISITFLORIDA.com/outdoors
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