See what our past guests have had to say about our Barrier Dunes Vacation Rentals on Cape San Blas & their visit to "The Forgotten Coast!" Many have shared pictures of their memories too! When you return from your Cape San Blas vacation we would love to have your vacation review & pictures too!
GUEST COMMENTS:
Michele Assavedo, May 2009
We had a great time. Your home is beautiful. WE relaxed and played on the beach the entire time. Duke (black lab) never played so hard. He has only been to the beach once (Biloxi, MS) for an hour or two, so he was in heaven.......We enjoyed quality time with our only child. She is 20 and away at college so we needed to get away and be together i/o at home where there is always work to be done.
We have already recommended the Cape to several people and are trying to have a family reunion there!
Christina Kasper, April 2009
Thank you so much for providing such a a wonderful getaway spot! The Cape Escape I was by far the best vacation rental property we have had (and we have been to several in the last 6 months or so)! We had a wonderful time and the wedding was wonderful too. Thanks again and we look forward to our next trip down when we will absolutely get in touch with you for reservations!
Jan Tokars, March/April 2009 (repeat guest)
As usual we felt very much at home as soon as we walked in the door of your great vacation home. Your home is so comfortable. It is easy to kick back and relax. Being "repeat" visitors, we were even more comfortable. We are so grateful that you allow us to bring the dogs with us. They love the Cape as much as we do!
We had a wonderful time at the Cape...walking the beach, reading a lot, playing ball on the beach with the dogs and letting the dogs swim and crash into the waves! Our Golden Retriever, Uno, was quite the hit carrying his bag of tennis balls to and from the beach every day. We saw dolphins nearly every day right off shore in front of Barrier Dunes and 1 day there were at least 20-30 of them stretched along the shore for several yards! It was great to see them frolicking in the water. We were also delighted to see a bald eagle in flight over the beach on 2 separate occasions.
We returned home almost 2 weeks ago, relaxed and ready to get back to the daily grind, but we are already thinking about next year! Thanks again Wendy!
Jane Cahill, March 2009
I just wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed Turtle Crawl & Barrier Dunes. You had almost everything anyone would need.
I wasn't sure what to expect as I have never rented a vacation home over the internet or without a friends recommendation but we loved Barrier Dunes and the area. The grounds were lovely and the condo was immaculate and so nicely decorated. We loved the walks on the beach, watching the dolphins, collecting shells and so much more. We also went horseback riding on the beach and booked a boating/snorkeling trip with Seahorse Safaris.
I have to thank you for all the information you provided on your website. We used all of it. This was a great trip and so easy to do with our dogs. We were able to take them most everywhere. Being able to take them on the beach made it so easy. I also have to comment on how clean and well maintained the grounds are.
Wendy, thanks again for your assistance.
Mindy Hutton, March 2009
We did make it home safe and sound....and sad! We've done numerous trips, Disney Cruise, all inclusive resorts etc., but this was the first vacation we've ever taken as a family where I had tears in my eyes when leaving! We literally did NOTHING! I cooked all the meals at home and spent some very valuable and hard to get family time with my 2 girls and husband.
We there we saw dolphins! One even swam about 5 feet way from a guy out in the water to get her baby away from him...it was so awesome. The home made us feel comfortable right way. We settled in as if we had lived there forever. We truly had a great time!
We will come back for sure. I am hoping to do a family reunion there with some of my sisters and their families. My husband travels A LOT. We don't see much of him. On trips he is usually on the phone. Not at Cape San Blas...du to the no cell phone or limited cell phone coverage, we had him all to ourselves. It was really great for girls to have their dad's undivided attention. Thanks again!
Nanci Lee, March 2009
Thank you for the deposit! The place was perfect and my family enjoyed everything but we felt there was so much to do in the short days we were there so hope to return again this summer if possible. My dog, Ginger, loved the beach and it was a real treat to have her with us. Thanks for a wonderful experience.
Dana McGowan, March 2009
Our trip to Cape San Blas and Barrier Dunes was unbelievable!!! We had the most amazing time and we couldn't have asked for better weather. It was in the mid to upper 70's the entire time, not a cloud in the sky or a drop of rain for the duration of the stay. It was so secluded and made for the most relaxing trip we have ever taken.
And the rooms were AMAZING. It was very comfortable, had everything we needed and made for a nice home away from home. The family dog enjoyed his stay too and being able to take him to the beach was soooooo fun. He made may friends! :-) We will definitely be recommending this place to other family members and friends and will be back for sure. I hate that our trip is already over and having such a wonderful time and a nice place to stay made it very hard to come back to reality. Thank you for everything!!!!
Rita Cassetari, February/March 2009
We loved the condo, the complex and the beach! All fabulous! I loved that hte condo was stocked with so much stuff so packing for the trip was one of the easiest I've ever experienced. The complex was soooo quiet, the people were great and the dogs all had so much fun! Our lab played in the ocean every day adn played with other dogs every chance. We ventured into Port St. Joe, Apalachicola, St. Vincent and St. George. Just wonderful! Thanks for everything!
Bob & Lynn Parker, February 2009
We treated the condo as if it were our own...and we wish it were!! ......We arrived home last night, happy, tired and safe. Brrrr it's cold in Ashville and we miss the beach! Next year we will stay longer ....
We ADORED Tropical Breeze...the amazing beach...the entire experience. Everything was perfect for our arrival. We eventually noticed a burned out deck light and Donna took care of that as soon as we called her. In fact, Donna was just the best!) (NOTE: Donna is my lead person down at the Cape! You will get her number with you check in directions & I have to agree, she does ROCK!) She was available whenever we needed her (thankfully, not often!) and even hand-deliverd a phone card to up! We totally fell in love with her sense of humor.......
The entire Barrier Dunes development is exceptional. Thh grounds are perfectly maintained and the building exteriors were in great condition. Teh entire place looks crisp and cared for. Although far removed from the "beach house chick" airiness that I prefer, Barrier Dunes 7 was beautifully decorated and far lovelier than the photos portray on the website. The ultrasuede sofas and chairs are perfectly suited to beach living. The master suite was total luxury, the bead was as delightfully comfortable as our own and I truly appreciated the granite countertops!
This was our dogs' first trip to the ocean; in fact, it was our poodles' first experience around water of any sort other than baths and they had the time of their young lives!! Barney's (10 mos) initial fear of the surf turned into a passion for chasing the sea foam. Sacha (4 mos) quickly discovered digging in the sand was the greatest of all past times, then she found a giant hold that someone had dug and was in Heaven running around inside it like an Indy racer. They met and played with several other dogs -- great fun for them and nice for us because we met so many lovely, interesting people, all dog people like us. Bob and I were so impressed with the unspoken "dog owner's etiquette." We were always asked, "Can your dogs play?" which was helpful because some dogs - our Suki the Shih-Tzu for example - don't play well with other dogs.
Hope you enjoy the beach shots. We PROMISE we'll be back!
Tricia Edwards, Dover DE, February 2008
We are home safe. We had a wonderful time. It was very relaxing. The dogs had a great time. The accomodations were perfect. I am sure we will return next year.
Gail Oughton, December/January (England)
Thank you for all of your help! This is probably the nicest place I have ever stayed. When do you ever get the chance to step straight onto a beautiful beach. The weather was kind to us when we were there and we had to buy some suntan lotion.
We had some great days with the family, barbeques, games on the beach....We did our morning walk every day and even tried to get to the end of the Cape, but had to give up because it just went on and on around every corner!
It was wonderful collecting all the unusual shells and seeing all the different birds in these parts. The sunsets were marvelous and looking at the stars at night was great too -- all of the simple things of life.
One fo the great highlights was seeing the dolphins swim past and my daughter and her cousin swam out to get close to them. We have never seen wild dolphins before.
Once again, thank you Wendy. The beach house had everything you could ever want for. Access to beach "stuff" (chairs etc.) was also welcome. It is these touches that really made a difference in our holiday.
Kelly Shepard, December/January 2009 (repeat guests)
Once again we had the time of our lives--this week was the best weather we have ever had. There was rain in the forecast and I think it drizzled a little one morning, but we had awesome weather. We were able to enjoy the beach every day.
Thanks so much for everything! I will send some pictures from this time when I feel I can look at them---still feeling a little vacation sick today!
Lori Law, November 2008
We had a wonderful time there and we absolutely will be coming back. I loved Apalach, the restaurants and the shopping. We had a great massage in Port St. Joe. His name is David Oakley at the Donamelia salon. Next time we go I want to go fishing and do the horseback riding on the beach. I also adopted a dog from the Humane Society while I was there and she's been great! Four months old, part Lab, part Catahoula and my Golden loves her. We loved the shopping up there too. We were surprised. The people were wonderful, so nice everywhere we went. Anyway, thank you so much!
Donna Brown, October 2008
Thank you for returning the deposit on Paypal...really appreciate the timeliness of getting that done.
We had a GREAT time. It is easy to see why people come back there time and time again. The view was so beautiful and we really enjoyed our unit. We met our neighbors on either side and they were so very nice. In fact, I have some pictures of the little boy in #11 when he was fishing that I will send you to forward on to them.
It was so great to be able to have Biscuit down there with us and everyone is so great with their dogs there. She loved the beach and went kayaking with us too!
Thanks so much for your help in getting everything arranged. We will definitely be talking to you again for future ventures!
Bill Ernst, October 2008
We thoroughly enjoyed the vacation but it was too short! Having the dogs with us provided plenty of fun. We enjoyed everything about the condo, the pool, the surroundings and teh friendly people we met. I am sure we will return. Thank you for all of your help!
Pat Childress, September 2008
We arrived home safely. We had a great time!! It was very relaxing. Our daughter has a very busy career and really enjoyed the peace and quiet. We spent time on the beach, walked with the dogs, napped and caught up on some reading. We checked out Loggerheads and had some great seafood.
We really enjoyed your home. You have made it very friendly. Having the frame with the address and phone number on the counter is neat and helpful. We liked having the laundry baskets in each room, clocks, everything you need in the kitchen, all the beach equipment, laundry soap provided. You made it very special.
We hope to return in the future and would recommend it to our friends. We really liked Barrier Dunes 91. It felt like we had the area to our selves. Thanks for letting us know that we left it in good shape. We always try to leave things like we would want it. I will send you some pictures of our pets on their vacation!
Robin Holley, September 2008
The trip was wonderful. Thank you again. We had great weather and did a lot of nothing. Every day was split between the beach and the pool and back and forth. We went to 3 restaurants and am drawing a blank on my favorite one. It was just inside of Port St. Joe and looked out on the water. (Note from Wendy: I think they are talking about Sunset Coastal Grill--great views and great food!) As I mentioned (on the phone), the boat ride was really exciting. Seeing the dolphins swimming and playing around us was unreal. I'm attaching some pictures of everyone playing on the beach and a few of the dolphins.
Thanks again for everything and I am definitely saving all your information for a future trip!
Gary Turner, September 2008
We had a great time -- everything was perfect! The only thing that could have made it better would have be more time to enjoy our stay -- we hated leaving! Teddy had lots of fun running on the beach but he never took to the water. Maybe next time he'll be ready to jump in! Thanks again!
Tom Gibbs, August 2008 (Roanoke, VA)
We had THE BEST time! The weather was perfect and the place was just beautiful. We had looked so long to find a place where we could take our dog-- ended up not going at all last summer as we could not find anything close to the beach that allowed pets. She truly believes she is one of us, so leaving her behind just was not an option. We were so excited to see how she would like swimming in the ocean and she LOVED it! Stepping out our back door and being on the beautiful Gulf was a real paradise!
We "shelled" each morning, what wonderful shells...we saw something new every day. My father is from Pensacola so I was familiar with the white sandy beaches and turquoise waters...but is always amazing to see how pretty it is when you've been away from it. But where can you find such a beautiful location and now crowds?!? We were so impressed with the solitude and quiet area -- no high-rises, Walmarts, tourist traps, etc. I so glad TS Faye did not do any damage to the area.
The guest guide was so helpful -- especially the restaurant guides and what to do sections. Enjoyed Sunset Grille and Loggerhead especially -- fabulous food and such friendly owners. In fact, everyone we met the entire week was so nice and friendly. We all so appreciated being able to bring ALL our family, and I was amazed how clean the beaches and town home was. Everyone's pets were so well behaved and most folks we spoke to were repeat visitors...as we will now become! We did go into Apalachicola and enjoyed shopping around their adorable shops and want to go to St. George next time.
It was a real benefit to have chairs, boogie boards, Frisbees etc., already in the townhouse. It just could not have been better furnished -- everything we needed was there. We enjoyed grilling fresh seafood one night so we could stay out on the beach late. Several evenings folks had bonfires and it was just beautiful to sit out and walk on the beach at night.
Thank you for all you did to make our week so very special. We will definitely be in touch as soon as we have dates lined up for next summer...if not before! You have been absolute delight to work with (although I knew a Hokie would!!) and we really appreciate all you did to get us set for a wonderful week.
Thanks again -- it was absolutely perfect in every way!!
Sarah Calvert, August 2008
Thank you for everything! Your "Cape Escape" was wonderful & we were very comfortable there. We loved how you included all the little things we might need -- like soaps, detergents, paper towels and the baby gear! You mande it so easy to relax adn not worry about all those small things. Your condo was also so clean and pretty! We enjoyed the beach, wow--it was so beautiful. We agreed it was the prettiest beach we had ever seen in Florida-- and the water was a clear as bath water!
My husband enjoyed fishing off the shore every day -- he caught some flounder & a baby shark one day. My baby girl and I strolled on the beach & played in the pool. Overall - a great vacation and we will be back for sure. I will recommend you to all my friends & family as well.
Allen Coker, August 2008
Thank you for refunding the deposit in such a timely manner. We had a great time and especially enjoyed watching the dogs play on the beach.
"Shore Thang" exceeded our expectations...it really had a comfortable feel to it that made us feel at home from the minute we walked in. We will definitely be back. Thanks again!
Bob and Carol Duez, August 2008
Carol and I have vacationed in Gulf Shores, AL every year for the last 6 years. We were unable to find a place this year that would allow us to bring Wrigley, our 9-month-old Golden Retriever. As a result we searched and ran across Cape Escape.
This vacation has changed our thoughts on vacationing. We absolutely had the best vacation in our 38 years of marriage. The most attractive parts of your vacation home were:
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The house was extremely clean, well maintained, well stocked and very comfortable.
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The gated community provided the extra security that makes you feel great especially when waling a 9-month-old puppy at 3 a.m.
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The paved streets and dog exercise areas made our afternoon walks more enjoyable and conducive to cleaning up after our pet.
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The bech was very clean, with fewer people than we're accustom and because almost everyone had a pet, we had things in common with almost everyone and it was real easy to make friends.
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On past vacations we spend most of our time and money eating out; this vacation we cooked at the house, used the gas grill and only ate out once.
As soon as we get over the shock of being home and returning to work, we will want to begin planing for next year's trip. Thank you for all the help you provided us and we'll try to send you a photo or 2 of our vacation!
Angela & Jennifer Fey, August 2008
We had a great time! We plan on coming back with more family! The dogs had an absolutely wonderful time and were worn out. I think they are still sleeping.
Thank you very much for your hospitality, your condo was very nice and clean....Donna (our head housekeeper) was wonderful, she is a sweetheart. We will keep in touch!
Pamela Poole, July 2008 (Repeat Guests)
Pelican View is absolutely the best of the best! Oh, my goodness! Having your first cup of coffee in the mornings on the balcony of the master suite was amazing! And so easy since we had the lovely "coffee station" right in the suite.....very thoughtful!
This was our 5th trip to the Cape and we honestly didn't even consider booking with anyone else. We've really come to appreciate all the extras that you include, the way you have simplified the check-in and check-out procedures, the beautiful, immaculate condos and, of course, the gorgeous, uncrowded beach!
Maisie, our little Westie, had a great time! She loves the beach (and just looks so adorable because she is the exact color of the white sand!) Our friends (many of whom are more familiar with Panama City and Destin) simply cannot believe that we put our "beach stuff" out on Saturday when we arrive and don't bring it in until we have to leave for home. It just doesn't get much better than that....
Our 2 sons and their lovely wives were able to join us this year. Although we all live within 30 minutes of each other, we seldom have time to just relax and be together. One evening we bought some fresh shrimp and prepared a wonderful scampi with angel hair pasta. We all ate together out on the deck as the sun was setting. There was a nice breeze and we had such a good time laughing and talking over one another. That is a memory I will always cherish...
Every year we think we've had the best vacation ever and this year was certainly no exception. We can't wait to get back to the Cape!
Thank you for everthing you continue to do to make our experience enjoyable and stress-free. We'll be in touch as soon as we know how our schedule looks for next time.
Again, many, many thanks!
Randy Hunnicutt, July 2008 - Repeat Guest
Our stay again this year was simply wonderful. We all had a terrific time. Carol and Brandon liked the new paint and decorations and we all enjoyed the extra storage space from converting the private closet in the kitchen to a common pantry. That really helped!
We went out with Captain Dwayne (Book Me a Charter) and had a great time. All 3 of us caught keeper fish and were good and worn our when we returned. Maybe Brandon or Ashley will send you some photo's. Thanks again for the great time!
Charles and Nicole Crow and Family, July 2008
We had a wonderful time and wish we could have stayed another week! The condo was beautiful and stocked with everything we could have needed. Jack, the 96 lb. lab drank too much ocean water his first time out, but he learned his lesson and did well after that. My 12 year old son caught a small shark surf fishing at the State Park which was the highlight for him. My 6 and 8 year old sons had a blast riding boogie boards. We went in to Panama City Beach one evening for a pirate cruise which they loved! My husband loved surf fishing and scalloping and fishing in the bay. I think we did it all! My favorite part was no cell phone and no watch for a week. THANK YOU!
