Guidebook
Beaches
Our favorite local beach to visit is the primitive Gulf Beach Park located less than a mile past Carrabelle bridge. Walk to the end of the beach on your left at low tide to find all manner of sea creatures, or enjoy a sunrise walk to Carrabelle Beach to your right. Fishing from shore is permitted.
Gulf Beach Park
1740 Carrabelle Beach DriveOur favorite local beach to visit is the primitive Gulf Beach Park located less than a mile past Carrabelle bridge. Walk to the end of the beach on your left at low tide to find all manner of sea creatures, or enjoy a sunrise walk to Carrabelle Beach to your right. Fishing from shore is permitted.
With bathrooms, picnic tables, grills, and a wash down shower, Carrabelle Beach is an easy favorite with families!
Carrabelle Beach Park
1859 U.S. 319With bathrooms, picnic tables, grills, and a wash down shower, Carrabelle Beach is an easy favorite with families!
Take a 30-minute trip to St. George Island and you won’t regret it! The water is much clearer than Gulf Beach Park or Carrabelle because there is no river runoff. It is consistently ranked as a Top Ten Florida Beach. St. George Island has free public parking, but St. George Island State Park at the very end of the island is usually much quieter and requires a small entrance fee (typically $6 per vehicle).
39 locals recommend
St. George Island State Park
1900 E Gulf Beach DrTake a 30-minute trip to St. George Island and you won’t regret it! The water is much clearer than Gulf Beach Park or Carrabelle because there is no river runoff. It is consistently ranked as a Top Ten Florida Beach. St. George Island has free public parking, but St. George Island State Park at the very end of the island is usually much quieter and requires a small entrance fee (typically $6 per vehicle).
Farther east are two more quiet and beautiful beaches with abundant wildlife. Alligator Point and Bald Point are about 25 to 30-minutes drive respectively and offer beautiful views of the Gulf and some stunning sunrises over the water.
19 locals recommend
Alligator Point
Farther east are two more quiet and beautiful beaches with abundant wildlife. Alligator Point and Bald Point are about 25 to 30-minutes drive respectively and offer beautiful views of the Gulf and some stunning sunrises over the water.
You’ll need your own boat for this one, but the east side of Dog Island is a popular destination for weekenders with boats. The water is clear, the bay is calm, and the chill vibe of floating with a cold drink in hand can’t be beat.
6 locals recommend
Dog Island
You’ll need your own boat for this one, but the east side of Dog Island is a popular destination for weekenders with boats. The water is clear, the bay is calm, and the chill vibe of floating with a cold drink in hand can’t be beat.
Food scene
Crooked River Grill
151 Laughing Gull LaneMarine Street Grill
304 Marine StTwo Brothers at the Beach
275 Timber Island RoadIf you’re looking for an inexpensive breakfast, hearty lunch, or a sweet afternoon treat, you have to check out Carrabelle Junction. It’s a 1950’s style eatery and they post their specials on FB daily.
25 locals recommend
Carrabelle Corner Store
103 Tallahassee StIf you’re looking for an inexpensive breakfast, hearty lunch, or a sweet afternoon treat, you have to check out Carrabelle Junction. It’s a 1950’s style eatery and they post their specials on FB daily.
Sightseeing
Gulf Specimen Marine Lab & Aquarium
222 Clark DrCarrabelle Corner Store
103 Tallahassee StCamp Gordon Johnston Museum
1873 Hwy 98 WCarrabelle Bottle House
604 SE Ave FCrooked River Lighthouse
1975 Highway 98 WestWorld's Smallest Police Station
102 Ave A NGolf
St James Bay Golf Club
151 Laughing Gull LnShopping
If you’re in the mood for making a day of local artisan shopping, Apalachicola is the place to be!
113 locals recommend
Apalachicola
If you’re in the mood for making a day of local artisan shopping, Apalachicola is the place to be!
Carrabelle Corner Store
103 Tallahassee StCute beach souvenirs and jewelry!
Coastal Cottage Living
208 Marine StShop By The Sea
104 St James AveNeighborhoods
What is now Lanark Village was originally called Lanark-on-the-Gulf in the 19th century. It had a large hotel, the Lanark Inn, with 100 rooms and live music almost every night at a dock with a dancing pavilion. The Carrabelle, Tallahassee & Georgia Railroad ran frequent excursion trains from Tallahassee.
The Lanark Inn was torn down at the beginning of the United States' involvement in World War II. Camp Gordon Johnston opened in its stead in September 1942 as Camp Carrabelle and was later named after Colonel Gordon Johnston, a well-decorated soldier who served in the Spanish-American War, the Philippine–American War, and in World War I.
At 155,000 acres, Camp Gordon Johnston was one of the largest army facilities in Florida during World War II and served as an amphibious training base for the European and Pacific fronts. The base was known by troops stationed there as "Hell-by-the-Sea" because of its crude living conditions and dangerous training programs. Between 24,000 and 30,000 soldiers trained at Camp Gordon Johnston from 1942 through 1945 using nearby Dog Island, St. George Island, and Carrabelle Beach as landing points for exercises. Beginning in March 1944, around 2,500 German prisoners were also confined to the camp.
Camp Gordon Johnston was decommissioned in 1946 and areas not demolished were made available to civilians starting in 1948. This building and the other remaining structures in Lanark Village originally served as the original officer quarters (our home), the mess hall, and a medical facility.
Lanark Village
What is now Lanark Village was originally called Lanark-on-the-Gulf in the 19th century. It had a large hotel, the Lanark Inn, with 100 rooms and live music almost every night at a dock with a dancing pavilion. The Carrabelle, Tallahassee & Georgia Railroad ran frequent excursion trains from Tallahassee.
The Lanark Inn was torn down at the beginning of the United States' involvement in World War II. Camp Gordon Johnston opened in its stead in September 1942 as Camp Carrabelle and was later named after Colonel Gordon Johnston, a well-decorated soldier who served in the Spanish-American War, the Philippine–American War, and in World War I.
At 155,000 acres, Camp Gordon Johnston was one of the largest army facilities in Florida during World War II and served as an amphibious training base for the European and Pacific fronts. The base was known by troops stationed there as "Hell-by-the-Sea" because of its crude living conditions and dangerous training programs. Between 24,000 and 30,000 soldiers trained at Camp Gordon Johnston from 1942 through 1945 using nearby Dog Island, St. George Island, and Carrabelle Beach as landing points for exercises. Beginning in March 1944, around 2,500 German prisoners were also confined to the camp.
Camp Gordon Johnston was decommissioned in 1946 and areas not demolished were made available to civilians starting in 1948. This building and the other remaining structures in Lanark Village originally served as the original officer quarters (our home), the mess hall, and a medical facility.