You Won’t Believe How Much There Is to Do on This Tiny Florida Cape
The whole Florida panhandle coast is such a beautiful and unique place with white sand, blue water, and the laid-back vibe you want for your vacation, and Cape San Blas is no different. But it’s not just about chilling at the beach; there is so much more fun to be had!
Cape San Blas, FL is a beach we have fallen in love with in the past several years. I grew up going to nearby St. George Island, so Cape San Blas is newer to me. But after five family vacations to Cape San Blas with Gerrit’s family, it is quickly becoming a treasured spot for us.
There is lots of adventure to be had here, from local parks to kayaking and crabbing. We always have the best time when we’re there!
Where is Cape San Blas?
Cape San Blas is located on the Florida panhandle in Gulf County Florida near Port St. Joe.
Here are some helpful driving distances:
- Port St. Joe to Cape San Blas — about 20 minutes
- Apalachicola to Cape San Blas — about 30 minutes
- Panama City Beach to Cape San Blas — about 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Tallahassee to Cape San Blas — about 2 hours
Things To Do in Cape San Blas, Florida
1. Enjoy a Beach Day
We’ll get the most obvious activity out of the way first: enjoy a day at the beach! Cape San Blas has miles of coast line, and with shimmering white sand and gorgeous blue water you’re pretty much guaranteed to have a superb beach day.
Don’t forget some beach essentials: sunscreen, towels, beach chairs, and something to stay hydrated. Plus, you’ll definitely need some shade against the Florida sun. We recommended a beach canopy like this — they are easy to travel with and set up!
2. Rent a Kayak or Stand-Up Paddleboard
One of our favorite things to do in Cape San Blas, FL is to kayak out into the Gulf. You can get away from the shore, get some exercise, plus you might spot some wildlife! I’ve seen fish and sting rays while kayaking at Florida beaches, and I’ve also been lucky enough to spot dolphins before!
There are several companies on Cape San Blas that rent out kayaks and paddleboards including Happy Ours Kayak, Sand Flea Rentals, and Scallop Cove.
If you are staying at a rental house on the Cape, you can often arrange for them to drop your beach equipment off at your house for the duration of your stay and then pick it up when you leave. Sometimes rental houses also have beach rental credits included, which you can use for water equipment.
3. Take a Bike Ride
Taking a bike ride is another great thing to do on Cape San Blas. There is actually a complete bike trail that runs along almost the whole Cape. This trail — The Loggerhead Bike Trail — runs from Salinas Park to St. Joseph State Park for a total of 11 miles.
The trail runs along the main road, so you will be next to some traffic. But usually the further down you get on the Cape, the thinner the traffic gets.
Just like with kayaks and paddleboards, there are several companies on the island (see the list above) that will rent bikes to you for the duration of your stay and drop them off and pick them up at your beach house. And, of course, you can also bring your own bikes!
4. Go Fishing
If you’re looking to fish, Cape San Blas has opportunities all over the place. From fishing in the ocean, to the bay, to booking a charter — there are all kinds of options.
Shore fishing on the beach does require a permit, which you can purchase at Scallop Cove. Florida residents can get a permit for free.
If you’re interested in catching some fish, here’s more information about fishing on Cape San Blas.
5. Go Horseback Riding
On Cape San Blas, you can actually ride horses on the beach!
There are a few stables that offer beach horseback riding — try Broke a Toe or The Rockin M Ranch. They are located near Salinas Park, and you will be riding on that side of the Cape (the Eastern side).
6. Go Crabbing
One of the most memorable things you may do with kids at the beach is to take them crabbing late at night. This is still something I remember doing with my dad at the beach when I was growing up!
Grab a net and a turtle-safe flashlight and go down to the beach after dark. You’ll likely see crabs scampering all over the place.
These are usually Ghost Crabs, which are small (and fast!) white crabs that are mostly nocturnal. Don’t worry — the little crabs are relatively harmless, although they may tickle your feet if they run over you and can pinch if you bother them too much.
Try to catch some with your net, and then let them go!
7. Catch Your Own Scallops
You can actually catch your own scallops at Cape San Blas in St. Joseph Bay. Scalloping season lasts usually from late August to late September of each year.
You’ll need to check the scheduled season, because it is only allowed during certain dates. You’ll also need a permit, which you can get at Scallop Cove.
You can find scallops by snorkeling or wading into the bay. You’ll want to make sure you have the right equipment, including a bag to store your scallops in and ice to keep your scallops fresh. Also make sure you familiarize yourself with the rules about scallop season and scallop limits.
