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If you follow along on Instagram, you probably saw that we took a long weekend to visit Florida’s Forgotten Coast.   We spent last Friday night at The Bowery Inn located in Apalachicola, FL, and then the following two out on St. George Island. 

It was our first trip to both communities, and we had a wonderful time!  The only downside is that we couldn’t stay longer!  The good news is that it’s less than two and a half hours from home, so we can come back again, hopefully soon.

Apalachicola, Florida

I have so much to share, so want to break it up into a few posts starting with our stay at The Bowery Inn in Apalachicola, Florida.    This quaint and friendly community has so much to offer! 

Once the third busiest port along the Gulf of Mexico, Apalach, as the locals call it, has a rich history.  The efforts to both appreciate the past and restore the infrastructure didn’t go unnoticed by me.   The feeling you get as you walk through the streets is one of admiration and respect. 

The people here have deep roots in the town and much love for one another.   I know just by spending a day there that they know what hard work is.  Most families can look back generations and share stories of contributions that make Apalachicola what it is today.

If you have never visited, add it to your travel bucket list.  This part of the Florida Coast is my favorite. Today I want to share more about where we stayed because, well, I thought it was pretty cool!

The Bowery Inn Apalachicola, Florida

I found this vacation rental on VRBO and was super impressed!  This two-story corner building was constructed in 1900 and was home to a General Mercantile on the first floor and living space on the second.  It also sat empty for 4 decades. 

Booking.com

However, in 2015 it was beautifully renovated.  The first floor is currently business space, and the upstairs has been made into four separate rental spaces along with a common kitchen area.  A 1000 sq foot wrap-around porch gives added space to relax and feel right at home.   Three of the units sleep two (King or Queen Beds), and the fourth, which we stayed in, can sleep up to 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 kids, which was perfect for us!

Let me give you a tour of The Bowery Inn!

The property has a private entrance with a keypad.   It has the feel of a bed and breakfast but is completely self-operated, which is so convenient!  This Apalachicola vacation rental is just half of a block from Up The Creek Raw Bar and Scipio Creek.    You are just on the edge of the business district, and there are a bunch of great shops, museums, restaurants, and even a brewery!

Bowery Inn Apalachicola Common Areas

Once you enter, there is a small desk with a guestbook and then a set of stairs leading up to the living quarters.  Please note that the Bowery Inn is not handicap accessible, and that is made clear in their listing.  We didn’t mind the stairs, but I know it may be an issue for others.

Once you reach the top, look up!

At the top of the stairs is a small door to a rooftop balcony as well as guest laundry and a closet with other supplies you may need.   You can’t help but feel charmed by the rustic renovation.  I am not sure how much of the place is original, but I know that they reclaimed and salvaged as much as they could!   It also was sparkling clean!

Head through a small door and into the large kitchen area.  I was immediately taken by the beautiful quilt on the wall tucked behind a large plant.  A bench sat in front, and it felt like something out of a magazine.   Don’t worry; I brought Abby back there for a photo!

Bowery Inn Kitchen Area

Within the kitchen, there is a full-size refrigerator that guests can use, as well as a toaster oven, Keurig, electric tea kettle, and full-size sink.  The wood floors were finished so beautifully!  There was plenty of coffee as well as creamers, sugars, etc., for guests to help themselves to.  As a vacation rental owner myself, I am taking notice and very appreciative of extra touches like this.

There is also a table with a bench and chairs for you to eat at.  Again, it was very clean in the kitchen, and although I believe the other units were also occupied during our stay, we never ran into or heard anyone else!

Turn down the hall and immediately see the light flowing in through the porch door.   The three smaller rooms are all to the right, and the larger room we stayed in, Queen of the Night, is on the left, which is even nice if you plan to bring kids as we did.

Bowery Inn Apalachicola King Suite Room

And now, I get to share our room!  We were very happy with the space.  We weren’t planning on spending much time in the room anyway, but it was nice that we didn’t really feel cramped.

There was a large King sized bed that we planned to share with Jake, and also a futon for Abby. 

The decor was all fitting for a historic building, and I think the kids thought about and appreciated the chance to stay somewhere different like this.

They had the futon already made up for us with a nice memory foam mattress topper and comfortable bedding. They had the futon already made up for us with a nice memory foam mattress topper and comfortable bedding.

I don’t know if this armoire is original, but I have a feeling that it is.  I guess that is the sign of a good restoration when everything fits so well that you can’t tell what is old and what is new!

Wait until you see what is next!  I almost hate to ruin the surprise for you, but the bathroom is super cool.

Bowery Inn King Suite Bathroom

First, head through the door! The oversized bathroom has a stairwell that the kids thought was so cool!  It was closed off, so it didn’t really go anywhere, but it was fun for them to sit on the stairs and think about where it would have gone.

There is a sitting area with a vanity in the bathroom and a nice window that lets in a lot of natural light.  Outside the window is just a metal roof of an adjacent building, so you still have privacy, of course!

The shower had been redone with a nice subway tile that flowed well with the overall design.   Something old and something new!  I really appreciate how much work must have gone into restoring this historic building! 

Short term rentals like this are only allowed in this part of town, so many have chosen to take on these projects both as an investment and also to help conserve the community’s rich history.  I would love to try a project like this sometime!

The Wraparound Porch at The Bowery Inn (Downtown Apalachicola)

Let’s head back outside and check out the wrap-around porch!  There are four sets of chairs spread out on the covered outdoor space.  We had a wonderful time enjoying coffee out here Saturday morning.  It was fun to watch the people file into the breakfast place two doors down.

Doesn’t it look so relaxing?  Birds were chirping, and you could hear the hum of the boats coming up and down the Scipio Creek just a block over.  If you are looking for a relaxing place just to sit back and enjoy a slower pace, this is it!

Now, let’s head back inside!   Did I mention how much I love the natural light?

Staying at The Bowery Inn Apalachicola

Thanks for following along!  I hope that you enjoyed checking out this beautiful place as much as I enjoyed sharing it!

I am excited and inspired to seek out more unique rental experiences like this both on Airbnb and VRBO.  Have you ever stayed in a unique or historic vacation rental?  Leave me a comment and let me know!

Book Your Visit

Click here to check out this vacation rental on VRBO.  

There are four different units at The Bowery Inn in Apalachicola, Florida. The one we stayed in above and also:

Bowery Inn King Bedroom Rental in Apalachicola

Bowery Inn Cozy Queen Room

Roper’s Rest at The Bowery Inn Downtown Apalachicola

PIN This Bowery Inn Apalachicola Rental Blog Post