Forgotten Coast

The Forgotten Coast is a coastal stretch of the Florida Panhandle so named for being left out of Florida tourism promotions for several years in a row. This region is comprised of Franklin, Gulf, Jefferson, and Wakulla counties.

Cities

• Apalachicola -- County seat of Franklin County, the historic Heart of the Forgotten coast featuring 200 historic buildings and amazing oysters.
• Carrabelle -- Home of the "World's Smallest Police Station" - it's in a phone booth.
• Crawfordville -- County seat of Wakulla County
• Eastpoint -- the commercial center of the Forgotten Coast, with a number of shops and restaurants. Home to the new Franklin County School (K-12)
• Panacea
• Port St. Joe -- County seat of Gulf County, good fishing, shopping.
• Saint George
• Saint Marks -- History and the HuManatee Festival
• Wakulla Springs -- One of the world's deepest and largest freshwater springs.
• Wewahitchka -- Two lovely lakes just a short drive from the coast.
• Sopchoppy -- A tiny but thriving town a few miles from the coast.

Other destinations

• Apalachicola National Forest
• St. George Island -- a small island connected by bridge to the mainland, St. George is a tiny town surrounded by a sprinkling of vacation homes and a state park in the dunes.
• St Vincent Island -- a long thin sandbar peninsula with one of the top 10 state parks in the US

See

• Annual Apalachicola Antique & Classic Boat Show, downtown Apalachicola (Apalachicola, FL), ☎ +1 850 653-9419. Takes place in April. 

• 1 Fort Gadsden Historic Site. National Historic Landmark located in the Apalachicola National Forest Free. 
• 2 St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.  
• 3 St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge.  
• There are four Florida Lighthouses in the Forgotten Coast. Only the St. Mark's Light is not climbable.
  • 4 Cape San Blas Light, George Core Park, Port St. Joe, ☎ +1 850 229-1151. 10AM to 5PM Friday and Saturday, 1PM to 6PM Sunday. Originally at Cape San Blas, moved to Port St. Joe in 2014. 
  • 5 Cape St. George Light, 2 East Gulf Beach Drive, St. George Island (Near the end of of SR 300 bridge), ☎ +1 850 927-7745. Noon to 5PM Friday through Wednesday. Collapsed in 2005, the remains were salvaged and reconstructed further inland on St. George Island. Must be at least 40 inches tall to climb the lighthouse. $5. 
  • 6 Crooked River Light, 1975 US 98 W, Carrabelle (Near western Carrabelle city limits on US 98.), ☎ +1 850 697-2732, e-mail: lighthouse2@fairpoint.net. Museum - Noon to 5PM Thursday through Sunday, Lighthouse climb - 1PM to 4PM Saturday and Sunday (weather permitting). All climbers of the lighthouse must be 44 inches tall. There is also a park next to the lighthouse with a children's play area. Free ($5 to climb lighthouse). 
  • 7 St. Marks Light (At the end of Lighthouse Road). In the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. (updated Mar 2015)

State parks

• 8 Bald Point State Park, 146 Box Cut Road, Alligator Point, ☎ +1 850 349-9146. 8AM to sunset. The park has such amenities as beaches, bicycling, birding, canoeing, fishing, hiking, kayaking, swimming and wildlife viewing. $4. 
• 9 Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, 465 Wakulla Park Drive, Wakulla Springs, ☎ +1 850 561-7276. 8AM to sundown. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated as a National Natural Landmark. Contains the Wakulla Lodge, a full-service hotel. A number of movies were shot here, including several Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan movies, Creature from the Black Lagoon and Night Moves. $6. 
• 10 Constitution Convention Museum State Park, 200 Allen Memorial Way, Port St. Joe (Constitutional Convention Museum State Park is located in Port St. Joe, off U.S. 98.), ☎ +1 850-229-8029. 9am-12pm & 1pm-5pm. The location and exhibits take the visitor into a time when Florida was only a territory and elected leaders met to bring the territory into statehood with the introduction of a state constitution. You always have an open invitation to spend some time with us and experience a historical look at this great period in time. $1. 
• 11 John Gorrie State Museum, 46 6th St, Apalachicola, ☎ +1 850 653-9347. 9AM–5PM Thursday-Monday. Contains a replica of the first ice machine (predecessor to A/C) created by Dr John Gorrie in an attempt to cool his yellow fever patients. His invention later became the basis for the ice industry and air conditioning. $2. 
• 12 Ochlockonee River State Park, 429 State Park Road, Sopchoppy, ☎ +1 850 962-2771. 8AM to sunset. $4. 
• 13 Orman House, 177 5th Street, Apalachicola, ☎ +1 850 653-1209. 9AM–5PM Thursday-Monday. Built in 1838 by Thomas Orman, the wood for this two-story home was cut to measure near Syracuse, New York and shipped to Apalachicola by sailing vessel around the Florida Keys, then assembled on the bluff overlooking the broad estuary and bay of the Apalachicola River. Today the house still resonates with a genteel aura and warmth of the past. 
• 14 San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park, 148 Old Fort Road, St. Marks, ☎ +1 850 925-6216. 9AM to 5PM Thursday through Monday. Site of a former Spanish Colonial fort. Only ruins remain. A National Historic Landmark, as well as a National Engineering Landmark, the fort site has been highlighted as a site on the Florida Native American Heritage Trail. Free ($2 for museum). 
• 15 St. George Island State Park, 1900 E Gulf Beach Drive (After reaching St. George Island, drive east on Gulf Beach Drive. You will drive right into the park.), ☎ +1 850 927-2111. 8AM to sunset. Ranked by Dr Beach as having one of the top ten beaches in America from 2011 to 2014. $6. (updated Feb 2015)
• 16 St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, 8899 Cape San Blas Road, ☎ +1 850 227-1327. 8AM to sunset. From U.S. 98, turn south onto State Road 30-A. Travel to State Road 30-E. Turn west. The road goes right into the park in about 8 miles. $6. (updated Mar 2015)

Itineraries

• Big Bend Scenic Highway. Driving along US 98 between Mexico Beach and Panacea is like travelling the Pacific Coast Highway, but at sea level. Three of the four historic lighthouses in the area are along this stretch. Port St. Joe, Apalachicola, St. George Island and Carrabelle are a few of the highlights. Speed limit is 45 mph, so relax and enjoy casually driving through forests, interspersed with views of the Gulf of Mexico. 

Do

• Apalachicola Art Walk & Wine Festival, downtown (Apalachicola), ☎ +1 850-653-9419. 12PM - 6PM. Held in April. Art in all forms will be shown around downtown Apalachicola where artists and musicians will be showing, selling and demonstrating their talents