About 20 miles west of Apalachicola stretches the white sand and surf of Cape San Blas, along the Florida Panhandle’s Forgotten Coast. Voted one of America’s top beaches by “Dr. Beach,” Dr. Steve Leatherman., the cape offers an unspoiled vacation spot for the entire family – including the family pet.
Cape San Blas is a gentle finger curling into the Gulf of Mexico that offers the rare opportunity for visitors to have access to both seaside and bay side (St. Joseph Bay). And it’s far from the noise and bustle of neighboring towns such as Panama City Beach.
Cape San Blas is part of the Florida Panhandle’s Forgotten Coast – an area relatively unspoiled by condominium towers and T-Shirt shops. Locals call it “Old Florida,” where the pace is slower, the people are friendly and the maritime forest gives way to salt marshes on the bay side, white-sand beaches on the gulf.
Sights to See
Just because Cape San Blas is quiet doesn’t mean it’s dull. Features include:
- The 2,516-acre St. Joseph Peninsula State Park at the cape’s tip, which offers camping, fishing, hiking and diving.
- “The Stumphole,” the cape’s narrowest part, where the gulf and bay are divided by only a few hundred yards. It’s an interesting view during a morning or afternoon drive.
- The Cape San Blas lighthouse, which includes a 96-foot tall structure and two keepers houses.
Most of the development is privately owned beach homes, although there are some condominium communities with seasonal renters and winter residents.
Travelers interested in less expensive accommodations may consider the Old Saltworks Cabins. Situated at a historic site on the bay side of the cape, the cabins range from efficiency to two bedrooms. Although they’re a bit more rustic than beach houses or condos, they have electric power, air conditioning, TV and kitchens. There’s also onsite laundry, canoes, kayaks and bicycles that guests may use. And the beach is just a short walk across the street.
There are a few restaurants on Cape San Blas, including Loggerhead Grill, across the street from the Old Salt Works, which indoor and outdoor seating and a nice surf-and-turf menu. Just a few feet from the state park entrance, Coneheads offers burgers, ice cream and other food during the high season, and has a sundries shop.
If you want to cook your own, a few small local shops offer fresh shrimp for the boil, and there’s a Piggly Wiggly grocery store in Port St. Joe.
Dog-Friendly Beaches
Visitors who don’t want to leave their four-legged family members behind will find they are welcome at Cape San Blas. Many condominium listings note that they allow pets (some with fees and/or refundable deposits). Dogs are allowed to be off lead on the beach, as long as they are under their handler’s control. Some condo communities have “pet stations” with bags handy for potty patrol.
Pets are also allowed at the state park, if they’re kept on leash and under control of their owners.
If you want to do some shopping, Apalachicola – “Apalach” to locals – is about a half hour drive, and offers more stores and restaurants than Port St. Joe or Mexico Beach.
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