August 6, 2010
FDB is reposting this article to showcase a vacation spot on Florida’s gulf coast. According to the Franklin County Tourist Development Council, the beaches have not been affected by the BP oil spill so they are clean and beautiful! Although published in March 2010, Apalachicola is a year-round pet-friendly place to visit!

By Lynn and Glenn Pribus
March 12, 2010

Many people believe it isn’t really a vacation if they can’t wade in the ocean. One great place for people to wade with their dogs is pet-friendly Franklin County on the Gulf Coast of Florida’s panhandle. Very few Florida beaches allow dogs these days, but here owners may take their dogs along the shore either on leashes or under voice control.

Dogs may also join many activities. For example, Journeys of St. George Island – a company with a long menu of tours, outings and boat rentals – allows dogs on many of their trips. Wheelhouse Eco-venture Tours also invites dogs aboard their 28-foot vessel “Pegasus” on tours of the Apalachicola River and its estuaries.

A good first stop is Petunia: For Pets and Their People in downtown Apalachicola.
This whimsical boutique offers doggie life jackets, holistic pet food, homemade dog treats, animal garments, and luxury pet bath and body products.

After some vigorous gull chasing or seaside fetching, most dogs don’t mind some snooze time as their owners pursue no-pets activities, such as birding outings, fishing expeditions and oyster tonging. Landlubbers might want to sample the pleasantly challenging golf course at St. James Bay. Many of the course’s elegant rental apartments and houses accept pets at no extra fee.

Apa’ Bay offers many small eateries, often chef-owned. Oysters and seafood naturally show up on every menu and cuisines range from French and Italian to barbecue and grits. Area lodging options range from pet-friendly campgrounds and motels with boat slips to rental condos and houses that sleep up to two dozen for family reunions.
More than half of the rentals are pet friendly.

Best bet B&Bs on Apalachicola Bay

Two notable Apalachicola B&Bs welcome dogs.

The 100-year-old Gibson Inn, listed on the National Register, allows dogs in five specific rooms near the back stairs for convenient dog walking. Pets are welcome on the first and second floor verandas, and local dog owners often gather on the lower veranda for coffee, live music, and dinner or dessert from Café Momi, the property’s elegant restaurant.

The Coombs House Inn, a AAA 3-Diamond historical property in Apalachicola’s Historical District, was named by Florida Monthly Magazine as the state’s Best B&B in 2008 and 2009. Rooms are handsomely decorated and breakfast is served in a pleasant parlor. Dogs are permitted in six specific rooms.

If you go… Explore the Apalachicola area at:
Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce

For rental condos and homes:

Harbor Point Vacation Rentals
Collins Vacation Rentals
Resort Vacation Properties