The Forgotten Coast - St. George Island

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Summer is here and travel season is upon us! In these post-Covid times, travel looks a little different and lots of folks are sticking to domestic vacation options that are within driving distance of their hometowns. One of those options for those in the Southern states of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana is the Forgotten Coast of Florida.

Stretching for 200 miles with five islands and 99 historic sites, the Forgotten Coast starts below the popular tourist town of Panama City and follows the tip of the Florida Panhandle along scenic coastline. This idyllic section of the Sunshine State offers a vacation destination with quiet & quaint small towns and areas like Mexico Beach, Port St. Joe, Apalachicola, Eastpoint, Cape San Blas, and St. George Island. With white sand beaches, lush vegetation, wildlife areas, and historic sights, it is easy to find the perfect spot for a relaxing vacation for a family vacation, couples getaway, girls trip, or a fishing experience for the guys.

I discovered the Forgotten Coast in 2020 thanks to a high school friend who had properties on Cape San Blas and a great Facebook page which I followed enthusiastically and bidding my time to be able to travel down there from SWLA to see for myself what I had only been able to enjoy through social media. Being an ardent beach/water aficionado, I was eager to check out the Forgotten Coast myself and finally got the opportunity in January 2021. It was love at first sight!

Since that first visit, I have been back four times – three stays on Cape San Blas at the Barrier Dunes and just returned from a stay on St. George Island. Each time I have come down, it has been at different times of the year (January, April, May, and August) and, other than some chilly winter winds in January, have always had a fabulous experience. Rainy days can be spent reading and listening to the waves, sunny days are spent shelling, kayaking, biking, paddleboarding, or just sitting on the beach with a good book and cooling off in the refreshing Gulf or St. Joe Bay. This area has quickly become a favorite destination for me and I have introduced it to several clients & friends as well as bringing some family members down to experience the Forgotten Coast.

For this last visit, although I dearly love the Cape, I opted to try another location so booked a cute, perfectly sized condo on St. George in the Ocean Mile complex. It was a wonderful location steps from the white sand beach with a well-maintained pool and condo community. On the East end of St. George, we were located close enough to the dining and shops of the island but far enough away that it was wonderfully quiet and just what we needed for our anniversary vacation. We even had our beach gear delivered to the condo by one of the island outdoor outfitters, VayK Gear, so didn’t have to lug anything from home or worry about it when we got to the condo.

St. George Island is home to one of four historic lighthouses that can be visited along the Forgotten Coast as well as St. George Island State Park. There are bike paths all over the island with miles of beach front to enjoy as well as pristine marshlands to view abundant wildlife. And don’t let the word “island” fool you – St. George is a barrier island that is 28 miles long and 1 mile wide so you never really feel that disconnected from the mainland with just a short drive over the bridge to Eastpoint and Apalachicola.

What appeals to me most about this area is the unfettered island vibe without the commercialization of areas like Destin, Orange Beach, Pensacola, and Panama City Beach. There are no big hotels, only a handful of fast-food chain restaurants, and no Walmarts past Panama City. You grab your groceries on the way in from Publix in Panama City or hit Piggly Wiggly in St. Joe and then enjoy fresh seafood at local restaurants like Crazy Fish in Port. St. Joe, Halfshell Dockside in Apalachicola, or the Blue Parrot Island Oceanfront Café on St. George. Also, a must while visiting Cape San Blas is a stop to the St. Joe Shrimp Co. for a tasty Low Country Boil and fresh seafood to cook after you enjoy a day visiting Saint Joseph Peninsula State Park. Come in late July through August and you can snorkel for your own fresh scallops in St. Joe Bay! It really doesn’t get fresher or better than catching or harvesting your own seafood!

The area beaches are also well-known for being home to sea turtle nests from March through October with the main hatching occurring in the late summer. You’ll see nest marked off on the beaches on Cape San Blas and St. George along with requests to turn off lights facing the water in the evenings so turtles aren’t scared off from coming ashore to lay their eggs. Although I have never seen a hatching or a turtle come ashore, I have been lucky enough to see the nests and hope one day to be able to witness this amazing event of nature.

If you are looking for a great destination without the hustle and bustle of the Emerald Coast, I cannot recommend the Forgotten Coast enough. Although a bit of a drive from SWLA (usually takes about 10.5 hours with a couple short stops), it is 100% worth the extra couple of hours of drive time to arrive to a wonderfully peaceful and beautiful beach area where you can stay as busy or unbusy as you choose to be.  It truly is the best kept secret of Florida and I sincerely hope it stays as untouched, quaint, and beautiful as it is now for visitors to enjoy for years to come.

Contact us at Great White Travels & Associates if you are ready to experience the beauty of the Forgotten Coast! I’d love to share this area with clients who love unique experiences, beautiful beaches, and relaxing waterfronts as well as those who are avid boaters, kayakers, fisherman, and paddleboarders. Email me at annette.duplechin@cruiseplanners.com or call 337.226.5650 and let’s talk about planning your trip to Florida’s best kept secret!