Cape San Blas & Port St. Joe Travel Guide: Florida’s Quiet Coastal Escape

 

If you’re craving a beach trip that feels peaceful, uncrowded, and completely unplugged, Cape San Blas and nearby Port St. Joe might be exactly what you’re looking for. Tucked along Northwest Florida’s Forgotten Coast, Cape San Blas is a stunning 17-mile peninsula nestled between St. Joseph Bay and the Gulf of America.

Here, you’ll find long stretches of sugar-white sand, gentle waves, and the kind of calm that’s getting harder to find at most Florida beaches.

🌴 St. Joseph Peninsula State Park

This park is the crown jewel of Cape San Blas. If you love untouched nature, wildlife, and wide-open beaches, you’ll want to spend at least a day here.

The water is often clearer near the park, and the dunes and natural scenery make it feel almost like a hidden national seashore. It’s perfect for shelling, swimming, and just soaking up the quiet.

🐾 Pet-Friendly Beaches

One of the best things about Cape San Blas is how welcoming it is for dogs.
Most beaches outside the State Park are pet-friendly, which makes this destination perfect if you travel with your pup. Long walks on the sand at sunrise or sunset are especially magical here.

🏖 Favorite Beach Access Points

Each beach access has its own personality, so it’s fun to explore a few during your stay:

Salinas Park (Bayside) – A peaceful boardwalk with beautiful bay views. Great for photos and sunsets.

Salinas Park (Gulfside) – Known for amazing shelling and a quiet shoreline.

Money Beach – Very secluded and great for fishing and shelling. The water here tends to be darker and less clear.

Cape Palms Park – Beautiful clear water, great for swimming and finding shells.

Dunes Drive Beach Access – One of the prettiest spots for swimming and shelling.

Gulf Breeze Day Use Area – Another favorite for clear water and family-friendly beach time.

Stump Hole Beach Access – A local favorite at the far north end of the cape. It’s known for its natural beauty, fewer crowds, and excellent shelling after storms. The views here feel especially wild and untouched, making it a great spot for long walks and peaceful beach time.

💡 Tip: The closer you stay to St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, the clearer and lighter the water tends to be. The farther you go down the cape, the darker it can appear.

🚗 Scenic Stops Along Cape San Blas Road

One of the things I loved most about Cape San Blas is that the drive itself feels like part of the experience. As you travel along Cape San Blas Road, there are several spots where you can pull off and take in the views of the bay, the dunes, and the wide open coastline.

Some areas have small parking pull-offs, while others are simply quiet stretches where you can safely stop for a minute, step out, and enjoy the breeze. These little moments — watching the water shimmer, spotting birds over the bay, or catching a sunset on the drive home — ended up being some of my favorite memories from the trip.

If you have time, don’t rush the drive. Slow down, look around, and enjoy the scenery along the way.

🗼 Cape San Blas Lighthouse

The Cape San Blas Lighthouse is worth a quick stop for photos and a little local history. It’s a charming landmark and gives you that classic coastal feel.

⚓ Things to Do in Port St. Joe

Just a short drive away, Port St. Joe adds a little charm and convenience to your trip.

You’ll find:

• The Port St Joe Marina for boat watching, fishing, or sunset views

• A cute downtown area with vintage shops, boutiques, and local restaurants

• That small-town coastal vibe that makes you want to slow down and wander

🛒 Groceries & Essentials

Cape San Blas is intentionally low-key, so you won’t find big-box stores nearby.

Your closest grocery options are in Port St. Joe:

• Piggly Wiggly – 125 W Hwy 98
• DG Market – 550 W Hwy 98, Ave D

💡 There is no Walmart, so plan ahead and grab what you need before heading back to the cape.

🐎 Horseback Riding on the Beach

One of the most memorable experiences here is riding horses along the shoreline.

Broke-A-Toe Horseback Riding on the Beach offers guided rides right on the sand — something that feels straight out of a movie. It’s peaceful, scenic, and definitely bucket-list worthy.

🏡 Where We Stayed

We stayed in an Airbnb on Cape San Blas and absolutely loved it. Waking up steps from the beach, hearing the waves, and having space to relax made the trip feel extra special.

If you’re booking lodging, just remember:
closer to the State Park usually means clearer water and lighter sand views.

