Tucked away along Florida’s Northern Gulf coast is a two-lane coastal highway that meanders through the quiet coastal communities of Apalachicola, St. George Island, Carrabelle, Eastpoint and Alligator Point. This is Florida’s Forgotten Coast, a protected oasis with quiet beaches, wooded trails and scenic paddling sloughs about 70 miles southwest of Tallahassee. The environment is the economy here and visitors enjoy uncrowded beaches, fishing, kayaking, swimming, hiking, discovering heritage sites and, of course, eating fresh Apalachicola Bay seafood. 

Seafood Central

Eastpoint is seafood central for the commercial fishing industry along the Forgotten Coast. Whether it’s oysters, harvested by aquaculture farmers, bluecrabs, shrimp or fish, you can find it in one of the small seafood markets tucked along the shore. Here you can also enjoy some of the region’s tastiest gumbo overlooking the bay at Lynn’s Quality Seafood. Wash it down at the Eastpoint Beer Company – a new locally-owned brewery that overlooks the St. George Sound featuring craft beers, a weekly market and live music.

East of Eastpoint, you’ll discover a fisherman’s paradise in Carrabelle. Perched at the mouth of the Carrabelle River, this quiet coastal hamlet features a working waterfront with full-service marinas. Enjoy fresh fare and a beautiful sunset watching the boats unload their daily catch at Fathom’s Steam Room and Raw Bar. 

Recreational opportunities abound around Carrabelle – from white sand beaches to hiking and kayaking in Tate’s Hell State Forest. Tours of the Crooked River Lighthouse and Camp Gordon Johnson World War II Museum are fun and educational. Golfers can enjoy a round of golf at the St. James Bay Golf Club, the area’s Audubon Signature Sanctuary and Championship Course. After a round, enjoy “coastal comfort cuisine” at the Club’s Crooked River Grill featuring a local favorite – the crabby paddie sandwich.


St. George Island Beaches

One of four offshore barrier islands, St. George Island  claims the area’s most beautiful pristine beaches;  the Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park, at the far east end of the island, ranks amid the top  beaches in the country. St. George Island is a family and pet-friendly beach haven with miles of uncrowded shoreline. You can relax beachside at the Blue Parrot Bar and Grill and enjoy a basket of steamed shrimp as you watch the dolphins play or experience the region’s largest open-air tiki bar at Doc Myers’ Island Pub. There are no high rises here  – the highest point on the 28-mile long St. George Island is the 77-foot tall historic Cape St. George Lighthouse that serves as a welcome beacon as you arrive.

Historic Apalachicola

A visit to Apalachicola is an experience rich in maritime heritage, cuisine, art and a growing music scene.  More than 900 historic homes and pre-civil war brick warehouses serve as homes, elegant inns, gourmet restaurants and entertainment venues. Shoppers enjoy eclectic boutiques, galleries and weekly farmers’ markets. The Owl Café, Tap Room and Tamara’s Café are located in the heart of the town’s historic downtown district. Recent renovations to the iconic Gibson Inn, and its inhouse restaurant,  The Franklin, has garnered acclaim for its popular murder mystery weekends and the restaurant’s unique fusion of Japanese, French and Southern cuisine. 

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Apalachicola is very pet-friendly and there’s probably no place that’s more pet friendly than the Oyster City Brewing Company (OCBC). A brew pub located in the historic downtown, the OCBC features sidewalk benches and tables perfect to linger with your furry friend. The brewery uses local ingredients in its award-winning brews, including locally harvested Tupelo Honey – a key ingredient in the brewery’s Hooter Brown Tupelo Honey Ale. 

Beer and food is event-worthy here – the area hosts a charity beer fest in the fall along with several annual culinary events including the Florida Seafood Festival, an Oyster Cook-off, rib cookoff and the region’s largest chili cookoff each Spring on St. George Island. 

Discover more about Franklin County’s amenities, vacation getaway deals and restaurants, shopping and lodging at FloridasForgottenCoast.com/taste

Seafood Central

Eastpoint is seafood central for the commercial fishing industry along the Forgotten Coast. Whether it’s oysters, harvested by aquaculture farmers, bluecrabs, shrimp or fish, you can find it in one of the small seafood markets tucked along the shore. Here you can also enjoy some of the region’s tastiest gumbo overlooking the bay at Lynn’s Quality Seafood. Wash it down at the Eastpoint Beer Company – a new locally-owned brewery that overlooks the St. George Sound featuring craft beers, a weekly market and live music.

