Mexico Beach was nearly flattened in 2018 when Hurricane Michael slammed the Florida Panhandle with 155 mph winds. And now, five years later, this quaint little beach town is still making an impressive comeback.
Hotel owner Tom Wood described what he saw upon returning in Michael’s wake (via NPR). He described the devastation saying, “it looked like the test site for an atomic bomb.”
However, read on and we’ll reveal how the locale has improved and unpack some things to do in Mexico Beach – the Forgotten Coast.
Beaches, Naturally
Mexico Beach is home to some of the world’s most beautiful sugary white beaches and clear, emerald waters. And the beaches themselves are rare, as the sand found there differs from the sand on a majority of the world’s beaches.
The world’s beaches bear sand that contains up to twenty minerals. However, the sand on Mexico Beach beaches has only one, quartz crystals.
The city boasts only five miles of available beach for locals and visitors. The people of Mexico Beach keep their beaches spotless and there are numerous ways to access them.
Fishing Charters in Mexico Beach
If you want Red Snapper, Spanish mackerel, grouper, and many more, fishing in Mexico Beach is superb. And visitors can choose from several different fishing charters such as Alleycat Bay Charters, Charter Boat Miss Mary, and KC Sportfishing, to name a few.
Mexico Beach is naturally boater friendly. The City Boat Ramp boasts three spacious concrete launch bays, plenty of docking space, and easy access to the Gulf of Mexico.
The list of fish you can hope to snag is as follows:
- King mackerel
- Spanish mackerel
Grouper - Red snapper
- Mahi-mahi
- Cobia
- Pompano
- Wahoo
- Redfish
Mexico Beach Restaurants
After all the destruction from Hurricane Michael, potential visitors will want to know if the town’s restaurants are still standing. So, fear not. Mexico Beach has rebuilt its food supply. Below is a relatively short list.
- Bird Dogs is a family-owned hot dog food truck perfect for a snack while cruising the beach. It’s located right off Hwy 98 across from the beach.
- Killer Seafood‘s name says it all. Also located off 98 across from the beach, they serve up some killer fried seafood, tacos, and sandwiches.
- Mr. G’s Smokehouse & Seafood Grill is the place to go in Mexico Beach for surf and turf. Also, it too is located directly off 98.
- Mexico Beach Sweets is where it’s at if you’ve got a sweet tooth with Beach town candy, ice cream, and a gift shop available to all.
Be sure and stay up to speed on all the hot spots and sweet destinations in Florida.
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