Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park, Eastpoint

When I was in flight school at Rucker we would sometimes do a run down along the Gulf . At that time the area was very pristine , Appalachicola was still a shrimping / fishing village ( Now it's a dockage for wealthy people's boats) , where you could get a great seafood dinner for a Buck . Out on SG's Island you could easily find a spot to picnic & swim without hardly seeing anyone the whole day . The refuge on SV's Island was so dense & untouched you could fly over it without seeing the actual ground , and it was said that quite a number of Florida Panthers still roamed there . Now it looks like a bulldozed wasteland . I know there were some bad storms that hit the area from 2002 - 2004 , but what else happened that could have caused that much devastation ?

If you want a place to go with your wife or girlfriend and relax....relax......relax......then SGI is a good place to go. Take your own food and beverages, there is little or no place to shop. There are no good restaurants, only crappy little bars. You have to go to Apalachicola (45 min.) for good seafood, shrimp, and oysters. One good point is that you can rent cottages where you can bring your dog and take them to the beach to play. If you have kids this IS NOT the place to go. Your brats will drive you crazy from shear boredom and nothing to do. Take them to Panama City Beach, Pensacola Beach, or Daytona Beach where all the boardwalk distractions are. SGI should be an adults only beach, because that is exactly what it really is.

Clean , quiet, NO DRINKING!! lots of sugar white beaches & easy access.

Let's just keep this little secret to ourselves. The panhandle of FL is unique.

Even though I was born in nearby Port St. Joe, haven't lived in FL for over 50 years. My parents visited often and made sure my family made many memories. I even remember when the first bridge was built out to the island. My sisters and I try to make it at least once a year and love it more everytime we visit. There is simply no better food anywhere on the coast, right down to the delicious pizza! Where else in the world can you find a beach so private with its beauty? And the history in Apalachicola...astounding! I've been to the west coast beaches, east coast beaches, even Hawaii, but I've never seen any beach, anywhere with quite the same attraction. No there are no amusement parks, and I never turn on the T.V. Just love to go sit on the beach, listen to the surf, watch a few people fish, and take all of the natural beauty in. It's almost indescribable unless you visit yourself.

When I go on vacation, it is to relax & enjoy. If I want to party like a rock star, I'll stay home. This place was just what I needed. There were no crowds or lines or stress. REnt a house in The Plantation, take your food & wine with you and relax on the beach.

The water always changes depending on the wind, tide and rain. At best it's crystal clear. Not much to do if you're a city person. If you like nature, this is for you. Eagles, ospreys owls, skimmers, herons, egrets, kites, and on and on. Fishing is usually very good too inshore and off. The residents are friendly and helpful. If you're a Panama City kind of person then don't waste your time. No malls, movies, not too many bars. BUT we have excellent restaurants, especially in Apalach.

I love SGI. There isn't much to do but sit around or Fish. Wish it had been left out of any top beach review. We always go to the West side of the Island. The park is on the East.

Bugs, rednecks,bad food, overrated, poor accomidations, but easy access to alchoholics, girls who hunt and fish barefoot, and men who spend more on their hunting dogs then their wife. Yep, I still can't sell my farm which is 45 min. drive from this dive beach! No one wants, rattle snakes, water mocs, gators, boar etc... P.S. the closest woodsy are to SGI is Tates Hell - My name's Tate, and I've just been through hell - ask a local. Positive side - visit Eddy Teach's Bar! Arrrgh!

This is not a good place to be. There are many other places on the Gulf coast that are much better. Panama City, Destin, Ft. Walton Beach, Pensacola. I wouldnt waste my time!