8. Learn About Sea Turtles from the Florida Coastal Conservancy
During sea turtle season, hundreds of turtles make their nests on Cape San Blas laying thousands of eggs. Nests are marked off by the Turtle Patrol, who walk the beach early in the morning to find where turtles have come up during night to lay eggs.
If you are out early in the morning, you might just catch some turtlers looking for a nest, or you might see turtle tracks yourself — they look like a long path drug through the sand with fan like marks coming out of the side.
One time we were even lucky enough to see a sea turtle come up onto the beach in early dusk and begin digging a nest!
If you want to learn even more about sea turtles, you can take a trip into Port St. Joe and visit the Florida Coastal Conservancy’s Forgotten Coast Sea Turtle Center. Note that they are only open on limited days.
You can also keep an eye on the Florida Coastal Conservancy Facebook page for events like Public Nest Evaluations.
When you are in Cape San Blas, you’ll want to make sure you are aware of rules and guidelines involving sea turtles.
- Touching or disturbing a sea turtle nest is a violation of Florida State and Federal Law and comes with hefty fines. (Only trained volunteers are allowed to do so as they work toward turtle conservation.)
- If you see a turtle on the beach leave it alone and give it plenty of space. Don’t shine lights toward it.
- Turn off lights in your house at night or make sure your windows are covered. Turtles who have hatched look for the way out to sea using the moonlight to guide them, and artificial light from houses can confuse them.
- Use turtle safe flashlights while on the beach at night. (These will have a red light.)
- Bring all of your beach equipment up from the beach at night so you don’t get in the way of a turtle trying to find a spot for a nest. Even just a single pole from a beach umbrella can make a turtle get off track!
9. Watch for Dolphins
Dolphins are a common sight along Cape San Blas, especially in the morning hours. Honestly, I think it’s more rare for me *not* to see dolphins in the morning than to see them!
They can be seen in groups fishing somewhat close to the shore, their fins popping up and down in the water. If you really want to see them well, you might consider bringing a set of binoculars.
Remember that if you see dolphins you should not try to approach them and should give them plenty of space.
10. Eat Some Great Food
When you’re down on the coast, of course you need to eat some seafood. Cape San Blas has a small selection of restaurants where you can get your fix, the most popular probably being Indian Pass Raw Bar.
Other restaurants on Cape San Blas include
- Peachy’s Beach Eats for seafood, burgers, and tacos.
- Cone Heads for seafood and oysters.
- Skully’s Low Country Boil for, well, a low country boil.
But one of my favorite things to do in Cape San Blas is to get donuts at Weber’s Little Donut Shop. They are small kiosk located outside the Cape Trading Post. They are usually open Tuesday to Saturday during the summer from 7:30 until they sell out. And bring cash because they are cash only!
Be sure to get there early — a line forms well before they open. During the winter, they are open less days: Thursday to Saturday.
All their donuts are fantastic — they are cake donuts with a variety of creative toppings. Be sure to try their fried croissants too!
11. Visit Salinas Park
Salinas Park is on Cape San Blas Road, about 3 miles before you veer onto the Cape. There is a Bay Side and Beach Side to this park.
On the Bay Side you’ll find a pickleball court, screened-in dining gathering areas, a small playground, plus a beautiful boardwalk that you can use to walk out to the bay.
On the Beach Side, you can walk through scrub out to the beach.
It’s really a beautiful little place, and the Bay Side of the park is great if you want to escape the sand of the beach for just a little bit. And it’s a great place to take the kids to play!
12. Visit St. Joseph Peninsula State Park
At the end of Cape San Blas, you’ll reach St. Joseph Peninsula State Park.
This is an area of untouched beach, with high sand dunes, forests, and wildlife. There is a picnic area, a campground, cabins, and 3 different trails to enjoy. It’s also a great place for birdwatching.
The entrance fee to get into St. Joseph Peninsula State Park is $6 for single day use.
13. Visit Cape Palms Park
If you are just visiting Cape San Blas for the day, or you want to check out a different beach area, you can visit Cape Palms Park. This park provides public beach access with a good amount of parking, bathrooms, and a covered pavilion with picnic tables.
14. Access the Beach at William J Rish Park
One great thing about Cape San Blas is that there is a park dedicated to making the beach accessible for people with disabilities.
At William J Rish State Park they have a boardwalk to the beach along with beach wheelchairs that can be used.
There is also an Olympic-size swimming pool with a wheelchair ramp, picnic facilities, and a tunnel that can take you under traffic to the bay side of the island!
