LOCAL INFORMATION, LINKS TO BUSINESSES & THINGS TO DO
CLICK THESE HYPERLINKS TO JUMP TO THE VARIOUS CATEGORIES ON THE PAGE:
GROCERIES, SEAFOOD MARKETS, LIQUOR STORES, BAIT, ETC.
BOAT RENTALS, SAILING CHARTERS AND FISHING CHARTERS
STATE PARKS AND GOLF COURSES, HORSEBACK RIDING & WATER PARKS
BEACH GEAR, KAYAKS, SCOOTERS AND OTHER RENTALS
The links here are listed in no particular order. I just add links & information as I think of it or hear about something new. These are businesses my family frequents or others have told us they find it useful to know about. We have no business relationship with these folks, receive no financial consideration from them, and make no guarantees about their businesses or your satisfaction with their services, but we do hope this list may help you plan your trip! If you have a suggested addition, please email me.
GROCERIES, SEAFOOD MARKETS, LIQUOR STORES, BAIT, ETC.
SCALLOP COVE BP is located conveniently on the Cape, just minutes from all our properties. You'll find everything you need to hit the beach. The BP carries a nice assortment of t-shirts, shorts, bathing suits, sundresses, flip-flops and souvenirs, along with groceries, beer, wine, and an assortment of take-out foods. The bait shop will outfit you with all your fishing needs, and the "old salts" who are usually in residence will tell you where to go to make the most of your fishing trips. Rent kayaks, bikes and more. Be sure to tell them Laurel sent you! Click Here to visit their website.
DURAN'S PIGGLY WIGGLY, Affectionately known to so many of us as "The Pig." It's the first place we hit when we get into town and get all the groceries we need for the week! Click Here to visit their website.
THE PORT FINE WINE & SPIRITS is located across 98 from Duran's, at 202 West Highway 98, Port St. Joe, 850-229-2977. Captain Boyd Pickett has a great little store and carries an excellent supply of everything from hard-to-find import beers like Kalik to top-of-the-line liquors like Patron Gold, and a good wine selection. Click Here to visit their website.
13 MILE OYSTER COMPANY, 13 Mile, Apalachicola. 850-653-8522. I had never eaten an oyster until this summer. Friends took me along with their cooler and we headed to 13 Mile to pick up a bag of oysters. They pour ice in the cooler and put in the oysters, caught fresh that day or the day before. The price is reasonable -- under $30 for enough to feed six to eight people! I was taught to shuck them and then my friend Susan Wright prepared them on the grill and they wre fabulous! But you can do them in the oven or even the microwave says Paula Pickett (and she's the Tourist Development Council Director, so I think she must know what she's talking about).
ST. JOE SHRIMP COMPANY, 1937 CR C30 Simmons Bayou. 850-227-3002 or 229-6224. Stop on your way to the Cape and pick up some shrimp. The ones I've had from here were always excellent. St. Joe Shrimp is located on the right-hand side of the road, just before you get to Presnell's Marina in Simmons Bayou.
COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF PLACES TO SHOP, SALONS, & MORE! Also available in our guest books, this is a great list of places to shop for a variety of items, get a massage or a hair cut and much more. Click Here to access the list.
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AREA RESTAURANTS
SUNSET COASTAL GRILL sits on the bay in Port St. Joe. Owned by Patti & Dewey Blaylock, the Grill is a great place to enjoy dinner while the sun sets over the bay or watch the fireworks on July 4th. The Grouper Sunset is my personal favorite! Also, the Grill is now open for lunch. Click Here to visit their website.INDIAN PASS RAW BAR is a Cape institution. Recently reopened after extensive remodeling due to damage from Hurricane Dennis, everybody tells me it hasn't lost the charm that made us all love it. Click Here to visit their website.
CONEHEADS, 8080 Cape San Blas Road, just outside the entrance to the State Park. Phone is 850-229-5252. Serves hamburgers, pizza, ice cream, beer & wine, also open for breakfast certain hours and days during season.
COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF RESTAURANTS FOR THE AREA for you to decide where you want to eat! We have many favorites on the list. We're always happy to find good seafood, of course, but we love the BBQ in Port St. Joe too. Peppers and Great Wall bring great ethnic cuisine to the offerings. You can also get really good fried chicken at the Piggly Wiggly, and I hear you can get oysters there too. We also love to stop in at DockSide Cafe and sit outside. A trip to Apalach is never complete without stopping at one of the many fabulous restaurants there -- The Owl, Boss Oyster, Magnolia's and more. Click Here for the list by city.
BOAT RENTALS, SAILING CHARTERS, FISHING CHARTERS
SEAHORSE WATER SAFARIS has boat rentals, sunset cruises and scalloping trips. They also rent dive and snorkel gear as well as kayak guide services. Click Here to visit their website.
