The Gift that Keeps on Giving: Discover Unforgettable Holiday Shopping on the Forgotten Coast

With Turkey Day just around the corner, you may be itching to get a head-start on your holiday shopping. Look no further than Florida’s Forgotten Coast! Franklin County is home to an array of charming boutiques, antique stores, and art galleries brimming with rare treasures, handmade goodies, and one-of-a-kind gifts.

Don’t plan to dive into holiday shopping until after Thanksgiving? We’ve got you covered. On Saturday, November 30, Franklin County shops will be participating in the Small Business Saturday campaign. This is the perfect time to come on down to the Forgotten Coast for a seasonal shopping spree.

All across our communities, from Carrabelle and Eastpoint to St. George Island and Apalachicola, you’ll discover great deals on everything from art and jewelry to food and apparel to home décor and fishing gear. Find the perfect gift for everyone on your list without fighting crowds at the mall—all while supporting small, locally owned businesses.

Not sure where to start? Here’s a shopping guide to help you find unforgettable holiday gifts on the Forgotten Coast:

Awesome Art

If you’re searching for the perfect gift for an art lover, swing by Sea Oats Art Gallery on St. George Island, Cal Allen’s Coastal Art Gallery & Studio in Carrabelle, or Joyce Estes Gallery in Apalachicola. All three galleries feature eye-catching collections from local artists.

Looking for three-dimensional art and other cool creations? Check out Frost Pottery Garden in Eastpoint or Apalachicola’s Bowery Art Gallery, a fun gallery in the Bowery region that features lively, original pieces crafted by local and regional artists. 

Outdoorsy Gifts

Shopping for the guy or gal who loves fishing, paddling, camping, and other fresh-air adventures? Take a trek to Apalach Outfitters, located at 32 Avenue D in downtown Apalachicola. This full-service retail shop specializes in clothing, gear, and accessories for all types of outdoor pursuits.

Don’t forget to cruise over to Island Outfitters on St. George Island. This beachy store serves up everything from resort wear and jewelry to top-shelf fishing roads, artificial bait, kayaks, and paddleboards. 

Antiques, Handmade Treasures & Collectibles

If you’re on the lookout for a truly unique gift, Franklin County is the perfect spot. In Carrabelle, pay a visit to Coastal Cottage Living, a locally owned shop with an eclectic mix of antiques, custom-built and painted beach cottage-style furniture, and other great gifts.

While you’re shop-hopping in Apalachicola, drop in on the Old Stuff Shop, Tin Shed Nauticals & Antiques, and Retsyo Inc. (Oyster spelled backward). Each of these vibrant stores is packed with an array of gifts, including antiques, collectibles, Tupelo honey, hand-crafted items, and souvenirs.

Clothing, Accessories & Shoes

Think it’s impossible to find the perfect gift for your favorite fashionista? Think again! There are countless clothing shops across the Forgotten Coast serving up a variety of brands and styles for men, women, and children.

If you’re seeking chic, resort-style pieces, take a peek inside St. George Island’s Seaside Cotton. Offering hand-selected, name-brand styles, this island boutique’s extensive selection includes men’s and women’s apparel, shoes, accessories, and gifts.

In Apalachicola, you’ll discover a myriad of clothing store options to suit every budget: From Style Loft, a small-town boutique offering affordable clothing, jewelry, and handmade art, to La Robe Boutique, an upscale women’s clothing store with a wide selection of dresses, purses, shoes and home goods.

Searching for a stylish clothing store that radiates Southern charm? Look no further than Deep Southern on Market Street in downtown Apalach. Head next door to Oystercatcher to peruse contemporary fashion pieces, including resort and swimwear, jewelry, accessories, and shoes. For even more options, set sail to Coast, Oystercatcher’s sister store. Just two doors down from Oystercatcher on Market Street, Coast carries seaside apparel, accessories, and more jewelry.

Aromatic Gifts & Beauty Products

Want to surprise them with a special seaside gift unlike anything else under the tree? Do your holiday shopping at Apalach Waters and Apalachicola Sponge Company, two stores that offer natural sea sponges, soaps, and other distinctive treasures.

To sniff out sweet-smelling treasures, head over to Rose’s Botanicals & Soap Factory and explore a variety of luxurious body products made from the highest quality natural ingredients. For more bath and beauty options, hop over to Riverlily on Commerce Street in Apalachicola. In addition to beauty products, this neat boutique also offers earrings, candles, clothing, and all things mermaid-related. (Keep your eyes peeled for Riverlily’s mermaid mascot Opal over the porch roof.)

Books

If you have any bookworms on your list, Apalachicola is the place to shop this holiday season! Take a gander at Forgotten Coast Used & Out of Print Books on Water Street in Apalach. This local store specializes in gift-quality used books with a regional focus, first editions, and collectible works on southern and local literature.

Turn the page and stroll to Downtown Books on Commerce Street, where you can browse the best new titles and much-loved classics, as well as games and other fun gifts.

Something for Everyone

If you’re a fan of one-stop shopping, you’re in luck. Franklin County is home to a couple of markets that serve up something for everyone on your list. Wander through Grady Market in Apalachicola to discover an array of fine goods, including clothing for everyone in the family, art, handcrafted pottery, kitchenware, bedding, home décor, hats, shoes, and jewelry.

Also in Apalachicola, don’t miss Riverside Mercantile, an old-fashioned vendor mall featuring an assortment of vintage items, new merchandise, jewelry, nautical gifts and decor, candles, ornaments, handmade cypress décor, and more.

Gift-hunting in Carrabelle? Take a trip to Carrabelle Corner on Tallahassee Street to shop for shoes, clothing, purses, and fishing gear. They have everything you’re looking for—not to mention a few things you didn’t even know you needed!

Furniture & Home Décor

If you’re hunting for a more sizeable gift, look no further than Tiffins Furniture in Eastpoint. This 25,000-square foot store is one of the largest retail stores on the Florida Panhandle offering a wide range of furniture, hand-made cypress and pine tables, and art, including original paintings and prints from the Tiffins.

For smaller home décor items, gifts, novelties, and souvenirs fly down to Two Gulls in Carrabelle or Two Gulls for Mermaids in St. George Island. Then surf over to Beach Trader in Carrabelle, which serves up beachy souvenirs and nautical home décor.

Doggone Purr-fect Pet Gifts

Whether you’re shopping for your favorite four-legged friend or just an avid pet-lover, Oysterbones in Apalachicola is a must-visit. Located at 58 Market Street, this shop offers cool stuff for pets and their people, from homemade dog biscuits, collars, and toys to dog and cat-themed apparel and décor. And of course, the store is pet-friendly—so bring Fido and Fluffy along for the shopping spree!

For adorable dog and cat figurines and other collectible critters, check out Apalachicola’s All That Jazz. This delightful store also serves up a full assortment of reasonably priced local art and handmade gifts, including birdhouses, ornaments, and pottery.

Believe it or not, this is just a small sampling of the bounty of boutiques, stores, and galleries in Franklin County. Ready to discover a holiday shopping paradise? Head down to the Forgotten Coast to mark everyone off your list!