About the Area ~ Indian Pass Fla
Planning a family vacation can often be a daunting task...there are so many choices to consider and decisions to make. Do you go for the hustle and bustle of city life flying by in a blur, plenty of contrived attractions for the kids' constant, mechanical entertainment, lots of high-end motels and hotels gobbling up the sun and moon, restaurants offering repetitive fare from every nation far and near? The flip side of the excitement and glitz and glamour of big city life is a swirling sea of rushing bodies, clashing noises, and offending smells. If you want to escape to an almost make believe world where time seems to stand still, make plans now to enjoy the truly "Old Florida" atmosphere of Indian Pass.
Memories of Robert Frost and his "Road Less Traveled" come to mind when thinking of Indian Pass: "Two roads diverged in a wood, And I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." The Indian Pass Road, also known as 30-B, is definitely less traveled but once you make the effort to travel it, you will more deeply appreciate the depth of Frost's words. If writing is your trade and you seek a place of solitude in which to pen your next great work, let us suggest the perfect cottage. If you express your thoughts through brush, you can find no more glorious surroundings to feed your eye. If you simply seek quiet to actually hear the humming of bees, the chirping of crickets, the singing of birds, and the blending of wind and waves, you must experience this refuge of nature's perfection.
This tiny little peninsula tucked neatly away in the crook of the Panhandle may be easily missed in the blink of an eye while peering over a map, but if found and explored, you will discover one of Florida's rarest treasures. Indian Pass is certainly rare but it is widely acknowledged as a treasure trove of wildlife galore. So when you make that 8 mile trip from Port St. Joe, and turn down that weather-worn Indian Pass Road, it's as if you crossed over into a time long gone. You will have to pay close attention to directions because many of these quaint, old-style cottages are those which have stood the test of time. They of course offer all the modern amenities, but by design, they have maintained their original flavor. They hide, often out of sight, nestled and protected by the huge white dunes and the thick, lush foliage of oaks, vines, and palmettos.
If solitude is not quite to your liking, Indian Pass has the offerings of many modern beach homes and condominiums that will fit your needs nicely. Once you unpack and settle in, open the doors, let the kids out and salt air in, and give Fido a romp as well. By the time he has chased all the birds he can stand, he will be ready to curl up for a long summer's nap. And after a day running freely in and out of the surf, chasing those elusive pirates through thickets of oak and palmetto, and catching all sorts of unusual critters (to release of course), those kids will be ready to curl up as well. And if you choose to eat out, make sure you add our succulent lagoon oysters, freshly plucked from the bottoms of salt marshes, to your plate hopefully piled high with our scallops and shrimp and fish of all sizes. You just simply can't leave without trying our world famous oysters. Who knows, you may run into a celebrity or two while you're at it; they know where to come to get the real deal!
Start each morning just right with the awakening of a most beautiful sight. The sun as it rises to the east in the sky, displays a spectacular array of vibrant colors. After absorbing that view in the peace of the moment, wake up the kids, gather up all your necessities, and head out for a day on the shore. Try crabbing by net or by basket; drop a line in the gulf for some excellent fishing. Go boating, kayaking, jet skiing, wind surfing or do what you do when you need to do nothing. Lounge on the deck, cruise down the beach, gaze at the bonfire, or again do nothing! There's nothing wrong with restoring your soul and nowhere better to do it than here at Indian Pass.
Squeez
e in a trip to St. Vincent Island, a national refuge brimming with all sorts of wildlife, unseen by most in a lifetime of travels. Take the ferry or kayak or whatever your pleasure, but make sure you include plenty of refreshments, bug repellent, and your specialty camera. If you're lucky you will record some amazing sites such as the eagle, the osprey, a wild boar or an alligator. Better yet, the Sam deer as well as the White tailed variety, frolicking dolphin and moseying loggerhead turtles and a possible red wolf sighting - not counting the countless birds of all colors and species - will all merge together as an unforgettable memory maker. Don't head for home until you've heard all the history in time that saw ancient ones passing and is now only beginning to see modern life emerging. Then as you drive away towards home, hold dear to your memory that you just crossed one of man's earliest pathways.
