Carrabelle offers quiet coastal living with a working harbor
Carrabelle offers peaceful living on Florida's "Forgotten Coast." Locals appreciate how uncrowded their small, quiet community is, especially during the off-season. "Carrabelle is a little fishing village on a river that goes out to the Gulf, where most locals earn a living on the water," says Realtor Janalyn Dowden with Sea Crest Real Estate. The harbor is lined with boats of all sizes, and much of Carrabelle's tourism is from boaters stopping by to fill up on their way to the ocean. There are shops and restaurants, but most of Carrabelle's charm lies in how relaxed it is. "It's a very laidback community where we take our time; nobody rushes off in a hurry," Dowden says.
Peaceful streets and palmettos frame a mix of old and new homes
The area has a peaceful beach town feel, with wide streets and sandy, shrubby lawns lined with palmettos, palms and oak trees. Dowden says there is a mix of housing options. "We have a lot of older homes being updated, but there's a good amount of new construction as well, even though the market is on the slower side," she says. Most homes near the downtown area are ranch-style and cottages, while a few New Traditional subdivisions surround. These homes are typically priced between $300,000 and $500,000. There are also manufactured homes, with prices between $80,000 and $270,000, depending on the age of the home. On Carrabelle Harbor, condo units overlook the community, with prices typically between $145,000 and $280,000. For larger, waterfront coastal-style homes with views of the Gulf, prices often range between $350,000 and $750,000. Damage from wind and flooding during hurricanes and storms is possible in Carrabelle. Buyers should purchase appropriate homeowner's insurance and follow evacuation routes during storms.
Boating, fishing and beach days are part of daily life in Carrabelle
Proximity to the New River, Carrabelle Harbor and the Gulf lends itself to the fishing and boating culture that permeates Carrabelle. The harbor has numerous marinas and boat launches, where boaters, fishermen and charters head out onto the water. Residents and visitors enjoy the boats dotting the harbor from the Carrabelle River Walk and the Marine Street Pavilion. There's a walking path, a picnic area and a fishing pier with a cleaning station next door. To get to the white sand beaches of the Gulf, like those stretching along Dog Island, residents may either use their boat or the Dog Island Ferry, which departs from the harbor. A short drive west from the harbor, Carrabelle Beach has powdery white sands, clear emerald water, butterfly-shaped shells and numerous starfish. The waters are calmer here, so it's popular with families.
Numerous pine forests, scrub brush and saltwater marshes surround Carrabelle, such as Tate's Hell State Park. There are over 200,000 acres of forest here, with numerous trails, primitive campsites, fishing holes and hunting areas. George Sands Park has a walking loop and a play area for a more traditional recreation space, while Will S. Kendrick Park has athletic fields, tennis courts, a playground and a dog park.
Franklin County School serves most local students in Carrabelle
Carrabelle students attend Franklin County School District. Many students attend Franklin County School, which earns an overall C from Niche. Pre-kindergarten through eighth grade may also attend C-plus-rated Apalachicola Bay Charter School. According to the school's website, ABC offers a free pre-school, free meals and a vigorous curriculum with remediation available for math and reading.
Marine Street offers dining, markets and community events
The community features a downtown harbor area full of seafood markets, bait and tackle shops and boutiques. "We have excellent seafood restaurants here," Dowden says. Along Avenue A and Marine Street there are restaurants such as Marine Street Grill, a casual seafood joint serving fish sandwiches adjacent to Harry's Bar. Other options include Fathoms Restaurant, another seafood restaurant, and Wild River Nutrition, which serves shakes and smoothie bowls. The Marine Street Pavilion is also the site for artist demonstrations, vendor markets, and celebrations like the Holiday on the Harbor Festival. The rest of Carrabelle comprises farm stores, auto shops, small businesses and a Dollar General. There is a Piggly Wiggly and more dining and retail in nearby Apalachicola, 22 miles away. Crawfordville, 35 miles away, has a Publix and a Walmart. The closest shopping malls and big box stores are in Tallahassee, about 55 miles from Carrabelle.
Highways connect Carrabelle to hospitals, airports and I-10
Highway 98 (also called Old 98) runs throughout Carrabelle, connecting Carrabelle to other communities along the Gulf Coast. Carrabelle is car-dependent and doesn't have much transportation apart from the Dog Island ferry. There are urgent and primary care centers, but the closest medical centers are George E. Weems Hospital in Apalachicola, 23 miles away, and Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital in Port Saint Joe, 45 miles away. Tallahassee International Airport and Interstate 10 are about 55 to 60 miles away, depending on the route. Panama City and the Northwest Beaches International Airport are roughly 80 miles from Carrabelle.
