Final thoughts on Carrabelle, FL

We have had a very busy first week in Navarre, Fl but before I move on to current events, I just wanted to mention several interesting places we visited while in Carrabelle that I think others might also enjoy. Directly across from our campground is a beach that while great to walk the dog and enjoy good weather, also happens to have some interesting history. This beach was used for beach landing practice for thousands of soldiers in preparation for the Normandy invasion. In fact, the 4th division was trained on this beach and then was sent directly to England to board vessels for the invasion. The Gordon Johnston Army camp was located in Carrabelle and had an important impact on the community. Today a WWII association houses a small but very interesting museum dedicated the army camp, the training for the beach landings and the history of those who were trained here. This was particularly interesting, as we had a personal tour by the docent, who was well versed in the artifacts on display.

We also visited the nearby Crooked River Lighthouse and made the climb to enjoy a scenic view of the area. The climb was easy but be careful if you had a large lunch and the final ladder requires tight squeeze thru access hatch to the tower.

Finally, a visit to St George’s Island and the rebuilt lighthouse made for a nice half day outing.