Snowbird Appreciation Day, 2012, will be held on Tuesday, February 7th. It's sponsored by the St. George Island Business Association which invites the area's winter visitors to spend the day on St. George Island. If you consider yourself a visitor to the area, you're welcome to participate!
Events will include a raffle "run" to the local businesses, a lighthouse climb, state park entry and hike, a new museum, a bridge walk, a new education center, bingo, and dinner with a cash bar.
Registration is $9 per person at any St. George Island vacation management company or inn. It entails filling out a short questionnaire, obtaining your name tag and bag, getting your list of businesses participating in the raffle run, and paying your registration fee. You'll also receive your first raffle ticket. The registration fee entitles you to take part in all the day's activities (including dinner) at no additional cost, except for a reduced rate to climb the lighthouse ($3 instead of $5), and drinks from the cash bar before dinner. You may register any day beginning Friday February 3rd, or between 9 - 4:00 on Snowbird Day. Each location will have a "Snowbird Registration" sign out front. There's no limit to the number of snowbirds who can participate! Registration sites:
| Buccaneer Inn, 160 W. Gorrie Dr., www.BuccInn.com |
| Collins Vacation Rentals, 60 E. Gulf Beach Dr., www.CollinsVacationRentals.com |
| Fickling & Company, 112 Franklin Blvd., www.FicklingVacationRentals.com |
| Resort Vacation Properties, 61 W. Gulf Beach Dr., www.RVPsgi.com |
| St. George Inn, 135 Franklin Blvd., www.StGeorgeInn.com |
| St. George Island Vacation Properties, 235 W. Gulf Beach Dr., www.StGeorgeIslandVacationProperties.com |
| Suncoast Realty & Property Management, 224 Franklin Blvd., www.uncommonFlorida.com |
If you're a nature lover, you'll enjoy the short hike along the State Park's East Slough Trail at 10:00 and noon. The State Park encompasses the easternmost end of St. George Island. The ADA accessible trail is "linear" (you return to the starting place via the same path you took in) and will be led by a park ranger. You'll view the utilization area, the beach, and walk the 1 mile annotated trail through the piney woods and along the bay. Admission into the State Park is free all day for visitors sporting a Snowbird Day nametag.
For those who like to shop (or just browse), registrants will be introduced to the island's retail establishments by way of a raffle run. Begin any time after 10:00. Participating businesses will be designated with a "Raffle Run" sign. You will be receive a raffle ticket, with your registration number on it, at each of the participating businesses that you visit (and at the State Park, the Visitor Center, on the Bridge Walk, at the new Lighthouse Museum, and at the Estuary Education Center in Eastpoint). At the end of the run (before 3:00), stop at the Visitor Center and place your tickets in the big bottle. NO RAFFLE TICKETS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER 3:00. The winners' numbers will be displayed with their prizes during the dinner. Many winners, many prizes!
This year, the new Apalachicola National Estaurine Education Center will be included for the first time. The Center is located in a new building. Just cross the St. George bridge to Eastpoint and take the second right. It's well marked! The education center is loaded with interesting exhibits and the staff will be holding some special short sessions during the day. The center is open from 9:30 - 4:30, but be sure to deposit your tickets at the island visitor center by 3:00. Special Events:
* 10:00 am ID That Critter. Learn how scientists use keys to identify plants and animals (meet in the multi-purpose area).
* 11:00 am Fish Feeding Frenzy: Meet the reserve's aquarist & take a behind the scenes tour of how the operation runs. Includes feeding selected tnaks. (meet by the amphitheater outside nature center)
* Noon: ID That Critter (repeat). Learn how scientists use keys to identify plants and animals (meet in the multi-purpose area).
1:00 pm Birding walk and eagle nest viewing: A great view along the bayshore (meet by amphitheater outside nature center)
2:00 pm Fish Feeding Frenzy (repeat): Meet the reserve's aquarist & take a behind the scenes tour of how the operation runs. Includes feeding selected tnaks. (meet by the amphitheater outside nature center)
3:00 Birding walk and eagle nest viewing (repeat): A great view along the bayshore (meet by amphitheater outside nature center)
Another new building you're sure to want to see is the Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage next to the lighthouse. Walk inside to see the Lighthouse Museum. Open from noon to 5:00.
Snowbird registrants may climb the island's lighthouse for a reduced rate ($3 instead of the usual $5) anytime between 12:00 noon and 5:00 PM. Tickets can be obtained at the St. George Island Visitor Center or the Lighthouse Museum (on either side of the lighthouse).
If you get hungry during the day, stop at any of the local restaurants and buy lunch. Some are offering specials just for the day. They'll be glad to see you!
The bridge walk begins at the island boat ramp at 2:00 PM. To find the boat ramp, while on the island, drive towards the bridge (i.e. the "new" bridge) which brought you to the island, but take the last right before the bridge. This will put you on a narrow road which parallels the new bridge but takes you to the boat ramp and base of the old bridge. We'll meet you at the base of the old bridge for a leisurely walk during which time you may ask questions of island residents or strike up conversations with other snowbirds.
Happy Hour, with a wine and beer cash bar, starts at 4:00. It, and the dinner, will be held under tents in the parking lot of Sometimes It's Hotter (112 E. Gulf Beach Dr.). Dinner, (featuring baked chicken) will be served between 5:00 and 6:00 and include an array of specialties prepared by island restaurants. Walk-ups who didn't previously register are welcome to attend the Happy Hour and dinner for $9.
The last event of the day is Bingo at the Firehouse (324 E. Pine Ave.), beginning at 7:00. Bingo is sponsored by the local Civic Club.
Schedule of Activities
- 9:00 - 4:00 Registration at any St. George Island vacation rental company
- 9:30 - 4:30 ANERR Education Center
- 10:00 State Park hike
- 10:00 - 2:30 Raffle Run
- 12:00 State Park hike
- 12:00 - 5:00 Lighthouse Climb
- 12:00 - 5:00 Lighthouse Museum
- 2:00 - 3:30 Bridge Walk
- 3:00 Last chance to turn in raffle tickets at the Visitor Center
- 4:00 - 5:00 Happy Hour at Sometimes It's Hotter
- 5:00 - 6:00 Dinner is served at Sometimes It's Hotter
- 7:00 Bingo
Snowbird merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, decals) are available at Collins Vacation Rentals (60 E. Gulf Beach Dr.), Resort Vacation Properties (61 W. Gulf Beach Dr.), and Sometimes It's Hotter (112 E. Gulf Beach Dr.) The items will also be available during Happy Hour and the dinner.
For more information, contact the SGI Visitor Center at 850-927-7744.
Snowbird Day Pictures
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