🌅 Why Cape San Blas Is Worth the Trip

Cape San Blas isn’t about crowds, nightlife, or big attractions.
It’s about quiet mornings, empty beaches, sunset walks, and the simple joy of being by the ocean.

If you want a Florida beach trip that actually lets you relax — this is the place.

T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park - Port St. Joe, Florida • Cape San Blas

 

There is something special about finding a beach that still feels wild and untouched, and that is exactly how we felt visiting T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park. If you love uncrowded shorelines, wildlife sightings, and that peaceful “old Florida” charm, Cape San Blas might quickly become one of your favorite places. We spent the day wandering miles of bright white sand, spotting deer, and watching fish dart through the clear bay water — the kind of simple moments that make you slow down without even trying. It is the kind of place where you linger for sunset and leave already looking forward to your next visit.

The St. Joseph Peninsula is famous for its powder-white sand beaches and towering dunes along the Gulf side, while the bay side features quiet marshes and shallow waters rich with marine life. The park supports an impressive range of wildlife and serves as an important habitat for beach-nesting birds like the snowy plover, several species of sea turtles, and one of the last remaining core populations of the endangered St. Andrews beach mouse.

The water here is often crystal clear, making it easy to spot fish, crabs, and other sea creatures — especially along the calm bay shoreline.

There’s plenty to do here, from camping and hiking to snorkeling, fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and some of the best shelling along the coast.

The bay side is shallow and calm, making it ideal for kids and for spotting sea life up close. The Gulf side is known for excellent shelling and long, scenic walks along the shoreline. Keep your eyes open — deer are commonly seen roaming the park.

Hiking Trails

If you’re in the mood to stretch your legs, the park has a couple of great trails that let you experience a different side of the peninsula beyond the beach.

Bayview Scenic Trail (1.6-mile loop)
This easy-to-moderate loop on the bay side takes you through peaceful pine flatwoods with an open canopy, low vegetation, and seasonal wildflowers. Along the way, you’ll find access points to the shoreline of St. Joseph Bay, making it a nice mix of forest and water views.

Wilderness Preserve Trail (6 miles out-and-back)
For something a little more adventurous, this trail in the northern part of the peninsula offers a longer, more challenging hike through deep, powdery white sand. The landscape here feels wild and untouched, with coastal plants like twisted sand pines, rosemary, and saw palmettos lining the path.

Visitor Information

Location:
8899 Cape San Blas Road, Port St. Joe, FL 32456

Phone:
850-227-1327

Hours:
The park is open every day of the year from 8 a.m. until sunset.

Entrance Fees:
Admission is $6 per vehicle for up to eight people, $4 for a single-occupant vehicle, and $2 for pedestrians or bicyclists.

Pets:
Pets are welcome in the park but are not allowed on the beaches.

Whether you are planning a camping trip, a family beach day, or simply a peaceful walk surrounded by nature, St. Joseph Peninsula State Park is one of those places that still feels wild, quiet, and wonderfully untouched — the kind of Florida many visitors do not realize still exists.

 

Beach Memories, A Coastal Series (Part Two) - Boca Grande, Florida

The recent cold temperatures in Florida have brought back a vivid memory of an unusually chilly January day years ago. We woke up to a shocking 25 degrees—practically unheard of for our part of the state. The air was crisp, the sky pale and quiet, and everything felt a little surreal for Florida.

Despite the cold, we bundled up and headed to the beach anyway. It turned out to be one of those rare days that stay with you forever.

The shoreline was transformed. The cold water and strong tides had pushed treasures ashore in abundance—thousands of starfish scattered across the sand, along with sea urchins and sand dollars, which are normally rare and exciting finds. It felt like the ocean was giving up its hidden treasures, washing ashore things that usually stay far beneath the waves. Cold temperatures and strong winter fronts stir up the water, creating rougher surf and shifting tides. This movement pushes shells and sea life from deeper areas toward the shore, making rare finds suddenly appear along the beach.

There was something magical about walking that beach, the cold air on our faces and the sound of the surf all around us, knowing we were witnessing something uncommon. It was, without question, the best shelling day we’ve ever experienced—and a reminder that sometimes the most unexpected conditions create the most unforgettable moments.

