Good morning. The lighthouse is one hour. The state park is the rest of the day. Nine miles of beach at the east end of the island, and almost nothing else.

Inside this issue: Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park.

Photo: Florida State Parks

Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park is the eastern nine miles of the island. It opens at 8 a.m. and closes at sunset, every day. Entry is $6 per vehicle (up to eight people), $4 for a single occupant, $2 for a bike or on foot. Address is 1900 E. Gulf Beach Drive. Phone is (850) 927-2111.

In 2022 Dr. Beach ranked it fourth in the country. The sand and the lack of development are the reason. Four miles of beach run along the main park road. The remaining five miles are the East End special use area. Vehicle access there is closed. You can still walk, bike, or boat to it. Stay out of marked shorebird nesting areas.

Pets are allowed on the paved roads, the trails, and in the campground. They are not allowed on the beach or in any building. Six-foot leash. Service animals are the exception.

The campground is closed for renovations. If you were planning to stay overnight inside the park, that option is off for now. Day use is open.

Go early. The park can fill on clear weekends, and the light is better before the middle of the day. There is no food once you pass the gate. Bring water. The whole point is the empty stretch of sand.

Source: Florida State Parks: St. George Island

Sunday

🎸 Blast on the Bay – Final day. Songwriter rounds continue around Port St. Joe. The weekend closes this afternoon at Indian Pass Raw Bar. Online tickets sold out. Check the site for walk-up.

🎤 Ronnie Randolph at Paddy’s – Acoustic set at Paddy’s Raw Bar on St. George Island. 6 p.m.

Dates and times may change. Verify before you go.

Sunday

70 🌡️ 57 | 🌧️ 0% | 💨 breezy

Monday

74 🌡️ 57 | 🌧️ 0% | 💨 lighter

💧 Water temperature = 71°F

Sunday is clear and windy. Monday is the quieter day for the park.

🐢 Isaias took three of the last five nests – The St. George Island Sea Turtle Patrol lost three of the five nests still on the beach after Hurricane Isaias. The nests were underwater for hours. The season had already taken a hard hit from Tropical Storm Bertha earlier. The patrol is still evaluating the two that remain.

Source: MyPanhandle

🐢 What you can do if you see a nest – The patrol asks visitors to keep the beach clean, flat, and dark. Fill in holes, knock down sandcastles, and turn off lights and flashes after dark. White light can send hatchlings the wrong way. Marked nests are easy to spot. Do not walk through them.

Source: WCTV