The Huxford Family, July 2008 (Fairburn, GA)
We just got back from the Cape yesterday and we had a great time! Casa Del Sol was just as you described it on the web site! Very clean and more spacious than we expected. Having all the extras, from Laundry Detergent to pet towels to the spice rack, was great. The dogs, Bear (Corgi mix) and Laila (Boxer) love the beach. It was wonderful to be able to take them with us on vacation and not have to worry about boarding them or finding a pet sitter.
We ate at some great restaurants (Owl Cafe, Dockside Cafe, Peppers), went horseback riding (with Two-Bit Stables), let to the lighthouse, swam, read walked on the beach a lot and just enjoyed getting away from our normal routines.
We couldn't believe how peaceful it is on the Cape. One morning we went out to the beach at 8:30 and I counted 5 other people as far as I could see in either directions! That was a welcome departure from other overcrowded, over-developed beaches.
We have already recommended your site to several friends and are talking about coming back again next year! Thanks for all of your help!
The Heiden Family, June/July 2008
The Cape & The Cape Escape were more than we expected. Truly, we were swept away. I had not imagined in all of my mind to feel so safe, so welcome to a community of which I had never been. My family and I were double-taken at the sincerity throughout all guests we met and their seemingly intered nature in who we were and "oh, your dogs are so beautiful.' We ALL lust loved our stay. Our experience was heart-warming. As we drove away, my daughter yelled from the backseat, 'Goodbye vacation house, see you later...'
We had an amazing evening when we were able to share with a great family we met on the beach. Ryan built a fire in the sand to roast marshmallows and we soaked up 'together' time as a family, dogs included. We were excited and very surprised to see how uncrowded the beach was. Such a warm, cozy feeling.
All the amenities were so awesome and ever so appreciated. Seahorse Water Safaris was a sheer BLAST---goodness! A BLAST!! SUPER service too, they were great to us!
SO many great memories Wendy. As we were packing up to come back home we realized that our extra popsicles would not go with us, as they were never survive the heat, so we hit the beach and began to pass them all out. My daughter was so eager to use her "nice manners and share." She said, 'Mommy, some people may not have things like this so I think it would be a good idea to share...' So sweet, melted my heart!
Thank you for being a part! I'll send you pictures as soon as the busy work week ahead comes to a halt!
Your place is extraordinary!
Lori, Jacob & Jennah Tomaszewski, June 2008 (Repeat Guests)
As usual, Turtle Crawl provided us with the best vacation ever. I told the kids while we were there that I'd love to stay 2 weeks next year...who am I kidding? We actually never want to leave. "The Cape"....it's beautiful, relaxing & fabulous! We couldn't have had better weather either. Our schedule was basicallth the same each day. Beach...eat...beach...eat...beach...sleep. We used no alarm clock and didnt' care what time it was. We had absolutely no schedule to follow and it was wonderful. I ened up gettin gburt to a crisp, but even that didn't stop me from going to the beach every day.
Thanks again Wendy and enjoy the rest of your summer...Till next year!
Jeff and MC Guenther, June 2008
We can't say enough good things about Cape Escape II. The townhome was beautiful and better equipped than any we've ever stayed in. Loved it so much that I even want to know the name of the green paint color that was used in the master bedroom!
Despite the thunderstorms on occasion, the weather was perfect. Great times on the gorgeous bech, mixed with relaxing by the pool or fishing off our back deck. One day we rented tandem kayaks for a trip into the bay and my husband and son made several excursions into the national park (St. Joseph Peninsula State Park).
My daughter is already making plans for next year--she want to invite 3 of her friends. Thank you so much for making this a fabulous vacation for us. We will definitely be recommending Cape San Blas to all of our beach loving friends!
Ashley Baloga, June 2008
Thank you so much for everything!! We really enjoyed our stay! The dogs and the kids had such a fun time! We enjoyed watching them all play and we really enjoyed relaxing! The house is wonderful, the beach is awesome and I'm so thankful to have a great place to bring my whole family (kids and dogs!) to enjoy themselves!
Anne Badalamenti, June 2008 (St. Louis, MO)
The vacation went great, 13 1/2 hours drive didn't seem so bad really...found the condo to be very nice and comfortable. Glad to be on the beach without all the commotion that you find along the gulf. Rocky had fun playing in the surf and going on many walks to find shells that were everywhere. Wen shelling for a few days, then decided we had enough to take home.
We ate at Loggerhead Grill, Indian Pass Raw Bar (that's a funny little place), Apalachicola Seafood Grill (largest fish sandwich in the world could feed 3 people, good gumbo), shopped a litte in Apalachicola, Sunset Coastal Grill and Peppers for Mexican, and Coneheads...all were good.
Chris and Dom went fishing with a charter and caught sea trout and a shark...at the beach Dom caught a tarpon...caught crabs one night and cooked them up, though it was a lot of work for a little meat. Dom and Chris both caught fishing in the lakes, some bluegill and small bass (1-2 lbs.) We played tennis, though not well, and every night went to watch the sunset on the beach. We all really enjoyed the Cape and hopefully can plan another trip in a year or 2....thanks for making it so easy!
Laurie Walker, June 2008
We all had the most wonderful time and want to go back again. We had 1 morning of rain and the rest of the days were wonderful. Even the rain was great. Larry spent most of his time fishing and he got some whiting and we had a fish fry our last day there and then a bonfire and Monica played the guitar and we sang. The sky was so clear we could see the stars and there was a slight breeze. Totally awesome!
If I win the lottery I am buying a condo or beach house there. The dogs had a wonderful time and enjoyed their walks and meeting other dogs. Monica had Pixie shitzu in the ocean and she actually enjoyed it rolling in the sand. There was a nice standard poodle there and some other nice dogs, including a 9 mo cute little shitzu. Next to us in the condo was a golden lab mix and she was a nice dog.
I prefer the Cape to Hawaii by far! We took out noodles in the water and bobbed around the waves and then would bob out again and bob back. The water was so warm and we got tons of shells. All 6 of us had a great time. In the morning it was relaxing in front of the Gulf waters drinking our coffee and we would end up at night sitting out there too. We really enjoyed being right on the beach--it made such a difference.
Christine Utter and Family, June 2008
We had a wonderful time in Pelican View. It is decorated so beautifully and it was so comfortable it felt like home. We didn't want to leave! Thanks for sending our deposit back. When we come back to the Cape we will definitely be renting from you again.
April Allman, Atlanta, GA June 2008
Thank you for the timely deposit return. Yes, I do wish I were back! Matter of fact I was eyeballing dates for next year! We all had fun and my daughter had a BLAST! She built sandcastles, caught hermit crabs and minnows to "rescue" and return to the sea, swam in the pool and learned to boogie board. Coneheads was a plus :-)! I have vacationed on St. George Island for the past 10 years and Mexico Beach twice and I can honestly say Cape San Blas tops them all. Loved the Pelican and will be coming back!
Lisa Jones, June 2008
I just wanted to let you know that we all had a great time, including the dogs. We arrived home safely and are ready to come back to Barrier Dunes after only 1 week back at work!
The condo was great and was as nice as it was described on the web page. We enjoyed all the beach toys and other items that were provided for our use in the condo. Thanks for hosting our stay. Please find the attached pictures of the dogs on the beach. It was funny that 1 dog played in the surf and the other wouldn't get near the water, but instead was content to sit on a towel and play spectator while the other played.
We hope to be back and stay again soon!
Adam & Autumn Bagley (& dogs!), June 2008
We had a great stay at your beach house! There was lots of room for us and our dogs. The beach house had all we needed and I am also glad we got to meet you and your family.
There was so much to do, I wish we could have stayed longer. Hopefully we can rent again sometime soon!
Leonard Finch and Family, June 2008
It was all your website said it was and more! We thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our stay at Barrier Dunes #12, Pelican View. Such a wonderful property. Upon arrival we had NO second thoughts about our choice for a vacation spot and no surprises (except how nice the condo and grounds really were). Even the weather cooperated with clear skies, clean beach sand, warm water and tropical breezes. Everyone from the guests to the people taking care of the property were very friendly. It was refreshingly nice to know we would leave our things on the beach and outside the condo overnight without fear of losing them. The people at the complex were definitely a nicer class that know how to enjoy themselves tastefully.
Thanks very much to the owners (the Evans family) for offering a venue that enabled a relaxing and gratifying vacation experience.
Marie Persuad & Family, May 2008
The Cape was everything you said it would be and more. The house was very nice and comfortable. The beach was amazing and being able to vacation with our dog just added to the fun that we had. My family and I enjoyed everything about the place and the surroundings and they really enjoyed the fresh shrimp. Thank you so much!
Lisa Jones, June 2008
I just wanted to let you know that we all had a great time, including the dogs. We arrived home safely and are ready to come back to Barrier Dunes after only 1 week back at work!
The condo was great and was as nice as it was described on the web page. We enjoyed all the beach toys and other items that were provided for our use in the condo. Thanks for hosting our stay. Please find the attached pictures of the dogs on the beach. It was funny that 1 dog played in the surf and the other wouldn't get near the water, but instead was content to sit on a towel and play spectator while the other played.
We hope to be back and stay again soon!
Karen Dowd, May 2008
Just got back in..stopped and stayed with friends in Homosassa Springs. Thanks for the quick refund on the security deposit. We tried to keep everything tidy. Such a nice condo...Thanks!
We had a great time. Ended up getting a beach driving permit and went out to Indian Pass. Had a fantastic time! Dogs LOVED it! Went crabbing...went to wine bar in Apalachicola, watched sunset and let the 4-legged kids play! Had a great time, very relaxing!
Faye Pratts, May 2008
We had a wonderful time, thanks! The weather was near perfect and the beach was beautiful. We loved the fact that it was nice and quiet, away from traffic, tourists, etc. We both relaxed and did a lot of nothing. The townhouse was very nice...just what we needed. Have a great summer.
Andrea Mann (May 2008)
What a beautiful and quiet paradise you have at Cape San Blas. We had a wonderful time just relaxing at the beach everyday. The dogs had an excellent time playing on the beach. We took them at least twice a day! Our boxer would not stop playing. The rest of the day they just slept. I think they are kinda bored being at home. A lot of people thought we were crazy to take our dogs on vacation but we met many vacationers who love their dogs just as much as we do! We all thought it was funny to pick a vacation spot just because of your dog.
We went to the pool a couple of times and the guys fished off the shore while the girls just laid out. The baby wasn't sure about the water, but he loved just playing on the beach. Se had a seafood night the last night we were there, even though the guys didn't catch anything but catfish --HAHA!
We had everything we need and the condo was perfect. We did not want to leave!! We decided, even before we left, that we were going to plan another trip for next year. Thank you so much for everything you have done for us. We couldn't have asked for anymore.
Kim and Mark Hellyar, St. Louis, MO (May 2008)
Thank you so much for the wonderful vacation! The condo was beautiful as was the beach. Raleigh immediately became a beach baby and he is very sad to be back in St. Louis. I can't tell you how much this trip meant to us. My daughter was diagnosed with MS a couple of months ago and she is trying to cope with this and she really needed to get away. We will be back!
Raliegh, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, meets one of the horses before a horseback ride on the beach at Salinas Park on Cape San Blas
Jane Rouse, May 2008
We had a wonderful time and it was perfect for our dogs! They ran and ran and rested on the beach! The beach restoration is going along nicely. There were tons of shells....we certainly had fun picking them up and planning "craft projects".
The condo was so nicely appointed -- we didn't lack for a thing! We fished and biked and walked and explored! We will be in touch again for sure!
Joe and Robyn Bolgiano, May 2008
We had a wonderful time. The condo was perfect and we are already making plans to return next year for a longer vacation. Our dog Tish is still tring to recuperate from her beach runs! I had no idea the Gulf of Mexico had such pristine beaches! I'm sending some pictures...you can never see too many sunsets!
The Bogiano's black lab, Tish, enjoying a Cape San Blas FL sunset!
James Naum, Tallahassee, FL, May 2008
I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you for allowing us to rent your beach home. Marta and I really enjoyed the few days off. The dogs enjoyed the beach as well, but they remain chickens when it comes to swimming. Your beach house is beautiful and has a nice, relaxing feel to it. Thank you again!
Mark & Mary Willis, (Reilly & Cody, the Golden Retrivers too!) Wisconsin, April 2008
We had a great time. It was a really nice condo, the beach one of the best, if not THE best, we have ever experienced and we had perfect weather. I think I say only 2 clouds the entire time we were on Cape San Blas.
The condo was exactly as pictured on the website. The beach was much better than the website photos. And the sunsets were absolutely fabulous. We met many friendly people and their dogs.
After the day at the beach, it was great to walk up to our deck and enjoy the beach view. Cody, our 8-year old golden retriever might have been happier playing in the waves, However Reilly, our 10-year old golden retriever, enjoyed being out of the sand and on the deck still catching the gulf breeze. Watching the sunset from our deck with a cold bottle of wine and our dogs asleep at the beach , is a memory I will cherish. I hope to get back to Cape San Blas and Barrier Dunes in the near future. I'd like to try to cooridinate a vacation with our extended family. In the past it's been difficult since we dog-sit for one another. Now with a great place like Cape San Blas and Barrier Dunes it's a definite possibility.
Thank you, Wendy, and the owners of Shore Thang and Barrier Dunes for making places like this available for us. I will check your website to get my "Cape-fix" during the cold Wisconsin winter.
Thanks for everything. We do hope to make it back there next year.
Sally Squibb, April/May 2008 (2 weeks)
I had a wonderful time! I have never been to such a beautiful place with such wonderful accommodations!
Honestly, if I could LIVE in that condo, I would be a happy woman! Not only was Pelican view beautiful to look at, but the entire experience, the ambience, the water, the sunrises, the sunsets, the shells, the "little things" like outdoor showers and thoughtful kitchen additions and everything I could use in/on/near/next to the sand had been thought of! Even the other guests were all a joy to experience. My elderly Bassett hound had a little trouble navigating the 3 sets for stairs, but even SHE eventually adapted to the "journey".
I truly had no idea such a paradise existed.
Jan Masica, Dexter, MI, April 19-May 3, 2008
We are on our way home to Michigan and already panning for next year's trip to the Cape. We had 2 BEAUTIFUL weeks at Turtle Crawl! The weather was wonderful, sun every day with temps in the 70's and 80's. Because of our hectic lives at home, we really enjoyed our "simple" daily routine of running the dogs on the beach followed by hours of lounging around or waling the beach. The dogs absolutely loved their stay too, and they are thoroughly exhausted!
Thank you Wendy for providing everything that you do at Turtle Crawl. We love the fact that we can walk right in and feel at home immediately. We can't say enough about Cape San Blas and Turtle Crawl.
Keeper and Sadie, Jan's Golden Retrievers, enjoying a run on the Cape San Blas FL beach! Beautiful dogs!!
Valerie and Tim Holt, April/May 2008
Just wanted to give you a report on our trip to the Cape. We really enjoyed your beautiful condo and furnishings..... the weather was beautiful, cool and crisp. We went to St. Joseph State Park and hiked the trails, took day trips to Apalachicola and to Port St. Joe.
I love how your condo is decorated, great taste! I especially enjoyed your window seat. Did lots of reading and enjoyed sitting on the balcony off the living room and listening to the water fountain with the lake view--very soothing and relaxing.
All in all, it was a most wonderful getaway and thank you so very much for sharing your beautiful place!
Julia & Ivan Espada, April 23 - May, 3, 2007 (Newly Weds :-) )
Thank you for allowing us to stay in such a wonderful place! It was definitely what we needed! We got way too much sun the first day we were there because it as overcast outside and we didn't realize until that evening that we were burned! Ivan went fishing almost every day that he was there. He caught quite a few catfish, some sort of other fish with a black tip on it's fin and about 3 small sharks! He only kept 1 fish and that was a 15 lb redfish! We met a lot of nice people on the beach.
Our Great Dane, Spartan, had a wonderful time! He was a little bit afraid of the ocean at first but by the last day he was getting a bit brave! You would think a dog that size wouldn't be afraid of much but he's the biggest baby I've ever known. He was actually quite the movie star around there. Everywhere we went with him people would say "Oh, looks like a dog we saw on the beach this morning!" He's a very handsome boy and very, very unique looking. We only had 1 day of calm waters. I think there was a storm out there some where, but that as OK with Ivan, he still went fishing everyday.
Once again, thank you so much and I look forward to contacting you again somewhere down the road so that we can come and visit again!
Spartan, the Great Dane, and Ivan digging in the sand!
Deidra White, April 2008
We loved Barrier Dunes 27 and look forward to coming back. Everything was exactly like you said on your website. I would recommend it highly.
Your amazing customer service and attention to details, including your instructions, really made the vacation wonderful.
On the 2nd day we tried walking to the lighthouse along the beach but never made it...enjoyed every step though. We were gone about 5 hours round trip...never did figure out how far away we were from the lighthouse when we turned back.
Take care (and I hope we will be back soon!)
Marianne Walker, Kennesaw, GA, April 2008
Got back this evening tired and happy, but we had to tell you we had and AWESOME time at your home. It was truly superb and hope to repeat the experience. Thanks for making a great get away possible!
Connie & Garry Porter (and Brandy), Friendswood, TX, April 2008
We had a great time this last week. It was so peaceful and secluded. We loved it. Brandy, our Golden Retriever, loved running on the beach and fishing with us too. The fishing was pretty good and we caught several whiting, pompano and even a small trout. Unfortunately didn't make it to a crab walk as you suggested because we wore ourselves out each day at the beach.
We look forward to doing this again and will definitely recommend your place to others.
Mary Willis, April 2008
We had a great time. It was a really nice condo, the beach one of the best, if not THE best, we have ever experienced and we had perfect weather. I think I say only 2 clouds the entire time we were on Cape San Blas.
