Port St. Joe, Florida – The Forgotten Coast

As we chatted with people who had grown up in Port St. Joe and never left, there was a strong tie to this part of the Gulf Coast and the resources and lifestyle offered in the community. We also met people who had visited for a vacation, went home, packed their bags, and moved to Port St. Joe because they fell in love with the town. All of these people have a real appreciation for how special this unspoiled stretch of land is along the Gulf Coast.

Enjoying family time on the beach

Fishing on the Gulf Coast

Enjoying the sunny day

Particularly beautiful is Cape San Blas, home to St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, as well as beachfront homes and businesses that stretch out into the Gulf on the peninsula. Think of this stretch of land as Florida’s answer to New England’s “Cape,” but on a much smaller and less developed scale. There are many accommodations available for rent along the beach so that visitors can enjoy activities such as snorkeling and watching sea turtles. In the fall, locals and visitors alike can be found scalloping. Just for personal consumption and not done commercially, scalloping is a popular activity and there’s even a Scallop and Music Festival in September. In the evenings, you can watch the shrimping boats troll the waters for shrimp.

Pier to the inlet

Cape San Blas

Fishing at Cape San Blas

Welcoming committee

Beautiful scenery at the tip of the Cape

Shrimping boats

Bald Eagle in flight

If you are looking to disconnect from the wired and frenzied world in order to reconnect with friends, family, and nature, make plans to visit Port St. Joe. Take time to feel the sand and sun, enjoy the brilliant blue waters of the Gulf, and make plans for a romantic evening boat tour of the bay followed by dinner at one of the casual restaurants.  And don’t miss the unforgettable sunsets over the water. You will quickly become, as the locals say, “A Champion of Sunsets.”

Paddle Surfing

A stretch of beach outside of Port St. Joe

Sunset over the Gulf

Stay a few days, stay a week, or stay a lifetime; it won’t be long before everyone knows your name and you will be a member of this community. It will truly become the “Unforgettable Coast.”

Marina at night

New career in the making – Captain Gwen

Goodnight Port St. Joe

Where:

Port St. Joe is just 30 minutes from Apalachicola, a historical and beautiful fishing village, 2 hours to the state capitol of Tallahassee, and less than an hour to Panama City.

For more information on Port St. Joe, you can contact the tourism board at VisitGulf.com.

Suggested places to stay:

For rental options, contact No Worries Vacation Rentals.

For hotel accommodations, visit The Port Inn.

For boat tours and other activities, please refer to the following:

Seahorse Water Safaris – St. Joseph Bay & Intracoastal Waterway boat tours, snorkeling and fishing trips, and other boating activities – Captain Gary Hit

Off the Map Expeditions – Dead Lakes tours, kayaking, and other activities – Captain Matt Godwin

Break- A-Way Charters – Bay to Point of Cape San Blas boat tours, scalloping and “snuba” trips, and inshore and offshore fishing – Captain Bobby Guilford

White Whale Charters – Sunset cruises, fishing and boating trips – Captain Bill Koran

Broke A Toe Horseback Riding – Kelly Smith

Disclosure – We were guests of VisitGulf.com for this visit to Port St. Joe.  We have not been compensated for this article and the opinions expressed regarding our experience are our own.

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