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Escape from the weather and the worries...enjoy the relaxed, carefree group at Barrier Dunes! The fishing is great, boating is fun and activities abound; from pot luck suppers to a Super Bowl party, bonfires on the beach and a 3x a week exercise class--winter on Cape San Blas, it doesn't get much better!
All of life becomes casual and fun once you breathe the glorious salt air and let go of what you left behind. Try it and you be coming back like most of our guests!
Cape San Blas, FL, or "the Cape" as most refer to it, is not well-known, but definitely better liked by those who have come to discover it's magic. Nestled up to St. Joseph Peninsula State Park and surrounded by water, it is the perfect place for a nature lovers' exploration. Boating, shopping, theatre , restaurants and other diversions are only minutes away, yet many of our guests never leave Barrier Dunes. Play tennis, walk your dog on an uncrowded beach while watching the ever changing scenes, fish, stir up a card game or read until your hearts content!
It doesn't get much better than this in life...but shhhh. We don't want too many to discover the treasure of the "Forgotten Coast". If you enjoy incredible white sand beaches that offer miles of shoreline to discover, calmer, yet extremely friendly group of vacationers and casual, relaxed fun you need look no more!
Enjoy many events in the clubhouse and on the beach this winter...some may even be planned by you, our 
guest! The clubhouse is open to anyone at no cost if they host any type of even open to all the owners and guests in Barrier Dunes. As dates are confirmed, I will continue to update the list!
REGULARLY SCHEDULED EVENTS:
November - End of March: Low Impact Aerobics and Strength Training Classes. 10:30 every Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the Barrier Dunes Clubhouse. FREE! Bring a towel and hand weights if you have them!
Regular nights out for dinner with many of the snowbirds!
Bonfires on the beach!
Potluck Dinners
Theme parties, like a book exchange or Superbowl parties....
The options are only limited to imagination as the folks on the Cape and specifically Barrier Dunes are friendly and fun!
** If you are going to be a guest at Barrier Dunes and want to plan your own event, let me know so I can post it here! There are also 2 bulletin boards in Barrier Dunes where the event information can be posted so all the snowbirds and anyone else in Barrier Dunes can join you....it's free!
Other Things to Do:
Enjoy Movies, Live Theatre and Live Entertainment at the Dixie Theatre. See the Area Events Calendar for activities and events in the area.
COMMENTS FROM OUR WINTER GUESTS:
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!
Curtis and Dorothy Richards, Lisbon CN
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??
Cheryl Bullerdick, Michigan (2 time winter guest!)
Are you a snowbird looking for the ultimate escape from the long northern winter?? Well I 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 community 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!
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!!
See more Guest Comments from other guests to our Cape San Blas, FL Vacation Rentals in Barrier Dunes
Free Fitness, Body Sculpting & Aerobic class in the clubhouse 3 times a week!
Fantastic turnout all winter for the free, bodysculpting/aerobics class enjoyed not only in the clubhouse but, on really great mornings, out on the gulf front pool deck as well! THANK YOU CHERYL BULLERDICK for all you do to make this class a success!
Winter surf fishing in front of Barrier Dunes--doesn't get much better than this!
A huge crowd turned out for this potluck supper on the beach! Winter 2008.
This beach bonfire was part of a wonderful potluck supper arranged by some winter guests in Barrier Dunes. A good time was had by all! Winter 2008