Russell Brown, April 2008
We had such a great time! The condo was beautiful. It was a great escape! It was just what we needed. We'll come back for sure and stay longer next time. Thanks so much!
John & Jackie Martin, April 2008
We had a great time. Haven't had time, but we did take a picture of Chester with me on the beach for your website. He loved it....He did make friends with Murphy across the way so he's doing better with his big dog syndrome. Loved the ocean too. We walked so much and relaxed --- it was great! Thank you!!!!!
Susan Bucknall, Mableton, GA, April 2008
We so thoroughly enjoyed our stay and the weather turned out to be just perfect. I don't think we could stand it to be too hot......It was a lovely relaxing break for us with our dogs before David embarks on all his travel.
Beach House Too is a lovely home to spend a break away. Everything was just perfect. Now all we need to do is plan when exactly to make a return visit.
We met lots of very friendly people and loved to meet up most evening on the beach. The dogs thought it wonderful....
All I can say is I wish we were there now. It's back to normal again but at least we have lots of fantastic memories and plenty of shells to boot. When I get more organized (very soon) I shall definitely send you some photographs.
I only have positive comments from our holiday.
Nancy Antonak, March/April 2008
We had a great time on the Cape. So relaxing, beautiful beach, very peaceful. Already miss the long strolls on the beach and the warm sun. I think next time we woudl like to stay at the one that overlooks the lake...91 I think!
We've lived in South Florida for 24 years before moving to Indiana in 2004, but have never visited NW Florida except once for business in Panama City. The Cape is a well kept secret. Drove down to Apalachicola and St. George Island. The 2 bridges reminded me of the Seven Mile bridge in the Keys--beautiful waterway.
Our pups had as much fun as we did. I've attached a picture of them sun-dogin'.
Thanks again for a great vacation. Have a great summer.
Riley and Tess enjoying a nap on the beach! Beautiful Whippets!
Anna, Mark and Matthew Wheeler, March 2008
Thanks for sending the security deposit back so quickly! We had a wonderful time! The weather was perfect -- sunny and in the 70's. We spent so much time on the beach and our decks -- the sunsets were awesome! Having a condo right on the beach was the highlight of the week.
We visited St. Vincent's Island this year and really enjoyed ourselves. Also, thanks for the Sunset Coastal Grill recommendation there -- we ate there our last night in Florida and had a spectacular meal (and drinks!). Our dogs, TIlly and Tara, had so much fun it was hard for us to leave! I'll send pictures when I get them back.
Thanks again and I hope to be there again next year!
Marcus and Marilyn Looker, March 2008
It was really fabulous, thank you so much! We loved it! Perfect for our family. Everyone in our party is just RAVING about it! Beautiful home!
Shirley McKinney, March 2008
We had a wonderful vacation at the Cape. Belle's first experience with the ocean was fun, though we had such big waves while we were there that she wouldn't go in past her knees after the first wave hit her in the face. She's a quick study.
We loved your home and the community (Barrier Dunes). The pet stations were awesome. Every community should have them. Ross met a retired attorney that lives in Barrier Dunes who he played tennis with several times. We rode bikes through St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, walked on the beach and in our down time we even put together the 1000 piece puzzle in the living room.
We would love to visit again. I will be in touch. Thanks for providing us with the opportunity to have a wonderful vacation with Belle.
Gwen, Roy, Jon & Savanna Carney (Thunder & Shadow), March 2008
I want to thank you again. We had a wonderful time. The weather was great, a bit windy, but we loved it. Beach House Too feels like home away from home. We had everything we needed. We were so happy to stay longer on this trip. Wish we were still there. It's snowing at home today. Thank you again.
We also received our deposit and WOW, how quick, it was home before us. Thank you!
Jon Carney enjoying a spectacular Cape San Blas FL sunset.
Patty Rund, March 2008 (repeat guest)
We had a great time a gain at the Cape -- fantastic weather (70's and sunshine) and super low-key relaxing time. Condo was great - nice to be so close to the beach!
Lisa Dillman, March 2008
As you predicted, we LOVED IT! The condo was beautiful, the beach was JUST like I remembered (even though I hadn't been there since 1994 camping), the wether was perfect (it only rained to give me a break from the sunburn and make sure I did work: this was a "working vacation").
The place is so well stocked it's unbelievable. The dogs had a blast; the girls (me and Robyn) had a blast; the fresh shrimp was great; I tried oysters for the first time...in short, it couldn't have been more perfect and we are coming back next March! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Carole Freeburg, March 2008
We just arrived home and we had a wonderful time. The condo was perfect for our family and we loved having our dog with us. When we have unpacked and rested a bit I will email you some details and pictures! Thank you so much!
Cheryle & Larry Homuth and Holly the Border Collie, March 2008
Thank you for everything. Sorry I had to bother you so many times, that is not our usual. We had a wonderful time and the townhouse was great. We were very sad to leave. I hope we will be able to stay at least 2 weeks next year. I am so glad our friends told us about Cape San Blas...it really is the Forgotten Coast!
Phil Evans, March 2008
We had a wonderful stay just relaxing in the "home away from home" you have created at Turtle Crawl. I only regret we couldn't take you up on your generous offer for the other 2 days!
We had fun sampling some of the local restraurants, but our favorite was "Toucans." The burgers were huge, the fries exceptional and the locations so close to the water that you could almost feel the sand between your toes. We wandered through a lot of the local shops and even managed to hit the local Goodwill store where I found assessories for my Ipod. The beach was great for walking, but the water was till too cold for our blood. We spent a little time walking on the beach in the state park just down the road and went down to the large pipe sticking out of the water. Folks were fishing there so we headed back to the van and another dinner on the town. We even found the local humane society where I almost brought another dog home with me. Better sense prevailed and we came home with just our 10 pound cat chaser!
I think that most of my remaining vacation for this year has already been allocated for other purposes, but your condo will remain hight on our list of places we want to return to. Thanks for inviting us again!
Devon Rudloff, March 2008
Boo and I enjoyed our stay there and we will be back again! Thank you again for everything. You guys are great. I'll be sending other "dog lovers" your way for their vacation R&R spot! Take care!
Rita Sikora, Winter 2008
Our 2 month stay in Beach House Too was like a home away from home with a homey decor and comfortable furnishings. Wendy was a great help and took care of any need immediately. Such personal care was refreshing. It was our first trip to Barrier Dunes and we loved every minute of it. Although it was chilly and windy some days, it was better than being up north. Powder sugar sand as far as you could see was beautiful with changing surf almost daily.
Our dog Westley, a golden retriever, ran on the beach every day and found may dog friends to
play with. He enjoyed racing with the waves and liked sitting in the surf to cool off. His second favorite thing was rolling in the sand. The beach house had a hose in the car port which was used everyday to give Westley a full bath. Even dog towels were supplied. Great idea!
My husband and I joined an aerobics class 3 days a week and walked several miles a day. My husband also rode a bike a couple times a week to check out the area. We left in better shape than when we arrived. I will miss the daily exercise.
Coming to Barrier Dunes was a relaxing , but also an invigorating vacation. We met some great people from all over the U.S. and Canada who found reasons to get together for social functions several times while we were there. Aside from being a pet friendly location, it is ia people friendly place too!
We got out and about from time to time sampling some of the restaurants in th area. Some of our favorites were Peppers, a Mexican restaurant and The Sunset Coastal Grill , in Port St. Joe; The Indian Pass Raw Bar at Indian pass; Caroline's, The Grill (good for lunch) and The Owl in Apalachicola.
Thanks for making our vacation one of the best we've ever had. It's so nice to enjoy it with a pet!
Michelle Clayton, February 2008
Thank you so much for everything, including the quick deposit refund. You are so on top of things. Paradise was just that -- paradise. My only complaint was my trip was too short. But hey, a couple of days at the beach is better than no days at the beach.
Dakotah loved it. He was like a small kid -- begging to go back out anytime we were inside the condo. Getting there later than planned on Wednesday night I missed the sunset, however the next 2 were beautiful. I am sure you get many sunset pictures that you are sick of them, but I have sent a couple anyway. The 2 we enjoyed were so different, but both so beautiful. Dakotah even enjoyed the sunsets.
Please pass on to the owners that us pet lovers really do appreciate the pet friendly accommodations. That is the feature that drew me to the Cape and it will bring me back. I am glad you guys realize that some four legged children are better behaved than some of the two legged ones. :-) Please also let the owners know that you do a spectacular job at managing the property. Your efficiency and helpfulness are both way above what is expected. I will recommend your properties every opportunity I have!
Michelle's rottwieler, Dakotah, enjoying a fantastic beach sunset!
Mike, Tracy & Riley (Border Collie), February 2008
I received my deposit check in the mail today. Thanks for the quick refund.
Our week at the Cape was wonderful! Mike and I haven't stopped talking about it since we've been home. The location and the atmosphere was just what we were hoping for. We especially appreciated the well stocked and cared for town home and the great views from all 3 gulf front decks. The pet friendly accommodations and beaches allowed us to bring our border collie, Riley, with us and he is now officially a "beach dog". He dug for crabs in the sand, fished with Mike and "herded" the waves all week. He was hilarious to watch and Mike and I realized, in lou of sheep, living at the beach may be the next best thing for Riley!!!! And us too....
Thanks for all the things Donna ran out to us the first day. They made our stay even more enjoyable. And thanks for all the wonderful information you provided to us before and during our stay. Your courteous, prompt and professional nature put the icing on the cake for us! We will be returning to the Cape in the future.
Thanks for everything!
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We just came home and received your check in the mail. Thank you for mailing it so promptly.
We came home and it was 14F. Oh, do we miss Barrier Dunes. We love it there and know we will be back....Today it is 34F and we think it feels beter already. I keep telling all the friends how nice it is in Cape San Blas. Take care and we pay we all stay well!
Dawn Kmiec, February 2008
Last week (in Cape San Blas) was the first week of a three week vacation with the dogs. We have spent this week in Key West where the dogs have been on a leash all week in crowds and in our rental, which cost more than the Cape and is the size of our laundry room at home.
We completely enjoyed the quiet atmosphere last week and the condo was great with all of our "away from home needs". We had many shrimp dinners on the deck overlooking the gulf...
Thanks again!
Mike and Lesley de Rosayro, February 2008
We had a great time and certainly plan on going back next year, maybe for 2 weeks! Will be in touch!
Scott Cockrell, January 2008 (Harvest, AL)
The trip was really great. We were concerned that the weather might not be good for the weekend, but it turned out to be beautiful. Good call on having a fire on the beach. WE did that Friday and Saturday night. We only went out to ea 1 night and that was to Apalachicola to Tamarita's I think it was called. The food was ok, but not worth the price we paid.
This was our first trip to the beach in the winter time and we both decided we really liked it. We loved that there were not a lot of people. The beach was great. The Cape Escape was very nice. Bryant and Sadie (our dogs) were very well behaved inside. They both loved the beach and were absolutely exhausted when we got home......Thank you so much for your help. We will surely come back!!
Tim Tehan, January 2008
Thanks for a great week at your lovely beach house! We were very comfortable and got just what we needed... solitude, quiet and beautiful enviornmental surroundings. We enjoyed your home and its amenities and will be back again. Thank you for the rental and the speedy refund of the security deposit.
Kelly Shepard, Dec/Jan 2008
This year was even more special than last year! I can't thank you enough for keeping such a beautiful condo--I cried about 5 times before we left! We were taking last night about our next trip, we have dates picked out and will call you this week after we check out the other rentals you have now! The dogs had the best time and everyone loved them in the window seat! Thanks again!
Erinn Murphy, December 2007/January 2008
We had an awesome time! Your place is wonderful and we would definitely come back! Our dogs just loved life and so did we! I think they are glad we are back at work so they can catch up on sleep.
Thanks for getting the deposit check out so quickly. I will send some photos and more trip info in a few days!
P hillip Carleton, Ontario Canada, December - January 2008
We were extremely happy with our accommodations and the good weather you arranged as well. Very peaceful and relaxing vacation for everyone, including the dog. We are already planning a return trip.
Dana Brown, December 2007
We enjoyed our time at the Cape very much. It was 8 p.m. when we arrived so we were "in the dark" as to what the beach looked like, but we could hear it. The next morning my husband and I took Rosie (Aussie Shepherd) and Angel (Mini Dachshund) for their walk. We were both in awe of how white the sand is and that no one else was on the beach. Rosie kept looking at the waves and whining. She couldn't understand why the big bowl of water was moving! Angel was not impressed at all with the sand (yuck, it didn't taste good) or the water! What do you expect from a diva dog!
We found the most beautiful shells and even sand dollars (16 of them) the day after a night time rainstorm. Our daughter didn't care that the water was cold, she walked in waist deep. Our son stood near the water so I could take his picture and a wave snuck up on him knee deep!
The sunsets were amazing, especially from the master bedroom balcony. The few people we met on the beach were very friendly and they all greeted our pets too! The date before leaving we all went on one last shell hunt. After coming back we were climbing the steps over the dunes and I turned to look back and just over my daughter's shoulder I saw 3 dolphins surface for air. She didn't believe me at first, but then she saw them too. That has to be my most treasured memory.
We would love to return to Barrier Dunes in the future! Next time I think we'll try the summertime.
Thomas Lavelle, December 2007 (Baltimore, MD)
We had a wonderful time in Florida and everything was perfect! We really felt at home in your place. We loved the beach and the dog had a blast! The drive to and from Baltimore was a bit much but our time on Cape San Blas was excellent. We hope to go back again.
Thanks a lot for all the detailed work you put into the place to make it a comfortable experience!
Teresa Hinkle, November 2007
Thanks for the quick refund! Our visit to the Cape was just what we needed! This was the perfect place to relax and enjoy the sun and sand! Weather was great -- 70's in the day and cool at night!
Our dog, Parker, really enjoyed his first vacation as well. Made lots of friends and enjoyed the beach very much.
The accommodations were beyond our expectations! I honestly expected them to be a bit "rough" considering the fact that you allow furry friends, and we were frankly shocked at how clean, nice and well stocked the townhouse was! It was great to walk off the deck and straight to the beach!
Speaking of beach---what a great beach it is! Deserves the kudos it has received! I just referred your Barrier Dunes rentals to a friend! Happy holidays!
Mellissa Slover, November 2007
We truly enjoyed ourselves at the Cape. What a beautiful place! It's like real Florida! Who knew we still had such beautiful beaches! The condo was gorgeous and very accommodating. Very convenient access to the beach with million dollar views! The sunsets were some of the prettiest I've ever seen! The dogs really enjoyed the beach. IT was a new experience for them. It was great fun to watch them. All the people we met were very nice and friendly. We even went horseback riding one day with Julie and Katie from Broke a Toe and they were very great to work with.
Thank you again for helping make our trip as enjoyable as possible. I am more than happy to serve as a reference if you ever need one. I'm sure we will be making trips back to the Cape and back to Shore Thang. Thank you again!
Missy Goodwin & Family, November 2007
Oh my goodness - we had a great, great time. The weather was beautiful and we couldn't have had a better week. We felt so safe with a gated community! The beaches were spectacular and clean and the shelling was so much fun. We loved Indian Pass Raw Bar. We loved Apalachicola. We had so much fun watching your bonfires from our deck.
We will definitely be back and will send some pictures for your website!
Debbie Myers, October 2007
We had a wonderful time. There were a couple of days that we were the only ones on the beach. The dog loved to run at the beach. We didn't want to come home. Oh, some day...when we retire.....
We will be coming back for vacation time again. Thank you.
Bert & Joyce Wagnon (October 2007)
We had a wonderful time at Casa Del Sol. I know of no better way Joyce and I could have spent our 40th anniversary. The weather was perfect and the unit was clean and well equipped. We went in to Appaachicola and had lunch at the Owl Cafe. The crab dip was out of site. The beaches and water were clean. The wind shifted a little bit on Sunday and a few flies came in, but not too bad. The Cape is the place to go to get away from the stress and have peace and relaxation. We will definitely be contacting you again for another "Cape Escape".
Kevin Lowans, October 2007
Thank you for renting us your home. You really have a very nice home and the location was perfect. Maggie went swimming for the first time on Wednesday! Wile we were there we visited St. George Island which as also beautiful. It was great to relax for a few days and I hope to visit Cape San Blas again when my family visits me next. Thanks again for a great vacation. I will gladly recommend your home to all of my friends as many have pets and your location is perfect and relaxing.
Justin, Dana, Peyton and San Schmidt, October 2007
Thank you for the rental! We had a wonderful and very relaxing time; it was just what we needed. Our 9 week old, Peyton, and Dachshund, Sam also loved their first trip to the beach. We look forward to staying there again. Thanks!
Sandy Raimondo, October 2007
Thanks for a great weekend. We had a blast. The dogs are still exhausted from all the playing on the beach (as are we!).
We'd love to come back again next year. It was the perfect weather and so few people around, a great time to take a vacation!
Pam Spry, September 2007
Thank you so much! We had a wonderful time at the Cape, and we loved everything about the place, especially the view! Everything was exactly as described on your website and it exceed our expectations. Not only would we like to come back sometime in the future, we'd like to come back now! I still have the post-vacation blues! We live in a very big city with way too much traffic, so it was a completely relaxing getaway.
We loved being able to walk out of the townhouse right onto the beach and take long walks on the beach every morning and evening. We loved reading in the afternoon in the master bedroom and looking out on the ocean and being able to see just the water. It was almost like being on a cruise ship! The weather was perfect every day and the sunsets were beautiful every night.
This was our first trip to the ocean with our Golden Retriever, and we weren't sure if she'd like it, but we had trouble getting her out of the water. We met 2 ladies in one of your rentals with a one year old Golden Retriever (Kerrie and Cathy), and the 2 dogs had so much fun playing together in the ocean and on the beach.
