MEXICO BEACH — The Florida Panhandle is known for sugar-white sands and pristine environmental lands, but which of its communities are the best to visit for vacation?

According to WorldAtlas, an online geography resource whose website states it served more than 165 million global readers in 2019, Mexico Beach is one of the top small towns in the Panhandle for a weekend escape.

For City Administrator Douglas Baber, it not only is an honor for Mexico Beach to make the list of nine towns, it also is a testament of the city's dedicated efforts to bounce back from Hurricane Michael in 2018.

Iconic seafood restaurant recognized: Popular blog names top 15 seafood restaurants. This Panama City icon made the list

Take a day trip! Here are 8 destinations near Bay County – plus fun things to do there

Things to do: Feeling the heat? Here are 8 most picturesque places to canoe, kayak or tube in the Panama City area

Mexico Beach was ground zero for the historic Category 5 storm which wrecked Bay County and the Panhandle, destroying thousands of businesses and homes.

"It's an amazing honor that we are back on the map, but at the same time, our sleepy little town has been found," Baber said. "We're one of the last few spots that has a dedicated beach that you can see from U.S. 98 (without) buildings in the way.

"It's beautiful, pristine sandy beaches (with) emerald water. It's got a good feel to it — a nice, hometown feel."

In its recent blog, WorldAtlas says Mexico Beach is a "quieter and less expensive destination" compared to other coastal areas and boasts "five miles of white sandy shores, prolific Gulf fishing and water fun in a remote setting."

Like Baber, WorldAtlas notes Mexico Beach accomplished an impressive comeback after the destruction of Michael, introducing new businesses and rebuilding others that were damaged.

"The cute townscape (of Mexico Beach) is dotted with small, local eateries and shops that add to the vibe, along with many vacation rentals," the blog reads. "Upon getting hit hard by Hurricane Michael, the town bounced back with new local hotspots, including boutiques and art galleries.

More in Mexico Beach: 'It feels amazing!': Mexico Beach reopens first park completely rebuilt after Hurricane Michael

"... In the vicinity, one will also find many rivers, canals, lakes and bays with kayaking opportunities and wilderness to explore."

Other Panhandle towns highlighted in WorldAtlas' list are:

• Apalachicola

• Alligator Point

• Carrabelle

• DeFuniak Springs

• Navarre

• Port St. Joe

• Seaside

• St. George Island

Looking ahead, Baber said he believes the best days of Mexico Beach are yet to come.

He expects the area to continue developing, maintaining and improving the quality of life for residents and those who visit.

"My goal is to maintain a positive quality of life for everyone who lives here, works here, plays here and vacations here," he said. "We are offering a great service here that was literally 80% destroyed less than four years ago.

"To see where we (are) is just a testament of how hard we're working to get back to normal."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Mexico Beach, FL among best small towns for weekend trip in Panhandle