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Adventurous Activities to Try When You Visit Gulf County Florida

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Gulf County Florida. All opinions are 100% mine.

fabulous Florida vacation without the big price tag and crowds. Couple that with a family friendly destination, lots of outdoor activities, and great weather year round, a visit to Gulf County Florida is a must.

Who can pass up a day on the Florida beaches? Especially on the Florida Gulf Coast. Keep reading for adventurous activities to try when you visit Gulf County Florida and enter our $50 Amex gift card giveaway.

Scroll to the bottom of this post for the $50 Amex gift card giveaway. Update: the contest has ended.

Visit Gulf County Florida and Port St. Joe for an Inexpensive family friendly Florida beach vacation. #ad #GCFLnofilter

Adventurous Activities to Try When You Visit Gulf County Florida 

Go kayaking when you visit Gulf County Florida and Port St. Joe for an Inexpensive family friendly Florida beach vacation. #ad #GCFLnofilter

Kayaking is one of the many adventures activities in Gulf County Florida

We usually choose a beach destination for family vacations. Because of a family emergency, we had to cancel our summer vacation. This would have been our last summer family vacation because The Big One, now that he’s an adult I can use his real name, (Wyatt) is going to college. So where could we go that has great weather in the offseason?

Traveling in the off-season is an easy way to save money on travel. But saving money doesn’t mean being cheap. It means finding the value.

And that’s exactly what you’ll find in Gulf County Florida. The prime season in Gulf County is September through May which means you can save money on your flight, hotel, rental car, and activities. Like the in California, Gulf County Florida is a family-friendly value-added destination

Gulf County Florida is one of those wonderful hidden gems that will surprise you. Who knew that it is one of five US counties with two time zones. Or that Port St. Joe was once a mill town.

Easy Access to Water

You'll find miles of water when you visit Gulf County Florida and Port St. Joe, an Inexpensive family friendly Florida beach vacation. #ad #GCFLnofilter

Got water?

Not only that but there are 244 miles of coast and 43 miles of shoreline beaches like Cape San Blas, Indian Pass, St. Joe Beach, and WindMark Beach. This means you have easy access to different bodies of water:

  • The Gulf of Mexico
  • St. Joseph Bay
  • Indian Pass Lagoon
  • The Gulf County Canal
  • Intracoastal Waterway
  • Apalachicola Bay and river basin
  • Dead Lakes
  • Chipola River

Port St Joe & Gulf County Florida beaches are family and pet friendly. #ad #GCFLnofilter

Gulf County Florida beaches are family friendly

Nothing says a relaxing vacation more than a Florida beach vacation. You can even bring your four-legged kid. All Gulf County beaches are pet-friendly (except St. Joseph Peninsula State park).

Nature-Based Activities

Paddle boarding and other activities in Gulf County Florida, Port St. Joe during a Florida beach vacation. #ad #GCFLnofilter

What SUP?

With all that water, there are many nature-based activities:

  • Hiking
  • Biking
  • Kayaking
  • Snorkeling
  • Diving
  • Paddleboarding
  • Fishing
  • Boating
  • Ecotouring

I want to go kayaking, snorkeling, and paddleboarding in Gulf County Florida. It’ll be different than paddleboarding in Hawaii. For sure.

Read: How to stand up paddle board

That’s a great thing about outdoor activities. They’re never the same experience. Even in the same place. You might see barracudas, marlins, and other fish snorkeling one day and nothing the next day.

Explore nature when you visit Gulf County Florida and Port St. Joe. A family friendly Florida beach vacation. #ad #GCFLnofilter

Explore nature in Gulf County Florida.

Gulf County Florida’s ecotourism is a big draw for Wyatt because he’s majoring in Environmental Management.

Kayak the waterways in Gulf County Florida and Port St. Joe. #ad #GCFLnofilter

Ecotourism in Gulf County Florida? Check!

Gulf  County Adventure Guide

Plan a Florida beach vacation to Port St Joe in Gulf County Florida. #ad #GCFLnofilter

Have and plan your adventure with the Gulf County Adventure Guide

Intrigued? Want to learn more about Gulf County Florida? Plan your trip using the Adventure Guide.

The Gulf County Adventure Guide is so easy to use. Everything you’d want to know about Gulf County Florida is at your fingertips. Accessible anytime, anywhere, 24/7.

Perfect for when you can’t sleep (or are kept up by your little one). Instead of fighting insomnia, search the Gulf County Adventure Guide to see all the fun, exciting adventures you can have in Gulf County Florida.

Gulf County Concierge Program

Port St Joe, Gulf County Florida concierges can plan your Florida beach vacation. #ad #GCFLnofilter

Free travel planning via the Gulf County Concierge Program. Yes, please!.

If you don’t have time, use the Gulf County Concierge Program and let a GCFL Concierge plan a trip for you. For free.

Normally I spend hours researching and creating a detailed itinerary spreadsheet. But lately, I don’t have the time. I love planning our trips. That’s the fun and exciting part, finding the deals, seeking out the secret spots, etc. It’s a time-consuming task, but one that I’m happy to do.

Letting someone else do the planning and legwork is wonderful. It takes less than 2 minutes to submit a request and you’ll have a detailed response within hours.

I requested information on hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, food, and music. Here’s what our GCFL Concierge, Kelli, suggested:

Hi Debra,

We have some great hiking trails here! There are many with a beautiful backdrop out at St. Joseph Peninsula State Park. The St. Joseph Bay Buffer Preserve also has some fantastic natural trails.

