The peaceful sound of calm waves lapping the shoreline just has a way of putting your mind at ease—and that’s what visitors are seeking at the moment. “Hushpitality” is the new hot thing, and traveler intent shows that the trend for 2026 is to slow down. Travelers aren’t slowing down on planning trips, but they’re prioritizing places where they can slow down once they arrive. Sometimes it’s nice to just take a slow walk on the beach, sleep in, and have no agenda unless you feel like it. Quieter, slower-paced beach destinations are the ones that are trending at the moment, and there’s one place that is getting a lot of attention: Cape San Blas.
It is one of the best beaches on Florida’s Gulf Coast, and has been a local favorite for years. With more people on social media these days, it’s been going viral lately, though. The white sand, blue water, and rolling dunes are certainly Instagram-worthy, and it’s understandable why travelers are booking trips there as soon as they hear about it.
Another thing that’s led to its popularity is the interest in this region as a whole. Recent data from Beach.com’s research team shows that more than 21% of Americans who are visiting beaches are headed to the Gulf Coast, and many of those visitors are heading to Florida’s portion. If you want to narrow that down to remote beach towns that still have that Old Florida feel, Cape San Blas tops the list. It could also be the powdery sand, or the waves that are typically calmer than those you’ll find on the Atlantic Coast. Whatever it is that’s most alluring to you, there’s one thing that everyone agrees on—the coastline in Cape San Blas is stunning—and it’s just getting better.
The Cape San Blas area has been in the news a lot lately due to a beach renourishment initiative that is happening there. A big project is underway that will add more sand to its shoreline. This will make this stretch of the Gulf Coast even bigger, allowing even more room to spread out and have a quiet, laid-back beach vacation.
Epic selfies and an expanded coastline aren’t the only things that are making this piece of paradise go viral, though. Here are a few other things that are contributing to the popularity of Cape San Blas, and giving people reasons to spread the word about this spectacular Florida beach.
It’s Perfect for a Multi-Generational Beach Trip
More families are making intentional efforts to create lasting memories through travel. Those trips don’t just involve loading up the kids anymore, though. Multi-generational travel is trending, and a family vacation looks different these days. It’s not uncommon for grandparents to come along for some memory-making, and possibly even aunts, uncles, and cousins. While it’s great to have the whole crew together, that obviously requires extra space, and that’s one area where Cape San Blas shines. There are many vacation homes in Cape San Blas, giving families a lot of options to choose from.
You can also bring along the furry members of your family. Research from Dogster shows that 78% of American pet owners bring their pets along on vacation—and this coastal paradise happens to be a great place to take them. Many of the vacation homes are dog-friendly, and beaches in Cape San Blas have a five-bone rating on BringFido.com. (Just be aware that there are some beaches where pets aren’t allowed, such as the ones at the state parks.)
Pro Tip: It’s hard enough to pack up the whole family for a trip. Make it a little easier by leaving all of your beach gear at home and have San Flea Rentals set you up with beach chairs, coolers, yard games, snorkeling gear, fishing rods, and more when you get there.
Skip the Spring Break Crowds — the Wildlife Here Is the Main Event
Sure, there are beach destinations in Florida where you can be surrounded by crowds and party all night, but there’s a rise in beach vacationers who are searching for more low-key getaways where you can experience the beach in a more serene and unhurried way. Long walks on the beach are a great way to start the day, and sitting outside with a cold beverage at sunset is a must, too. That’s when the sky transforms into a palette of unimaginable colors. A Gulf Coast sunset is beyond phenomenal.
You don’t have to sit at your beach house the whole time, though. There are other things to keep you busy, like horseback riding on the beach and fishing. Anglers love this fishing hotspot, and pompano is one of the local favorites.
A trip to Cape San Blas also isn’t complete without a trip to T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park. Birders flock to this area, and the last time I was there I was lucky enough to spot a Snowy plover. This species is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, and they blend in very well against the white sand. They’re hard to see, but they’re certainly there. Sea turtles also use the shoreline in Cape San Blas for nesting. If you decide to go snorkeling, you may even spot some of the resident seahorses.
Pro Tip: If you decide to try your hand at fishing, stop by Scallop Cove General Store to pick up bait and tackle. If you time your visit appropriately and they’re serving up their famous biscuits and gravy, try that, too.
Cape San Blas Is One of Florida’s Most Accessible Beach Destinations
There’s another state park on Cape San Blas that offers one of the best ADA-accessible getaways in Florida. The William J. “Billy Joe” Rish Recreation Area joined the state park system in late 2021. This coastal park offers the scenic beauty of Cape San Blas’ spectacular Gulf Coast beach, as well as the bonus of the picturesque St. Joseph Bay. You can get the best of both worlds at this park, and even better—it’s accessible for all.
While many coastal state parks in Florida have at least one beach-accessible wheelchair available for use, this park takes accessibility to another level. The park offers a multitude of mobility devices that are free for park guests to use. Some of the equipment is best for the beach, while other options are best for the nature trail. There’s also equipment that makes it easy for people of all abilities to use their onsite pool.
Those hoping to stay overnight will find a few two-bedroom cabins available. These are spacious, wide open, and have zero-entry showers. The cabins are only available for visitors with disabilities and their families, though.
Pro Tip: The cabins get booked quickly, so you’ll need to plan ahead and book in advance. Don’t try to wait until the last minute to book a cabin at William J. “Billy Joe” Rish Recreation Area.
Home to Yelp’s Top-Rated Seafood Spot in the State
This isn’t just a generalization because I’ve eaten too much yummy shrimp there (although I have). Actual research backs up this claim. Yelp recently released its list of the best places to eat seafood in the United States, and a spot in Cape San Blas made the list. Through their vigorous research, they selected one spot in each state (as well as one in DC) to get the bragging rights. In some states, the competition isn’t as fierce. In a state that’s mostly surrounded by water, though, there’s tons of great seafood. That means there is some really tough competition for those trying to snag the title of best seafood in Florida. However, one locally-owned seafood restaurant in Cape San Blas is now wearing that crown: Scully’s Low Country Boil, who has a 4.9-star rating on Yelp.
So what makes them the best? Well, it’s not the quantity of menu items. Scully’s actually only has a couple of items for diners to choose from. What they do have is exceptional, though, and the quality of their seafood is what gave them the top spot. The go-to there is the low country boil that consists of fresh Gulf shrimp, smoked sausage, corn on the cob, and boiled potatoes. This combination of flavors is seasoned perfectly with Cajun spices. Hungry visitors can also try their gumbo, which includes shrimp, chicken, sausage, and veggies.
They have outdoor seating there, but many people just pick up a bucket to take back to their vacation home. The last time I was there, we threw down some newspaper on the table on our Gulf-facing back patio and dumped our communal dinner out for all of us to share. We enjoyed our low country boil the first night we arrived in town, and it was a great start to our trip.
Pro Tip: For even more ease, you can hire Catering Connections to set up a low country boil from Scully’s at your vacation home.
