Commercial Truck Insurance in Apalachicola, FL

Sometimes, when the weather turns cold, we want nothing more than to embrace the “brr” by traveling to one of America’s prettiest winter towns. And other times, we want nothing more than to escape it. If you’re looking for a charming new beach town to add to your travel bucket list, we’ve got just the place: Apalachicola, Florida. Situated in an oft-overlooked portion of the Florida panhandle, this quaint fishing community (population: 2,330) happily maintains a coastal-meets-country charm. (Just don’t let the word get out!)

Locally known as “Apalach” or “land of the friendly people,” a visit to Apalachicola bears all the hallmarks of a classic Florida getaway, including warm Gulf waters and plenty of fresh oysters, but it also satisfies the cravings of those looking for more old-school fun with nautical vintage shops, steeped-in-time general stores, and an old-fashioned soda fountain. (There’s also no shortage of quirky art galleries and delicious restaurants!)

For those flying to Apalachicola, the closest major airport is the Tallahassee International Airport (TLH). From there, you’ll still need to rent a car, but that will only add to the adventure! Once you get down near the water, the 60-mile stretch of Highway 98, known as Florida’s Forgotten Coast, also weaves through state parks, sleepy beaches, and the towns of Port St. Joe and Carrabelle, making it the perfect fodder for your next road trip. So put in that PTO request and start making plans—it’s time to head south! Read on for our guide to the best things to do in Apalachicola, Florida, including the best restaurants, shops, hotels, and more.

PS—for further warm-weather inspiration, be sure to check out our list of the best small towns in Florida.

Rise and Shine

Guava pastelitos and espresso-laced cortaditos bring Cuban flair to the breakfast menu at Cafe con Leche.

Lee Bray

Go Overboard

Bedecked in old buoys, The Tin Shed Nautical & Antiques shop boasts a massive offering of vintage ship wheels, dive helments, and other "seaphemera."

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Light the Way

Eight miles offshore of Apalachicola, the barrier island of St. George is the perfect place to dip your toes into the warm Gulf waters. Maritime history buffs can also explore the reconstructed Cape St. George Light Museum.

Alicia Osborne Photography

Slurp Some Bivalves

Seafood is an integral part of the local economy. Keep your eyes peeled for shrimping boats cruising the Apalachicola Bay, and support the area's rebounding oyster industry, which was once responsible for 90 percent of Florida's oyster production, by ordering a dozen at Up the Creek Raw Bar or The Franklin Cafe at The Gibson Inn, where you can chase each taste with a crisp IPA by Oyster City Brewing Co.

Jessica Sample

Explore the Stores

At Becasa, Emily Raffield sells breezy linen dresses and roomy straw totes, while Riverside Mercantile (pictured) specializes in giftables galore. And don't forget to stop into Retsyo Inc. (that's "oyster" spelled backwards), where proprietor John Lee will happily regale you with colorful tales of local lore and send you home with at least one jar of light and buttery Tupelo honey that is harvested nearby.

Play it Cool

Step back in time with an ice-cream sundae or chocolate malt at Old Time Soda Fountain, which first opened in 1905 and still retains its retro charm (those checkered floors!).

Alicia Osborne Photography

Wraparound porches and the wood-paneled Parlor Bar have kept guests coming back to the centrally located Gibson Inn since 1907. New owners—and siblings!—Steven Etchen and Katharine Couillard have recently re-gussied up the guests rooms.

Take time to discover the wonders of this charming Florida river town.

You know you're on the brink of sweet discoveries as Florida's U.S. 98 slides southeast down the coast from Panama City. After heading inland briefly past flanks of longleaf and slash pines, you find yourself rolling more slowly past stately antebellum homes until you arrive at a pristine 19th-century downtown. Just beyond is a sky-blue waterway dotted with shrimp boats.

You meander downtown, amazed by what you see: a craft brewpub; a Charleston, South Carolina-worthy boutique with beautiful clothing; an upscale outfitter with fishing rods and fashionable outdoor wear; antique stores; and art galleries. On a corner is a deep-porched inn that feels like the coolest spot to stay on the Panhandle.