We have some great hiking trails here! There are many with a beautiful backdrop out at St. Joseph Peninsula State Park. The St. Joseph Bay Buffer Preserve also has some fantastic natural trails.

We have beautiful waterways to kayak and paddle board in Gulf County. You can rent a kayak or go on a guided trip with Happy Ours out on St. Joseph Bay. You can also take a guided trip on the Dead Lakes with Off the Map Expeditions. Paddle boards are available from multiple outfitters as well, including Happy Ours.

St. Joseph Bay is the ideal spot to go snorkeling! You can wade out with your own gear or let the experts take you. Many of our charter captains will take you out or you can go on the Island Queen pontoon with Seahorse Water Safaris. They specialize in these trips and do a ‘show and tell’ at the end!

We have plenty of places to eat from Mexican, Italian, Southern Grub, and of course seafood. Whether you want a delicious one of a kind seafood dinner, oysters on the half-shell or po-boys it can all be found in Gulf County. Most of the restaurants have live music playing but if you’re looking for a place to relax and watch the sun go down check out The Thirsty Goat or Haughty Heron.

If you are interested in learning more about these or Gulf County, please let me know or you can call the Welcome Center at (850) 229-7800 and ask for Kelli!

We’ve got a list of things to do, where to rent kayaks, paddleboards, snorkeling gear, restaurants to try, and helpful links. It only took a few minutes of my time and didn’t cost a dime. How cool is that! 

The GCFL concierges are similar to very good travel agents. The ones who take the time to create the perfect travel itinerary catering to your interests such as showing you all the things to do in Orlando besides theme parks. Because like Gulf Coast Florida, you can have great adventures in Orlando without going to Disneyworld or Universal Studios.

$50 Amex Gift Card Giveaway

Are you dreaming of an adventurous, relaxing beach vacation to Gulf County Florida? I know I am. Now that you’ve added Gulf County Florida to your bucket list, it’s time for a little fun.

Enter our $50 Amex gift card giveaway.

Leave a comment telling me which of the adventures in the Adventure Guide would you/your family enjoy taking part in? And why? by 9 pm, Pacific Time on September 15, 2016.

One winner will be chosen at random on September 15, 2016. I’ll announce the winner on or about September 24, 2016.

Conclusion

Looking for a value priced Florida vacation? Look to Gulf County Florida. With miles and miles of coastline, everywhere you go you’re only 15 minutes from the water.

Gulf County Florida is family-friendly with a small town feel. The people are friendly and if you’re not careful you’ll end up making a friend or two.

Plus it’s only one of a handful of US counties that are in two different time zones. Talk about time flying!

Didn’t get to take a trip this year? No worries because Gulf County Florida’s prime season is September through May. Which makes outdoor adventures like hiking, fishing, snorkeling, kayaking easy to do all year.

Plan your vacation using the Gulf County Adventure Guide. Or save time and use the Gulf Concierge Program have a GCFL Concierge take care of the details.

Remember to enter our $50 Amex gift card giveaway by telling me which of the adventures in the Adventure Guide would you/your family enjoy taking part in? And why?

Pin this to your travel, vacation, or Florida board:

Visit Gulf County Florida and Port St. Joe for an Inexpensive family friendly Florida beach vacation. #ad #GCFLnofilter

Pin this to your board

Visit Gulf County Florida and Port St. Joe for an Inexpensive family friendly Florida beach vacation. #ad #GCFLnofilter

Or pin this to your travel, vacation, or Florida board:

Visit Gulf County Florida and Port St. Joe for an Inexpensive family friendly Florida beach vacation. #ad #GCFLnofilter

Pin this to vacation, travel, or Florida board:

Visit Gulf County Florida and Port St. Joe for an Inexpensive family friendly Florida beach vacation. #ad #GCFLnofilter

Pin to your travel, vacation, Florida, or travel tips boards:

Florida beach vacation in Gulf County Florida, Port St. Joe. #ad #GCFLnofilter

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All images courtesy of Gulf County.

The Fine Print

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. One winner, chosen at random from all eligible entries received, will receive a $50 AmEx gift card, and will be announced on or about 10 days after end of entry period.  Entrants may enter within 21 days of this post going live. Must be a resident of one of the 48 contiguous United States (excl. PR, HI, AK) the age of majority in his or her jurisdiction at time of entry. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Sweepstakes is sponsored by Gulf County.

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Traveling Well For Less has partnered with Your Best Credit Cards for our coverage of credit card products. Traveling Well For Less and YBCC may receive a commission from card issuers.


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Debra Schroeder

Monday 19th of September 2016

We're announcing the winner a little early.

Congratulations to Ann. Her name was drawn as the winner of the $50 Amex gift card.

Michelle Cantu

Friday 16th of September 2016

These photos make me so jealous that I am home working and not enjoying a vacation. Florida looks like a blast, I can't wait to go back.

Heather worthington

Thursday 15th of September 2016

I've never been to Florida but of course wanted to. Snorkeling is our thing. Paddle boarding looks so fun and I want to try that.

dotti cahill

Thursday 15th of September 2016

Hiking and Snorkeling would be my speed..no stand up paddle board for me!!! I like the concierge service also!!

Sabrina DeVault-Greene

Thursday 15th of September 2016

This is my sweet pup's first time at the beach! We are trying to get her in the water. We love to SUP together and we are planning on going to one of the state parks to play!

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