Florida’s Forgotten Coast is Making Headlines Again

We’re only a month into the new year, but Florida’s Forgotten Coast is already making headlines as a top vacation destination for 2020. Of course, it’s no wonder why our area attracts so much attention. Franklin County offers the last remaining stretch of unspoiled and uncrowded Gulf Coast beaches.

From Apalachicola and St. George Island to Carrabelle, Eastpoint and Alligator Point, our charming coastal communities offer breathtaking beaches, rich history, fabulous fishing and countless other things to see and do.

Check out what Southern Living and other publications and travel sites have to say about our awesome area:

Southern Living Calls Apalachicola “Florida’s Stunning Surprise”

Southern Living featured an article entitled, “Plan a Winter Escape to Apalachicola, Florida” in its January 2020 issue. In the piece, reporter Tracey Minkin beautifully captures the essence of Apalachicola, writing, “After heading inland briefly past flanks of longleaf and slash pines, you find yourself rolling more slowly past stately antebellum homes until you arrive at a pristine 19th-century downtown. Just beyond is a sky blue waterway dotted with shrimp boats.”

Minkin goes on to describe historic downtown Apalach. “You meander downtown, amazed by what you see: a craft brewpub; a Charleston, South Carolina-worthy boutique with beautiful clothing; an upscale outfitter with fishing rods and fashionable outdoor wear; antiques stores; and art galleries,” she writes. “On a corner is a deep-porched inn that feels like the coolest spot to stay on the Panhandle.”

She defines Apalachicola as “Florida’s stunning surprise, the little up-and-comer,” adding that our small city has quietly built itself up in the last decade. “Inventive entrepreneurship has turned it into a sweet and stylish getaway that blends those downtown delights with proximity to some of the coast’s most remarkable wild beaches,” she explains. “Make no mistake: Apalachicola is having a moment.” Here in Franklin County, we wholeheartedly agree!

The article also gives a shout out to some of our favorite Apalach restaurants, inns and shops, including Up the Creek Raw Bar, Apalachicola Seafood Grill, Gibson Inn, Grady Market, SGI Threads, Apalach Outfitters and more.

The Suncoast Post Highlights Florida’s Forgotten Coast

In an article called “The 12 Coasts of Florida As Explored By Florida Fun Travel”, The Suncoast Post highlights The Forgotten Coast as “the last remaining stretch of unspoiled, pristine Gulf Coast beaches that haven’t been overrun by high rises and strip malls.”

“There are no major cities along The Forgotten Coast. However, you will find hamlets like Panacea, Carrabelle, Lanark Village, Cape San Blas and Port St. Joe,” writes Barry Foster. “The adventurous might find themselves on Dog Island, St. George Island or St. Vincent Island.”

Foster goes on to say that in addition to breathtaking white beaches and sparkling blue water, the Forgotten Coast offers “opportunities for swimming, fishing, paddling and shelling. Other areas are noted for bird watching, hiking, fishing on the Forgotten Coast.”

Chattanooga Times Free Press Recommends SGI for Rest and Relaxation

Reporter Shawn Ryan writes that Florida’s Forgotten Coast is the perfect place to relax and unwind in a Chattanooga Times Free Press article. In the piece, Ryan celebrates St. George Island as a stunning, tranquil retreat, especially as compared to other crowded beach destinations along the Gulf coast.

“Emptiness is one of the major pleasures of St. George Island,” he writes. “Stand on the island’s beach and look left. Fading off into the distance, a few people sit in the sand or wade in the Gulf of Mexico, but yards and yards of space separate them. Look right. The same. No big blue umbrellas block the view. No lines of wooden chaise lounges march off into the distance like a military parade. The quiet and lack of bustle is a 180-degree change from more-familiar places like Gulf Shores, Destin and Panama City, where you sometimes feel as if you’re crammed against your new ‘best buds’ who yell at their kids to ‘Get back c’here!’ and play their music at the same levels as an F16 fighter jet taking off.”

Of course, this is just a handful of travel sites and publications that have featured our wonderful area as a must-visit vacation destination. As the year continues, stay tuned for more media buzz about Florida’s Forgotten Coast!

Ready to see for yourself what all the fuss is about? Book your getaway to Florida’s Forgotten Coast today!