East of Eastpoint, you’ll discover a fisherman’s paradise in Carrabelle. Perched at the mouth of the Carrabelle River, this quiet coastal hamlet features a working waterfront with full-service marinas. Enjoy fresh fare and a beautiful sunset watching the boats unload their daily catch at Fathom’s Steam Room and Raw Bar. 

Recreational opportunities abound around Carrabelle – from white sand beaches to hiking and kayaking in Tate’s Hell State Forest. Tours of the Crooked River Lighthouse and Camp Gordon Johnson World War II Museum are fun and educational. Golfers can enjoy a round of golf at the St. James Bay Golf Club, the area’s Audubon Signature Sanctuary and Championship Course. After a round, enjoy “coastal comfort cuisine” at the Club’s Crooked River Grill featuring a local favorite – the crabby paddie sandwich.


St. George Island Beaches

One of four offshore barrier islands, St. George Island  claims the area’s most beautiful pristine beaches;  the Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park, at the far east end of the island, ranks amid the top  beaches in the country. St. George Island is a family and pet-friendly beach haven with miles of uncrowded shoreline. You can relax beachside at the Blue Parrot Bar and Grill and enjoy a basket of steamed shrimp as you watch the dolphins play or experience the region’s largest open-air tiki bar at Doc Myers’ Island Pub. There are no high rises here  – the highest point on the 28-mile long St. George Island is the 77-foot tall historic Cape St. George Lighthouse that serves as a welcome beacon as you arrive.

Historic Apalachicola

A visit to Apalachicola is an experience rich in maritime heritage, cuisine, art and a growing music scene.  More than 900 historic homes and pre-civil war brick warehouses serve as homes, elegant inns, gourmet restaurants and entertainment venues. Shoppers enjoy eclectic boutiques, galleries and weekly farmers’ markets. The Owl Café, Tap Room and Tamara’s Café are located in the heart of the town’s historic downtown district. Recent renovations to the iconic Gibson Inn, and its inhouse restaurant,  The Franklin, has garnered acclaim for its popular murder mystery weekends and the restaurant’s unique fusion of Japanese, French and Southern cuisine. 

Apalachicola is very pet-friendly and there’s probably no place that’s more pet friendly than the Oyster City Brewing Company (OCBC). A brew pub located in the historic downtown, the OCBC features sidewalk benches and tables perfect to linger with your furry friend. The brewery uses local ingredients in its award-winning brews, including locally harvested Tupelo Honey – a key ingredient in the brewery’s Hooter Brown Tupelo Honey Ale. 

Beer and food is event-worthy here – the area hosts a charity beer fest in the fall along with several annual culinary events including the Florida Seafood Festival, an Oyster Cook-off, rib cookoff and the region’s largest chili cookoff each Spring on St. George Island. 

Discover more about Franklin County’s amenities, vacation getaway deals and restaurants, shopping and lodging at FloridasForgottenCoast.com/taste

What to Do at Florida’s Forgotten Coast

On the Water. Rent a kayak or bring your own to explore the many river sloughs, sandy coves and salt marshes and bay shallows of the area. Or, take a relaxing sunset tour of Apalachicola’s historic waterfront aboard one of several eco-tour boats. If you have your own boat, there are several public and private marinas to accommodate. 

Wildlife. The area is part of a seasonal fly-over for several migrating birds and butterflies. The Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve and Visitor Center in Eastpoint features a wooded boardwalk trail and touch tanks and displays for children to get up close and personal to marine life. 

Beach. Beach lovers will appreciate that the St. George Island State Park Beach has ranked among the top in the country by Dr. Stephen Leatherman (aka Dr. Beach). The park features nine miles of undeveloped shoreline and has some of the region’s finest birdwatching opportunities and camping facilities. 

History. Take a self-guided walking tour of historic Apalachicola or rent a golf cart to see more than 900 historic homes and buildings identified in Apalachicola’s National Historic District. Climb the county’s two historic lighthouses at Carrabelle Beach and St. George Island and Carrabelle and get a bird’s eye view of the Florida’s Forgotten Coast. 

Big Bend Scenic Byway

Highway 98 in Franklin County is part of the nationally designated Big Bend Scenic Byway, is a 220-mile corridor traverses both forest and coastal resources.  This stretch of highway is one of 150 highways across the U.S. to carry such a designation. There are 300 species of birds and more than 2,500 plant species that live in the areas adjacent to the byway.