Until the next wave,

Sherri

 

Beach Memories, A Coastal Series (Part One) — The Blue Bench in Islamorada

My first trip to the Florida Keys feels like a dream I can still walk into. We stayed at a tiny resort in Islamorada—just a handful of pastel cottages tucked inside a tropical garden. A soft white-sand trail wound between palms and hibiscus blooms, leading to a simple blue bench on a quiet dock.

That bench became our favorite place. My mother, who loved little hidden spots like that, would stroll down the sandy path each morning, past all the cozy cottages, until she stepped onto the dock. I always followed behind her, watching the sun sparkle across the water like it was trying to show off.

We would sit side by side on that blue bench, looking out over the endless, gentle ocean. The moment felt so perfect, so still, that we kept saying the same thing to each other: “It doesn’t even seem real.”

Now my mother is 86 and living with dementia. She remembers none of it—not the garden, not the cottages, not the blue bench or the way the Keys smelled like salty air and sunlight. But I do. Every detail. And when I think of that trip, it feels like the memory was handed to me to keep safe.

The ocean has a way of holding moments forever, even when people can’t. And this one—this blue bench, this quiet dock, this day with my mother—is one I’ll carry for both of us.

Keeping the memories alive,

Sherri

Resort: Pines and Palms Resort   https://www.pinesandpalms.com/

Discover the Magic of Torch Lake, Michigan: Turquoise Waters, Pristine Beauty & Limited Access Gems

 

Tucked away in Northern Michigan, Torch Lake is often called the Caribbean of the Midwest—and for good reason. With its striking turquoise water and crystal-clear views, it’s easy to think you’ve stepped into a tropical paradise rather than a freshwater lake in Michigan. At over 19 miles long, it’s the longest inland lake in the state, and many visitors say it’s one of the most beautiful.

What truly sets Torch Lake apart is its brilliantly clear water that shifts from shimmering blues to deep greens depending on the light. The lake’s clarity and vibrant color are due to its depth (nearly 300 feet at its deepest) and clean, glacial-fed source.

Swimming season usually begins in late June, when the water warms up enough for a comfortable dip. July and August are the best months for swimming, boating, and enjoying all the lake has to offer.

Limited Public Access – Know Before You Go

Torch Lake’s beauty is no secret, but public access points are limited, making planning ahead essential—especially during peak summer months. Here's a helpful list of public access points:

 

These access points vary in what they offer—from sandy beaches to boat launches and picnic areas—so choosing the right one depends on what kind of day you’re planning.

Family Day Park, Bellaire, MI 49615

William Good Day Park, 12201 Public Dock Rd, Kewadin, MI 49648

Alden Safe Harbor – Lighthouse Park

Alden Depot Park & Museum, 10670 Coy St, Alden, MI 49612

The Famous Torch Lake Sandbar

One of the most iconic destinations on the lake is the Torch Lake Sandbar near the south end of the lake in Rapid City. This shallow, sandy stretch turns into a floating party on summer weekends, complete with music, floaties, and anchored boats. The water is waist-deep and perfect for lounging and playing.

 If you're headed there, the best access point is the Torch Lake Sand Bar Public Access at 7586 Crystal Beach Rd NW, Rapid City, MI. Arrive early, especially on weekends, as parking is limited and fills up quickly.

Don’t Miss Dockside – A Local Favorite

No trip to Torch Lake is complete without a stop at Dockside, located at 6340 Old Torch Lake Dr in Bellaire. This beloved lakeside restaurant sits right where Clam River flows into Torch Lake, offering amazing views of the water along with great food, drinks, and a fun, casual atmosphere. You can even dock your boat while you eat! It’s a perfect place to end a day on the lake or take a break in the middle of your adventure.

Torch Lake Beach and Boat Ramp, Central Lake, MI 49622

 

Alden Depot Park & Museum, 10670 Coy St, Alden, MI 49612

 

Alden Safe Harbor – Lighthouse Park

Torch River Bridge Access Site, 12939 Cherry Ave, Rapid City, MI 49676

Torch Lake is a summer gem—but one best enjoyed with a little planning. With limited public access and high summer demand, knowing your way around ensures you’ll have the best experience. Whether you're headed to the sandbar, looking for a peaceful swim, or enjoying a sunset meal at Dockside, Torch Lake promises unforgettable memories and some of the clearest waters you’ll ever see in the Midwest.

Happy Travels!

 Sherri