Last February my wife and I ventured down to the Appalachiacola Volunteer Firesman's Festival in Appalachiacola, Florida--a fun, local, whimsical affair. Organized by the community to support the volunteer fire department, the festival is located on the banks of the Appalachiacola River. Oysters are prepared in more ways than one can imagine, beer stands are plentiful, and a great band from Nashville plays crowd favorites.

Not far from the edge of this small town are remnants of the once-thriving oyster industry. The area used to provide about 70% of all oysters consumed in the US. Mostly defunct now, it is a rich experience to see remnants of a way of life that has all but past.