The Forgotten Coast
East of Panama City the high rises stop. Port St. Joe, Apalachicola and Carrabelle are small working waterfront towns on quiet bays, St. George Island has the long empty beaches, and the coast runs on east past St. Teresa to the river town of St. Marks, half an hour from Tallahassee.
On average, strongest on peace and quiet, the outdoors and boating. Weakest on nightlife.
Average of the 7 town scorecards. How we score
Mexico Beach
A small, quiet Gulf town on the Forgotten Coast that was nearly wiped out by Hurricane Michael and has steadily rebuilt around its wide, uncrowded beach.
Port St. Joe
A small town on St. Joseph Bay, known for calm clear water, bay sunsets and the beaches of Cape San Blas.
Apalachicola
An oyster town with brick storefronts, shrimp boats and no hurry at all.
St. George Island
A barrier island with no high rises, a lighthouse at its center and nine miles of state park beach at the east end.
Carrabelle
A small fishing town on the Forgotten Coast with a working harbor and a slow, friendly pace.
St. Teresa
A quiet line of beach houses on US 98 east of Carrabelle, beside the FSU Coastal and Marine Lab. There are no stores here, and that is the point.
St. Marks
A tiny river town where the road ends at the water, half an hour south of Tallahassee, with a Spanish fort site, a rail trail and a huge wildlife refuge next door.