The Forgotten Coast
A lesser known area of Florida
Where is it?
Most of the time when people hear “Florida”, they think about theme parks, palm trees, and crowded beaches. But there are many different areas of Florida and the "Forgotten Coast" is one of the most beautiful and unspoiled areas.
The name is most commonly used to refer to a relatively quiet, undeveloped section of coastline stretching from Mexico Beach on the Gulf of Mexico to St. Marks on Apalachee Bay in Florida. The nearest major cities are Tallahassee, about 90 miles northeast of Apalachicola, and Panama City, home of Tyndall Air Force Base, which is about 60 miles to the northwest.
In addition to the endpoints, it encompasses the coastal communities of (west to east):
· Panacea
I stayed in the relatively large town of Apalachicola. It is one of the few remaining working fishing villages in Florida. By that I mean that most folks derive their income from fishing and shrimping and oystering (limited). It is a quiet, friendly little town with a quaint downtown that is right on the river.
Things to do
Here are a few suggestions:
Shop and eat downtown Apalachicola. I recommend a restaurant called Up the Creek Raw Bar for authentic, local fresh seafood and an awesome view.
http://www.upthecreekrawbar.com/
Can’t go wrong with the Owl Tap Room, for seafood and a cold beer:
https://www.owlcafeflorida.com/tap-room
This place has a limited menu and not much seating, but if you like a basket of fried oysters, fish, or shrimp, served with fries and hushpuppies, check out Hole in the Wall Seafood & Raw Bar:
Speaking of beer, check out Watercraft Brewing for a local brew:
If you like nautical stuff, visit The Tin Shed
https://www.thetinshednautical.com/
.
If you want to take home some awesome fresh seafood, visit the Marker 13 seafood market downtown on Water Street, for some fresh, right off the boat gulf shrimp.
Hiking at Tate's Hell. http://myfwc.com/viewing/recreation/wmas/cooperative/tates-hell. This is a relatively new state forest, acquired by the state of Florida only in 1994. It’s named, supposedly, after Cebe Tate – a local rancher who got lost in the swamp in 1875. When he finally emerged, emaciated and with his hair gone completely white, he was said to remark to the first people he encountered: “My name is Cebe Tate, and I just came from hell.”
I recommend that you take some good, comfortable waterproof boots like mine. You should be able to find some in the $100 range: http://amzn.to/2EuATmg
Swim, or climb the lighthouse at St. George Island http://www.apalachicolabay.org/the-area/st-george-island/. The white sand and the crystal clear water are beautiful there.
If you would like to try your luck fishing, you should go to Carabelle. Considered the Gateway to the Gulf for its easy access to offshore fishing and boating, Carrabelle is a naturalist’s paradise. Uncrowded, white-sand beaches are perfect for family vacations and the fishing is unsurpassed. Unpretentious and friendly, Carrabelle is the place to experience small town nostalgia. You’ll feel the pride of a patriot when you visit the Camp Gordon Johnston Museum that tells the story of how our troops trained on the salty beach of Franklin County for the D-Day Invasion of Normandy in World War II. The nearby Crooked River Lighthouse reminds you of the town’s maritime importance.
If you Go
Just keep in mind, part of the mystique of the Forgotten Coast is that is is relatively hard to get to. For example, Apalachicola is a few hours drive from the closest interstate highway, and a few hours drive from the nearest commercial airports. So, go with an attitude that you are going to slow your pace down a notch and enjoy the laid-back style of The ForgottenCoast!
Take the road less traveled. Live the Wayfarer Life. "What's your next adventure?"