Welcome to Apalachicola, Florida's stunning surprise, the little up-and-comer. Here are some can't-miss spots for your visit to Apalachicola.

Experience Apalachicola's Revival

Here lies a tiny city that has endured booms and busts. First a thriving cotton and lumber port, then a center of the Gulf's oyster fishery (which crashed precipitously in 2012), it has, in the last decade, quietly built itself up.

Inventive entrepreneurship has turned it into a sweet and stylish getaway that blends those downtown delights with proximity to some of the coast's most remarkable wild beaches. Make no mistake: Apalachicola is having a moment.

Relax In Historic Charm

Built in 1907, the historic Gibson Inn was bought in 2018 by a pair of thirty-something siblings—Steven Etchen and Katharine Couillard—who grew up coming here with their parents and enjoying Shirley Temples on these very porches. With the design-savvy vision of the pair, the interiors now vibrate with a modern sensibility that nods to nostalgia—deep leather sofas in the lobby, the occasional taxidermy, plus nautical and Florida motifs in the wallpapers.

Sip A Bees Knees Cocktail

Chill out with a Bees Knees (Barr Hill gin, local honey, and lemon) or a longneck beer at The Gibson Inn's Parlor Bar, part of the inn's seafood-forward restaurant The Franklin Café. Old-timers parked at the bar mix with happy travelers who know they're onto something special.

Treasure Hunt For Antiques

At the home of "the most comprehensive maritime collection East of the Mississippi," you can rummage through a vintage wonderland of glass fishing floats, ship wheels, diving helmets, and buoys. At Tin Shed Nautical & Antiques, browsing through baskets of shells, sea-inspired wood carvings, and maps and flags will keep you occupied for hours.

Explore The St. Joseph Peninsula

There's perhaps no wilder place than Cape San Blas and the St. Joseph Peninsula, a delicate spit of sand that arcs out from the mainland just west of Apalachicola and parallels the coast for about 20 windswept miles of high dunes and untrammeled beaches.

Partway out the peninsula, in fact, is where 2018's Hurricane Michael came ashore with such ferocity that it carved a navigable channel across the spit before it savaged Mexico Beach. Already, though, the slash is filling back up with sand as nature resets itself, and now the place feels wilder than ever.

Order Oysters By The Dozen

After the oyster crash of 2012, a new wave of farmers is bringing the beloved delicacy back. Get local varieties consistently at The Franklin Café and Up the Creek Raw Bar. This is also shrimp country, and the catch is done up right at The Station Raw Bar. Settle in for peel-and-eat shrimp or oysters on the half-shell. Nearby, the Oyster City Brewing Company has excellent craft beers.

Travel Back In Time

In 1836, Apalachicola was one of the top three cotton ports on the Gulf Coast, and the wealth and importance attached to the city made it a mid-19th-century hub. The Raney House, the former home of a prosperous family that produced government officials, including a Florida Supreme Court Justice, is the place to learn about Apalachicola's past and see artifacts from the city's early days.

Tuck Into A Sweet Treat

Taking a delicious forkful of coconut cream pie while spending a day in a delightful Gulf Coast town sounds heavenly, right? Let's make it even dreamier: at the Apalachicola Chocolate & Coffee Company, coconut cream is just one option. How about homemade cakes, pastries, lemon bars, and candies? The gelato is great too.

Discover Eclectic Boutiques

Downtown has every retail niche covered, from fashionable but approachable boutiques like Becasa (featuring owner and designer Emily Raffield's timeless and trend-forward pieces) to souvenirs, books, and treasures from Bee Inspired Too, Apalach Outfitters, The Grady Market, Downtown Books & Purl, and Riverlily. Keep your eyes peeled for the local variety of Florida tupelo honey, rare and highly valued for its silky texture and rich flavor.

Hop On A Boat

You haven't really visited Apalachicola if you've only been on land. The options for getting on the water are endless. You can kayak along the Apalachicola River Blueway, charter a bay or offshore fishing trip, or add some adventure to your day with a zippy trip on an airboat.

Plan A Beach Day

Take a break from the sights and head to St. George Island. About a 20-minute drive from Apalachicola, you’ll find a historic lighthouse, restaurants, and quiet, white-sand beaches. The 22 miles of beaches on the island are a great spot for sunning, swimming, and shelling, with few crowds.

