Salty Dog Coast: Dog-Friendly Adventures in Florida

Published A Few Days Ago
ADVERTISEMENT

Bring your appetite for oysters and bring Fido for seaside fun to Franklin County, Florida

Summer is all about getting out there and exploring new destinations… or rediscovering old ones… with your dog by your side. Susan Sims, Publisher of FIDO Friendly magazine, has taken to the road to explore Franklin County, Florida. Here are her picks of places to stay, see, eat and explore with your dog this summer.

With names like Apalachicola, St. George Island, Eastpoint, Carrabelle and Alligator Point making up city destinations for you and Fido to explore, you can set your watch to ‘island time’ and jump right in with the locals for a howling good time.

ADVERTISEMENT

St. George Island is a great walking town for both you and Fido.

If shelling were a vocation, I would make a pretty good ‘shell seeker.’ On St. George Island, a 22-mile barrier island, pristine pet-friendly beaches offer up clear gulf waters for swimming, kayaking and the preverbal game of fetch with Fido. The shells are in abundance here and you can become quite picky as I soon found out by realizing my first ‘batch’ of shells needed to be tossed to make room for the more glorious shells.

Every good beach requires great digs. Collins Vacation Rentals has been welcoming families to St. George Island since 1973. There are many pet-friendly properties to choose from and if waking up to a sunrise overlooking surf and sand is your type of vacation, Collins Vacation Rentals has the perfect home away from home where Fido is welcome too. Accommodations range from luxuriously appointed five to seven bedroom beach homes to old Florida style cottages, beach bungalows, low-rise condos, and townhomes. Amenities include free long distance, free linens and towels, and an initial supply of paper products, bath soap, and dishwashing detergent. Many properties offer wireless Internet, private pools, and handicap accessibility.

Resort Vacation Properties caters to pet vacations and offers over 200 homes and townhomes on St. George Island that allow pets! One grand location is the Plantation. The gated community of the Plantation goes on for miles. Ride your bike, run and walk with Fido and then play on the beach before returning to the warm confines of your mansion with private pool. That’s right, private pool and steps from the sand. Take 20 of your closest friends, choose the Fido-friendly home with seven bedrooms and seven and a half baths, and now you have a party.

Did I say the beach is private? Five miles. And if your home does not include a pool, fear not, in 2010 a beautiful new pool area and fitness center was constructed and made available to guests. (Owner must be part of the Plantation amenities program).

ADVERTISEMENT

Many Fido-friendly rentals can be found on St. George Island, Florida.

The historic Coombs House Inn located in Apalachicola was voted the ‘Best Bed and Breakfast in Florida’ by Florida Monthly Magazine. And they are pet-friendly. They do prefer pooches 25 pounds and under, but check in with management if your Fido is not quite so petite, they may throw him a bone. Guest suites are furnished with European antiques, four poster beds, original oil paintings and oriental carpets on gleaming hardwood floors and all 23 rooms have private baths, seven with romantic whirlpool massage spas, complimentary Wi-Fi internet, in-room Starbucks coffee and flat screen cable TVs.

Let the journey begin. Journey’s is an outdoor adventure company. Rent a kayak, paddleboard, or powerboat. Just make certain that Fido is included. Paddling down the New River and on the lookout for alligators, I scanned the banks in search of the deadly creature. Nightmare: me tipping over, alligator swimming up for a snack. The end. Reality: The beauty of the paddle soon vanished my nightmare and I was caught up in the beauty and serenity that St. George Island is known for.

ADVERTISEMENT

The best place to experience fresh oysters from the sea can be found anywhere in Franklin County, Florida.

Dogs are welcome at Harry A’s Porch Club, where they have their own menu and a photo-filled Doggie Wall of Fame, and the Blue Parrot Ocean Front Cafe. Fido is also welcome on the patios at Chef Eddie’s Magnolia Grill and Steamer’s Raw Bar. Fido can shop till she drops for pet gifts, apparel and treats at Petunia for Pets and their People.

A line from the movie Forrest Gump played in my head all week:

Bubba: Anyway, like I was sayin’, shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey’s uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There’s pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that’s about it. IMDb.com Forrest Gump (1994).

And that’s all I have to say about that.

Collins Vacation Rentals, Inc.

Century 21 Collins Realty, Inc.

Pet fees and restrictions vary depending upon property.

