Jutting out of Florida's Panhandle, Cape San Blas is just a hop, skip and a jump from Florida's spring break scene in Panama City. But residents of the "forgotten coast" like to keep their spot tucked away, and tourists who visit the area are also reticent to let the secret slip.
To get to the Cape, one must drive through the "hustle and bustle" of Mexico Beach and Port St. Joe. Curving around the bay to head onto the main road of the Cape is like a breath of fresh air.
The pungent salt air is heady and calming. The Cape has a pastoral, small-town feel-the kind of place you can bike down the road or build a fire on the beach-and its residents have fought long and hard to keep it that way.
There are no high rises on Cape San Blas. Cape San Blas Road is the main artery of the peninsula, dividing the bay and the Gulf. The road is dotted with beach houses, some freshly painted, others a bit weather-beaten. You'll find a handful of townhome communities on the Cape too.
History of Cape San Blas.
There's very little information on the history of the Cape, but during the Civil War-era, Confederate Salt Works produced salt from evaporated seawater. Back then, salt was imperative for the preservation of food. The Union's USS Kingfisher destroyed the facility.
There have been four lighthouses erected on the cape over the years, to varying degrees of success, but salt erosion and hurricanes have contributed to their respective demises. The current lighthouse was built in 1885.
Cape San Blas Attractions.
A big draw to the area is its pet-friendly beaches. While many of Florida's beaches are regulated to keep pets off, the Cape encourages well-behaved dogs to frolic in the surf, and many of the vacation rentals accept pets with an additional fee.
The beauty of the Cape is the lack of tacky tourist shops and beach shacks. There's one gift shop on the island, in an old lighthouse keeper's home.
The only two places to eat on the Cape are Coneheads, which serves ice cream and hamburger and hot-dog-type fare, and Loggerhead Grill, which offers a larger range of food, including seafood. The restaurants of Port St. Joe are a short drive away and have much more of a selection.
Two convenience stores are on the island, along with several vacation rental companies. Port St. Joe has grocery stores for bigger shopping trips.
St. Joe Peninsula State Park, which is on the Cape, offers federally protected beaches, canoeing, kayaking, hiking and bird-watching, as well as camping.
Cape San Blas Accommodations.
Whether you want to camp, park an RV, stay in a cabin, house or townhome, there's something here for you.
Aside from St. Joe State Park cabins, Old Salt Works Cabins are on the bay side and offer cheaper accommodations.
VRBO is an excellent "for rent by owner" Web site, with photos and reviews of the homes and townhomes available.
There are several home rental companies, but capesanblasvacationrentals.com offers the most comprehensive list of properties, aside from VRBO.
Cape San Blas Inn offers a bed- and breakfast-type arrangement.
How to Get Rid of the Bugs at Cape San Blas.
Depending on the time of year, the no-see-ums, those little annoying bugs that like to feast on humans, may be out. Purple Parrot Tanning Oil (SPF 8) in Pineapple/Mango for some reason keeps the bugs at bay, and is available at the Cape's convenience stores. Other users have reported that Skin So Soft does the trick as well. Regular bug spray works for mosquitoes and other pests.
Claire Vath - When she was 7 years old, Claire Vath was writing a story and fell out of her chair, accidentally poking a pencil in her eye. You might ...
