Destinations: The Beaches

While the beaches of Cape San Blas and Indian Pass on the eastern side of the county offer plenty of seclusion and nature-based excursions..."the beaches" in western Gulf are a little livelier... and closer to the action.

Head out of Port St. Joe on Highway 98 west and just as you're passing over the canal you'll see Highland View, a small fishing community; and the shrimp boats that twinkle at night on the bay, moored at the Raffield and Wood's family fisheries. A few miles out of town, you'll find several beach communities: WindMark Beach, St. Joe Beach, and Beacon Hill, respectively.

At WindMark Beach, you'll find public parking and beach access at each end of a community connected by a 3.5 mile paved pedestrian pathway that runs along the beach. WindMark Beach's Village Center is open to the public with a restaurant, shops, and Fit as a Fiddle gym.

St. Joe Beach and Beacon Hill, (commonly referred to as The Beaches), offer miles of secluded beach that face due west, providing spectacular sunsets and a silhouetted view of St. Joseph Peninsula. Nestled safely inside the Cape's protective barrier, the surf here is low and gentle, a safe haven for swimmers of all ages and an ideal setting for sunning, surf fishing, shelling and water sports. Parasailing and Jet Ski rentals are available down the road in Mexico Beach, as well as marinas, restaurants, charter fishing and tackle shops. You'll find public boardwalks and trails to the beach along the road, but Beacon Hill Park offers plenty of safe parking, and is known for its panoramic, elevated view overlooking the gulf. This 40-acre, public park also has covered picnic pavilions, restrooms, playgrounds, a paved walking track, nature trails, baseball fields and a basketball court, with boardwalks down to get to the beach!