This post brought to you by Visit Gulf County. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Surf and Sunshine.
When our family moved from Michigan to Florida at the beginning of this year we couldn’t have been more thrilled. We have some family here and had vacationed in Florida on numerous occasions. However, we rarely managed to make it out of the Orlando/Tampa areas. Now that we live here full time we’ve been looking forward to exploring our new home state, especially cities along the coast since we both love coastal towns.
Gulf County happens to be home of some great coastal towns and it’s packed with adventures on, in and near the water. Fall is the perfect time to plan a visit since the mind boggling summer temps are coming down and yet it’s still plenty warm enough to spend the day in the water with Seahorse Water Safari, hiking along the beaches on a turtle treasure hunt or kayaking through the dead lakes.
Go on a Turtle Treasure Hunt
Last year we adopted a sea turtle for my daughter for Valentines Day. She loves getting updates on her adopted turtle Bubble Butt, so I know she would love Turtle Treasure Hunt. Adventure guide Jessica Swindell takes groups of four on Turtle patrols on high density nesting beaches in North Florida. Guest can help her look for signs of nesting and participate in the process of protecting loggerhead turtles. This part of the walk is really about marking and protecting the nests. Nests just look like big disturbed area of sand since the moms do a good job of camouflaging their nests.
Seahorse Water Safari
Captain Gary Hites is the owner of Seahorse Water Safaris. The safari is in the name because they don’t stop at rentals. They guide people in their explorations, snorkel trips, scallop trips and sunset cruises. The majority of their clients have never seen a seahorse up close and personal, until now!
Kayak Through the Dead Lakes
The Dead Lakes get their name from the Cypress and Tupelo trees that stand in the water. When the water is low, you can see the stumps rising out of the swamp. We’re told it’s like nothing you’ve seen before. “People don’t know what you’re talking about and then they have an “aha” moment when they paddle around the shallows in the South Flats.” The stumps are so concentrated; it’s like being on another planet.
Now this place is definitely worth visiting! I would love to get chance to see it!
I have never been to Florida but it looks like an amazing place to visit! Thanks for sharing !
A Sea Horse Safari?! How could does that sound. I am definitely writing that down. I don’t think I have ever seen one up close except in aquariums. My daughter adopted a donkey from a Donkey Sanctuary in Antigua named Amy. We would love to adopt a turtle.
Looks amazing. I would love to visit there and see those sights. I would love to go on a sea horse safari. :)
Oh how awesome. I have never been to Florida but I’ve always wanted to go. Hopefully someday soon, I’d love to do all the above.
Looks like a great place to visit. I have not been to Florida in many years. The photos are beautiful
The gulf coast in Florida is just a beautiful spot to live. I love the idea of looking for sea turtles.
I’ve been visiting FL since I was a little girl. My husband and I happen to be in FL this weekend. Just got into town today. We have a wedding to attend and we’re celebrating our 33rd wedding anniversary. We love FL!
Wow, this sounds like such a fun place to visit on a family. My boys would absolutely love exploring the shores and looking for different native plants and animals.
I have not been kayaking since college but I remember that I loved it at the time.
We usually visit Florida in May, but I can imagine how beautiful the weather is right now.
This sounds like a fabulous place to visit! That turtle treasure hunt sounds like a really cool experience!
We lived in Florida for 5 years. I do miss it sometimes. It is a gorgeous place.
I grew up in the Jacksonville area and I really did love Florida, though I don’t love the humidity. There are a lot of things I miss though! Thanks for sharing!
Holy Cow, this looks like so much fun! I would love to kayak on those lakes – gorgeous!!!
Those photos are amazing. It makes me want to take another trip to Florida sometime soon.
This looks like such a beautiful place to visit! My family loves going to the beach, so this looks right up their alley.
Sounds like so much fun. I hope we get to visit Florida soon so that we can do all these must do activities.
It’s nice that you get to protect turtles while also having fun. I’d love to see a seahorse up close as well! These are all so awesome.
These sounds like super fun activities. I have never been to Florida, but I would love to go someday.
Sounds like fun idea. Florida is one of my list that places that i want to go. It was a lovely place to visit.
This really makes me want to head down there. You could have such a fun adventure-filled vacation there.
We will be going to Florida for thanksgiving and I am looking forward for this visit hope the weather is fine. I am so ready for fun, sun and seeing sea turtles. Thanks for sharing.
The closest I’ve been to a seahorse in at the aquarium. This sounds like a great idea and I would also enjoy that turtle hunt.
this is so beautiful, I hope to some day visit Florida, will def want to add this place to our list
Florida is such a beautiful state to visit. I didn’t even know there was anything to do in Gulf County Florida so thank you for the travel suggestions. These would be great for staycations too for those that live nearby.
If I ever make it down that way, I will be sure to try some of these fun things. Sounds like a fun place to visit.