Thank you for making your townhouse available for dog owners. Having our pooch with us made the trip so much more fun, and as a result, we met several very nice dogs and thier owners!
Pam Spry with her Golden Retriever enjoy a sunset on the beach!
Susan Hamrick, (September 2007-Repeat Guest)
I wanted to write you and thank you again for everything you did to make our trip so wonderful. We had an absolutely great time - had the beach to ourselves and enjoyed the beautiful weather. JD, our dog, slept all the way home in the back seat - he has been exhausted the last few days.
I really love the Cape and can't wait to get back there soon...I hope one day to be able to buy something there -- that would be my dream come true!
Casa Del Sol had everything we needed and then some!! We can't wait to come back and stay there again real soon. I know you book early so we will try and get an order in to you shortly. It is so wonderful renting from you and we are passing your website around to all of our beach loving friends!!
William Crowe and Family (September 2007)
We had a wonderful time at Turtle Crawl. It was so quiet and relaxing. The condo had everything we needed and more. We fished, walked on the each, visit St. Joe State Park and most of all just relaxed. With Abby along we really felt at home. It was her first trip to the beach and she loved. She had that little nose down investigating everything. We met a family from Calhoun, GA, which is only about a 40 minute drive from where we live. We knew some of the same people in Calhoun and LaFayette. what are the odds of that happening? We really had a great time and have already been telling people about your condos (especially our dog lover friends). I am attaching a couple of pictures of Abby and the Crowe's at the beach. Thanks again for everything!
The Crowe Family with their Shih-Tzu, Abby
Laura Lee, September 2007 (repeat guest - 2 weeks this time!)
Thanks Wendy! We had such a good time and getting up this morning and coming to work was such a shock to my system. I didn't take many pictures this time, but I will make sure I send you a few. I'm already looking at my calendar for next year!
Linda Hottenstein, September 2007
We had a wonderful time on our Cape Escape. The weather was perfect and the dogs made some new pals. We actually say baby turtles running to the ocean! We loved the Turtle Crawl unit. Thanks so much!
Melissa Tessmer, September 2007
We had a great time!!! We will definitely be back. We were amazed on how quiet it is there and how friendly everyone is. We definitely said that if we were coming to Florida, we we go no where else but Cape San Blas. We have been to Daytona, Miami, Key West, St. Augustine, Tampa and Orlando, but they do not compare to the Cape.
It definitely was paradise and we are looking forward to coming back soon! We met a gentleman that owns a condo in Dunes Club and it got my husband's wheel's spinning. He thought, what a great idea to own a place down there someday. We are hooked. Thanks again and I will be forwarding some pictures soon.
Sean and Martha Price (August 2007)
Thank you so much for all your great help. The vacation was perfect, better than we expected. The house is absolutely beautiful and has everything we needed and more. We were sad that we didn't have enough time to stay longer, that is a place to stay at least a week. We really didn't want to come back home, but we hope soon we can book a longer stay there!!
Zeus, our golden retriever, had a great time, he loved it!! At first he got a little sick because he drank the ocean water, but after that he learned and he enjoyed the beach and the new friends like nobody else!
Our other family members were very impressed with the location and they all asked us for the link and your phone number. We surely need to go back!! Thank you for making this vacation one of the best!
Sean and Martha Price - Cape San Blas, FL Beach Vacation 2007
Thomas Dyer, August 2007
I received your letter and check today. Thanks for the quick turn around.
Let me tell you that we had a great time. The Cape exceeded my expectations. What a wonderful area full of nature. Everything we enjoyed, the beach, kayaking, boating , marine life, great food and the locals were all so friendly and helpful. I've been tryng to figure a way to obtain a place down there since we left. Anyway, we will definitely return.
We saw a Bald Eagle while kayaking. It was fighting with a Hawk in the air over our heads and dropped a fish. I dubbed it the luckiest fish alive. Anyway, it was an awesome sight. We did the horseback riding on the beach--something I've always wanted to do. We rented a boat and saw an abundance of marine life: dolphins, stingrays, huge jellyfish etc. St. Joseph State Park was beautiful, unspoiled . We were the only ones on the beach and it was very romantic. I could go on, but you already know how great it is. We will be back for sure.
Oh yeah, we were out to eat at Sunset Coastal Grill and a prominent local business man saw our car which had "just married" on it and he bought our entire dinner that evening. It was one of the nicest things ever! His name was Mr. Rish--we met him and talked for a while. It was a very kind thing to do and something I will always remember.
Al & Michelle Doman, August 2007
We had a wonderful time at the Great Escape II. The accommodations are beautiful and you certainly provide everything a family could want for a beach vacation. The scalloping and fishing were terrific and we very much enjoyed having Fritz with us for the week. Looking forward to doing it again next year.
Kerrin & Joe Kostelic, August 2007
Thanks for refunding the security deposit so quickly! We did indeed enjoy staying at the Cape Escape I this weekend. Your condo is lovely and so well outfitted, we felt right at home. The beach was beautiful and we met many other dog-friendly folks there and "Liebe" made some new friends as well.
We will definitely be back and will share your information with other dog-people back here in the Pensacola area.
Andrea Waintroob, August 2007
We had a great time. The house was perfect and we hope to rent from you again. Next time we come down, we're going to come for 2 weeks at least and really veg out. Thanks for renting your lovely house to us!
The Costanzo Family, August 2007
We had a great time and really enjoyed our vacation. All of us went on a charter through Seahorse Water Safaris and went snorkeling for scallops and crabs. We caught some and did eat them for dinner, but the fun was going and seeing my granddaughters faces. We found a place by the Raw Bar where the crabbing was the best and I caught 3 large crabs and no one else did...but of course I shared! We all got a lot of sun on the beach and at the pools at Barrier Dunes. My daughter and I went into the State Park and tried our luck there for scalloping, but caught nothing but sore feet. Our granddaughters made friend with our neighbors and everyone was very friendly.
We heard some stories about some poor conditions in some other condos which were rented from other rental agencies or owners, but we were very happy with our condo-- it was clean, kitchen was ell equipped and felt like home. Our dogs had a great time on the beach. Thank you for the wine (note: she had a big "0" birthday!) --that was a very nice thought. I do want to say that it was a delight dealing with you, it was very easy to contact you when we had a questions, you replied right away--it couldn't have been better.
We will definitely consider coming back on our next vacation!
Scott Chappell and Family, August 2007
We had a great time at the Cape. I just wanted to thank you for all the information and help you provided in making this a wonderful vacation for our family. Attached are pictures I took from the deck of Shore Thang #2 in Barrier Dunes. We met some wonderful people and pets. We even met a man from my hometown of Americus GA!
Taken from the beachfront deck of Shore Thang!
Zo Sellers, August 2007
We had a wonderful time! The house was more than we expected. The photos don't do it justice! Three of us said we could just move in and never come home. Our son spent most of his week watching TV--he was mad at us because he had to miss his first 4 baseball games! We had some great family time. Teenagers don't spend much time with their parents and it was nice that ours were pretty much forced to. Our daughter didn't even turn on her cell phone after the first day.
Thanks again for your wonderful hospitality. We really appreciated our time away.
Mary Kaminski, August 2007
Thank you so much for providing all the right ingredients for the perfect vacation! Everything was top notch, from beginning to end. We couldn't have hoped for more. We really enjoyed the opportunity to stay the extra day in The Cape Escape I too, although it made the trip back a bit more taxing. Missile slept about 998 of the 1000 miles home! I've never seen her so tired. I'm not sure when we can get back, but will certainly try to make it sooner rather than later. Thanks again!
Tony & Nancy Bachman and Family, August 2007
We just got home safely and wanted you to know how perfect our stay was in your beautiful location in Cape San Blas. It was the perfect place for all of us. I will send pictures and more comments when I get a bit rested in the next couple of days.
Shore Thang is wonderful! Weather great! Florida lifted the burn ban so we would have bonfires...we had 2!
Mary Oberkramer and Family, July 2007
We all returned rested, tan and sad! Sad because we had to leave such a wonderful place. The whoe family had a wonderful time. The house was perfect. We used your crock pot numerous times because I told the group you're on your own...if you need me, come to the beach!!!
Mike, Steven, Kim and Michael went on the fishing trip with Book Me a Charter" and had the time of their life!! They put the pictures of their days catch on the website. Bonnie didn't mind the sand and surf but Ginger wanted nothing to do with the crashing waves. We did enjoy our morning, afternoon and evening walks around the beautiful neighborhood.
My sister and myself had a day of sight seeing while the rest of the family fished. We drove to Apalachicola Historical district and had lunch at Papa Joe's, "Yum-mo". Toured through St. George Island State Park. Other than that we played on the beach.
Thank you for sharing your lovely home. I hope to book with you again in the future!
The Oberkramer family with their wonderful catch from a day charter fishing!
Amy Roadman, July 2007
We had an amazing time. It was everything I hoped it would be and MORE. I have some really great pics to share with you for your website.
We loved our condo and everything about Barrier Dunes. We will be back without a doubt. It was a vacation made of memories to last a lifetime. Thanks for everything!
Kim Coker, July 2007
We all made it back home after a wonderful week. We had a blast and have already talked about returning soon. It was nice to meet you--thanks for taking the time to check in on us.
Toi Wilson, July 2007
We had an absolutely wonderful vacation. Turtle Crawl is great! My kids are already asking when we can go back. George and I could not believe all the personal touches in the condo such as the beach stuff, spice rack and outdoor shower. This was certainly our best time ever at the beach.
Murphy (the Mastiff) did not like the beach as much as Ruben and I would walk on the beach and he would run full speed into the waves. It was really funny. We drove down to Panama City on Wednesday and went to the water park. The kids loved it. Davis and George went fishing and bike riding on Friday while Lindsey and I went shopping in Apalachicola. The weather was great all week!
Ronald Bell, July 2007
I can honestly say that it was the best family vacation we've ever taken. The unit was so convenient to the beach. The children and grandchildren were able to enjoy spending time together and we have great photos of them. Thanks for your prompt responses; attention to our needs; and providing a wonderful place to spend quality time!
Frank Marx and Family (July 2007)
What an absolute ball we had! I have to take my hat off to you, renting Beach House Too to a family of 6! It was remarkably comfortable, very clean and VERY cool when we needed it! We found that the walk to the beach was much shorter than we anticipated and had the extra added bonus of taking us by the pool.
Could not believe all the stuff you keep in the place: the 2 boogie boards were big hits, we could not get over the knife set -- wow, better than ours at home! The fishing charter was an absolute blast (www.BookMeACharter.com) and will be the focus of a return trip. The kids loved the beach -- we were there every day for hours -- and our friends who traveled with us couldn't get over how powdery the sand was. We made a lot of sand castles, did a ton of boogie boarding and body surfing, and even buried Katie and Nick in the sand up to their necks! We grilled out every night -- had trout and shark that we caught, and grouper that we bought.
This is THE family destination for the summer if you live in the southeast. We are coming back, and are likely to bring friends with us.
Wendy, all of your communication, directions and guides were invaluable. I especially appreciated how quick and open you were to help me resolve questions while were down there (only 1 that I can think of).
Thanks again for all you did to make this such a wonderful experience. I'll look forward to booking with you again for next year!
The Marx Family showing off their catch from deep sea fishing with Book Me a Charter during their Cape San Blas FL vacation!
Debby Jarrett, June/July 2007
We had a wonderful time! Your place is great and we will definitely be back. Everything was perfect. The WiFi in The Cape Escape I is especially helpful to us-- so work did have to get done while we were away :-).
Ann Cotter, June/July 2007
I just wanted to let you know we received the deposit check today. Thank you. And thank you also for the nice, relaxing vacation in your condo. It was so nice to have everything we needed for the beach there already. The boys had a great time with the boogie and skim boards, and we weren't expecting the added bonus of the umbrella (which the elderly beagles loved!) Morgan (the aussie/lab mix) would've kept going until she dropped. We would stop throwing her toy (which we bought at Petunia in Apalachicola) so she stop running into the water and swimming and the rest, but then she would throw it around on the beach (throwing sand up along with it!). The only way to get her to stop was to leave!
At home, she can't stand to be inside very long, always wondering if there are squirrels in the yard that she's missing, but she doesn't have the beach here to wear her out! After we hosed off the dogs (we brought them up to the deck and closed the gate so they could thoroughly dry outside) she would just come in and sleep!
We gave the kids the master bedroom so they could all sleep together and they loved having control of the TV. They didn't mind relaxing and just watching TV either! Here at home, they're always busy riding their bikes and playing with neighbors. As nice as that is, it was great to just spend time alone together.
Thanks again for a great vacation spot and I have already recommended your website to several people! I'll send you some pictures when I get them off my camera and into my computer!
Bobby & Amy Durham, June 2007
First, thank you for the great directions, the way you kept in communication with us before we left for the trip and the call to us the night we arrived. Wendy, we had a great time...I loved the airy and beachy condo you have...I wanted to take the sign BEACH HOUSE RULES...RELAX, RELAX, RELAX. It took 3 full days before Bobby and I could relax and become normal people. I forgot what it felt like to be at ease and happy. Life's been hard at work and at home the past few months. The people we met at Barrier Dunes were lovely, very kind.
It was great to see so many dogs there. Slim loved the beach. We stayed under the umbrella, my days of lying in the sun have been over for quite some time. You were right, we were 150 steps to the beach--we saw most of the same people at the beach all week. I guess we were all renting at the same time. The people were so nice, not one bad experience.
Your condo (The Cape Escape I) was clean and so well stocked, the bed was comfortable, I loved the curtains. What a neat idea to have them separated into 4 pieces. My mom visited us Wednesday - Friday and she loved it. It was also wonderful to feel like I was so far away from the toxic world. WE were secluded, yet there were enough people around that we did not feel alone. Having the washer and drier in the condo was very nice. I loved the decks.
We ate at Steamers. I am a vegetarian, but I do eat steamed oysters and they were great. My mom had the flounder and she loved it. We went to the Dockside Cafe as some of the previous guests noted that it was good, but we did not like it. The server was nice, but the service itself was not very good and the food was not very good, but it just may not have been our type of place. We tried to go to the Sunset Coastal Grill, but they did not allow dogs. We did takeout from Loggerhead Grill (you can take your dog if they sit outside, but they had no outside service that night). It was pretty good. We were going to go to Amanda's Bistro in St. Joe's but they didn't have any items for a vegetarian that night, so we skipped...did sound like a nice place.
We did a trip to Apalachicola and ate at the Veranda--that was the best meal. Slim was on the veranda with us and Bobby was happy because he could smoke a cigar outside! Cute little town and very dog friendly.
It was hard to leave. We definitely want to come back again. You made the trip so easy with your detailed info, follow-up etc. I don't find that very often when I travel. You were there for us every time we needed you. Thanks for your comment about taking care of your home--it was our pleasure! We want to be asked back again! We are both neat freaks so that helps. Thanks again for everything and we cannot wait to come back!!
Hassie Breaux, June 2007
We had a wonderful time on the Cape. It was awesome! We went to the beach, we went to the beach, ate, slept and went to the beach!
I loved that there was not many people. I am sure there is even less during the "off season". We went to the state park one day and spent the day there. It was beautiful! On another day we rented a boat and went to the end of the Cape like you suggested and that was absolutely fabulous!
I didn't want to leave! It was like we were on an adventure. We found wonderful shells. We saw a huge spotted sting ray and 2 blow fish. We also saw bunches of hermit crabs. The kids went crabbing in a little pool of water there and we caught lots of crabs. They were small so we didn't keep them, but it was very fun.
Your condo is wonderful! I love the floor plan and we found everything we needed. Your art work was beautiful too! Thanks for being so generous.
I really do hope to get back next year or even in the fall season. I loved it. Thanks so much for everything!
Wendy Monnett & Family, June 2007
We are back from the Cape and wanted to let you know it was AWESOME!!! Pelican View is such a beautiful place and being right on the beach was an extra plus. We definitely want to go back next year. The kids loved it too. There were tons of teens there so our teens loved hanging out at the pool and beach with all the others and they had a great time. Kept saying they wanted to come back. So you know it's great when your teenagers loved it. We ate at logs of new places, Dockside Cafe was one of the best. Loved the food and the atmosphere. And the price was reasonable. Toucan's was also another hit with everyone. Again, thank you for the great place to relax and feel at home. You're doing a great job!
Laurie Walker, May/June 2007
The place was wonderful and we all enjoyed it so much. There was not a thing we could wish for in the condo. We have plans of going back next year as our visiting friends enjoyed it so much. Our dogs had so much fin and lots of walks around the condos, but they didn't care for the beach. Too old I guess. They loved the condo too and I took their big dog pillow along. I thought the doggie bags (provided in Barrier Dunes) were a great idea--I had forgotten to bring bags so it was just another great touch!
Needless to say we all had a fabulous time. It was very uncommercialized and everything was there one could wish for, just bring clothing and food!
Wally and Laurie Walker enjoy the Dockside Cafe, one of the Pet Friendly Restaurants in Port St. Joe, with their dogs!
Debbie Reed, Fayetteville, GA May 2007
We had a wonderful week. I don't believe I've ever stayed in a condo that was as well equipped as yours!
David Trotter, Fort Walton Beach, FL May 2007
His Story: We had a great time at the Cape. It was one of the most relaxing times I have ever had. The only regret I had about the trip was we had to come back to the "real world".
As for the engagement, Lauren loves horses so I had called ahead and reserved a time for us to go take and evening ride on the beach. It ended up to be a really enjoyable time. The guide gave us plenty of room to ride and talk by ourselves. After that we had a little sunset picnic back by Barrier Dunes and I asked her to marry me. She said yes and I can't wait until September to marry her. I told her to reply to you with more story-type telling of this if she wants to. I'm just not very good at much more than facts.
