Forgotten Coast

Nestled in Florida’s Panhandle, the Forgotten Coast is so named as it’s the last remaining stretch of Gulf Coast beaches that hasn’t been overrun by development. It was also once left off the map by the state of Florida. Much of the region is a National Biosphere, and St. George Island State Park has been designated an International Dark Sky Place. The area’s history is diverse; Alligator Point and Bald Point were inhabited 3,000 years before the Spanish arrived, and the history of St. George Island is peppered with pirates and shipwrecks. The cotton industry once thrived here. 

Scenes from Apalachicola include the pier near the historic Gibson Inn ©Brendan O’connor

Orlando magazine’s dedicated editorial team is taking the guesswork out of your next coastal trip! Check out these important facts:

☀ BOUNDED BY: St. Teresa to Port Saint Joe and encompassing St. George and Little St. George islands.

⚑ COUNTIES: Franklin, Gulf.

⚐ MAJOR CITIES/AREAS: Port St. Joe, St. Joe Beach, Indian Pass, Wewahitchka, Apalachicola, Alligator Point, St. George Island, St. Marks Wildlife Refuge, Carrabelle.

♜ HIGHLIGHTS: Nature areas, recreational opportunities, historical sites..

☸ HIDDEN GEMS: Bald Point and St. George Island state parks (for geocaching), Apalachicola National Forest and Tate’s Hell State Forest (for forest paddling), Apalachicola Historic District tour (home to 900 homes and buildings that date from the 1830s).

☺ OVERALL VIBE: Laid-back and friendly.

Scenes from Apalachicola includes birds perched near the water ©Brendan O’connor

Apalachicola

Apalachicola has a deep and storied history rooted in its strategic location along the Gulf of Mexico. Originally inhabited by indigenous peoples, the area was later explored by Spanish settlers in the 16th century. By the early 19th century, it had grown into a significant port city. In the mid-1800s, the town became a hub for the lumber and seafood industries, particularly oyster harvesting, which remains a vital part of its economy today.

St. Marks Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Roberto Gonzalez

Today, Apalachicola is still known for its rich seafood industry, scenic coastal beauty and small-town aura.

I recently stayed at the historic Gibson Inn on a quest to reacquaint myself with the often-overlooked beauty and charm of the Panhandle. As I took the Big Bend Scenic Byway Coastal Trail bridge across the bay, I found myself in a cloud of butterflies migrating along the coast. And because my windows were open, a few of them went in the driver’s window and out the passenger window, as I listened to the hyper-local musings of Oyster Radio 100.5 FM about snowbirds who visit the area and never leave. It kept me company as I passed through the insanely Florida-sounding towns of Steinhatchee, Sopchoppy and Carabelle.

Apalachicola felt a little bit like a Boomer Spring Break, with an older set of visitors that had decades of visits to the area under their belt. Its proximity to Tallahassee means it gets its fair share of college students too, but the vibe always felt more adult. More appreciative. Or that could have just been me, as I sipped on some wine and watched the sunset from my private balcony at the Gibson.

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