The area along the coastal road, Hwy 98, in the panhandle of Florida from Mexico Bch on the west to St. Marks lighthouse on the east is known as Florida's "Forgotten Coast". It's reminiscent of much of the Florida coastline 50-60 years ago. You won't find hi-rise condominiums and a lot of development. Many of the homes along the coastline are built on stilts.
It's a drive through sleepy little fishing villages, intersperse with miles and miles of white sandy beaches. You are on the boundary of the Apalachicola National Forest from Apalachicola to St. Marks. The area has a small working waterfront that supplies the local dives and residents with fresh seafood; shrimp, oysters, fish, and even gator tail in season. Numerous road-side stands carry in-season fresh fruits and produce, along with local gourmet sauces and preserves. If you enjoy honey, be sure to pick up some Tupelo honey. Indigenous to the area and derived from the white blossom of the Tupelo tree, it's high grade table honey and highly resistant to granulation.
The pace is super slow and the traffic is relatively light. Take it from a life long native, it's "old Florida" at it's best... and worst when you consider the mosquitoes this time of year.:B