Thank you for all your help with the trip. It was a wonderful time and we both agreed that we would like to go back to the Cape sometime soon (maybe even for the honeymoon). Have a great weekend and I'm sure we'll be in touch.
Her Story: The day David and I got engaged was like not other. It came on the 1 year anniversary of us first meeting. It was a perfect day!!! He woke me up by bringing me breakfast in bed. It was the sweetest thing. We then decided to go kayaking to see if we could see the dolphins again since we had been out there the day before and the dolphins swam right past us. The weather was perfect! We paddled around for a while and just relaxed. We played paddle ball on the beach and went in the water for a while. The water was quite refreshing. We spent a lazy day on the beach and drove to get oysters over in Apalachicola. It was a great place. By the time we got back home it was time to start getting ready to go horseback riding on the beach. The horses were beautiful and the guides were nice enough to let David and I ride ahead of them so we could have some privacy. We were able to ride right next to each other and really share the moment together. He looks so good on a horse :-) It was definitely one of the best moments of my life.
The sun was slowly setting and the beach had that evening glow to it. I couldn't have asked for anything more , nor did I have to. Instead I was about to be asked something I had long known the answer to. When we finished riding, we drove back to the beach at Barrier Dunes, just in time to see the last rays of the sun. We brought some wine, cheese and veggies with us and we had a little picnic. It was getting dark and we had been out there for a bet when the other best moment of my life happened. David sat up and reached in his pocket and asked me the most important question of our lives. The words we shared I'd rather not say so as to keep it for yourselves, but I can tell you one thing, I definitely said yes! It is a day I will never forget and all the wonderful memories from this trip I will carry with me always.
** OK GUYS--doesn't get much more romantic that that! CONGRATULATIONS to both of you!
Carol and Curt Moebius, May 2007
Just to let you know we had a "Blast" in San Blas. The weather was great, the accommodations, SUPER. Shiloh had a great time as you can see from the attached photos. We even got to go to the point (the tip of Cape San Blas. It was so beautiful out there. Thanks again for everything!
The Moebius' golden retriever enjoying the tip of Cape San Blas! It is beautiful out there!
Lynne Johnson, Carrollton, GA. May 2007
We just got back home and HAD A GREAT TIME! It is sooooo beautiful and so relaxing. Words cannot adequately describe the whole place: your home, the little town, the view, the quiet, peaceful tranquility of everything, the easy and laid back pace. What a needed rest. How perfect!
Take care. Thanks again (more than you'll ever know).....
Andreas & Laura Harth: Excerpt from the Dachshund Diary April/May 2007
Dear Miss Wendy,
I wanted to thank you for making my "mommy" and :daddy" so happy during their stay at Turtle Crawl. I don't know what you did, but they didn't stop smiling and grinning the entire week! I was pretty happy too, since usually I get left behind for all the good trips. They took me to the beach every day! The sun shined EVERY DAY! And they brought my leash, but they actually let me run without it for what seemed like miles! Aren't they great??!!
I saw dolphin from our deck, Miss Wendy-right off the beach in front of Turtle Crawl! Mommy saw them too and she rand and got pictures. I think she's sending one to you. That's nothing though, I chased a crab-ok, I ran from a crab--and saw different types of marine life every day. I also got some of the finest seafood leftovers, freshly caught scallops, crab, shrimp and oysters from local restaurants. Mommy and daddy got takeout from Loggerhead Grill to eat on our own deck because Turtle Crawl was too great to leave behind--they said we didn't need a restaurant! I even got to go to Steamer in Apalachicola and eat on the patio overlooking a harbor with mom and dad. AND we had a bonfire on the beach at sunset one night--we had the coast to ourselves!
We met lots of nice people at the beach with their pets. Everyone was so friendly, many were fishing off the beach and getting a lot of action and everyone was offering advice on where to eat, what to do, etc. WE already knew most of what Cape San Blas had to offer because of your website and all the research and brochures in the guest book. (can a dog sound cheesy? I am not trying to be, but we were just all sooo happy!)
I think we felt spoiled by the end of the week. The provisions, the attention to details like the private shower - I relaxed after realizing the water was warm -- and the well equipped kitchen, the ability to step out the door and walk a few steps to the beach...It was nice to lay on the blanket on the master deck at Turtle Crawl while mommy and daddy took pictures of the sunset, and to join them every day for long walks and hanging out seaside. Thanks again for everything!!! WE will be back! Also enclosed are a few pictures, you can see me next to daddy at the bonfire.
Love and thanks for giving us lots of "new favorites",
"Bennie", Laura and Andreas
Andreas & Laura Harth share a romantic bonfire with Bennie. Cape San Blas April/May 2007
Dennis and Nancy Gates (May 2007)
Thanks for following up with us. We truly had a great time and loved the accommodations. Since we had our furry friends with us it seemed comparable to our earlier vacation days when our kids (now 25 and 27) were small and would play on the beach and wear themselves and us out everyday. Both dogs were fantastic and slept most of the time on the way down and back. We are already talking about the possibility of coming back again. Have a great summer!
Hilary Y. (May 2007)
Thank you so much for everything--The Cape Escape I (Barrier Dunes 67) was so beautiful -- I would love to return as soon as I get a chance and will be sure to pass on the good word! Everything was so organized and clean. You have done a wonderful job! The speedy delivery of a new blender was above and beyond! Thanks again and take care!
Ron and Sharon Cook, Roanoke, AL (May 2007)
We just got back from the Cape. It was wonderful!! Cant wait to go back!! Everything was great at Turtle Crawl. You have really thought of everything to make a stay easy and enjoyable. THANKS!! Here are a couple of pictures of Tater enjoying the beach. It was really amazing, he hasn't been down to the Cape since 2005, but he remembered the beach and jumped right in the waves!
Delle Taylor, Cumming, GA (April 2007)
We really enjoyed our vacation. Every time I thought I needed something it was there. So many thoughtful additions that other vacation rentals don't have. We are already talking about going back!
Jennifer Lang, Colorado (April 2007)
Thank you for your note, we had a wonderful time. Believe it or not, the drive didn't end up being that bed. Guess it shows how much we needed to get away! We ended up relaxing and walking the dogs on the beach. I sure hope the county doesn't change the law on allowing the dots, it was awesome. We are definitely interested in coming back. Also, we loved the decor of the master suite. It was beautiful!
Diana Wackler, Hayesville, NC (April 2007)
We enjoyed your townhouse so much. I hope we can come back next year. If I learn how to send pictures I will!
Janet Shenone & Family, Naperville, IL. (April 2007)
Thank you for getting us the deposit check so quickly. Just wanted to let you know we had a wonderful time and definitely will be back. I have already shared your information with several friends up here. It was great to be able to bring our pups with us and, although neither of them ventured into the water, they had a great time running on the beach with us. We had beautiful weather and are very glad we chose Pelican View so we could be right there on the beach! Thanks again for all of your help -- it was the smoothest and most enjoyable vacation rental we've ever done.
James, Janet, Alison, Jacob and Danielle Schenone. Spring Break 2007.
Linda Minnix, Lady Lake FL. (April 2007)
Just got back and wanted to write a short note. Everything was great!! There is truth in your advertising. Could not have been more pleased. We would love to go back during scallop season. Do you have anything available?
Lori Tomaszewski & Family, Maumee, OH (April 2007)
I think I found my "home away from home". Jennah and I are safely back at home. We had a last minute surprise before we left for Turtle Crawl...Jacob, my son, was able to go with us on vacation. His travel plans to go to Ft. Lauderdale, FL ended up falling through, so he went with Jenna and I. I will never forget the wonderful memories we made while vacationing at Turtle Crawl. Listening to them both actually laughing with each other while they played in the waves. Jacob even came & got me up from bed one night at about 1am to come outside and look at all the stars in the sky. This was our last family vacation before he goes off to cllege in the fall. We could not have asked for a more perfect vacationWendy. My only questions is...how soon can I go back? This was my first trip to FL and I know it defintely won't be the last. Turtle Crawl is beautiful, the beaches were beautifu, the weather was beautiful, everything was perfect. Thank you again for letting my family share a piece of your paradise at Cape San Blas and Turtle Crawl!
Anna Wheeler and Family, New Berlin, WI (April 2007)
We had a great time in Florida. The Beach House Too was awesome -- we had everything we needed and more. We met so many nice people - especially the dog people. We had so much fun on the beach. Our dogs were in heaven - they have been sleeping since we returned. I will write soon with pictures. Thanks!
Jill Dobias and family, Lexington, KY (April 2007)
We made it to Tennessee yesterday and spent the night at Mom's then on to KY this afternoon. It was 23 degrees this morning! Sure glad we had such great weather and we all agreed that this was the best spring break ever!!! We loved everything about it...thanks for everthing...we are recommending your place to everyone!
Gloria Cochran, Scipio, IN (March 2007)
Hi Wendy! This is my first day back to work. Everything was just perfect on vacation. We were very, very pleased with Beach House Too. You have it well stocked with supplies. We rent various cabins in Gatlinburg every year, but your place is by far the best supplied. It was clean and I would have never guessed that it was pet friendly. You will have to compliment your house cleaner. I tried to leave it as we found it and took care not to track in sand. The weather was great and we all got plenty of sun. We did take a lot of pictures, but I haven't had a chance to go through them all. My little dog "Chigger" met a cute strawberry blonde named "Roxie" on the beach. She was a yorkie mix breed. They saw each other for 3 straight days.
Some highlights of the week: We went to Apalachicola Bay one day and too the Estuary Tour with Gibby. He was accommodating and let us take the dog with us, but he would only allow our party on the boat. We thought it was interesting because Gibby worked at the Scipio Creek Marina and we are from Scipio, Indiana. My granddaughter and her friend did the sunset cruise at Seahorse Water Safaris at Port St. Joe. They would not allow the dog so someone had to stay on the bank. We ate at Indian Pass Raw Bar, Papa Joe's, at Scipio Marina and had milk shakes and ice cream cones at Conehead's every day.
The wildlife we saw was: alligators, bald eagles, porpoises, snakes, deer (in the state park). My husband was reluctant to take his fishing gear, but I encouraged him to because I had seen pictures on your web site of people fishing etc. It took him a couple of days of sitting on the beach and watching others catch fish before he finally drug out his gear. He had a blast catching fish. The first day he fished he caught a bucketful of Whiting. He took them to the state park cleaning station and cleaned them. I froze the filets and we had a big fish fry the last night. The fish were really quite tasty. Another thing he really liked was the anticipation of never knowing what you were going to catch. Back home in Indiana if you fish you pretty much know that you are going to catch a bass, catfish or bluegill. In the ocean, however, it is almost endless what you might drag in. He caught a small hammerhead shark, a large horseshoe crab and other varieties of fish besides the Whiting. We met people on the beach from Iowa, Michigan, Maine, New York. We saw every shape, size and breed of dog imaginable.
Thank you Wendy for providing a good website to inform people about the Cape San Blas area and providing wonderful accommodations so visitors can enjoy the area. My husband is already talking about the next trip.
Looking forward to dealing with you again in the future.
Cathy Faulconer (March 2007)
We had a wonderful time! Cas Del Sol was great and had everything we needed. We definitely plan to come back and bring the kids -- probably next summer. Thanks for the tip to bring our shovel and build a fire! It was awesome! Thanks again for all your help.
Jody De Voe, Orlando, FL (March 2007)
Just wanted to let you know we had a wonderful time. The girls, Jesse and Lillie, LOVED the beach. Just couldn't get enough. And the great part for us was that the beach was practically empty each time we took them. The Cape Escape II was great too. It had everything we needed or wanted. We went a couple of days at Salinas Park - literally no one there - great picnic facilities, and again, deserted beaches. We were there one day and we had it completely to ourselves as far as we could see. Absolutely wonderful!! Thanks Wendy for providing such a wonderful place to vacation with our girls.
Jody De Voe's girls, Jessie and Lillie enjoying playing some ball on the beach!
Patrick and Tanya McNally, Starkville, MS (March 2007)
Wow! What can I say? We had the best time ever! Beach House Too was so much nicer than we expected. It is probably the nicest condo we have ever been in. It had such a homey feel to it and we had everything we needed.
The first full day we were there it rained all day but we didn't let that deter us. We packed up our beach stuff on the cart and spent the whole afternoon on the beach in the rain. We were determined to enjoy our time at Cape San Blas! The dogs enjoyed themselves running up and down the beach. Ethel actually jumped in the water to retrieve toys a couple of times, but our other dog, Smitty, stayed put on the sand. The next day was beautiful and we spent the whole day out of n the beach!
I want to thank you for having a place that allows dogs and their owners to vacation together. It is very hard to find a vacation spot that does that. Our trip to Cape San Blas was a perfect way to roll our Spring Break and 2nd wedding anniversary celebration into one fun-filled trip. We are definitely planning to come again and this time stay longer! Thanks for everything.
Patrick and Tanya McNally and thier dog Ethel relaxing in front of Barrier Dunes
Cheryl Bullerdick, Michigan (2 time winter guest!)
Are you a snowbird looking for the ultimate escape from the long northern winter?? Well iI think I have just the place. Two years ago my husband and I stumbled onto a thin strip of land along the gulf coast called Cape San Blas. We drove along the Cape marveling at the beauty of the white sandy beaches, the incredible fauna of old world Florida, the birds and the deep blue ocean.
At the far end of the Cape, right before you head into St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, we turned left and drove into what is fast becoming our second home, Barrier Dunes. This wonderful community sits nestled up to sugar white dunes that lead you down to the pristine beach where any day you may see maybe 10 other people out enjoying strolling for miles, fishing in the surf, collecting shells or simply sitting and reading along with their dog! Yes! The Cape San Blas Beaches and Barrier Dunes are dog friendly--our dogs can enjoy the beach with us instead of just a pet friendly rental!
We stayed in The Cape Escape II, owned by Wendy Jackson, who made sure we had everything we might need already in place before we arrived. Entering Cape San Blas and Barrier Dunes is like entering another world, a world that slows and fills you with peace as you slowly enjoy the every day marvels: The dancing dolphins just a few feet away, the spectacular sunsets, the eagle soaring overhead. If you enjoy nature and the simple pleasures in life, this is the place for you!
Barrier Dunes also has the added advantage of having a great community spirit. The folks are friendly and there's often a community event, a book exchange or a Super Bowl party to attend or perhaps a comminity potluck beach bonfire. Unlike the hustle and bustle of the big tourist traps, this is a place to really unwind and enjoy life. If you choose to not meander down to the beach there are stocked fishing ponds, tennis courts and 2 swimming pools inside the gated community to keep you busy, plus, if you like to work out there is evens an aerobics and strength class three times a week to help you keep in shape!
If this sounds like a perfect place to spend your winter holiday, give Wendy a call or email and I'll look forward to meeting you there this fall and winter!
Chris Robertson, Tallahassee, FL (March 2007)
We had a wonderful time. Turtle Crawl was great! I left a kite in the beach closet for future guests as well. I've attached a picture of myself, Jacque, Christian, Morgan and Buster!
The Favia Family, Missouri (March 2007)
We had a lovely week and were lucky enough that it only rained at night, though the wind was unusually constant. We didn't have any severe storms and surprisingly, fishing was half way decent.
Thank you for your professional help and the help of a person who enjoys their job! We wouldn't hesitate to rent from you in the future for Cape San Blas rentals ... you've been like a personal concierge. Thank you.
Curtis and Dorothy Richards, Lisbon CN, Winter 2007
Well, it's been 2 months since we returned from "Wendy's Cape Escape" ... we are still digesting all the wonderful memories and amenities that she provided. From shot cut directions to details in the condo...there was not a thing overlooked.
The condo was much more beautiful, spacious and well equipped than I had hoped....however there was no collinder. Wendy checked on us regularly via email (I took my laptop and had wireless access from the condo). I mentioned that this was the only thing I missed and believe it or not, the next week there was a knock on the door and it was Wendy in person with a colander in hand...not a cheap one either...
This was really not "just a vacation". I retired from 34 years in teaching on January 31 and on February 1 at 2:11 am we left Connecticut for Florida...so I would not get withdrawal feeling of not working in a wonderful enviornment that I loved so much. Now we have been going to Florida for 40 years, but much further South and, of course, without our dogs (we only had 1 at a time, but they went to the kennel! We were dubious about a Panhandle Florida vacation in February but our dog, Cromwell, was welcome and we decided to go for it and we did. Cromwell loved the trip and was a wonderful traveler. Cromwell, our English Spring Spaniel, even found the BEST seashell on the beach, although my husband did find a few sand dollars. Having the dog come home with a perfect mini-conch shell in his mouth was precious.
Everything was wonderful...the advice, the support and amenities, the people! I would give Wendy a 10 out of 10 for being the BEST.
Thank you Wendy....what can you find for us next year??
Shelley Bernosky & Family, Tonawanda, NY (January - March 2007)
We had such a great time at Cape San Blas. We got a lot of down time and got to read and explore the area. The dogs just loved the beach! They'll go through withdrawal when they see the snow at home!
Your place was so homey and comfortable and well equipped. I'll miss the excercise classes run by Cheryl and all the other participants! Thanks for providing us with such a great place to vacation! We would like to come down again next year for the same amount of time!
Francois Jobin & Sylvie Blouin, Quebec, Canada (February - March 2007)
We really appreciated the vacancy (and Daisy too) at your beach house. Your house is beautifu, well located and very clean. The sand of the beach is so white it looked like snow--it is time for us to retunr to it :-( .
NOTE: This was emailed from The Cape Escape I the day of their check-out. The Cape Escape I has wireless internet access!
