{"id":3785,"date":"2023-11-29T16:39:53","date_gmt":"2023-11-29T20:39:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/wordpress\/?p=3785"},"modified":"2025-09-16T10:14:34","modified_gmt":"2025-09-16T14:14:34","slug":"cape-san-blas-and-surrounds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/wordpress\/?p=3785","title":{"rendered":"Cape San Blas and Surrounds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three hours of white-knuckled hydroplaning through west central Georgia. After passing the sixth or seventh car in the ditch and countless deer carcasses, maybe slow down. Arrived in Dothan, Alabama, in time to get dinner at the Thirsty Pig. Above average barbecue, a nice selection of beers, sometimes live music and art events in their cute outdoor space.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/thirsty-pig.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We stayed overnight at the pet-friendly La Quinta and then sped on, mercifully on dry pavement, to Port St. Joe for a quick stop at the Piggly Wiggly and short walk around the neighboring park.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/psj-lighthouse.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then it&#8217;s out Cape San Blas, a narrow and often barely-above-sea-level ribbon of sand, palms, pines, and beach houses jutting out into the Gulf of Mexico. Five years and a couple of weeks before, Hurricane Michael laid waste to the nearby town of Mexico Beach. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/michael.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The peninsula was cut through in two places. Lots of buildings were damaged and the pines that were left standing were stripped bare.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/michael-pines.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yet the number of beach houses on the cape appears to have doubled, maybe tripled. Newer ones stand on stilts and manmade dunes are in place where the sea cut through to the bay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As Michael barreled across the Gulf of Mexico, we were camping in the state park at the end of the cape. Coincidentally, we were packing up when the park rangers came around and evacuated the place. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/wordpress\/?p=3540\">This review of 2018 has some now sad and amazing \u201cbefore\u201d photos<\/a>. We\u2019ve revisited the park a few times since, but the campground itself took years to rebuild and only reopened a few weeks before this trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What once felt like a drive into a forest now feels like a wide-open pasture. This loop is still named \u201cShady Pines\u201d but there is zero shade and precious few pines. Before, sites were separated by walls of palmettos, pines and scrub oak. Now, you\u2019re looking at every RV and tent in the campground. I was forced to listen to the Alabama-Auburn game from an RV a few sites away. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/campground.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A second camp loop is under construction, overlooking the bay side of the cape, but it won\u2019t have much more shade than Shady Pines. They have planted a handful of trees but it looks like grass is their new aesthetic preference. Even if they start planting now, it\u2019ll be years before the campground doesn\u2019t feel like a parking lot, maybe decades before there is shade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The park as a whole, however, is still worth a visit \u2013 a beach of brilliant white sand and crystal blue water on one side, a bay of horseshoe crabs and sea urchins on the other, and a variety of nature trails in between.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is one major problem: no dogs allowed on the beach inside the park. You can take your dog on leash out to the public beach along the cape. But in the park, Fido can only walk on the nature trails and hang around the campground.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/picnic.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Therefore, nightly we had to get in the car and drive out to watch the amazing sunsets on the beach. On our first evening, chilly winds howled and waves churned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/red-flags.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/sunset1.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One advantage of winter camping in the panhandle is the sun sets so early you can make dinner after, including getting the fire going, and eat by 8PM. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/dinner1.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We took a picnics out the nature trails, gawking at the twisted, stripped trees. A big chunk of the park had been turned into an island after Michael, but eventually nature closed the cut. Plants are thriving. We saw many deer, a bobcat, and the usual plethora of sea birds. There are still a few scrub oaks and other trees, particularly on the lee side<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/hike-hattie.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/hike-flowers.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/hike-flower.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/hike-flowers2.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This particular bush was sending seeds on the wind in big clouds all weekend.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/hike-horseshoe.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/michael-pines-twisted.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/hike-sign.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check out this <a href=\"https:\/\/degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/interior-panorama.jpg\">panorama of the former forest interior<\/a> (click, zoom, pan.) Out on the beach, we were treated to an intensely purple sunset, followed by another delicious meal back at camp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/sunset3.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/dinner2.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Trading Post is the closest store to the state park. It&#8217;s an incredibly well curated shop, with an attached liquor store, and a couple of booths out front, one for iced cream and coffee, the other for hand made donuts when the old couple is around to do so. Alas, we missed the donuts and had to make due with biscuits from the Trading Post. Decent!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/biscuit.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re in the mood for donuts and the old couple aren&#8217;t there, head into Port St. Joe for Sweet Bunz &#8211; <strong>if <\/strong>you can get there before they sell out of everything. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/donuts.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The &#8220;daily special&#8221; featured mocha cream filling, chocolate drizzle, and peppermint chips. Pretty tasty!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This was all so we didn&#8217;t have to make breakfast ourselves before a day trip, visiting St. George Island for a walk along the inland waterway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/st-george-bay.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/st-george-bay2.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/st-george-flower.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We went into St. George proper and walked the dog on the beach (again, not allowed in the island&#8217;s state park), wandering past the lighthouse en route.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/st-george-lighthouse.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apalachicola is another favorite stop in the area, thanks to super cute shops, a good brewery, and Up the Creek Raw Bar.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/fn-hat-fisherman-mermaid.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/apalachicola.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/apalachicola3.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Followed by yet another amazing sunset and meal at camp.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/sunset4.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/sunset5.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/sunset6.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/dinner3.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A few sites down, someone was projecting a movie on a big screen (<em>Matilda<\/em>, from 1996.) This is almost the exact same spot as our former group camp where we, too, would show films.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/movie.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/moon.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next day, we trekked out to Indian Pass, a little spur just east of Cape San Blas. The beaches there aren&#8217;t quite as pretty \u2013 the sand not so white, the sea not so blue \u2013 so we retreated back to the cape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/loot.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On one of our walks, maybe our most memorable moment occurred &#8211; Hattie jumped the shark. Literally. She found a dead hammerhead on the beach and rolled around in it. Fun!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/hat-hammerhead.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speaking of dead aquatic things, here&#8217;s a stingray and our last sunset. Also, dead shrimp.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/sunset7.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/degeneratepress.com\/vault\/2023\/psj\/dinner4.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The drive home was a repeat of the drive down, all wind and rain and the car sliding all over the road. The front that created them brought winter with it, so I\u2019m writing this while lurking close to a space heater, wearing many layers of clothes. Why did I leave the beach?!?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Three hours of white-knuckled hydroplaning through west central Georgia. After passing the sixth or seventh car in the ditch and countless deer carcasses, maybe slow down. Arrived in Dothan, Alabama, in time to get dinner at the Thirsty Pig. Above average barbecue, a nice selection of beers, sometimes live music and art events in their [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[25,24,28,27,26],"class_list":["post-3785","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-travel","tag-apalachicola","tag-cape-san-blas","tag-indian-pass","tag-port-st-joe","tag-st-george"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3785","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3785"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3785\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3865,"href":"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3785\/revisions\/3865"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3785"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3785"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.degeneratepress.com\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3785"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}