Live Like A Local

Want to pretend this special place is home? Book an Airbnb right in the heart of things and live like an "Apalach" local. An adorable cottage, a unique apartment converted from a historic bank, or even an amazing houseboat could give your trip some unique insight into what it's like to live in Apalachicola.

But a leading ecologist says there is hope for the Florida treasure

July 11, 2023

It’s a bit hazy, but my first memory of eating oysters is with my grandparents at their small house in Panacea on the Panhandle in the 1970s. I was sitting in their “Florida room” with the crank aluminum windows open and the scent of briny air wafting in, and someone handed me a saltine with an oyster and dollop of homemade cocktail sauce on top. I slurped the oyster, ate the cracker, and asked for another. The oysters came from nearby Apalachicola Bay, a thriving part of the Gulf Coast seafood industry, and my parents looked forward to picking up a few bushels whenever we visited my grandparents between Army moves.

Fast forward a few decades and the Apalachicola Bay oyster industry is in a state of distress.

In 2020, the Apalachicola Bay oysters were so depleted that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission closed wild oyster harvest for five years to allow populations to recover. The wild harvest moratorium began in December 2020; if the moratorium is lifted, it will be in January 2026. I chatted with Dr. Sandra Brooke, research faculty at Florida State University’s Coastal and Marine Lab and lead investigator on Apalachicola Bay System Initiative (ABSI), about the likelihood of success.

Though Apalachicola Bay is just one of many estuaries in the Gulf of Mexico, it once provided 90 percent of Florida’s oysters, Brooke explains. “It was extremely productive,” she says. “The oysters are a very important part of the ecosystem. It was a highly productive ecosystem for other fishery species as well, and those declined too.”

To that end, she’s heard fishing guides mention no longer finding species like red drum and speckled trout that were once abundant in the area. Both species’ habitats are in shallow seagrass or muddy bottoms and tend to feed on crabs and small fish typically found around oyster reefs. “Given the diminished state of the oyster reefs in Apalachicola Bay,” she says, “it makes sense that the populations of fishes that use the reefs would decline.”

Brooke knows this isn’t just a Gulf struggle. “Coral reefs are in trouble, everybody that pays attention knows that,” she says. “Oyster reefs are in more trouble than coral reefs—that should put it in more context.” Scientists estimate that 85 percent of oyster reefs globally are either functionally extinct or in severe decline. Overharvesting is the primary reason, Brooke says, which then contributes to loss of reef structures that provide habitat for larval recruitment, or new oyster growth. When reefs are severely degraded, the oysters are closer to the seafloor, exposing them to hypoxia (oxygen deficiency).

The oysters have faced other threats too: water quality degradation from land pollution and excessive nutrients; stress from not enough or too much fresh water; disease; non-native species competing for resources; and increasing water temperatures and occurrences of extreme weather events.

“If I could wave a magic wand and change one thing in Apalach, it would be to bring the habitat back,” Brooke says. “There is so little good habitat out there—that is really what seems to be limiting their recovery.”

Brooke and her team have set their sights on bringing back an entire ecosystem. “Oyster ecosystems require nooks and crannies, little gaps and holes. That’s what nature did for oyster juveniles to have predator refuge,” Brooke explains. These nooks and crannies create habitats for other animals to live in and feed upon, like the red drum and speckled trout that once thrived here.

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Brooke and her colleagues are working on finding the best way to restore habitats, starting with the foundation. “Most of Apalachicola Bay is shell and it’s loose and unstable,” explains Brooke. “It’s hard, but it’s not solid and it doesn’t get the oysters up out of the flow [of water currents].”

Through restoration experiments, the ABSI team found that after just a month, most shell material was scattering and spreading with the currents, especially in the eastern part of Apalachicola Bay where the currents are very strong. Instead, they’re now working with large lime rock and concrete, and they’re seeing results.

“Our large lime rock did really well,” says Brooke of one of ASBI’s experimental projects. “After fourteen months, we had market-sized oysters. We had lots of little things, fishes and crabs living in the nooks and crannies, and we had spats (baby oysters).”