HAPPY OURS KAYAK & CANOE RENTALS offers rentals, guided tours and sales. Click Here to visit there website.
WINDWARD SAILING CHARTERS offers sailing charters around St. Joe Bay, Mexico Beach, and the Cape. Click Here to visit their website.
BOOK ME A CHARTER offers Tours, Fishing Guide Services and will take you Oystering on one of their oyster boats. Captain Dwayne & Sandra Allen are great local folks who can teach you a lot about oystering and fishing! Click Here to visit their website.
My first offshore trip was with Captain Blair on the Bluewater Bandit, and I would highly recommend Blair and Carl as a top-notch team to take you out to find fish. Captain Blair's number is 850-229-1760. We caught red grouper, black grouper and red snapper and even first-timers like me had a great time. I can't wait to go again!
DALY'S DOCK AND DIVE is a place to get dive and snorkel gear, have your tanks filled or have your boat repaired. They also have clothing and other items for sale. Click Here to visit their website.
COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF BOATING, GOLF & NATURE listings for the Cape and surrounding areas. Click Here to access the listings
STATE PARKS, GOLF COURSES AND HORSEBACK RIDING
ST. VINCENT NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE is a wonderful place to spend the day with a bike or shelling. You can catch the ferry from Indian Pass very early in the morning and stay as long as you wish. they will sell you a ferry pass with a bicycle if you don't have one but want to ride around the island. The shells are supposed to be excellent on the island, but I've not yet made the trip to speak to it firsthand! It's on our list for the next time the family is all on the Cape. Click Here to visit their website.ST. VINCENT ISLAND SHUTTLE SERVICES can get you to the Wildlife Refuge. Click here to visit their website.
ST. JOSEPH PENINSULA STATE PARK is located at the tip of Cape San Blas. Miles of white sugar sand, boat launches, nature trails and more await you. Admission is $4.00 per vehicle. Click Here to visit their website.
ST JOSEPH'S BAY COUNTRY CLUB offers an 18-hole championship golf course. The club is open to the public for play.
BROKE-A-TOE HORSEBACK RIDING ON THE BEACH -- New Owner, Julie Wester, can be contacted at 850-899-7433. Riders 7 years old and up can enjoy a chaperoned "walk only" horseback experience on the beach! By reservation only, so be sure to call ahead. Click Here to go to Julie's website!
TJ'S LAZY CREEK HORSEBACK RIDES. Call or Email Julie for more information. Phone is 850-827-4294 and email lazycreekhorsebackrides@hotmail.com
TWO-BIT STABLE HORSEBACK RIDING is another local option for horseback riding on the beach. Phone is 850-227-4744 and click here for their website.
SHIPWRECK ISLAND WATER THEME PARK is located in Panama City Beach, just about 45 minutes to an hour from the Cape. An easy drive for a day of more traditional "amusement park" atmosphere if you and your family wish to take advantage of it. Click here to visit their website!
RENTALS OF BEACH EQUIPMENT, BABY ITEMS, SCOOTERS, BIKES, ETC.
SCALLOP COVE offers beach chairs, umbrellas, bikes, kayaks and more. 850-227-1573 or www.scallopcove.com
SMILEY'S BEACH SUPPLY RENTALS. By the day, week or month at the beach. From Beach Chairs and Umbrellas to Grills to Baby Gates. Set-up and take-down provided. 850-227-1287 www.SmileysBeachRentals.com
SALTY'S BEACH SHACK -- Kayaks, pontoon boats, scooters, beach gear, and more. Also a shaved ice stand. Call 850-229-6611 or visit their link at www.myspace.com/saltysbeachshack
GOLF CART RENTALS
Golf Cart rentals are available on a daily or weekly basis from St. Joe Rent-All with prior arrangement. Delivery is available to The Beaches, Cape San Blas and Indian Pass. St. Joe Rent-All makes no claim of a certain cart or features. They will deliver what is available in the type of cart requested. Rates subject to change. Call for current information Please call St. Joe Rent-All for more details, 850-227-2112. Carts may *not* be taken onto the beach, but are great for riding around Barrier Dunes from your unit to the clubhouse or boardwalk or down to Coneheads, etc.Rates:
2 Person-Single Seat - Standard Cart 2-day minimum $99 Weekly $239
4 Person-Double Seat - Standard Cart 2-day minimum $119 Weekly $279
Delivery Fees: Delivery fees include delivery and pick-up to The Beaches, Cape San Blas and Indian Pass for $50 additional. *Two day rental weekend deliveries will be made Friday afternoon and picked up Monday morning. *Seven day deliveries will be made Friday afternoon and picked up the following Friday afternoon. *Saturday and Sunday deliveries can be made depending on availability at an additional charge.