We had several destination goals on our day-trip to the Talbot Islands: Kingsley Plantation (read the post), Ft. George Island Cultural State Park, and Little Talbot Island State Park. These and several other parks and historical sites are located within a short drive of each other.
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| Slipjig strolling the grounds of The Ribault Club Notice she is formally dressed in her tuxedo! |
Actually Kingsley Plantation and Ft. George Island Cultural State Park are adjacent to each other on Ft. George Island and shared hiking trails allow scenic access to both.
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| The Ribault Club photo: http://www.exploresouthernhistory.com/fortgeorgeisland.html |
As Florida became a playground for the rich, St. George Island was one of those exclusive destinations. In 1928 the Ribault Club was built to host lavish parties, games, and events. It was a favorite spot for some of America's most wealthy residents. As times changed it fell into disrepair; however, after a four-year historic restoration, this waterfront Club has reopened. You can tour the facility,learn the history, and hike the grounds. It is also available as a rental for weddings, special events, and meetings. Currently it is operated by the Florida State Parks, the National Park Service, and a concession, Cape Leisure Corp.
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| Scrub, flowers, and mule grass abound on the dunes |
The next stop was Little Talbot Island State Park, a short drive from Ft. George Island. Over the years we have made several visits to the park which is a nice 'escape' from Anastasia State Park where we were volunteering.
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| Trail through the sand dunes to the beach |
In truth both Little Talbot and Anastasia are located on barrier islands with long stretches of beach, trails, and camping but there are differences. One of the major differences is the beach, at Anastasia you have a long, hard packed surface to stroll along with multiple swimming areas. This is not the case at Little Talbot which being further north and closer to the inlet has rough waters and soft sand.
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| Swimming at Little Talbot is limited |
While both parks have an abundance of bird life and nesting areas there is less interference at Little Talbot Island. Much of the safety is due to the remoteness, Anastasia is now surrounded by houses, businesses, and population growth while Little Talbot is somewhat remote from housing and traffic. The Little Talbot website boasts "With more than five miles of beautiful, white sandy beaches, Little Talbot Island is one of the few remaining undeveloped barrier islands in Northeast Florida." So, life here is different from much of developed Florida.
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| Beach path mostly deserted |
As you explore the island you will find various terrain from maritime forests to desert-like dunes and undisturbed salt marshes. These various habitats results in a variety of wildlife from river otters and marsh rabbits to bobcats and gophers. I'm not even going to attempt to list the native and migratory birds.
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| Mule grass with the beautiful fall foliage. |
-- Seven Florida State Parks:Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park, Amelia Island State Park, Fort George Island Cultural State Park, Yellow Bluff Fort Historic State Park, Big Talbot Island State Park and George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park.
-- The nearby Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve including Fort Caroline, Kingsley Plantation, and several other areas.
If you are a history buff and/or looking for the Real Florida, you will not be disappointed by the wide range of opportunities that exist here.
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| Sea oats help to stabilize the sand dunes |
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