I've never seen the Gulf Coast. How's Hwy 98 E, around Eastpoint and Carrabelle?

[raccoon]

How's it for scenic? (or congested, as the case may be)

[HooptieWagon]

1. In general, 98 is a nice drive.

I'm not too familiar with EPoint and Carrabelle, but 98 is generally pleasent and scenic. A stoplight or two in the small towns, but you're through them in a jiffy. Only badly congested near the cities. Don't be in a hurry, and don't be afraid of taking a side trip if something perks your interest.
If you're in a hurry, stick to I-10, it's fairly scenic in N Florida.

[csziggy]

2. St. George Island, Alligator Point, St Marks Lighthouse

Some of the best places to see. West of Eastpoint, decent views from 98. But east of there, much of that section of the coast is not pretty sand beaches but mangrove filled. 98 does not run next to the coast but inland for the most part east of Carrabelle.

When we drive down to the coast (from Tallahassee) we usually go to St. Marks for the birdwatching. For beaches, we go to Alligator Point or even better St. George Island. St. George is beautiful - and in the winter not crowded. In the summer, it's hard to walk along the beach - if you can find parking to get there!

I wish I could recommend places to eat but many of the businesses have been washed out with storm surge over the last decade. Of the few that were left a lot went out of business with the economic bad times. For the last five years, we have not been down to the coast, so I don't know what is still there.