A week on St. George Island, Florida
Sometimes the best vacations are the slow ones. No tight schedules. No overstuffed itineraries. Just beach breezes, donut runs, and time with friends and family. Our family spent a week unwinding on St. George Island (SGI), and it was exactly the break we needed.
TLDR St. George Island, FL
House: Softshoes
Play: Playground, Chartered Inshore Fishing, Art Class
Food: Weber’s Little Donut Shop, Captain’s Seafood Truck, The Beach Pit, Paddy’s Raw Bar
Best Dining on SGI
We are pretty simple on beach vacations. For us, it’s usually take-out and a beach picnic but otherwise, our favorite restaurants are kid friendly, have fresh seafood and short wait times. Throw in a cover band and we’ll probably be back every night. Our #1 is Captain’s Seafood, delicious and no wait!
Breakfast: There’s no better alarm clock than Weber’s Donut Shop. Get there before 7:00, or 6:30 in high season. The line moves fast, the donuts are warm, and the sugar crash is worth it (cash only).
Fresh Seafood: Grab shrimp, grouper, triple tail, or snapper from Captain’s Seafood and throw it on the grill for an easy, delicious dinner.
Best Takeout: The Beach Pit (BBQ and seafood) and Blue Parrot (oceanfront + margs = happy parents).
Dinner Out: Paddy’s Raw Bar is a winner. Raw oysters, live music, and casual.
Apalachicola: The Station Raw Bar is an old fire station turned raw bar. Oysters, po’ boys, local beers, and a live band.
Watercraft Brewing is a newer local brewery that was friendly and had a great beer selection. Grab a growler to take back to SGI.
Mom hack: Pack snacks from home as the grocery is fairly limited. They have the basics for picnic lunch and produce but we brought pre-packaged snacks for the kids and it saved the day.
Family Friendly Adventures
Biking in St. George Island State Park: We rode daily and logged our favorite loops on Strava. Low traffic, great views, and occasional deer sightings.
Crab Hunting at Sundown: Headlamps + Buckets + Nets. Watching the kids chase down scurrying crabs was hilarious. Catch & Release.
Beach Days: Pack a collapsible wagon (still haven’t found one we love), Shabumi, SPF 50, and a cooler to enjoy the slow-paced vibe of St. George Island.
Inshore Fly Fishing Charter: Took a half day charter with Robinson Brothers in search of redfish, sheep’s head, and tripletail. Knowledgeable guides and enough fish for bragging rights.
Shopping: Take a short drive over to Apalachicola and check out Apalach Outfitters for outdoor gear, coastal apparel, and “I deserve this” souvenirs.
Gear MVP: Free Fly Sunshirts (mens) (womens) (kids). We have tried a lot of different brands and this one wins the day. Lightweight, breathable, bug-resistant, and makes you look like you know what you're doing on the water, even when you don’t.
Where to Stay
We made it to SGI a day before checkin and stayed in Apalachicola. The Gibson Inn is a historic gem with creaky floors and wraparound porches. Perfect overnight stop. Apalachicola is worth a visit, old Florida charm and a downtown that feels like a storybook.
Once we got to SGI, we rented a beachfront house with a pool (Softshoes), and it really set the tone for the trip.
Want to be walkable to the center of SGI life but still feel secluded? Here is advice for where to stay on St. George Island.
West Gorrie (300–800 block) and East Gorrie (300-500 block) are close to restaurants and shops, easy walk to beach. East may be a little quieter than West.
You don’t have to be beachfront. Gorrie Road is slow and safe to cross, and the across-the-street rentals are often better deals and still have great views.
Main concern with bay side is purely the bugs. Beautiful properties and fishing access that is worth exploring but not our pace for this type of trip.
Final Word on SGI
This trip wasn’t about checking off bucket list items. It was about slowing down, eating well, laughing with friends, and creating tiny moments we’ll never forget. SGI delivered big on the small stuff and in the end, that’s what made it unforgettable.
Book the house. Pack the cooler. Turn off email.
