Good morning. If you are on the island this weekend, climb the lighthouse before the beach. Ninety-two steps, Gulf on one side, the bay on the other, and you are done in under an hour.

Inside this issue: the Cape St. George climb, what it costs, and when the door actually closes.

Photo by Ryan Rossy / Shutterstock

The first thing you see after the bridge is the Cape St. George Lighthouse, in Lighthouse Park at the middle of the island. It is the reason a lot of people pull over. It is also the easiest hour of a St. George weekend, if you go early.

The tower that stands there now was rebuilt after the old one fell into the Gulf in 2005. Volunteers pulled thousands of the original bricks out of the rubble. It reopened to climbers in 2008. You walk 92 wooden spiral stairs, then an eight-rung ladder into the lantern room. From the top you can see the Gulf, Apalachicola Bay, and the thin run of the island in both directions.

Hours, through October 31. Closed Monday. Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. The last climb starts at 4:45. Tickets are not sold after that.

What it costs. Adults 13 and up, $7. Ages 7 to 12, $5. Six and under, free. Military and veterans with an ID, $5. The museum and the gift shop in the Keeper’s House next door are free. Children need to be at least 40 inches tall to climb.

The useful part. Do this before the beach, not after. Midday the stairs are hotter and the line is longer. The park around the light has beach access, an outdoor shower, picnic tables, and a playground, so you can send someone who does not want to climb straight to the sand. Address is 2B East Gulf Beach Drive. Phone is (850) 927-7745 if you want to confirm the day of.

Winter hours start November 1: closed Monday, noon to 5 p.m. the other days. If you are reading this after Halloween, use those.

All weekend

🎸 Blast on the Bay – Songwriters in small rooms around Port St. Joe through Sunday. Online tickets are sold out. Check the site for walk-up. The weekend closes Sunday afternoon at Indian Pass Raw Bar.

Saturday

🥬 Country Farmer’s Market – Local vendors, produce, and baked goods at the foot of the Crooked River Lighthouse in Carrabelle, 1975 Highway 98 West. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free.

Sunday

🎤 Ronnie Randolph at Paddy’s – Acoustic set at Paddy’s Raw Bar on St. George Island. 6 p.m. Oysters, then music, without leaving the island.

Already here

🎸 Loose Cannon Band at Paddy’s – Friday, Oct. 16, 8 p.m. on St. George Island. Listed on the Forgotten Coast Live board. Confirm with the bar if you are going.

Dates and times may change. Verify before you go.

Saturday

76 🌡️ 62 | 🌧️ 48% ☂️ | 💨 NE, gusty

Sunday

71 🌡️ 57 | 🌧️ 0% | 💨 breezy

💧 Water temperature = 71°F

Saturday is the wet, windy one. Climb Sunday morning.