5 Reasons to Visit the Forgotten Coast

Before heading to Florida’s Forgotten Coast for a week, people would ask me, “where are you going for your vacation?”  I would answer, “Port St. Joe, Florida,” and they would look at me, bewildered. “Where is that,” they would ask.  When I answered, ”in the Panhandle,” I would be met with more confusion before, inevitably, they would ask how close Port St. Joe was to Panama City.

Florida’s Forgotten Coast is called “forgotten” for a reason.  Take the town of Port St. Joe, for example.  The town itself was once called “St. Joseph” and it hosted the 1838 Florida State Constitutional Convention.  It was a booming town until a yellow fever epidemic wiped it out in the 1840s.  It rose to prominence a few more times, but never recovered its former popularity.  

We decided to make Port St. Joe our vacation destination after I read an article in the Wall Street Journal that highlighted the Indian Pass Raw Bar.  The article was a culinary travel piece, mapping out a food-focused excursion from the Panhandle to Miami.  They had me at “raw bar.”  From there, we started planning our trip.

The Forgotten Coast is just plain awesome.  Here are 5 reasons you should consider visiting on your next trip.  Oh, and Panama City is about 35 miles from away, but you probably won’t even care! (We didn’t).  

1. The Forgotten Coast is Gorgeous

White sand and water gently lapping the shore as far as the eye can see. Sloping dunes and lush trees; birds singing and fish jumping. Sound awesome? You bet it is! You will find all of that and more on Florida’s Forgotten Coast. Take, St. Joseph’s Peninsula State Park, for example. We visited the park and stopped first at a nature trail just short of the entrance. As we walked, reading about the different trees and wildlife, there was a point in the walk where the trees parted to reveal the most strikingly beautiful shoreline. We walked through the trees and looked out along the beach and across the bay. It was as though we had stumbled onto a secret beach, meant only for us.

Venturing further into the park, you will find more pristine, white sand beaches. What won’t you find? A million other people enjoying the gorgeous beach and perfect weather. And without all of the people you would expect to find on a beach on an 80 degree day, you will be able to spot more wildlife in their natural habitat—starfish, sea snails, hermit crabs, horseshoe crabs, sand dollars and fish—we saw them all as we strolled the shoreline.

But St. Joseph’s Peninsula State Park isn’t the only place to catch a beautiful view. The sunrise and sunset are equally glorious, no matter where you are on the coast. The whole place is postcard perfect.

2. Small-town Feel

The moment you arrive on the Forgotten Coast, you realize you are in a very tight-knit community. Need your car fixed? Ask your chartered boat Captain. He’ll know just where to go. (Yes, this happened to us!) Everywhere you go, you will be greeted warmly. You say you’re not from around here? Great! People are happy to have you as a guest and more than happy to share tips and information with you.

Perfect example—we decided to grab a bite to eat before hitting the state park. We visited Joe Mama’s Wood Fire Kitchen https://joemamaspizza.com/ (which has a great wine and beer list, by the way, and the food is top-notch—highly, highly recommend) and a gentleman waiting for his wife at one of the long tables that line the outdoor deck invited us to share his table. We agreed and he and his wife gave us great suggestions of other places to visit along the coast.

The point is, you feel like a local from the moment you arrive. The whole place just feels like home. Also, anywhere you go, you will notice all of the stores and restaurants support each other. For example, at every raw bar, you will find Ed’s Red Hot Sauce—a locally made favorite. https://www.edsred.com/ You will also find Oyster City Beer (more on that, later).

3. Do you Like Oysters? They’ve Got Oysters!

We came for the oysters and, boy, did we get oysters! There are raw bars everywhere! Honestly, I had never been to a raw bar, which is surprising because I love raw oysters. If, like me, you have not been to one, you need to go. They are no-fuss, laid back places. Want a beer? Grab a local offering from the refrigerator and note it on the scorecard they give you. Then, sit back and wait for the magic!

On the Forgotten Coast, they eat oysters the way my dad liked to eat oysters—with saltine crackers and cocktail sauce. No mignonette here, my friends! And you know what… we didn’t miss it! I highly recommend the Indian Pass Raw Bar http://www.indianpassrawbar.com/—the impetus of our entire trip. It did not disappoint. The oysters were fantastic—fresh and plump with a mild salinity. I also heartily recommend the pick-and-peel shrimp. Messy, but delicious.

4. Do you Like Beer? They’ve Got Beer!

Beer is the drink of choice on the Forgotten Coast. Sure, you’ll find wine and cocktails, but for the most part, this is a cold beer kind of place. The bonus? The local beer is really, really good. My favorites include the Oyster City Helles and the Eastpoint Blonde. Both fresh, crisp, refreshing beers that paired perfectly with oysters (and likely anything else you may want to eat). Also, I received another beer recommendation from the gentleman we enjoyed lunch with at Joe Mama’s. It’s not local per se (it’s from Alabama), but if you ever find yourself at a place that serves Goat Island beers, do yourself a favor and try the Blood Orange Berliner Weiss. You can thank me later.

5. Here, Fishy, Fishy

Confession time. I can do that, right? We’re all friends here. Anyway, I had never fished a day in my life. But, I have long wanted to give it a try. So, I scored a charter for us to celebrate my birthday and Captain Harold ”Man” Mathes took us out for a half a day to score some dinner. https://www.facebook.com/MansFatBoyCharters/ Captain Man has lived on the Forgotten Coast his entire life and he taught us a lot about the area; and of course, about fishing. We caught sheepshead and mangrove snapper and David cooked the most killer fish tacos that night for dinner.

You will see people fishing everywhere—on the beaches, on the dock, on the rocks—and for good reason. My first official catch was a grouper (and a pretty one, too). But it was unfortunately not grouper season, so that one went back into the drink. Next time, Mr. Grouper. But seriously, I cannot recommend a fishing charter highly enough. And if you are so inclined, give my new friend Captain Man a call. You won’t be disappointed.

As we pack up the RV and I steal a few minutes to write this, I can honestly say this is one of the best vacations I have ever been on.  I hope to return to the beauty, the quiet, and the hometown feel of the Forgotten Coast soon.  

Cheers!