Norm & Dionne Holcombe (February 2007)
We had a good trip back and did receive the deposit check. Thanks for the prompt service. Everything we needed (and much more) was in the condo. We spent a large part of each day walking the beach (starting around 6:30 am) but did get out and explore downtown Port St. Joe and areas east. We ate out at least once a day and enjoyed every place. Got to know the folks at Coneheads pretty well and had a real nice dinner at Sunset Coastal Grill in Port St. Joe on Friday night at "sunset".
We really enjoyed the peaceful beach. Suggestions on what you should do differently...NOTHING. Again, thanks so much for everything!
Robert and Mireille Bourgetef, Piedmont, QC, Canada (February 2007)
It was indeed a pleasure to do business with you and your professionalism is outstanding by all means! Beach House Too was very comfortable and we did appreicate all the little extras we found in the condo. We moved out early in Friday to avoid bad weither going home and got here on Sunay. We will keep in touch with you for next year and maybe some family will join us!
Christina Keck, Swansea, IL (February 2007)
Thanks again for a great time!!! We are still talking about it. Cooper loved it and that made it even better. We hope to be back soon!
Cooper resting after enjoying a romp on the beach!
Dawn Lamb, West Lafayette, IN (December 2006/January 2007)
We had a wonderful stay at your place. We were so comfortable there and I cannot think of another thing we could have needed. Bringing in 2007 at the beach was awesome and we will have those memories forever. A little hectic since we returned, but as soon as I can download the pictures from the camera I will send you some! Thanks again...we hope to return!
p.s. I received the deposit check. Thanks for being so prompt. I sent some info about your place to some friends of mine who are looking for somewhere to stop on their way down to the Keys. I gave you glowing reviews. I think they would really like it there.
Shelley Doyle and Family, Tillsonburg, Ontario Canada (December 2006)
We have returned from our vacation to Florida and I just wanted to drop you a note to thank you for letting us rent your condo at the Cape for a week. It was truly the best part of our vacation. I wish I had know what a "paradise" you had before we booked our second week in Daytona. It was nice to meet your husband! Again, thank you for a wonderful vacation and I am hoping that we will be able to return again. Best wishes for a wonderful New Year.
Anita Chancellor December 2006)
I received your check and very nice note the day after I returned home from Cape San Blas and was also very pleased to have had a chance to meet you (as was Baby). I don't think you realize what the kindness you showed us meant to me, but I think you are a terrific lady and the least I could do was try to take good care of your beautiful home. Thank you again for everything. It was great! I hope we meet again.
Mike and Pam Poole, Hampton, GA (November 2006)
We're back home today after our wonderful long weekend at The Cape Escape II. Oh my goodness...this was (without a doubt) the most relaxing vacation we've ever had! I have always wanted to visit the ocean during cooler weather. It was as quiet and peaceful as I had hoped. It really as like having our own private beach!
We couldn't have asked for a nicer stay. The Cape Escape II had so many extras!! Thank you again for providing a most welcoming and comfortable "home" for our first (but certainly not last, I hope) Autumn beach excursion.
Jacque Johnson & Family, Bluffton, IN (November 2006)
The week at Sea Breeze was absolutely fabulous. My mom and sister andI felt a great peace being there. We would highly recommend this place to anyone. We will keep you in mind for the future.
Thanks for such ease in booking the condo as well as spelling out the instructions along with the Guest Information book with info! We used it all.
Mike & Margo Holland, Lithia Springs, GA (October/November 2006)
Here is a brief note about our stay! Mike is dying to see his girl immortalized on your website!
Wow -- we had a great time! Believe it or not, we actually enjoyed the drive down. Going through the little towns gave us a lot to see -- and we made good time! When we reached Port St.Joe and the water opened up before us we really got excited! It was only a short drive longer and we were on the Cape pulling into Barrier Dunes. We loved the condo -- it had everything we needed! Martha (our Lab) especially loved the deck and the lake (she jumped in it almost every morning much to our chagrin!) and my husband fished off the deck (he caught several good sized Brim, but threw them back) and we fed the ducks and the turtles. Fun!
Shortly after we arrived and unpacked, we headed to the beach. The wind was up and the was were crashing in. There was a beautiful sunset. Martha, who had never been to the beach before, practically dragged us down the boardwalk to get tot he beach. She had been smelling the ocean since Port St. Joe and had to know what big body of water was our there! There were some fellow vacationers on the beach and after making sure they were okay with us letting Martha off her leash, off she went! We have never seen our dog so happy and we will alway cherish the video of her first beach experience. She ran and ran -- into the water -- down the beach and back again! Everyone just laughed because it was obvious that she was in heaven!! Needless to say, that night and every night on Cape San Blas we had one TIRED little girl!!
Our weather was text book perfect. Mid 70's, clear and sunny. We could not have asked for better. We spent our mornings exploring the "Forgotten Coast", Mexico Beach, Panama City (please don't bother!!), Appalach (quaint shops, old historic homes and good restaurants -- we ate at Boss Oyster and brought Martha -- it was great!). Our favorite restaurant was in Port St. Joe and it was the Dockside Cafe at the Marina (again with Martha). We also went to Peppers for Mexican (margaritas!).
The beach is beautiful. On the weekend there were three other couples and during the week maybe one or two -- we had it all to ourselves!! The people we did meet were all extremely nice (and doggy friendly). We really enjoyed the opportunity to experience a vacation with our beloved Martha. Sitting on the beach with our pup at our side was the best. Long walks looking for shells and enjoying the wildlife topped our list. The dolphins played right in front of us every afternoon and we also saw plenty of deer, a fox, sting rays, a shark and lots of turtles!!
Thank you for a great week and we hope to be back again next year!!
Martha is now and official "Beach Dog"!
Leslie Stayer (November 2007)
The vacation was great! There was no one on the beach. The condo was great. Cyrah was a little nervous about the stairs in the condo, but she managed after a couple of days. I loved the set up and the way you decorated Beach House Too. Very simple and neat. Everything was perfect.
The island was vacant, like a nuclear bomb had gone off. Once in a while you would see someone on the beach or in the compex, but not often. I took a morning walk on the beach with one of your neighbors with a dog named Sam. They were from Birmingham. Anyway , it was nice chatting with her as Cyrah ran behind us chasing birds.
Thank you so much for allowing us to stay in your home. It felt like home. If you ever change your email/website, please letme know because I would like to keep it in mind for future vacation! Thanks and Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Adrienne Owen, Destrehan, LA (October/November 2007)
Thank you so much for your lovely email! We have been wanting to check in with you since we returned home to thank you for sharing that very special place on earth known as Cape San Blas with us!
Not only is the beach pet-friendly, but you have made Sea Breeze a paradise for humans and their four-legged companions! Your attention to detail overwhelmed me, specifically the pet gates at the stairways and the Plexiglas around the patio. No puppy could ask for more!
Toula had a ball feeling the sugar white wand beneath her paws for the very first time. She quickly became accustomed to it and soon began digging for sand crabs to bark at them, just as you said she would! We all enjoyed long strolls on the beach several times each day, and she seemed to quickly pick up shelling, too, selecting only the prettiest to pick up and making sure they had no holes in them!
When the weather warmed up and Toula began seeking shade behind our chairs, Greg brought out the beach umbrella from the closet downstairs. He was still securing it in the sand when Toula laid down right in the middle of the shades! (They are so smart!) She seemed to enjoy the tranquility and peaceful sounds of the waves as much as we did, and on one afternoon Greg decided to bury her in the sand as she was laying down...and she let him! He didn't pack the sand tightly, but it was a cute site to watch - she laid her had down at the top of the pile when he was done!
On Halloween night we made a bonfire on the beach as you had described. Really, I guess it was more of a "fire pit" as it was not particularly large, but just enough to get warmth, roast marshmallows and tell stories to Toula - ha!
She made friends everywhere she went (as did we), and everytime she found a new friend of the canine variety, we discovered they were almost all in a Wendy Jackson unit! We had our own "Wendy Jackson fan-club" going on down there! Honestly, Wendy, we think that's a very nice thing you do for people who need a vacation but do not wish to board their dogs! So a hearty "thank you" on behalf of all of us whom you allow to enjoy such a pleasurable experience with their beloved dogs!
Thank you also, once again, for your diligence in getting the cable company to repair the outage. I was mighty impressed that you were able to get that done on a Saturday!
I received the voided check and your nice note yesterday. We will definitely contact you to do this again next year as it was truly a pleasant experience for us! Next time we go, we'll plan on dining out sometimes at the pet friendly restaurants. "Martha's" parents (Mike and ?) told us the Dockside Care in Port St. Joe was wonderful as did the parents of the 2 little white bulldogs, but we were leaving the next morning and were too late to take advantage of the opportunity this time. So there will have to be a next time, right?
Thank you again ever so much for giving dog lovers like us the unique chance to enjoy a family vacation with our pets!
Kelly & Foster Williamson, Birmingham, AL (October/November 2007)
OH MY GOODNESS! Our trip was amazing!! The beach could not have been prettier! The weather was perfect! I don't think we could have gone any earlier and have the bulldogs have made it on the beach. The food was delicious & the condo (The Cape Escape I) was GREAT!!! We had everything we needed! Thank you so much for letting us stay in your perfect home away from home! Although I would seriously consider letting this be my permanent home! Loved the beach cart. What a great time to have!
I loved how we didn't have cell service! That was wonderful. We did nothing all wee! We sat on the beach with our books & watched the dogs play! LuLu loved the water!! She played with the sand, chased seagulls, tried to eat seashells & ran everywhere!! Henry loved the beach only to lay down under the umbrella! Occasionally he would join in on the fun! It was perfect!!
The food was great! We ate out every night! We hate to cook. We ate at the Raw Bar 2x's & would have probably eaten there every night if it had been open! We also ate at the Dockside Cafe with Henry & LuLu. We walked them on the pier & for some reason, Henry loved the fishermen. He barked at them the whole time!! I think he wanted to go with them!!
I am sending some pictures! I took SO many! We made Halloween pictures & Christmas pictures on the beach. Henry and Lulu put on their Halloween hats and paraded on the beach. I think they were trick or treating.
The only complaint I have is that we had to leave. Foster says I have the "post vacation blues". Thanks for a wonderful, relaxing getaway!
Henry & LuLu were beach dogs in the spirit of Halloween!
Margo Holland, Lithia Springs, GA (October/November 2006)
Thank you so much -- we had a WONDERFUL time!! Yes, Martha is still sleeping it off. It was so nice to be able to reconnect with my hubby and to have a whole week to rest and relax. You have a wonderful place and we truly enjoyed the time we spent there. Thanks for making our week so special.
Nancy and Brett Swigert, October 2007
We bought lotto tickets on the way home hoping to win so we could by a place down there, but....maybe next time. Thank you for one of the best vacations we've had in a long time. I haven't seen Brett relax and enjoy (and not worry about what was going on at the office) since he started practicing law. I think you can count on seeing us again and we'll finish those beers we didn't get to finish last week -- our beers next time; thanks for sharing yours. I can tell Maggie really misses her friends and her freedom. She was pooped out for sure. Brett was worried something was wrong with her since she was so listless, but she was just tuckered out and probably missing her friend Buzz too. I'm thinking we'll be interested in returning next year about the same timeframe and will work towards firming that up. An maybe some other time as well. If you end up with any of the gulf front units, let me know, although all of Barrier Dunes is so well-laid out and well maintained that it looks like just about any unit would be fine. Thanks again! We'll look forward to hopefully seeing y'all there when we come back!
Tanya Thompson and Family (October 2006)
I really enjoyed meeting you. We had a great time on the Cape! Buddy thought he had died and gone to heaven. I must have taking 100 pictures of him on the beach and in the water--I'm not really a photographer and I was trying to get an action shot. Rusty thought that was hilarious, particularly when I finally gave him the camera and told him it was his turn to get actions shots of me and Buddy. Needless to say, there are about 10 shots of Rusty and Buddy and only 3 of me and Buddy!
The condo was really comfortable and perfect for the 3 of us! We did have a couple spend the night on Wednesday night while en route to Fort Myers to visit their granddaughter.
I wanted to let you know for your website that Loggerhead Grille said they would have let Buddy sit outside with us, had they had more wait staff. We also took Buddy to Boss Oyster in Apalachicola and he sat on the deck with us while we ate. We then went to Oasis for an after-dinner drink--beautiful bar. So there's your "Dining with your Dog" update! Thanks again and hope to make plans for next year!
Carol Wolk & Tom Schmidt, Columbia, MO (October 2006)
Got the deposit check today. Thank you for being so quick!
We did have a nice week in Cape San Blas - especially since our daughter was able to join us for a few days. It was fun to see the dogs trying to figure out the beach! We enjoyed being in shorts one more time before coming back here to the mid-west where it is cold and rainy (although the drive home was gorgeous, with the fall colors at their peak in north Georgia and Tennessee).
Thank you again for making the rental so easy and for letting us share your beautiful condo!
Linda and Mike Aitken, Butler, AL (October 2006)
We are back safe and sound. Thank you so much. We had a very good time. The condo is beautiful and I got a good work out with the stairs :-).
The dogs were pretty funny. They kept looking for a doggie door and the Pomeranians had a good run on the beach with Mike trying to catch them and when he caught up to them they turned around, came back to the chairs and when Mike came huffing and puffing up they took off the other way! No need to say that they were in their halter leashes from then on! Not one of them would go into the water. They were afraid of the movement of the water. Scout stayed right with us. I think he was a little home sick, but of course, there at the end of the stay, all the dogs were getting used to it!
The cable went out the last night, so I curled up with a good book and mike watched all the video's and went up to Loggerhead Grill and got us some dinner of pizza (great pizza by the way) and shrimp. We went to bed full and happy! We also visited the Dockside Cafe in Port St. Joe and it was great. Service was wonderful! Dogs, however, wanted to meet and greet everyone and everything that walked or swam by!
We really enjoyed the beautiful sunsets and I could have sat there all day and WILL when we come back with our little pals, Sparky, Cashew and Scout! We had a time keeping them in order--we love to go out and sight see and mix and mingle with the local folks, but with all those little paws it wasn't in the cards!
Thanks for a great time and I will be in touch again!
Lisa Catedral & Family, Virginia (October 2006)
We really did enjoy our vacation. It was so peaceful. I had forgotten how much I love the water being so close in my daily life (we lived on the West Coast and the Pacific Ocean was a hop, skip and a jump away). Beach House Too is nicer (and much bigger) than what we live in so it was such a treat you can't imagine). I will get some pictures off to you as soon as I can get to it.
It truly was a great getaway...I'm scared to tell others for fear it becomes overrun with people...although we did go on and on about it to our neighbor who we think would just love it. I really hope he goes there sometime. Thank you again!
Tim, Ashlyn, Anna Morgan and Mae Crumbley, Madison, AL (October 2006)
Thanks so such for the pictures of Riley and the fish! What a great memory! We didn't get any action shots with our cameras, so we're really glad to have those!
We LOVED staying at Barrier Dunes and wish every day we were there! IT was amazing and we're so glad you're dog friendly :-)))
Anna Morgan and Mae Crumbley along with Riley their Springer Spanier
Trey & Laura Lee, McCalla, AL (September 2006)
We had the best time! And I thing the dogs had even more fun than us! It was just so relaxing and stress free. It's so hard getting back to reality! Your place was just wonderful--we felt like we were staying at a friend's house rather than a rental. You really put a lot of effort into creating the perfect beach house. We've already decided that we want to stay two weeks next year and will be booking as soon as we figure out when we want to go.
Al and Phyllis Shiltz and Torrie -- the dog who wrote the comments! Nashville, TN (Sept. 2006)
I know you get letters from Mom's and Dad's all the time so I thought you might like a different point of view about "The Cape Escape II".
I loved it. The condo was the bomb! I was not sure that you were going to get a picture of me on the beach, but the second day I was all over it. Except the water. Never did get over that, but made mom happy--she doesn't like to have me wet anyway.
I had my run in the mornings and then Mom and Dad would feed me breakfast and then go exploring. The part I didn't like was I got left behind in my kennel. It was better than usual because I got to look at all the pretty things in your home.
They went everywhere and still got sun tan. They love the State Park and went there like 4 times. Their favorite restaurant was Loggerhead. I didn't even get a doggie bag there. They ate it all. They kept bringing in bags of stuff from every place they went....you get it, nothing for me. Mom loves scallops.
We were all very sad when it was over. Mom and Dad cheered me up by telling me we will come back again and again. Thank you again for everything you have done to make it feel like home. It was truly the best vacation we have ever had. Mom and Dad have been all over they world and they said the same thing.
Mom has tried to attach a few pictures of me, hope she does it right. I posed pretty. I loved laying on the deck by the way.
Torri
Note: Mom didn't get it right yet, but she's still trying. I will get Torri's picture posted as soon as it arrives!
David, Tracie Sparkey Arnold, Blountvillle, TN (September 2006)
We just had the best vacation ever! We fell completely and totally in love with cape San Blas...I actually cried when we had to leave. It was so relaxing and beautiful there. The beach was gorgeous and we had it all to ourselves most of the week. It was like having our own private beach!
Of course, what made the vacation really special was having our "baby", Sparkey, with us. He loved playing on the beach and in the ocean (and chasing crabs!). We can't believe we waited seven years to take him on his first vacation, but I don't think we'll be taking another one without him. Thank you for opening your condo to pets. We love the condo and appreciate all the "special touches" you provide. We hope to visit again really soon!
Sparkey, the Arnold's dog inspects a crab with great interest!