60 East Gulf Beach Drive, St. George Island, Florida 32328; (866) 731-7558l; collinsvacationrentals.com

Coombs House Inn

25 pound weight limit, 2 pets maximum. $25 per pet, per night charge added to your bill at check-in. 80 Sixth Street; Apalachicola, FL 32320; (850) 653-9199; coombshouseinn.com

Resort Vacation Properties

Pet fees and restrictions vary depending upon property.

61 West Gulf Beach Drive, St. George Island, FL 32328; 800-756-5470; resortvacationproperties.com

Journeys of St. George Island (fishing charter and kayaking excursion)

240 East Third Street, St. George Island, FL 32328; (850) 927-3259; sgislandjourneys.com

Blue Parrot Ocean Front Café

68 West Gorrie Drive, St. George Island, FL 32328; (850) 927-2987

Boss Oyster is just one of the many Fido-friendly restaurants in Apalachicola, Florida where you and Fido can dine ‘al fresco.’

Boss Oyster Restaurant

123 Water Street, Apalachicola, FL 32320; (850) 653-9364; Apalachicolariverinn.com

Harry A’s Restaurant & Bar

28 West Bayshore Drive, St. George Island, FL 32328; (850) 927-3400; harryasrestaurant.com

Ira’s Restaurant at the Gibson Inn

Tamara’s Tapas

71 Market Street, Apalachicola, FL 32320; (850)653-4111; tamarascafe.com

The Fisherman’s Wife

201 8th Street, Carrabelle, FL 32322; (850) 697-4533

Petunia

Unique gifts, apparel & accessories for pet and their people. Gourmet treats, collars & leashes, designer beds, pet bath & body, clothing, toys, and gifts.

14 Ave. D. in Apalachicola; (850) 653-9144

ADVERTISEMENT

Publisher Susan Sims started FIDO Friendly magazine with her son in 2001. She travels extensively with her husband Greg and two rescue dogs, Jake and Junior scouting out pet-friendly hotels and destinations for purpose of review. Sims also hosts a monthly podcast ‘Fido Friendly Travel Talk’ on Animal Radio.

ADVERTISEMENT

You May Like

Shar Tzu

The easy-going Shar Tzu brings together the quiet, willful Chinese Shar-Pei and the fun, spunky Shih Tzu for a great companion dog.
Dog-Powered Running: Get Fit With Canicross

Are you and your dog runners? Hook up a harness and line, and give canicross a try! Kevin Roberts goes over the basics of what you’ll need to set a pan…
What Does It Mean When A Cat Wags Its Tail?

Happy? Angry? Upset? What''s your kitty trying to tell you with his tail? You may be reading the signs all wrong. What does it mean when a cat wags its tail?
Snorkie

The Snorkie (Miniature Schnauzer and Yorkshire Terrier) is an intelligent little dog that thrives on human interaction and is a devoted family pet.
Bolo Tzu

The affectionate Bolo Tzu is the result of crossing the loving and spirited little Shih Tzu with the quintessential lapdog; the Bolognese.
Proper Dog Etiquette When Renting a Cottage

If you''re making plans to rent a cottage, or you''re a guest at a friend''s chalet, you need to know the rules before bringing your dog along with you.
This Cat Library Is A Novel Approach To The Mewey Decimal System

What a brilliant way to promote adoptable animals and get more people to read books - it''s a cat library! Now all they need is a Starbucks...
What on Earth is Earthdog?

Little dogs have a lot of energy - especially the ones that were bred to hunt and catch critters. You can put these skills to great use at Earthdog trials.
Adoptable Dog of the Day – Max

We’d like you to meet Max, our Adoptable Dog of the Day from Adoptapet.com. Max is an adult male German Shepherd from Portland, Oregon. He is already n…
Bordatella: Kennel Cough Symptoms And Treatments

Also referred to as Bordatella, this illness is not just a common cold. Be on the lookout for these kennel cough symptoms and know what to do about it.
What You Need To Know About Heat Stroke In Dogs

Don''t risk your dog''s well being and do everything you can to prevent this from happening by reading the facts and tips about heat stroke in dogs.
Eurasier

The Eurasier is a fairly new breed, having only originated in Germany as recently as 1960. It is an intelligent, highly trainable and calm breed.
Pom-Shi

Pom-Shi or a Shipom is an unsual designer dog: these canines are a cross between the fluffy Pomeranian and the independent Shiba Inu.
Korat

An affectionate and cuddly cat, the Korat bonds strongly with its humans, but will single out a favorite. They are playful, but gentle with children.
How To House Train An Older Dog

Just because your dog''s not puppy, it doesn''t mean that indoor accidents won''t happen. We''ve put together some tips on how to house train an older dog.