Things To Know
The House
The Fun Flamingo is a charming 1950’s ranch-style bungalow (no stairs except a few to the front door) that sits directly on the beach of Alligator Point which is part of Old Florida’s Forgotten Coast on the eastern side of Franklin County. It’s a great get-away where you can enjoy the ocean and wildlife without the over-development you find at other beaches. Sit in our 11-window ocean-facing sunroom and watch the waves dance upon the sand and dolphins swim so close you'll think they are coming ashore to say hello. Or just a few steps outside the back door and you are enjoying the endless beaches of Alligator Point. Our grassy front yard (with a fence for some privacy) is a great place for a cornhole competition or other lawn games if you ever tire of the beach.
If it happens to rain, we have a variety of games and puzzles to play indoors or grab a book from The Fun Flamingo's take-one-leave-one library. Additionally, there's a 55" flat screen TV with an Xbox Kinect and a DVD player with a collection of over 75 DVD movies from which to choose for a family movie night (each bedroom also has it's own TV.) Of course we have very good Wi-Fi so everyone can enjoy their gadgets or check-in on work if you must. And don't forget the gourmet coffee maker for an espresso, cappuccino, or a good ol' cup of joe -- it's a Starbucks right at your fingertips.
We believe our home is best suited for up to 2 couples and 4 children. However, as long as you have 8 or fewer people (including infants) and everyone is from no more than 2 families, if the sleeping arrangements work for you, we are happy to host your group.
No parties are allowed! Since our home is in a quiet, close-knit community our neighbors will contact us if they suspect a party and then the sheriff's department if there's a disturbance.
PLEASE NOTE
Alligator Point is primarily a residential beach neighborhood with no grocery store, gas station, etc. Therefore; you may want to bring food, drinks, and possibly ice either from home or stop somewhere along your drive in to do some shopping (if you go through Crawfordville,that will be your last chance for a grocery store.)
The Area
Alligator Point is a great place for seashell collecting, playing in the sand & surf, or just strolling along and watching the many birds, crabs, and other wildlife which make their home here. Plus there are the amazing dolphins that are frequently swimming by and even a few sea otters. (See are FAQ page for more details about our wildlife.)
Additionally, Alligator Point is known for its amazing fishing. With the necessary fishing license (from GoOutdoorsFlorida.com or stop at the Ace Hardware in Crawfordville) you can fish/shrimp right off the beach or hire a boat charter through Allegro Sailing at the nearby Alligator Point Marina.
If you want to cook some fresh fish/seafood, but don’t want to catch it yourself, there are several fish markets on the Coastal Hwy in and near Panacea (Mineral Springs Seafood & Bait is our favorite); there you can buy fresh fish and shellfish most of which is caught daily off our shores. If you want seafood, but want someone else to cook it for you, Tropical Trader Shrimp Co. and Posey's in nearby Panacea will cook up their own freshly caught fish fare for you. Oh, and don't forget the Tiki Bar at the Alligator Point Marina open March through September for drinks and bar food options. Please note: Monday's can be difficult to find restaurants open, but both Tropical Trader in Panacea and Hutton's Seafood in Crawfordville (a permanent food truck known for their Soft Shell Crabs) are both open, though Hutton's is closed on Wednesdays.
Want to do something away from beach for a change... Our favorite low-cost, fun for all ages, activity is the Jungle Cruise at the Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park in Crawfordville. Two other favorites are 21 Palms Kayak Rentals in Alligator Point and the Gulf Specimen Marine Lab in Panacea (just on the other side of the Ochlockonee Bay Bridge) which is a nice little educational aquarium that the kids (and adults too) should enjoy with several touch tanks and volunteers who gladly sharing their knowledge.
Thirty minutes heading west away is Carrabelle with its cute and friendly staffed shops and restaurants. And check it out on TripAdvisor to learn some of the tourist options available there like a small WWII museum and "The World's Small Police Station". 😃
Lastly, Florida's second oldest lighthouse, St. Mark's is located about an hour away.