This past May, the ASBI team put another experiment in place: using lime rock with a cap of shells to see if that stable base would support the shell reef on top of it. They’re also trying to use concrete to build up reef structures. “There are some encouraging indications that the oysters are recovering in some places, mostly in the eastern part of the bay in areas restored with lime rock, which is more persistent and stable than shell,” Brooke says. “If this trend continues, there is hope that Apalachicola wild oysters will once again grace the tables of residents and tourists alike.”

Though wild oyster harvesting has been put on hold, it is still possible to enjoy oysters grown in Apalachicola Bay through aquaculture farming. Currently, more than one hundred leaseholders have staked their claims and futures on the one- to ten-acre leased water plots in and around Apalachicola Bay, according to an industry spokesperson in Florida’s Forgotten Coast. Their names—look for them across area menus and markets—include Saucey Lady Oysters, Outlaw Oyster Company, and Semper Salty Oyster Company.

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“Aquaculture has exploded since the oyster fishery sort of collapsed,” Brooke says. “Farmers get seed from a hatchery, so there’s no taking anything—aquaculture doesn’t take anything from wild stocks.” Brooke adds that it is challenging to get the seed at the moment. “There’s much more demand than there is availability of commercial seed for aquaculture.”

Through oyster habitat restoration, as well as the rise in popularity for farmed oysters, Apalachicola’s wild oysters could make a comeback. And a spotlight on the bivalves, Brooke hopes, will also spread needed attention to water conservation and the fishing industry in general. “Other things in the bay depend on the oysters,” she says. “We need to bring the system back for everybody.”

In the heart of historic Apalachicola, a coastal Florida town that’s been a hub for a variety of industries over the years—from cotton to lumber to oysters—The Gibson Inn stands in the same spot it’s been on since it was first constructed in 1907. It looks a little different these days (it’s been through a war and a hurricane, and 100+ years have passed), but its unmistakable charm and luxurious feel endure. Stepping onto the hotel’s wraparound porch and into the lobby (with native heart pine walls) feels like going back in time and becoming a part of the hotel’s rich history.

The hotel’s current owners, siblings Steven Etchen and Katharine Etchen Couillard, have been working to renovate and expand The Gibson Inn since they purchased the property in 2018. The Etchen siblings have childhood memories of playing on the porch of the historic Inn during summer vacations, and preserving the property’s Old Florida charm while bringing it into the 21st century can be seen in their careful design choices. The hotel lobby, for example, was modeled after a photograph of the original lobby with modern flourishes added in.

In the same vein, The Gibson Inn’s food and beverage program pays homage to the property’s roots while providing something fresh and exciting to locals and visitors alike. “There is so much personality and amazing ambiance at The Gibson, and our approach is to match the energy of the building, from the oyster-topped tables to the gold silverware to the high quality Riedel glassware,” Steve Wells, Food & Beverage Director at White Sands Hospitality, says. “It’s the small touches that bring everything together.”

The Franklin Café, the hotel’s on-site restaurant, bears the same name as it did when it opened in 1907. They’re serving up Lowcountry Southeastern cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, plus brunch on weekends. Menu highlights include Shrimp and Grits (featuring blackened Apalachicola shrimp), Red Snapper en Papillote (steamed in parchment paper and served tableside) and—of course—locally sourced oysters, served raw, baked and fried. On the brunch side of things, there’s Bananas Foster French Toast (topped with caramelized bananas and a butter rum sauce), Creole Eggs Benedict (made with a Cajun crawfish cream sauce) and a Franklin Lox & Bagel (featuring Tupelo honey cream cheese). As far as dining experiences go, it doesn’t get much more idyllic than brunch on the porch at The Gibson Inn. “I just think it’s the coolest thing sitting outside under the umbrellas next to that beautiful old hotel right there in the center of town,” Wells says. His team has been working to make live music on the porch a more regular occurrence. “We had Corey Hall play for Mother’s Day brunch and that was so fun, he had a Delta blues sort of feel.”

