Serenity Now: Apalachicola Offers Flavors of Florida's Past

Tiny Apalachicola is often overlooked by Florida visitors lured by the state's bigger tourist draws such as Disney World, South Beach and Key West.

Getting here isn't as easy as getting to the tourist hotspots. The closest commercial airports are a two-hour drive north to Tallahassee or a two-hour drive west to Panama City Beach. But the extra travel is worth the effort for anyone wanting to experience Florida as it was before all the highways, high-rises and high-end development.

The sparsely developed coastal stretch east from Panama City through Florida's Big Bend is also known as The Forgotten Coast.

The area is dotted with old Southern homes featuring wide front porches and yards filled with Spanish moss and magnolia trees.

Apalachicola is home to generations of oyster workers who still pull oysters from the shallow bay with shovel-length tongs and break the oysters apart with hammers. These oysters are known throughout the Gulf Coast for their unique blend of salt and sweetness.

The quaint downtown sits at the confluence of the Apalachicola River and Apalachicola Bay. Several blocks of old brick buildings feature a few gift and antique shops, restaurants and bars. The eateries all tout dishes made with fresh Apalachicola oysters.

A sunset walk through the downtown gives a sense of a Florida that is fast fading. Abandoned oyster processing houses, beat-up old boats, palm trees, pelicans and small pastel-painted houses dot the shoreline. Quirky old signs, surfboards and junk-yard art adorn front yards.

The town has a few bed- and-breakfasts and small hotels. Nearby St. George island and Cape San Blas have vacation cottage rentals.

The region isn't for anyone seeking a busy nightlife or amusement parks, but it is ideal for a quiet, out-of-the-way retreat.

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Serenity Now: Apalachicola Offers Flavors of Florida's Past