Michael & Bobbi Jo Schrogham (and Nanook & Tynee--their dogs), Bardstown, KY (September 2006)
Thank you so much for opening your wonderful home up to our family. The babies loved it!!! We have had Tynee for almost 3 years and she finally started swimming on Saturday, the day before we left. She absolutely loved the ocean. Our old man, Nanook, he loved it too, but I think on Saturday he was ready to go home. They both enjoyed hunting for crabs and tehy both actually caught one! We hope to come back next year around the same time, we liked being there off season. My Mom will hopefully join us next year, she loved the pictures of your place. Once we figure it out we will be sending you some pictures of our excursions. Thanks so much!
Jim and Sandra Moye, Atlanta, GA (September 2006)
Just wanted to thank you for a lovely time in Cape San Blas. Yes, it sid start raining Sunday and poured Monday, Tuesday and half the day on Wednesday. Thankfully, Sandra and I both like rainy weather. We actually drove around through most of it.
I really did need the isolation from this crazy city and just wish I had known about Cape San Blas before the properties hit the current values. I tlaked to some people in Apalach that told me I could have purchased a beach front less than 20 years ago for almost nothing.
The dogs were rather funny. I guess Jethro had never seen the ocean before as when the waves first crashed on his legs he jumped straigh up in the air and spun around like he did not know what was going on. We were pleased to discover that Stella actually knew how to somewhat swim. Being retired Greyhounds we never really know what they have been exposed to hor how they will react. After a bit of hesitation, we did let them off leash and they loved it! Racing up and down the beach a couple of times!
We really did not take the opportunity to do too much--eating, sleeping watching movies and getting to the beach when we could, really just the type of vacation we were looking for!
Thanks for everything and we will be in touch next year!
Greg Keith, New Market, AL (Aug/Sept 2006)
Thank you for all of your warm hospitality! My fiance, Brandy, our miniature pincher, Tootsie-Anne, and I had an excellent vacation! The weather was great, the accommodations were excellent...it was as if we had found our own piece of paradise!
It just blew me away that you could walk out on the beach and as far as you could look in both directions you could count 10 people IF it was a busy day at the beach!
If you like seafood, there was ample opportunity to catch your dinner. On Tuesday, this one gentleman caught two five-gallon buckets full of crabs in about an hour...I bet he ate good that night! The surroundings were so unspoiled, natural and full of life...I've never seen so many crabs, fish and also saw a couple of sea-rays as well.
Brandy enjoyed getting some sun, swimming, and looking for seashells, although I had to keep her from trying to "listen to the waves" from the hermit crab shells (she didn't know about the hermit crabs). She says "look what a beautiful seashell" and started to put it to her ear,. I had to stop her. She said "why"? I told her that the little owner of the shell might pinch her on the ear! She even made a comment that it would be a nice place to have our honeymoon when we finally get married!
Tootsie enjoyed her first trip to the beach as well Brandy and I were both a little leery of how she would react to the sand and water, but she took right to it! Even managed to get her to "surf" on the boogie board!!! She also enjoyed helping her "daddy" grill out the steak and shrimp on the back porch!
As for me, I just soaked up some sun and the released atmosphere (along with a few cold beverages). The only thing that I could see that was missing would have been a hammock and someone to keep the cold beverages coming...haha!!
Well, we both have been extremely busy at work and at home. It seems as if the rest of the world didn't stop just cause we took a vacation. As time permits we will get all of the pictures downloaded off our camera and email some of them for your site!
Thanks again for a wonderful vacation! We are looking forward to our next trip to the Cape!
Brandy Keith with her dog Tootsie --- I've never seen a dog surf! Well done Tootsie!
Tootsie hanging out with Greg Keith on the beach in front of Barrier Dunes!
Gina Bowling & Family, Warner Robbins, GA (Aug/Sept. 2006)
We had a wonderful trip! We were so sad to leave...but knew we had to come back to reality. Hopefully we'll get to do this again next year. Sea Breeze is a very nice place and we felt very comfortable and relaxed in our home away from home.
My mother and my husband went crabbing and they had a blast. I think they caught about 15 crabs. I steamed them and we picked the meat out. I then made a crab dip with the meant and served ti up with chips! It was delicious.
The beach was wonderful. I never saw such clear water and white sand. My children loved playing with us on the beach and picking up sea shells. It was not crowded and it seemed like we had the whole place to ourselves. There was so much we wanted to do but didn't bet the chance...like scalloping and snorkeling. Hopefully we'll get to come back and do that next year!
Thanks again for such wonderful accommodations and supplying us with the detailed information in order for everything to run smoothly.
Linda & Glenn Hottenstein, Jackson, TN (Aug. 2006)
It was absolutely THE BEST vacation we ever had, and we have been all over the place...Mexico, Jamaica, Australia, Bahamas, Hawaii...lots of beaches. We found no beach more beautiful or inviting than the Cape, and to have the dogs with us was a dream come true.
We didn't do anything except hang out at the beach, sleep late, and watch the USA Tennis Open. I cooked every night, which I never get to do. We didn't even go next door to the State Park. Did drive down to Apalachicola one night for a Mexican dinner...that was it. None of us wanted to leave...especially the dogs! The puppy was a very good girl, and Fiesta had the time of his life.
Interesting that after all these years, we find the perfect vacation spot and your beautiful condo only a day's drive away! Thank you so much for all the amenities....it was perfect.
The Gonsette Family, Crystal River, FL (Aug., 2006)
Gil, Laetitia, our daughter, Nemo and I had a great time in your Cape Escape II. We were all well equipped there!
We are so in love with the beach, the fine sand, the dunes, the serentiy and the miles and miles of beach to stroll on.
Nemo, of course, had a great play time with the ghost crabs and other crabs at the sea shore, which were plenty. Those crabs enjoyed playing hide and seek with Nemo and they went right away to the waters as Nemo chased them! We also played with him at the shore trying to teach him how to swim, but he prefers just at the seashore chasing crabs around.
We hope to go back there once again soon. As for me, I'm so ready to go back there this weekend, it is a nice ride from here to Cape san Blas because there is no traffic and just green scenery. It took us only 4 hours to come back to Crystal River.
We sure had a wonderful cherished memories in your place and hope to come back again soon as Nemo really had a great time and we get to play and exercise with him.
Thanks to your lovely website that we found your Cape San Blas as the dog friendly beach area here in Florida. Nemo can hardly wait to go there again!
Tracey and Brad Smith, Dyersburg, TN (Aug. 2006)
Yes! We had a GREAT time. We loved The Cape Escape II and are talking to relatives to see if they would like to come back next year possibly in September. Everything was wonderful about our stay. We were able to use the little tent thing on the beach and that worked fine in place of the umbrella. We figured we better leave you a note in case you guys were not aware of the other 2 umbrellas being broken!
The dogs LOVED the trip. Jake (our Great Dane) had a blast chasing us in the waves then back on the beach. Every time we took them outside to potty they would head toward the beach. The Cape Escape II was great, you had everything we could possibly think of. You guessed it right, Brad really got a belly full of crabs. We used the crab cage right there on the beach and caught several. We even had people asking us how to crab, like we were some kind of experts!! Ha! Ha! The people there were very friendly and nice. We definitely wish we could have stayed longer.
Today we had to return to work,. but we are rested and relaxed from our trip and we are already looking forward to staying at your place in the future.
Thanks so much for all your help and patience during our vacation booking. We will be passing the word along to everyone we meet about your wonderful place (but you know deep down we really would love to keep it as our secret getaway place). We will be talking with you as the it gets closer to next year to book our vacation there!
Owners note: Due to the number of beach umbrella that were broken this year we are no longer going to provide them. We try hard only to offer things that we can deliver and with the beach umbrellas this has proven to be a challenge--the beach elements with daily use are just too hard on them to keep them in good condition for every guest!
Tracey Smith with her dogs Jake (great dane) and Rudy (miniature pincher)
David Yount, Atlanta, GA (Aug. 2006)
Thanks Wendy! We had a blast and really loved the Cape. Our dog, Jake, was in complete heaven and took to the beach like a long lost surfer! My family owns a place on Perdido key that has been under reconstruction since Hurricane Ivan so we have missed our trips to the Gulf Coast greatly -- thanks so much for everything and we'll definitely think of you first on our next trip to the Forgotten Coast!
Robin Cheney, Roswell, GA (August 2006)
We had a great trip! The beach was beautiful and so quiet -- it was the perfect way to relax for a few days. We had almost as much fun as the dogs!
Cole and Kaia, both labs enjoying the Cape San Blas beach!
April, Jim and Jenna Van Es, Rome, GA (August 2006)
We just got back from Beach House Too and wanted to tell you waht a great week it was. Everything in the townhouse was nice, from the nautical/lighthouse decor to the towels and linens provided for us. The weather was beautiful there. WIth it being our first visit to the Cape, we really didn't know what to expect...but it was as pretty as the pictures on the website. The beach was great...so private and "untouched"...There were only a smattering of people and the ones we met were really nice.
My early morning walks by myself with a cup of coffee were wonderful. My teenage daughter was happy to just sit in her beach chair next to the water and "chill" and so was I. It was a great place to relax and enjoy doing absolutely nothing if you wanted to. Although y husband and our Pekingese mis, Arthur, were only able to visit for a couple of days, he just loved the whole "package"...Arthur only had a couple of quick walks on the beach...he doesn't like the heat, but made sure every dog we passed knew he was there.
One of our only outings other than enjoying the sand and surf was to go horseback riding at Broke-A-Toe rentals on the beach the night before we left. The sunset pictures were taken there...it was magnificent and so much fun, even for this aging "baby boomer"...I took so many pictures and wanted to share a few with you...there was so much to photograph for this camera bug...
We look forward to visiting again next year. I only wish I knew what we we could come right now so that I could go ahead and reserve Beach House Too.
Thanks for everything...This was a great way to end the summer vacation.
April and Jenna Van Es Horseback Riding on the beach!
Brian and Stacy Bell, Murfreesboro, TN (August 2006)
What a great place to just sit back, relax and enjoy the beach! The house was exactly what we expected from the pictures on your site and we especially enjoyed the back deck and grill. Maggie, our border collie, couldn't wait every morning to get out of the house and down to the sand! We took her standard toys, a Frisbee and ball, and she loved catching them at the edge of the surf. She also made a game of trying to catch the splashes the waves made, even though it took her a few days to stop swallowing the salt water.
Stacy and I got plenty of sun as the weather was great all week. A school of rays swam aroudn us one afternoon while we were cooling off in the waves. After the initial shock of seeing a few doze big black objects swimming all around us, we realized how neat it was to be so close to them. Also, I got pinched by a crab on the foot, so I retaliated by ordering the crab cakes at Loggerhead's that evening. They were the best I've ever had, so I guess the crab and I are even!
Thanks for providing a great place to stay, for including all the necessities for the beach and for making the arrangements so easy!
Stephen & Jet Cuffman, Little Rock, AR (August 2006)
We have never enjoyed a vacation more! W loved the Cape and Boudreaux has been depressed since we returned. After 9 1/2 hours in the car on Saturday and another 5 on sunday, you'd think he'd never want to get back in the care again, but upon our return, a huge thunderstorm hit and our power went out--we ended up in the car after about 4 hours with no air conditioning because in Little Rock it was over 100 degrees! Boudreaux heard the engine start up and jumped in the back ready to go back to the beach! Every morning we were at the Cape, he and I went on 1 to 2 hour walks on the beach--usually down the St. Park way. He loved jumping the waves and shore bird chasing! We kayaked in the Bay one day and thoroughly enjoyed it!
Thank you for all the information in the condo---we are already talking about next year. My sons loved the abundance of critters in the water and the salamanders they found. They also found a leopard looking toad outside and some praying mantis.
Life was not fun coming back to all the real stuff---trying to figure out a way to go twice a year! Thanks again for all your accomodations and for such a nice place.
Vint Lawson & Family, Marietta, GA --Repeat Guests. (August 2006)
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you! We ALL had a blast and I truly did because I spent my late afternoons griling out on the deck. The grill was great as what a great way to see how the sunset is going to be. We did have a little rain, but not too severe and it did not impede our outdoor activities. Melanie went horseback riding on the beach and that was a rewarding activity for here. Finally, NO BUGS...we did not have one incident...go figure as we were armed to the teeth in bug spray..in the end it was, again, the perfect vacation as you know how to provide the perfect enviornment for R&R...take care and thanks again!
Kathi, Allen and Annie Maguire, (July 2006)
Once again we had a terrific time and we both marvel at how accommodating you are to your guests. The weather cooperated for the most part - only had 1 day of rain, but we needed a recuperation day out of the sun anyway. We went into Port St. Joe that day and did some shopping. Crabs and scallops were a little disappointing this year, but the locals said it's because of how hot it's been. Didn't matter, we brought tons of food! Will send you pictures when we get the CD back!
Thanks again for being such a wonderful host!
Gina & Gavin McMenama, Lexington, KY (July 2006)
You guys were so great to us and we really appreciate it! I have frames someof the pictures of us and the babies (our dogs) on the beach. Everytime I look at them I think of the WONDERFUL time we spent there! I am so glad we found you guys. I think I told you a patient of mine had mentioned Barrier Dunes to me about 4 years ago andI had my travel agent call you and that is how it all started and boy and I glad I did!!! All the post-it said was ("Barrier Dunes, Cape San Blas). I was trying to find a beautiful beach that I could bring my babies along and boy did we EVER!!!
I'm still grieving! I cannot tell you how homesick I am for Cape Escape 2. I did not want to come hometo my house because we felt so at home there. I lOVED the kitchen annd cooked all week and loved every single thing! I have never felt like that on any vacation. The gift of it all was having my babies (dogs) there.
OK, here is my DREAM. I win the lottery and buy like 3 condos there and live there and rent out 2 of them! The only thing is Gavin will NEVER give up Firefighting in Lexington. So maybe the babies and I will just move down there on our own and leave him here in Lexinton--haha!
Gina McMenama and her "babies"!
Note: I wanted to thank Gina for sharing so many great pictures! I have put many on our on-line Webshots Photo albums.
Manual Moscoso, NY, NY (July 2006)
I just wanted to let you know that me and my family enjoyed the week at Sea Breeze! It was like no other vacation. In life, sometime it is best to do nothing and begin to recognize what a great family I have and how lucky I am.
Your place was comfortable and well kept. We are thinking of doing it again next year. I have all your information and I think you will be hearing from us in the future. I received the deposit and it was a great relief not to hassle! I can see why you do so well with Sea Breeze.
Tony Cobb and Family, Hamilton, OH (July 2006)
Just getting back to work and wanted to email you and thank you for letting us enjoy your home in Barrier Dunes. We had a great time, the weather was cooperative, the people were all very nice everywhere we went, je just kinda laid back and enjoyed a vacation for a change!
Sea Breeze was very nice, cozy and neat inside, everything we needed was right there. I also liked how close it was to the beach. We set up our cabana on our first day with beach chairs and toys and left it up until we left, no one bothered anything we had there.
Our dog "Bear" had a great first trip to the ocean. I think he's a confirmed "beach doggy" now. He loved walking out into the surf and wollering in the sand. He actually did better on the trip from Cincinnati than the grand kids did I think!
We did take a small jaunt to Wakulla Springs to ride the boards, we saw alligators, all kinds of fish and birds and even 3 manatees, the guide said that we were very lucky because they don't usually see them anymore.
We had dinner out one night at Toucan's on Mexico Beach, pretty neat and great food, all you can eat shrimp. Needless to say, I left there wobbling a little and not from the beer either!! I think we may have found our new vacation spot for the family! Thank you again for wonderful accommodations.
Noah (9) and Luke (3) with their lab Bear enjoying a spectacular Cape San Blas sunset!
Michael & Phyllis Norris, Scottsburgh, IN (June 2006)
A wonderful time was had by all, Phyllis, Holly, Greg, Mike and, of course Baby. We collected a gazillion shells at the light house, I think we must have carried home 50 pounds. We made it home just fine and in good time even with the holiday traffic.
Lisa is a great person (note: Lisa is our housekeeper!)! She went out of her way to make sure we were comfortable before she left Saturday. We had traveled all night and arrived at 11:00 am Saturday. She was gracious enough to allow us to put our things in the bedrooms, and change clothes so we could go shopping for groceries. We returned in an hour or two to find the place all ready to go! This was a great comfort to us as we were all tired. She then checked back with us to see if we were all settled in. We can't say enough good about this wonderful lady.
Thank you for a great place, a super web site and most of all for all the honesty in your description of your property! This is a rare thing to find on the net, I kid you not! It was all we expected and more, I wish we could have had a longer to visit--we'll do that next time! Again, many thanks!
The Frazier Family, Texas (June, 2006)
WENDY, WENDY, WENDY! All we can say is OH MY GOSH!!! The best weather we could have ever dreamed of the whole trip and the CLEAREST WATER!!! Didn't even need goggles. Great tans. Everyone here in Texas is extremely jealous! We are definately coming back! The kids had so much fun and my sone even got to catch a shartk at Indian Pass. That was his highlight of course. The grabbing was great too! Lots of luck on the bay and at Indian Pass. The bed was the hardest to leave, my back is still calling for it! Our dog Lucky loved it as well. I think the ocean will be in in his dreams from now on too! My daughter, Paige, who is 6, kissed me on the cheek and said "Mom, this is the best vacation EVER!" Same reactions from my sons. I don't hting any of us quit smiling the whole time we were there! The people are nice! Ellis wanted you to know it was heaven on earth to him too! Thanks Wendy for such a memorable vacation!
The Frazier Family
June 2006
The DeCamp Family (June 2006)
All I can say for our vacation to sum it up is, "WOW". We had the best week as a family that we have ever had! It was just the greatest! We had perfect, perfect weather, that went right along with playing and having a great time on the beach. Our boyx thought that it was the best!
Every night we would walk the bach and watch the sun set. Our 4 year old Joshua would sing the song "When the Sun GOes Down" by Kenny Chesney. On our last night he told the sunset good night and we would see it next year. Boy was he right.
