Franklin’s Gifts
Teeming with unspoiled nature, seasonal wildlife, and events, Franklin County makes this holiday season one to remember
Boasting hundreds of thousands of acres of pristine, protected wilderness, Franklin County is heaven for hikers. Within Tate’s Hell State Forest, visitors can traipse among ancient, 150-year-old dwarf cypress trees, native pitcher plants, and coastal scrub ecosystems that populate the High Bluff Coastal Hiking Trail along the St. George Sound.
For photographers, shell collectors, and wanderers wishing to get lost in nature, the 12,350-acre barrier island, St. Vincent Wildlife Refuge, is just a 22-mile boat or ferry ride from Apalachicola, offering over 14 miles of shoreline and 80 miles of sand roads. Meanwhile, sites such as the forested salt marshes of Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island and Bald Point State Parks offer opportunities for wildlife encounters, where black bears, ghost crabs, raccoons, and loggerhead turtles share space with migratory birds.
Franklin County is an ideal spot for aviary enthusiasts and lepidopterists. In addition to the common monarch butterflies, you’re likely to find families of swallowtails, gossamer-winged and brush-footed butterflies, metalmarks and skippers.
Birders are encouraged to pack their binoculars and cameras to capture glimpses of around 300 native and itinerant species, including peregrine falcons, hawks, terns, and the endangered snowy plover, which make their homes both within the area’s numerous preserves.
Top birdwatching spots include Old Carrabelle Beach, renowned for its shallow oyster beds populated by shorebirds such as black skimmers, sanderlings, and ruddy turnstones; Wright’s Lake Recreational Area within the Apalachicola National Forest for numerous woodpecker and hawk species; and the picturesque streets of Apalachicola itself, where old-growth pines shelter bald eagles, hawks, and barred owls, and its waterfront hosts egrets, herons, and other wading birds.
Beyond these outdoor experiences, the cities of Franklin County offer must-attend holiday festivities in December. On Saturday, December 6, the Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce presents the Holiday Fresh Market. Come for the day or the weekend and find one-of-a-kind unusual presents. Shop in a relaxed, hassle-free environment in an outdoor setting. The fun annual event runs from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m. and features hand-crafted Apalachicola specialties such as baked goods, artwork, wood carving, pottery, and hand-knitted goods. Join Eastpoint for the annual Christmas Celebration on Friday, December 12. Parade line up begins at 4 p.m. behind Seller’s Plaza. The parade begins at South Franklin Street and runs to First Street, then kids go to the Eastpoint Fire Station for their treats and gifts from Santa.
Carrabelle will host its twenty-ninth annual Holiday on the Harbor Festival and Boat Parade of Lights on Saturday, December 14 along Carrabelle’s downtown waterfront beginning at 11 a.m. and lasting until the boat parade at dark thirty. Enjoy an afternoon and evening of food and fun featuring a street festival with children’s activities. Merchants will be open late. In the evening, watch the parade of festive boats decked out in Christmas lights and decor in celebration of the holidays followed by a festive fireworks display. Learn more at floridasforgottencoast.com.
