This Waterfront Vrbo Is the Perfect Home Base for St. George Island State Park

Day or night, Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park is a dreamy destination. Days are perfect for swimming, boating, fishing, kayaking, birding, and more, while nights are ideal for stargazing. The state park is just far enough away from it all to offer quiet, peaceful beaches, a haven for wildlife, and low light pollution. We've found the perfect home base for incredible state park adventures. Happiness Bay Studio, a one-bedroom Vrbo on St. George Island, is a luxurious and cozy accommodation for two, near St. George Island State Park.

St. George Island is a 20+ mile-long barrier island off the coast of Apalachicola, Florida. The island is accessible by car via a bridge from Eastpoint. With no high-rise buildings and uncrowded beaches, St. George Island is known for its laid-back atmosphere and natural beauty.

The Happiness Bay Studio captures all that the quiet barrier island has to offer, with bright decor and comfortable furniture. The studio features a kitchenette equipped with a coffee maker, refrigerator, microwave, kettle, and bar seating. It has beautiful open shelving with spices, dishes, and glassware readily available.

The combined living and sleeping space has a cozy sofa and a king-sized bed. A large bank of cabinetry holds books, beach decor, and a television. The entire space is beautifully lit by large windows and two hanging light fixtures.

The Vrbo's bathroom is bright and clean. It's filled with a walk-in shower, toilet, and a vanity with a wall-hanging mirror. The hosts also provide shampoo, soap, toilet paper, and towels for maximum convenience. The rental's other amenities include air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and on-site parking.

Happiness Bay Studio is perfectly located on the Apalachicola Bay side of the island. The Gulf beach, named one of the top two best beaches in the country in 2021, is just steps away across the street, and renters have private beach access. To get to the state park, visitors can travel a few minutes down East Gulf Beach Drive. It only takes about three minutes by car and 15 minutes on foot. The park is open every day from 8 a.m. until sunset, and vehicles with between two and eight passengers are charged a $6 entry fee. Single-occupant vehicles cost $4, while pedestrians and bike riders cost $2 each.

Once inside the park, visitors can explore the 3.5 miles of bike trails and the stunning hiking trails, including the 2.5-mile Gap Point Trail and the 1-mile East Slough Overlook Trail. Visitors can also collect shells on the park's sandy white beaches, paddle on the bay, and fish for flounder, redfish, sea trout, pompano, and more. Birders will have a heyday; almost 300 species of birds have been identified in the park, including brown pelicans, sandpipers, red knots, osprey, bald eagles, hawks, and warblers.

History buffs will also love the area. In 1715, a Spanish ship carrying treasure sank off the coast of Florida. Legend has it that the treasure was never recovered. Did you know about this shipwreck and its missing objects hiding in Florida?

Happiness Bay Studio is the place to stay to experience all that St. George Island and its gorgeous state park have to offer. For more information and availability, visit its Vrbo listing.