"Great Old Florida town" Apalachicola by doug91

When people ask where to go in Florida to get away from the theme parks and crowded beaches, I always recommend Apalachicola first. It hasn't totally escaped the rampant growth everywhere that land touches water in this state, but it's grown with more dignity than most places. It's a laid-back town that's close to beautiful beaches (but not beachfront), surrounded by Florida wilderness (Apalachicola National Forest, Tate's Hell State Forest, St Vincent National Wildlife Refuge, and the list goes on...), and populated with good restaurants, classy accomodations, and even classier residents. We're lucky to have it so close to home.

• Pros:Food, location, and nature
• Cons:Buggy in the summer
• In a nutshell:What people mean when they say 'the Real Florida.'