Angelika Attentive Rundbrief readers know that we are die-hard Hawaii fans and take every opportunity to visit those beautiful islands. Nevertheless, you have to remain flexible and explore other regions as well. We had long wanted to return to Florida, since it had been decades since we had been there—on our first trip to the United States, in fact. Back then we explored southern Florida separately and visited Key West, among other places.
This time we ended up at the opposite end of the state, at its northwesternmost tip, on the so-called "Forgotten Coast." This stretch of coastline is part of the Florida Panhandle and lies between the state capital, Tallahassee, and Panama City. As the name suggests, it is somewhat off the beaten path, and life there is quiet and leisurely. Tourists come to enjoy the long, beautiful sandy beaches, swim in the Gulf of Mexico, collect seashells, and eat delicious fish. The father of a former student had told me about this area and strongly recommended that I visit it.
As for the climate, Florida is hot and humid during the summer months, and hurricanes regularly blow through as well. Spring is therefore an ideal time to visit the state and avoid all that. My Easter break was perfect timing. No sooner said than done: we flew into Tampa and then drove our rental car up to the small fishing village of Eastpoint, where we had rented a little house. It had a gorgeous porch with rocking chairs and was painted entirely turquoise. Just looking at it put us in a good mood.
Eastpoint is a typical small-town American community right on Apalachicola Bay. It consists mainly of a main road, a rustic supermarket with the charming name "Big Top," a few restaurants and shops, and plenty of fishing boats, since the area traditionally makes its living from fishing.
Surprisingly, the town even has a small brewery, the Eastpoint Beer Company, with an attached pub overlooking the bay where you can eat good pizza and drink excellent beer at unbeatable prices. Coming from California, we rubbed our eyes in amazement when the bill arrived.
Directly across from Eastpoint, connected by a bridge, is St. George Island, one of the area's many barrier islands. The island, around 22 miles (35 kilometers) long, lies in the Gulf of Mexico and is home to Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park at its eastern end.
The island has wonderfully long beaches of powdery white sand that sparkles so brightly in the sun it practically blinds you. Every time we crossed the bridge, pelicans accompanied us, enjoying the updraft and gliding alongside the bridge. A magnificent spectacle.
On our very first day, we hiked to the tip of the island, a mere 15 kilometers there and back. Our tender little feet were rather sore afterward, but we were rewarded with fantastic views and had the trail almost entirely to ourselves. To cool off, we went for a swim in the Gulf at the end of the hike.
What kept surprising us was that we could always find a parking space right by the most beautiful beaches, and it did not even cost anything. Only the state park charged admission ($6 per car). The people in this area were extremely friendly and already spoke with a pronounced Southern accent. Before traveling to Florida, we were repeatedly asked how anyone could visit such a reactionary state. The prejudices between California and Florida seem to be mutual. What a shame!
To finish the trip, we visited a dear old friend who has lived in Tampa for many years because she could no longer afford California's high cost of living. Not only are groceries cheaper in Florida, but rent and electricity also cost a fraction of what they do in California. And an acquaintance who lives in a gated community in Tampa told us that she paid only $350,000 for her spacious bungalow!
Florida does charge fees for using toll roads, however. We stuck a device called a "SunPass" to the windshield of the rental car and set up an account online. If you do not do that, the rental-car company charges a basic fee for every day a toll-road camera photographs the car. The little sticker, which you can buy on Amazon, saves you that expense. It works as a transponder, and small amounts are deducted whenever you use a toll road. Over two weeks, the total came to only about ten dollars.