There is a small $6 entrance fee per vehicle. But if you or someone you are visiting the beach with has a disability, this can help make the beach more accessible!
15. Climb the Cape San Blas Lighthouse
The first Cape San Blas lighthouse was built in 1849, and while it has gone through several iterations after damage from storms and erosion, it is still an important part of the community.
The lighthouse is now located in Port St. Joe, and you can easily take a 20 minute drive from Cape San Blas to see it.
The Cape San Blas Lighthouse is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11:00 EST to 5:00 EST. You can climb up to the top of the lighthouse for great views of the bay and of Port St. Joe.
16. Learn About Local History at the Constitution Convention Museum State Park
If you are interested in local history, you can visit the Constitution Convention Museum State Park in Port St. Joe. This small museum highlights the history of early Port St. Joe and its spot as Florida’s first State Constitution Convention in 1838.
This is something you could save for a rainy day. But outside there are also some beautiful outdoor areas.
Admission is $2 for everyone 5 years-old and up. The museum is open Thursday through Monday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 – 5 p.m. EST.
17. Take a Day Trip to Apalachicola
One of our favorite things to do when we’re staying in Cape San Blas is to spend a day visiting Apalachicola, a nearby historic port town. We make a point to spend a day here on pretty every one of our Cape San Blas vacations!
Here you’ll find plenty of restaurants, shopping, art galleries, and more. It’s a small town with plenty to fill a morning (or a day!) with. We love getting a grouper sandwich as The Seafood Grill, browsing through Downtown Books & Purl, and having gelato at the Apalachicola Chocolate & Coffee Company.
18. Visit Wewahitchka
Another fun day trip is to Wewahitchka. This small town is about 45 minutes from Cape San Blas and is the home of the Dead Lakes. This lake is known for two main things: bass fishing and cypress tree stumps.
A fun family activity is to go kayaking through the cypress trees in Dead Lakes. It’s also a popular place for wildlife photographers. You can do kayak tours or pontoon boat tours through Off the Map Expeditions. Or bring your own kayak if you have one!
Wewahitchka is also known for their Tupelo honey, so make sure you pick up a bottle of local honey before you leave!
19. Have an Adventure on St. Vincent Island
If you’re feeling really adventurous, take a trip to St. Vincent Island! St. Vincent is an island that is a national Wildlife Refuge, and it’s just on the other side of the cape from Cape San Blas, past Indian Pass.
What makes it tricky to get to though is that it is only accessible by boat!
If you want to visit St. Vincent Island, you can take the St. Vincent Island Shuttle from the Indian Pass campground. Once you are on the island, you will find an undisturbed Florida beach.
You can of course enjoy the beach (although be on the lookout for areas marked off for wildlife). But the most popular thing to do is hike through the pine forests of the island and watch for wildlife.
A couple of things to know:
- The only bathrooms on the island are at the boat ramp.
- There is no potable water on the island, so bring plenty!
- There are no telephones on the island.
- Bring bug spray and sunscreen!
20. Watch the Sunset
Because Cape San Blas faces slightly west, it gets some of the most spectacular sunsets over the ocean. You’ll want to be outside and keep an eye on the cloud cover. And when the sun is setting don’t be distracted by something else. You really don’t want to miss it!
During the summer, the sun sets pretty late — usually some time between 8 and 9. We very often take our beach chairs back down to the beach after dinner just to watch the sun set!
21. Enjoy a Fire on the Beach
Cape San Blas allows fires to be built on the beach (which isn’t the case at all beaches)! So gather the family around one evening and build a fire on the beach, roast some marshmallows and maybe sing some songs? If you’re that kind of family?
Just keep in mind the following guidelines:
- Dig a hole to build your fire in.
- Do not build a fire within 100 feet of any structure.
- When the fire has fully extinguished, remove the remnants and fill the hole so you don’t leave a trace of it.
Where To Stay in Cape San Blas
One of the things we love about Cape San Blas is that it is not built up with a lot of hotels or resorts.
In fact, your best bet is going to be booking a vacation rental. You can find a variety of different types of homes for a variety of different sized groups. There are houses on the beach, houses on the bay, houses with and without private pools, and more!
We’ve stayed at a variety of houses on the beach, and here are a few of our favorites!
- This house with a pool, a hot tub, and a great kitchen is one of my favorites!
- This rental is almost exactly like the one above (they are on the same street!) and we’ve stayed here too.
- This is the very first house we ever rented in Cape San Blas, and it’s still one of my favorites, even though our extended family has gotten too big for it now.
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