Lovin' State Parks St. George to Top Sail

---

Florida State Parks are wonderful. The price is right; and each has a unique quality - St. George Island is primitive and wild - Top Sail, near Santa Rosa Beach, was once a commercial RV Park and has ammenities - pool, hot tub, laundry, paved "pads" - normally not found at a State Park. There was a "host camper - volunteer" at St. George who went out of his way to be friendly and helpful without being intrusive. On St. George's, we LOVED Eddy Teachs for oysters, other seafood and even burgers. Moving on to Top Sail near Santa Rosa Beach, we met up with the Waymans for a few days. We ran into some bad weather and amused ourselves"working" on our laptops, scooping up a few bargains at a Goodwill Store, checking out Justin (and Billie) Gaffrey's art on 30 A, and driving down to Destin. Top restaurants cheered us during the stormy weather - included the Red Bar (with a cool band) at Grayton Beach and Stinky's Shrimp Camp on Route 30 A; Pompano Joe's at Destin Beach; and Sally's Back Door, a convenience store that morphs into a restaurant and club with music each night ---- REALLY! We walked along the Harbor in Destin. The place is getting a bit commercial and "mallish," but AJ's looked the same!

---

Photos

Oysters at Eddy Teachs
Even non-oyster lover, Wes, relished these huge babies, roasted (but still plump and juicy) and finished off with asiago, bacon, and scallions and spinach. On other occasions we tried the shrimp, gruper gumbo and cheeseburgers!

Red Means Danger
Wes took this of the Waymans and me at Top Sail Beach. It is very windy and swimming isn't recommended on this day at this wild and beautiful beach. The sand is like that at Siesta Key - white and as powdery as talc.

Lady Pirate - Eddy Teachs
We learned that Black Beard, the notorious pirate's, real name was Edward Teach. I think this was Eddy's girlfriend. The owner of the joint's real name is Jimmy.

Eddy
Here we learned that plastic bags filled with tap water and hung from the ceiling may repell flies and mosquitos! Let's try it at home!

Blue Parrot, St. George
This was great for a sunny day on the deck with snacks. The beach and view of the Gulf of Mexico are beautful.

One downside of al fresco dining!
Remember the film, The Birds? This was a re-enactment. The table behind us had yet to be cleared and these scavangers swooped in.

Barb & Dave's Rig
The Waymans were our across the street neighbors at Top Sail State Park --- the departed this morning for home via Alabama - amid severe thunderstorms. Earlier tornado warnings were canceled!

Top Sail Beach
The Waymans and Wes at Top Sail Beach one wild and windy day!

Form Follows Function
St. George beach cottages, similar to most in the Panhandle, need to be on stilts to protect from the "surges." The widow's walk effect might be to allow residents to view wonderful sunsets by looking west toward the bay on the leeward side of this barrier island.

Architecture
This takes getting used to ... the little low, weathered shacks have more charm; but these little high places probably maximize expensive real estate. Or, is that what was once expensive real estate. Tons of for sale signs.

Our site, Top Sail
Really a top notch state park!