Picking a vacation home on Florida's Forgotten Coast usually comes down to one question: which body of water do you want outside your door? At Cape & Coast Premier Properties, we offer Florida beachfront rentals with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico along with bayfront homes on quieter water like St. Joseph Bay. Both put you steps from the shoreline, but the two stays feel different. Here is a look at each one so you can pick the right home base for your group.
What to Expect From Florida Beachfront Rentals
Our beachfront rentals put the Gulf of Mexico out your back door. Many of our homes include a private walkover to the beach, and some have a covered porch facing the water or a private pool. These rentals make up our largest collection, with homes in Cape San Blas, Indian Pass, St. George Island and Mexico Beach. Each community offers a slightly different vacation experience, ranging from remote and undeveloped to walkable neighborhoods with shops, restaurants and state parks nearby.
Here are some of the activities you can enjoy on the Gulf side:
- Swimming
- Surfing and boogie boarding.
- Fishing from the shoreline.
- Looking for seashells.
- Watching wildlife like shorebirds and dolphins playing in the surf.
What to Expect From a Bayfront Rental
Our bayfront rentals trade waves for calm, shallow water on two protected bays. St. Joseph Bay sits behind the peninsula, which shelters it from the surf and keeps the water shallow enough for young children to wade in. Farther east, Apalachicola Bay borders marshes and oyster flats that draw shorebirds, redfish and some of the freshest seafood in the state. Many of our homes on the bay have decks or grassy yards at the water's edge, and some include a dock.
Here are some of the activities you can enjoy on the bay side:
- Kayaking or paddleboarding in the bay.
- Snorkeling the seagrass flats for starfish, sand dollars and sea turtles.
- Scalloping during bay scallop season in the summer.
- Fishing.
- Bird watching.
- Beachfront is best for travelers who want surf, wide-open sand, sunset views and the widest choice of homes and communities.
- Bayfront is best for paddlers, snorkelers and anglers who want calm water at the door.
- Consider both if you cannot decide, since some of our homes reach both waters.
Whichever water calls to you, we have a home that fits. Our full collection of homes includes Florida beach house rentals for couples and for large groups, and your stay comes with credits toward bikes, kayaks and beach gear. Browse our Florida beachfront rentals and bayfront properties and book with us today!
