We found Carrabelle searching the FL coast on a satellite map. The area looked perfect for a vacation home, with the river front and barrier islands providing shelter from the ocean, yet still easy access to it. We booked a VRBO to visit, and we were instantly hooked! It was better than we could have hoped for. White soft sand beaches, deep river access, great fishing waters, small town charm. Yet for a small town, there are several restaurant options, cute shops, an art gallery, museums, and even great live bands every Th-Sat night!
The fishing here is fantastic. We've caught pompano, flounder, redfish, snapper, grouper, and even sharks! We've caught a lot of fish just off our dock. If you have a boat, you have fishing options off the beach of Dog Island (one of the barrier islands) or deep-sea fishing. Dog Island is only accessible by boat, but there is a ferry you can catch. It is an awesome place to explore, with tide pools full of marine life, and also those white sand beaches. There are houses on the island, but most times, you feel like you have the place to yourself!
The area has a rich history. As one of the only naturally occurring deep water ports, Carrabelle played a pivotal role in early trade between the US and Europe. A hurricane came through and sunk several merchant ships in the 1800's; some of ruins you can still see on Dog Island (more was exposed during the recent hurricane Michael, but it has since been covered more again). The island was used to train some of the troops that stormed Normandy Beach during WW2. There are 3 museums that cover this history and more, and while I'm not a big history buff, they are quite interesting.
We love this town and think you will too!