Springtime Adventures Await on the Forgotten Coast

For those craving salty air, small-town charm, and an unhurried vibe, Franklin County is the perfect springtime getaway. Tucked into what’s known as the Forgotten Coast, this slice of the Florida Panhandle is home to the last stretch of Gulf Coast beaches untouched by high-rise condos and strip malls. Temperatures are mild to warm but rarely sweltering, breezes off the Gulf of Mexico are gentle, and the scenery is vibrant.

For those seeking outdoor adventure, Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park accommodates hiking, boating, and camping and also offers wheelchair accessibility, restrooms, and picnic tables. Spanning 1,962 acres, including nine miles of pristine beaches, the barrier island park is a popular birding spot, attracting migratory white pelicans, scarlet tanagers, snowy plovers, and much more to its shores every spring.

A more diverse ecosystem can be found at Tate’s Hell State Forest, which features 35 miles of rivers, streams, and creeks for canoeing, boating, and fishing. A particularly unique sight is the Ralph G. Kendrick Dwarf Cypress Boardwalk, which winds through a dwarf cypress swamp featuring 150-year-old ancient cypress trees no taller than 15 feet.

For a different kind of exercise, there are monthly full moon climbs at the Cape St. George Lighthouse on St. George Island and the Crooked River Lighthouse at Carrabelle Beach. Climbers can scale the historic lighthouses and enjoy panoramic views of Gulf waters. History buffs interested in pre-Civil War Florida can visit the Raney House Museum, an 1838 cotton trade era mansion in downtown Apalachicola and the Orman House State Park nearby. Both museums exhibit furniture, documents, and artifacts from the nineteenth century.

Springtime in Franklin County is also the season when locals dust off their festival banners, celebrating everything from seafood to classic cars without the summer-sized crowds. The family friendly Forty-Fourth Annual St. George Island Regional Charity Chili Cook-off & Auction raises money for the St. George Island Volunteer Fire Department on March 7. The Eastpoint community will follow suit March 21 with the Twenty-Sixth Annual Eastpoint Volunteer Fire Department Charity Rib Cookoff at Vrooman Park.

Artists from across the country converge March 20-29 for the Forgotten Coast en Plein Air Paint-Out with exhibit venues, demonstrations, workshops and art sales stretching from Carrabelle to Mexico Beach. Craft beer aficionados—and pet lovers—will gather April 18 on St. George Island for the 2026 SGI Brewfest. The one-day beer tasting festival benefits the Franklin County Humane Society and includes a large selection of craft beers and furry, four-legged friends.

For visitors who want to experience a little bit of everything the Forgotten Coast has to offer, the Twenty-Seventh Annual Carrabelle Riverfront Festival on April 25 is the perfect fit. Held on Marine Street along the riverfront, this lively event features arts and crafts, seafood, a pet parade, children’s activities, and live music.

Tailor made for folks who prefer trees over traffic, the Forgotten Coast is a place where time slows down and visitors enjoy the best of what the Sunshine State has to offer—so shake off those winter blues and head to Franklin County.

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