Adjacent to The Franklin Café is the Parlor Bar, a favorite local watering hole. Grab a seat at the bar inlaid with oyster shells for happy hour, a pre-dinner cocktail or brunch (bottomless mimosas, anyone?). They’re serving up Hemingway-worthy libations in a vintage space lined with original, turn-of-the-century wooden planks. Notable cocktails include the Shore Bird (featuring Distillery 98 Dune Laker Vodka made in nearby Santa Rosa Beach using oyster shells for filtration), the Bees Knees (made with local Tupelo honey) and the Gibson Breeze (a fruity rum-based concoction). Wells notes that while the Bees Knees is a classic cocktail, their version is something special. “We just happen to be where Tupelo honey comes from and it’s a perfect representation of that drink.” He adds that the drink also features Barr Hill Gin, which is fermented with raw honey.

It’s a new era for The Gibson Inn, with a major expansion underway that includes 24 additional guest rooms and suites, a pool, spa, sauna and fitness center. And the food and drink program is revamping alongside it. After the busy summer season, Wells is looking forward to “really leaning into the chef talent we have on our team and seeing what we can pull together for seasonal menus. It’s going to be really fun.” So sit a spell on one of the white rocking chairs on The Gibson Inn’s porch and soak up the small town Apalachicola charm at this historic gem in the center of town.

APALACHICOLA, Fla. (WCTV) - A manhunt is underway after a state inmate escaped his work site Monday in Apalachicola, according to Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.

Robert Rutherford is now considered “armed and dangerous,” FCSO community outreach coordinator Sophia Harrell told WCTV at about 4:30 p.m. Harrell said the office believes he broke into a shed and stole a machete. The coordinator said law enforcement believes he is still in Franklin County.

“Please, if you see him call 9-1-1. Don’t wait, call us immediately,” Sheriff A.J. “Tony” Smith said.

FCSO said Rutherford walked off his work crew site at the 10 Foot Hole just before 2 p.m. The 10 Foot Hole is just off the Big Bend Scenic Byway Coastal Trail and Battery Park. The sheriff’s office asked residents to lock their doors and vehicles while authorities search.

Smith said Rutherford was wearing a solid blue two-piece inmate uniform when he escaped and is believed to be traveling on foot. The 37-year-old white man has many tattoos on his body, including on his neck, head and face, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.

The sheriff asked anyone with information on his whereabouts to report it to officials by calling the non-emergency line at 850-670-8500. If a citizen sees Rutherford, law enforcement said not to interact with him and to call 9-1-1 immediately. The office also asked citizens to look for Rutherford in their home security camera footage and to report any sightings to the non-emergency line.

As of about 8:45 p.m., the search continues. The sheriff’s office said the manhunt will continue after dark.

“FCSO will be working through the night to keep our community safe,” Smith wrote on Facebook.

At about 3 p.m., Smith said in a video on Facebook that Rutherford was seen at the Chestnut Street Cemetery and appeared to be heading north.

The sheriff warned residents to be cautious, calling the inmate a “habitual offender.”

“When someone who is serving a sentence decides to walk away and to run, it is very serious and they are desperate, or they wouldn’t be leaving,” Smith said. “So I caution everybody.”

Rutherford was serving time in Franklin County in connection to several grand theft and burglary convictions from September 2011, according to the FDOC. Smith said at least one of those charges was in connection to an armed burglary. He was being held at the Franklin Correctional Institution, according to corrections records.

Before his current sentence he was previously incarcerated for about a year for trafficking stolen property, but he was released in 2008 for those charges

Residents in Franklin County need to remain vigilant, Harrell said. She told citizens it is especially vital to secure their homes because Rutherford has a history of breaking and entering, and she said it is OK to call in information, even if it turns out to be a “false alarm.”

“Everyone needs to lock their doors, be safe, be aware,” she said.

Additionally, she asked residents to contact FCSO directly by phone if they spot the escapee, instead of posting it on social media.

The sheriff also warned that Rutherford may have changed his clothes and is “probably looking for a way to go.” There is a heavy law enforcement presence in Apalachicola as authorities search for him, including FDOC search dogs, according to Smith.

“We don’t take anything for granted when you have someone who is a habitual offender, that walks away from their punishment,” he said. “We take that very seriously, and there is the potential that anything could happen.”

Below is a map of the area where Rutherford was reportedly last seen:

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