We are making arrangements with our friends to try and come down the same week next year. And you better believe we will be caling you again. We loved the Cape better than Gulf Shores for sure. This is our new family vacation spot I believe.
We ate at The Riverside Cafe in Apalachicola. Then we went to Port St. Joe and ate at the Dockside Cafe. Both were very good. My husband was in heaven being the seafood person that he is. We also took a day and went to the Marine LIfe Aquarium. Jacob (our 8 year old) loved everything about this place and my husband was like a kid again. For Joshua (our 4 year old) he fell in love with the 2 big turtles. They would follow him around the tank everywhere he went. It was very cute. One night walking the beach we got to see the traccks of a momma sea turtle who had laid its eggs which was really neat.
I could go on and on about our great trip! We are just in love with Cape San Blas. You have everything needed to live on. All we had to do was take a trip to the Piggly Wiggly and we were good. Thank you for a great time!
Joshua and Jacob DeCamp enjoying the Cape San Blas Beach!
Bo Harris, Albany, GA (May 2006)
The weather was perfect all week long! The water was rally beautiful and clear and at low tide there was a large sandbar a few feet off the beach. The water out there was no deeper than your knees, so it was perfect for little Charlie to experience the waves without it being really rough. He loved playing at the "Wa Wa" as he calls it, and the pool was a really big hit as well!
The condo was perfect and everyone was very happy with the accommodation. The condo community was very nice and everyone was very friendly. We ate dinner a couple of times at Loggerheads...it was awesome each time! We also spent an afternoon in Appalachicola looking at the various shops downtown. We finished our visit with a meal at Boss Oyster Bar...it is now a favorite and we are already making plans to run back down there for dinner one Saturday afternoon!
The Harris Family enjoying the Cape San Blas, FL Beaches!
Christie & James Haddad, Atlanta, GA (May 2006)
We had a great time at Cape San Blas. The weather last week was PERFECT. Sea Breeze was very nice and the beach was uncdroded, which made it nice for Parker to be able to romp around in the waves. The couple in Cape Escape I was really nice and Parker enjoyed playing with their dogs. Thanks for sharing your home with us!
Parker hanging out on the beach!
Tricia & Jerry Matheny, Nortonville, KY (May 2006)
We had a wonderful time. We met a lot of people (dog people), including the couple who stayed in Sea Breeze. My golden, Grace, was a little sweet on their lab, Parker! The townhouse was great, had everything we needed. The binder with all the local information was so helpful.
The only problem I'm having is getting re-adjusted to my queen size bed after sleeping in that enormous king size in The Cape Escape! We will definately be back, but it will probably be a could of years. We are hoping to have our first child early next yer! I'll need a vacation soon after that!
Sue and Will Bonds, Mobile, AL (May 2006)
We arrived home safe and sound and very tan! But our Cairn Terrier "Chuck" had, by far, the very best time. He swam in the ocean, chased and caught severy of the ghost crabs and even dove in the pond to help my husband retrieve a large bass that got off our line at the very last minute. He loved running up and down the stairs in the condo and socializing with the many other dogs in the complex. The complex is awesome--it reminded me of a golf community, immaculately manicured and so spacious. The condo was so comfortable and I would certainly encourage you to keep it pet friendly.
My husband and I enjoyed the quiet and solitude--but we missed giong out to dinner, shopping and the night life. We didn't really want to drive to Port St. Joe or Apalachicola and leave our pet alone.
Cape San Blas is truly the undiscovered Paradise!!! Thank you for welcoming us into your home. If you ever find yourself in Mobile--give us a call!
Note from Wendy: If you have pets and don't want to leave them at home when you eat out, Toucans in Mexico Beach, Dockside Cafe in Port St. Joe (at the Marina) and Steamer's in Apalachicola all allow your dog to eat dinner with you on their patio's (with a leash of course!). So don't miss the great restaurants in the area--bring your dog with you!
Larry and Pam Smith, TN (May 2006)
Pam and I would like to tell you howm much we enjoyed staying at The Cape Escape I. Cape San Blas and THe Cape Escape I was perfect. Both of us were able to really relax and unwind there. The dogs loved their morning and evening walks on the beach. The weather was fantastic and there weren't a lot of people around so you didn't have to fight any crowds. It was really beautiful and relaxing.
Holly Anderson & Family, Ft. Wright, KY (May 2006)
We just got home from our fabulous trip to your condo. It was soooooo relaxing and comfortable I hated to come home.
I want to THANK YOU so much Wendy, for making special arrangements for me and the kids...it meant the world to me. It will be a trip we will remember for a lifetime and couldn't have been possible without your flexibility and sincerity. THANK YOU!.
I've given your name to 2 people so far, you've come highly recommended. Just wanted to say thanks again!
Lots of love and gratitude,
Holly, Jackson and Natalie Anderson
Ruby, Mick and Dylan Hebel, IN (April/May 2006)
We had a great time at your place! We would see maybe 4 o5 5 others on the beach and we usually had the pool to ourselves. I guess we got in before the season began!
We dined out quite a few times and attended Mass both in St. Joe and Apalach. Our friends enjoyed their brief stay, and we wish now that we had talked them into the estuary tour which we loved. We learned so much in just 2 hours about the river, the marshes and the wildlife. That Gibby knows his stuff.
Dylan (our dog) is no beach boy! He would join us for walks, but would not go near the water. His favorite thing is to be in the car, going some place!
We sure had everthing you could think of. Yours is the best equipped condo we've ever rented. You really have thought of everything. We especially enjoyed the lush bed. We're definately switching to a king bed when our new retirement home is finished.
After our new home is completed, we plan to begin wintering 2 to 3 months each year someplace warm, so you may hear from us again! Thank you for sharing your beach home with us!
Amanda, Roger & Blue, MS (April 2006)
We had a GREAT time at the Cape!!! It was wonderful! W ehad six great days of sun and fun!!! We took our pontoon boat out every day. The dolphins were amazing. They played around the boat checking us out.
We snorkeled around Black's Island and found large sand dollars. It was great. Blue loved chasing the sand crabs! She loves the beach. It was great having her with us!! She had as much fun as us. We didn't want to leave. Even my husband wanted to stay one more day (he always wants to get back home at the end of the week). We din't have much success with crabbing though. Thanks so much for sharing your little piece of Paradise!!! It was a great week. PERFECT!!!!
Marcia Plyler, Fayetteville, NC (April 2006)
Dear Wendy,
I apologize for taking so long to reply, but it is so hard and busy when you return from vacation! We had an absolutely wonderful time!!! It was just my mother, sister, daughter and I. We pretty much did nothing but talk and lay around (well, some reading)! We ate at Sunset Grill in Port St. Joe one night, and at the Loggerhead another. You know, my mind is already leaving me with all the hustle and bustle of real live. We also went shopping Tuesday at the outlets in Destin. Saturday, after leaving we drove to Savannah and spent the night because my sister had never been there. We messed around there and on the way home Sunday and didn't get in until 8 p.m.!
We really had a terrific, relaxing, no stress time! Of course my favorite things were walking my dog on the beach early in the morning and going back down to watch the sun set in the evening! Oh how beautiful!!. Thank you for the deposit refund check and your card! I would recommend the Cape Escape to ANY of my friends.
Cheri Driskell & Family, Indianapolis, IN (March 2006)
Thanks Wendy! It was a great vacation for the entire family! We enjoyed getting to know our neighbors and will definately be calling you again! The atmosphere was breath taking! Everyone we talked to was so friendly and welcoming!
Note: I'm not very "technical" so I was not able to take their beautiful pictures and add them here! Wendy
Tim and Karen Shannon, North Augusta, SC (March 2006)
Wendy. Thank you for your email today. We arrived home safely a short while ago and had a wonderful time. We are so grateful that you provided the opportunity for us to have a place where we could take JD with us. We know that we will not have him with us a great deal longer and it was a special vacation for all of us.
We tried to do most everything we could during the time we had available including waling, biking, kayaking, crabbing, etc. Visited a few restaurants and enjoyed the Mexican place in Port St. Joe and the Applichocola Seafood Grill the most (the raw oysters were the best ever)! Had a noon meal at Toucans in Mexico Beach and that was poor.
Anyway, it was fun to explore as much as we could. It was great to have the State Park so close and also enjoyed a bike ride on the stretch of beach at Indian Pass. The accommodations were exceptionally clean and organized with everything available. We didn't meet and talk with a lot of folks, however, JD was always a "hit" on the beach because of his size (great dane!).
It's ironic that yesterday we spent time on the pond dock catching and releasing fish with the folks from Ontario that were in your other unit. Again, thank you for your prompt attentiveness from the very first time we contacted you!
Tim Shannon and his beautiful Great Dane on the beach at Cape San Blas, FL
Cathy and Roo Tennesee (March 2006)
Arrived back home safely last evening and what a TERRIFFIC vacation. I loved the entire Barrier Dunes complex and felt completely safe and the people were all very friendly. Of course, Roo was a great attention getter and, by the way, he loved the beach and also the water. The accommodations were perfect. Great facility and I loved my stay and my birthday present to myself!
David and Cherryll Bullerdick, Michigan (Jan.-March 2006)
We got back to Michigan last night, boo! It's all snow and cold and I am missing the Cape already! We did get to the kayak on the bay...awesome!!! I loved it, so realxing and peaceful. I so enjoyed meeting you and staying at the CapeEscape II was WONDERFUL!
These guys are Gibbon, Biloxi and Agatha...and, of course, David!
They are now looking forward to spending the winter of 2007 in The Cape Escape II!
Matt and Sally Spero, Virginia (February 2006)
LOVED SEA BREEZE!!! The pictures don't do it justice! The bed is the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in!
Cape San Blas is beautiful! Tico is a total beach poodle now! Thank you so much for a great week.
Eileen Huey & Buster, Bayside, NY (January 2006)
I had a wonderful time at Cape San Blas! Except for one very windy day, the weather was great. Your place is lovely. Thanks for having all the little extras and allowing people to bring their pets! Buster loved the beach!
Joe, Angie, Lucy & Buddy, Marland Heights, MO (Jan. 2006)
We had a great time! Can't wait to go back!
Joe with Lucy and Buddy on the Beach
The Underwood Family, Alabama (December 2005)
We just got home and unpacked. I am so glad we stayed the extra day. We had a great time...caught fish, shopped, explored and slept. Having the dogs there really made it for Brenda which naturally makes me happy! We all want to come back if we can work it in!
You have a great place and I agreee with the other that the little personal touches definately set it apart from most rentals. Thanks for working with me on such short notice & Happy New Year to you and your family. Jim U.
The Duff Family, Winter Springs, FL, (Thanksgiving Week, 2005)
Wendy,
Thanks so much for providing us with the best vacation we have had yet! Even with the weather not at it's best the first few days (rain), we all had such an awesome time. The Cape is by far the most beautiful beach we have seen. I think the simple fact that it is not so over crowded makes it such a wonderful place. We will definitely be using your place again. We took one of your cards from the white notebook and put it in our phonebook here at home.
Anyhow, thanks again! Your condo lived up to all our expectations and then some. Have a wonderful Christmas and start the New Year off with a bang!
Pam and George Hobby, Powder Springs, GA (November 2005)
Your condo is great, we had a great time and our dogs behaved much better than we thought! They loved being on the deck and watching George fish and all the turtles that come up. At sunset we would take them to the beach and they played and chased crabs. They were so tired on the way back home! I will get you some pictures! Thanks for the stay. Pam and George
David and Michele Lujan (November 2005)
We LOVED your little piece of heaven on earth!! I promise a more detailed not, re-entry is taking time! Nothing was biting for us on the Bay, but Dave cought lots of Whiting in the surf! Thanks for your hospitality. I'll be calling soon to check future dates!
Nathan and LaShon Shook, Chickamauga, GA (October 2005)
Wendy,
We had a great time!!! It was a treat getting to meet you & your family. Taking Chipper with us was a wonderful experience. It was almost like when we took our kids for the first time. He had a ball, and so did we. The ocean was getting rough on Thursday evening. Friday it was really rough, but we didn't have any rain all week (Due to Hurricane Wilma) GREAT! We found a lot of large shells on the beach on the morning walks. Scott caught a 2 foot carp off the porch with a brim pole, I could't tell who wore out first. He had fun with the brim all week.!!!
The beach supplies and cart were a big plus. Thanks! We met a few people and they were real nice, but mostly we were alone on the beach most of the time. Went crabbing, with chicken on a string and had a lot of fun and caught a lot. Went to Sunset Coastal Grill twice and really liked it. Went to Boss Oyster twice and like it..Went to Tucans Twice and it was so so. Broiled steaks in oven one night. Well i better go, it is time to fix supper.
Yes, it is rough going back to the real world. Thanks again for having a pet friendly place. We are talking about maybe checking on getting the place when our daughter is on spring break next year. You will be hearing from us again i'm sure.
Thanks again
Scott, LaShon & Chipper Shook
Debbie Jarret and Family, Cumming, GA (October 2005)
We had a wonderful time! We all agree it was our best vacation ever. So relaxing and you were right about us falling in love with Cape San Blas! The mosquitoes were a little annoying, but we dealt with them with plenty of bug spray ;-). We took your advice and took a boat out in the bay--it was a perfect day! Thanks so much for that advice.
Thanks again for all your info and advice--it was so helpful and added to our experience immensely! We hope to be in contact again for our next Cape Escape!
Don and Pat Powers, Wilsonville, AL (September 2005)
Wendy,
We really had a nice trip to your condo. The unit is nice, clean and furnished very well. We loved the pools and tennis courts, but mostly enjoyed the fishing off of the porch. We must have caught and released over 200 nice size Bream. The only bait we used was baloney, pepperoni and bread! Our only complaint was the sand flies. We received our deposit yesterday, thanks!
Note from Wendy: The sand flies are seasonal and Gulf County does aerial spraying for the sand flies and mosquitoes, but we do recommend that you bring bug spray (I have heard that Deep Woods Off helps) and we bring Yard Guard to spray around our area too! They have never been a big problem for our family any time of year with bug spray!
The Jaynes' (Memphis, TN) September 2005
Wendy
We had an absolutely wonderful time!! It was beautiful. We will email you pictures of Yukon and Shady swimming. We've been telling all of our friends and family about it and talking it up for next year. It's nice to go to a beach that's not commercialized. We were disappointed that Indian Pass Oyster bar was closed but we were told it will be opening up around the first of the year and will be even better! We will email you those pictures and thank you again!
The Jaynes
Angela Ramage & Cocoa (Smyrna, GA) September 2005
Wendy,
The Cape was wonderfull!! It was so relasing and I totally agree with the other: the worst part is having to leave. By Sunday, when we arrived, the Red Tide had moved on and the beach only became more beautiful each day. Cocoa loved it and quickly learned to collect "beach bones" (sea shells) and chase sea gulls (sigh). She spent a lot of time in the water picking up shells and carrying them back to my towel. She looks like a wet rate because I had her cut short for vacation at the beach). She also found "her" place in front of your sliding glass door so she could keep up with who was on the tennis courts. I got a wonderful tan and almost finished a novel that I had promised a friend that I would read--he is the author--Darkstar by Creston Mapes. We met people at the pool that we talked with on and off all week. One night , we even met them for sunset at the clubhouse.Thank you so much for all you did to make my time at Cape San Blas wonderful. When we drove away, the friend that was with me asked, "Wonder how much she wants to reserve this place again for next year?"
I'm sure that I will be calling you again in the future. Plus, I took several of your business cards from teh invaluable white notebook to give to friends. While we were there, we called it our "Cape Bible" because it was so full of information.Hope we can keep in touch!
Blessings,
Angie
Angie and Cocoa overlooking the Cape San Blas Beaches in front of Barrier Dunes
Vint Lawson and Family (Marietta, GA) August 2005
Wendy,
Thank you as it was the perfect vacation--down time with the wife and kids. You accommodations were perfect as we felt at home the second we entered. The kitchen set up was excellent as we had everything at our fingertips.
The Cahill's (Pinson, AL) August 2005
We are still trying to re-acclimate to this reality show we call life--even Ashes (our dog).
You have a wonderful "home away from home" and we appreciate your allowing us to experience a little slice of paradise. The rejuvenation was needed and enjoyed by all! We will definitely will be keeping The Cape Escape in our list of future vacation spots and will be recommending you to anyone that asks!Best Regards,
Kate and Toby
The Beckman Family (Fairfield, OH) August 2005
We are here and everything is just wonderful. I must say that NONE of your pictures or descriptions of this place do it justice! It is far more beautiful than words could have described. We laid in the middle of the street and looked at the stars last night (you'd think they didn't have stars in Ohio!). They were just so brilliant and breathtaking.
We appreciate all the amenities in your home (foil, baggies, etc.). The dogs are having a blast. They love the beach and the people at the beach love them! We saw dolphins close to shore yesterday. That was neat! I believe this will be our home away from home for years to come! We had been going to Siesta Key for the last 7 years! I am sending pictures along...hope you enjoy them!
Have a great day! Kind regards, Barbara Beckman
Note from Wendy: Being from Sarasota and knowing how beautiful Siesa Key is, I'm flattered you have selected Cape San Blas and The Cape Escape as your new "home away from home!"
See additional Cape San Blas guest comments and reviews.
SEE MORE PICTURES in our WEB SHOTS PHOTO ALBUM!
Kathy Maguire enjoys a Crab Feast (yes, she and her husband caught them all in the surf!) in The Cape Escape II! Learn how to crab on the THINGS TO DO PAGE!
The Savino's Daughter, Emily, with another beautiful Cape San Blas Sunset in the background! March 2005
Lance (2) and Kiley (6) enjoying the beach. The are from Golden, IL and visited April 2005
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Julie's pictures of Bald Eagles on Cape San Blas:
