When Hurricane Michael struck Mexico Beach, Florida on October 10, 2018, no one could imagine the devastation that took place. For this quaint little seaside town of 1200 residents, it was utter shock. Entire homes had been swept off their foundation. Some homes were completely gone, some were sitting across the street, and others remained but with entire rooms exposed like an old-fashioned doll house.
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The Forgotten Coast
Well-known beaches such as Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Seaside and Panama City Beach have made headlines and Top 10 lists for years. Those are the go-to spots on Florida’s panhandle. As you travel east, past Panama City, you run into a large portion of land owned by the US Government. Here lies Tyndall Air Force Base. Because of the vast number of acres of coastline that encompasses the base, most tourists, and even locals, do not continue traveling east.
But, just on the other side of Tyndall AFB, sits Mexico Beach. This little town is what many refer to as the Mayberry of the Coast. The area had a nickname of ‘Forgotten Coast’. Mainly, in part, because of the reason previously stated. It was somewhat ‘hidden’ from development.
Strong Community Bonds
As you can imagine, strong bonds are shared in this tiny community, both before and after the storm. Hence, the ‘Forgotten Coast’ has shifted gears to the ‘Never Forgotten Coast’. The media may have moved on quicker than normal after the fact for various reasons and the government aid may not have been adequate, but the communities that were affected continue to work together to help each other rebuild and prosper.
With high-rises dotting the landscape on most any beach up and down the Atlantic or the Gulf Coast, a person may wonder if there are any cozy beaches left to enjoy. Mexico Beach, and the coastline to the east, fits the bill. Swaying sea oats growing on top of the sand dunes line the coast. Turtles make their nests and are safely monitored. Various birds, including pelicans – my favorite, call this area home. Wildlife rebounds well.
White Sandy Beaches
If you love a beach with white sand and ample elbow room, Mexico Beach may be just what you’re looking for. A towel, a beach chair and an umbrella will be your minimal accessories for a fabulous day in the sun. If you have kids, you may want to invest in a fat wheel wagon to make hauling all your loot that much easier.
When digging in the sand, plastic toys are great for the littles, but to make a serious sandcastle you’ll want a short, metal shovel. There’s something about the sand that brings out the kid in all of us. Fishing, kayaking, boating, paddle boarding and more are also ideal activities for this area.
Beach Combing at Mexico Beach
Beach combing is a favorite pastime of mine. There’s something about finding that perfect shell, that jar of coral or that beautiful piece of driftwood. Shells seem to be more plentiful than ever. I find a lot of coral here. Sand dollars can be found if you get out early enough. The bigger shells are abundant along Crooked Island’s coast and out on Shell Island which are west of Mexico Beach.
Items to make your beachcombing experience more enjoyable include: a mesh bag, a container to keep the really delicate ones in (such as sand dollars) from breaking, and a sand sifter.
At night, it’s fun to go out and look for ghost crabs. Whether you catch them or not, they’re very entertaining. If you put them in a bucket, it’s entertaining to watch them fight. Just be sure to release them so they can continue to multiply. You’ll want a short net and a plastic bucket.
Moving Forward
Mexico Beach is far from what it used to be, yet it has a great vibe going on as it rebuilds. Although a few of the homes that are in disrepair remain, the majority have been rehabbed or removed. This creates a wide-open, almost ‘wild beach’ feel that allows nature to reign.
Over 90% of the businesses were wiped out of commission from the storm. It’s been several years now, and still many have not begun to rebuild. For those that have opened their doors, a huge appreciation goes out to them. Determination, grit, and optimism stand tall within these walls. My hope is for all the others to follow suit and make this small town as charming, and even better, than before the storm.
Restaurants in Mexico Beach
Our morning ritual is to walk down to Caribbean Coffee. Indoor and outdoor seating is available. They offer a full menu of specialty drinks as well as delicious smoothies. Scones, muffins, quiche, breakfast sandwiches, and more are prepared daily.
Caribbean Coffee sits on the end of a little strip of adorable, brightly painted specialty shops. Business on the beach doesn’t get much cuter than this!
For lunch and dinner it’s always a toss up. Not a lot of choices but when food is this good, there doesn’t have to be. Killer Seafood is our #1 choice. Their wasn’t a single part of their business that remained after the storm. They are currently working out of a food truck but the quality of their food has not changed. Fish tacos (grilled tuna or fried grouper) are our favorites.
Mango Marley’s building survived and they are now up and running. This is restaurant is just a few minutes’ walk from the condo. Our last meal was a whopper of a burger, and it was delicious!
Beach Pizza offers take out only. They offer a variety of specialty pizzas. We’ve tried them all and they’re all great. This sounds crazy but our favorite go-to is the one with shrimp!
Shipwreck is another favorite. You will need to drive to its location which is just east of Mexico Beach. They serve delicious, fresh seafood and their oysters are reasonably priced.
Port Saint Joe
Heading east on Highway 98, you’ll come to the adorable town of Port Saint Joe. This town had massive flooding, but not as much destruction. Their downtown district is actually one block to the north. We’ve seen this town really grow and prosper over the years, filling in many of the empty store fronts. Some of the buildings were severely damaged by the storm, but for the most part, the commerce is solid. A nice variety of boutiques and restaurants are continually opening their doors.
Our favorite, by a landslide, is the Uptown Raw Oyster Bar. Their original restaurant is in Indian Pass, which is a ways down the road. We were so excited to have their amazing food that much closer. Baked oysters and steamed shrimp are a MUST each time we visit.
Joe Mama’s Wood Fired Pizza is our second favorite downtown eatery. Their wood fired oven was shipped all the way from Italy. Fresh ingredients, great customer service and an airy outdoor patio create a perfect dining experience. We love their pizza and we’re also big fans of their cold brew coffees. Their Millionaire drink is a must if you’re a coffee lover.
Pepper’s Mexican Restaurant and Krazyfish Grille are others we really enjoy. No Name Café is a great place to grab a coffee while walking the downtown area.
Mexico Beach Extras
If you are staying over the weekend, know that worship service on the beach happens every Sunday morning at 8:00am. (9:00am Dec-Feb) The lapping water, the birds flying by and feeling the soft sand under your toes creates a fantastic experience. Dress is ultra-casual – barefoot if you so desire.
Biking, walking and/or roller blading are all great pastime activities that are easy to do in Mexico Beach. The sidewalk runs for over eight miles from one end of town to the other. The traffic is light on the side streets so even going that route is easily obtainable.
Vacationing at Mexico Beach
So, are you ready to book your next beach vacation at Mexico Beach? I love supporting local, mom ‘n pop businesses and I think my readers do as well.
We have a condo located right on Highway 98 that we rent out through Airbnb. A boat slip, pool, hot tub, charcoal grill and a fitness room are all part of the amenities. We’ve named the two bedroom, two bath condo Pelican’s Perch because we love watching the pelican’s while sitting on the beach or fishing. They are so prehistoric looking, so graceful, so patient and simply intriguing.
- King, queen, bunk beds and sleeper sofa
- Fully equipped kitchen
- Washer and dryer
- Bunk beds are in an enclove
- Iron and ironing board provided
- Elevator
- Storage unit has beach toys, beach chairs, beach umbrellas and a bik
- You’ll need to bring toiletries and beach towels
I hope you have a fabulous time and create beautiful memories!!
Looking for additional information about things to do in the area as well as family friendly destinations in Florida?
Thank you for the perfect write up on our town
David at caribbean coffee.
Thank you! Our family adores this town.