Best Things to Do in Florida’s Forgotten Coast

On the northeast tip of St. George Island is this destination for nature lovers. The park’s gulf-facing shore has soft, white beaches and gorgeous blue waters where dolphins like to roam. You may even see a stingray flutter by or live sand dollars on the sea bottom as you wade along the clear waters of the shore. In the sand, large, perfectly preserved varieties of shells are plentiful and ripe for collecting. Anglers will enjoy the fishing here along the undeveloped beachfront. Other activities include birdwatching, kayaking, nature trails and camping.

Griffith Guide Service will take care of all your fishing needs. If you want to go offshore fishing for snapper, grouper or cobia, Griffith’s Captain Coble has you covered. If you’d rather stick bayside or fish “the cut” for more seasonal, bottom-running fish like pompano, sheepshead and flounder, he can do that, too. The captain also runs fishing-hook-free adventures like dolphin watching and shell collecting at islands and shorelines only reachable by boat.

This towering, 72-foot-tall brick structure in the middle of the tiny downtown area welcomes visitors as they cross the bridge onto St. George Island. Though the original lighthouse collapsed into the Gulf of Mexico in 2005, portions were salvaged and used in the reconstruction, which was completed in 2008. Check out the museum to learn about the lighthouse’s 153-year history before its collapse and venture up 92 steps to have a look out from the top. Full moon tours are available.

Located on the bay side of the bridge to St. George Island, this science center will teach you about the flows of the local ecosystem. It spotlights the local watershed, the research currently being performed in the area and what methods of stewardship are being employed. One exhibit traces the evolution of oyster boats, and another traverses a raised boardwalk, made to scale, that walks visitors from the headwaters 530 miles north all the way to the bay.

This is the Fourth of July tradition you never knew you needed. Downtown descends into an all-out water gun battle as a parade attempts to march on in the middle of war. Parade watchers fill trucks and golf carts with as much water as they can for maximum reloading as they take aim at parade floats, which mostly consist of towed boats, traditional floats and patriotically decorated golf carts. No one is safe, not even the onlookers, as they eventually turn on each other. Don’t feel badly for those on the floats though. They are usually armed with the most creative of weapons and use ice-cold water for ammunition. It is an exhaustingly festive way to celebrate the country’s birthday.

The only beachfront restaurant on St. George Island is the perfect place to spend a sunset (or any time, really). Downstairs, right by the beach, is their tiki bar, which serves coastal classics like rum runners, piña coladas and margaritas alongside their signature drinks like the St. George Island Breeze. For dinner, go big and get their Blue Parrot Seafood Platter. Why wouldn’t you get grouper, shrimp, oysters, sea scallops and crab cake all in one meal?

Across the Apalachicola Bay, you can take in a bit of history at this throwback restaurant. Located in the historic downtown of Apalachicola at the Gibson Inn, the Franklin Cafe gets its name from the hotel’s first eatery, which opened in the early 1900s. The atmosphere, while not overly formal, will be a welcome reprieve for those tired of beach casual dining. The catch of the day is always something that will tempt you, but, if you want to stick to the menu, go with the Apalachicola Bay pasta, filled with scallops and gulf shrimp.

Watch the fishing boats come in at this waterside haunt just outside of walking distance from the rest of Apalachicola’s downtown. Half Shell is full of positive energy, from the live music to the patio full of tailgate games. You can’t go wrong with the seafood or the steaks here.

Many people opt to go to The Owl’s cafe, but its taproom’s delightfully laid-back ambience and decor won us over. The nostalgic bar decorations, including a refurbished helm, seem to be the natural setting for the best burger in town, a burger best enjoyed with duck-fat fries. And of course, with a name like the Tap Room it is going to have plenty of local craft beer options.

Texas-style barbecue and the beach don’t usually go hand in hand, but this restaurant makes it work. A pet-friendly patio and casual atmosphere on the back side of the island make this a good place to cool off. It is also a great place to start your day with their selection of omelets and other breakfast items. Keep in mind they are on island time, and breakfast starts a bit later at 8 a.m.

There may come a day when this spot is old news, but, for now, it’s a must for anyone with even the slightest sweet tooth. This emerging beachtown chain is the Toys “R” Us (remember those?) of candy. An entire department store of gummy candy, hard candy, brand-name candy, flavored sodas, bubble gum, ice cream and more. If you want to try a gummy hamburger, this is your spot. If you want to indulge in Dr Pepper flavored cotton candy, it’s here. If you want bacon soda, this is still your destination. It has a huge presence in St. George’s small downtown.

This is where the locals hang out and drink, but it could easily be listed as a restaurant recommendation with its great selection of bar food. Sit at the bar to get some shade or take advantage of the open-air layout that lets you observe the bayside marshes. Like most places on the island, it is family friendly and hosts fun nightly events like themed trivia and karaoke.

The best local brewery for a midday drinking session. Home to the best-known local beers of the Forgotten Coast, this historic downtown hangout is just that: a hangout. There is not much  seating inside, but the sidewalk sitting area is a people-watcher’s dream. With a daily closing time of 7 p.m., this brewery isn’t set up for late-night adventure, but it’s perfect for a lazy day on the coast. The Apalach IPA gets all the attention, but don’t sleep on the Tates Helles, their German-style lager named after the nearby Tate’s Hell State Forest. 

Refreshingly, a dive bar that embraces the title of a dive bar. A mashup of locals and knowledgeable visitors come to this eclectic joint at the end of downtown Apalachicola for the nightly music and abundant dance floor. Yet, this has to be the first family-friendly dive bar I’ve ever seen. It’s hard to ask for a better place to wind down the night. Special note to liquor drinkers: High Five only serves beer, wine and seltzer.

At the very least, the quality of the views from this restaurant’s patio seating make it worth a visit. Overlooking the heart of downtown, this is a wonderful place to set up with a stiff drink as the sun goes down. Rotating food specials and live music has helped it become one of the new favorites on the coast.

Want to stay right in the middle of the beach action? This is your place. Located within easy walking distance of the beaches and several locations on this list, you can enjoy the gulf breeze right from the patio. The simple rooms here look like grandma’s beach house, if grandma was influenced by the early 2000s old-world decor trend. It’s dark wood and tile floors that make you feel like you should be fishing.

Home to the aforementioned Franklin Cafe, as well as the charming Parlor Bar, this delightful hotel is teeming with history and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As you approach you can feel the nostalgic tug of its wraparound porch, but the rooms are an updated coastal chic. Expect to sleep among some variation of pale yellow shiplap, rattan furniture and colorful wallpaper that depicts bathing birds or geometric waves. Complimentary bicycles are available to explore the historic downtown.