Gulf County, Florida, is a destination with the kind of personality everyone can love. It is centrally located on Northwest Florida’s Gulf Coast and, known as a “low-rise” destination, is a favorite for both family fun and friends’ getaways. Just two hours southwest of Tallahassee and an hour east of Panama City Beach, this beach destination offers fun ways to connect with each other and is the perfect spot to disconnect from the rest of the world.
Girl time
Whether you want to go out on the town, soak up the sun or simply enjoy time together with a view, Gulf County has some excellent options for a fun girls’ trip.
A beach house on St. Joe Beach is the perfect spot to enjoy a weekend with the girls. There are restaurants within walking distance and lots more dining and shopping just a short drive away.
Nearby WindMark Beach is a great place to spend a day exploring. There is The Mill Mercantile & Social (105 Goodmorning Street, Port St Joe, Florida 32456; 850-899-9149) for convenient groceries, live music and spirits, as well as nearly four miles of paved walking and biking trails along the water. Bike rentals are easy all along the coast and offer an excellent way to enjoy a day outdoors.
For more retail therapy, a stroll down Port St. Joe’s popular Reid Avenue is the place to go. It is lined with locally owned shops and restaurants. The Joe (220 Reid Avenue, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-229-8065) is a great place to start, with its variety of organic coffees, teas and baked goods. From there, the variety includes nautical beach décor at Bay Breeze Antiques (219 Reid Avenue, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-229-7774), home décor and locally made jewelry at Joseph’s Cottage (403 Reid Avenue, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-227-7877) and much, much more.
Of course, an afternoon of beach time is a must! And, with its west-facing, white sand beach, celebrating the sunset on St. Joe Beach is a must each day.
Fun for the guys
This is the perfect destination for a guys’ trip to enjoy the outdoors. Camping is popular throughout Gulf County and Indian Pass beaches are a prime location for both camping and shore fishing. Whether you want to rough it on a beach camping trip, or find an RV park with all the amenities, Gulf County has it.
Many choose to take a day trip across the bay to the St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge (accessible only by private boat or ferry service) or to make a visit to the St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve (3915 State Road #30-A, Port Saint Joe, Florida 32456; 850-229-1787). Each offers a chance to experience the amazing beach habitat and beyond. The wildlife refuge has hunting, fishing and hiking opportunities and the buffer preserved has multi-use trails for hiking, biking, birding and more.
For a guided outing on the water, Happy Hours Kayak & Bike Outpost (775 Cape San Blas Road, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456 478-442-8810) provides kayak rentals as well as guided eco-tours and snorkeling trips on the waters of St. Joseph Bay.
When it’s time to take in a little night life, the Haughty Heron (117 Sailors Cove, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-229-3463) and Scallop RePUBlic (411 Cape San Blas Road, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-227-9009) are great options for enjoying local music. But of course, many choose to while away the evening beside a beach bonfire after sunset.
Family fun
A beach house on Cape San Blas, on St. Joseph Peninsula, offers the perfect home base and a favorite spot for disconnecting. There are vacation rental homes, small and large, on both the sandy gulf beaches and back bay shores.
A number one family favorite is horseback riding on the beach! You can schedule a ride by phone with the Rockin’ M Ranch (240 Cape San Blas Road, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-227-6117) and take the family for an adventure they’ll always remember! Even new or novice riders can enjoy this fun beach activity.
To get out on the water, a trip with About Fun Charters (521 5th Street, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-340-1035) has some unique opportunities. Captain Charlene offers both fishing trips and specially designed coastal ecology tours. Back on land, a trip to the Forgotten Coast Sea Turtle Center (260 Marina Drive, Suite C-1, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456 205-910-4717) offers more insight into the coastal environment. Here, visitors learn about the amazing threatened and endangered sea turtles that nest and hatch on Gulf County beaches each year and the programs in place to protect them.
Gulf County welcomes the family pets, too. Its beaches are pet-friendly, with the exception of T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park (8899 Cape San Blas Road, Port St. Joe Florida 32456; 850-227-1327). Animals must remain on a leash at all times.
If you go
Gulf County has a wide array of lodging choices to fit any group’s needs. There are vacation rental homes of all sizes and inns and cottages, each with a character all its own. Camping, both primitive beach camping and full hook-up RV sites, is a popular way to enjoy this coastal area, as well.
The dining options range from enjoying a family meal “at home” with provisions from Cape Trading Post (4975 Cape San Blas Road, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-229-8775) to dining out at one of the many fine restaurants in the area. Of course, seafood is a favorite here. Try the option that fits your group’s vibe:
Upscale: Provisions (222 Reid Avenue, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-229-9200)
Family Favorite: Shipwreck Raw Bar (7008 W Highway 98, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-647-5050)
Classic Gulf County: Indian Pass Raw Bar (8391 County Road 30A, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-227-1670)
On the road? Why not take us with you. All our websites are mobile-friendly. Visit our growing family of exit guides: I-4 Exit Guide, I-5 Exit Guide, I-10 Exit Guide, I-75 Exit Guide, and I-95 Exit Guide. Detailed exit service listings… discount lodging, camping, food, gas and more for every exit along the way!
