Gulf County, Florida: the perfect destination for a family beach trip this summer

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I know that everyone, including myself, is feeling a little stir crazy right now. I get it! That is why I am really excited to be sharing one of my favorite places with you today. I have teamed up with Visit Gulf County to welcome you back to the area and share with you why I think that it’s the perfect destination for your family to visit this summer. In fact, I am planning my own trip down there as we speak!

There is no doubt that 2020 is going to be the summer of the American beach trip. With international vacations canceled and visiting big cities on hold, people are flocking to the beaches, and with the United States having almost 100,000 miles of beautiful shoreline, there should be room for everyone. However, I forecast (and recently witnessed firsthand) that the busy beach towns are going to be busier than ever which is why planning a trip to the white sand beaches in Gulf County, Florida may be just the escape that you are looking for!

I understand that travel can be a little confusing right now and I think the best place to get current, factual information is directly from the source. With their new Get Your Feet Wet campaign the team at Visit Gulf County has compiled everything you need to know on one landing page that can be updated as we navigate this new normal. This is a win-win for both tourists and locals who rely on one another both in many ways. If you recall I wrote a post in April about what to expect when traveling to the beach and what considerations to make. If you plan to travel during this pandemic please take a second to read it here so that we can all be responsible guests!

So, before I tell you why I love Gulf County, Florida as well as all of the things you can enjoy and memories you can make, I want to share some ways that they have adapted to make your stay even more enjoyable. I truly believe that this region of Florida provides great opportunity for social distancing and enjoying a getaway with your family.

Get Your Feet Wet in Gulf County, Florida

While Visit Gulf County always offers complimentary concierge service for visitors, they are now available via instant chat at visitgulf.com so that you can get your questions answered right away!

The Piggly Wiggly, Port St. Joe’s grocery store, is now offering online ordering and curbside pick-up if you are wanting to cook yourself. Click here to link to the ordering page.

Restaurants have expanded outdoor seating areas to accommodate guests al fresco. Dining rooms are still open at partial capacity and take out is available.

Local companies will shop and deliver groceries to you including wiping items down and placing them in your refrigerator if desired. There are also people who will come to you and cook your meal while you relax with family. That sounds amazing!

Vacation rentals are being deep cleaned and sanitized between guests. There are also multiple campgrounds in the area.

For most up to date information please visit this link: Get Your Feet Wet

Reasons Why I Love Gulf County

My favorite thing about Gulf County, Florida has to be the people. I am not sure there are many places in America where you will find folks as genuine, humble, and kind as the people down there. It’s a slower pace; a throwback to a simpler time. One where people meet up at the local diner in Port St. Joe to catch up every morning and can greet each other by name. The beaches are unspoiled and the sunsets provide the headline entertainment each night. I shared a little more about the character of this community in this recent post about Taco Week. Although taco week was postponed, the stories I shared are still pretty special and I hope you enjoy reading them.

In Gulf County, you won’t find highrise buildings or all-inclusive resorts. Whether you choose to stay out on Cape San Blas or on the bay near Port St. Joe, you will have your choice of vacation homes and condos that range from turnkey and modern to cottages that still carry the charm of decades ago when they were built by hand, with love. Most of the properties here have spacious beach access and plenty of room to spread out and enjoy your time with your family. There is a reason why people come down here year after year! When I came down in February we stayed in St. Joe Beach at an incredible gulf front vacation home called Seas The Day.

Do you want to know what else you will find? A private island with 26 waterfront bungalows, in the middle of St. Joseph Bay. A trip to Blacks Island is on my bucket list. Once a hideout for pirates in the 1700s the history is fascinating. And if you can’t swing a stay there you can set your eyes on the island from both the Cape and the Bay.

If you love Florida history as much as I do, I would love to recommend the book Saints of Old Florida. It was written by three local women and I purchased it at Joseph’s Cottage in Port St. Joe, which happens to be owned by one of the authors. I have read it cover to cover and it’s the most beautiful coffee table book that I own. Full of stories and recipes it really hits home how special this area is. It’s currently sold out online but maybe you can find it instore like I did in February.

12 Things To Do in Gulf County, Florida

There are so many fun things for your family to do while visiting Gulf County, Florida. I have done some of these over my past couple visits but others are still on my list for the next time we get down there! It’s under 2 hours from our home in Dothan, Alabama so perfect for a long weekend or even a quick overnight.

• Horseback riding on the beach (especially at sunset).

• Take a kayak ride through the Dead Lakes.

• Scallop in St. Joseph Bay. The season runs Aug. 16 – Sept. 24 in 2020.

• Do a honey tasting in Wewahitchka. Read about my experience here!

• Visit the Forgotten Coast Sea Turtle Center at the Florida Coastal Conservatory in Port St. Joe.

• Spend the Day at T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park at the tip of Cape San Blas. Stop by Peachy’s for tacos afterward!

• Climb to the top of the lighthouse. Did you know that it used to be out on the Cape but was moved inland in 2014?

• Take a photo with all of the turtle statues along the Turtle Trail.

• Charter a fishing trip either in the bay or offshore.

• Eat and shop your way through Reid Ave in Port St. Joe.

• Lots of snorkeling, paddle boarding, bike riding, and more. It really is an adventure-lovers paradise.

• Walk to the Donna Kay for the perfect Instagram photo.

Click here to request your free visitor’s guide to learn more about the area.

Memories To Make in Gulf County

It’s funny how memories come about. It’s a combination of the places you visit and the people you are with. Sometimes it’s the moments that you least expect that end up leaving an imprint on your heart.

Years from now you will look back on your visit to Gulf County and I can imagine that you will be saying things like “Remember when…

“… I tried my first raw Oyster at Indian Pass Raw Bar?”

“… we had that big bonfire out on the beach. We watched the stars pop up one by one as the sun set and the moon rose.

“… Mom caught that King Mackerel and everyone had to help her reel it in?”

“… it was just the two of us? We walked on the beach in the mornings and sipped wine at sunset on the back porch.”

“… that giant gator stared us down when we were kayaking in the Dead Lakes. “

“… we took the kids to the beach for the first time and that Sea Turtle nested right behind our beach house? “

“… each of us wrote wishes on shells and hung them on that tree? Do you remember what you wished for?”

“… the dogs used to love running back and forth in the waves, chasing the birds all around?”

“… we had our first taste of Tupelo Honey? I can still taste it”

“… you found that starfish out on the Cape? You wanted to take it home but Dad wouldn’t let you.”

“… the four of us walked out to that wrecked shrimp boat. I wonder if it’s still there!”

“… you and I came down here for the first time? And 30 years later we still come back to Gulf County every year.

“… Mom took us tent camping in an RV park in the middle summer and it was so hot, but we played in the bay all day and the pool at night? She loved that picture of the sunset from our tent. We ate low county boil from that seafood restaurant each day. That was fun. She always took us to the best places. “