With one visit to this northwest Florida destination, everyone feels at home
GULF COUNTY, FLORIDA–JUNE 2021–Gulf County, Florida, located at the heart of the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast, is a combination of beach town fun and hometown charm. Located two hours southwest of Tallahassee and just an hour east of Panama City Beach, Gulf County is filled with beautiful beaches and outdoor activities, on the water and off. Enjoying those activities means meeting the locals and being greeted with a warm welcome and genuine enthusiasm. Because this is not just a destination, it’s home to a host of Gulf County entrepreneurs who love sharing it with guests.
Visitors here are greeted by locals who invite them to love Gulf County, too. A stroll down Port St. Joe’s popular Reid Avenue offers the perfect introduction. The shops and restaurants are all locally owned, most are family-operated. The variety includes the organic coffees, teas and baked goods at The Joe (220 Reid Avenue, Port St Joe, Florida 32456; 850-229-8065) and Bay Breeze Antiques (219 Reid Avenue, Port Saint Joe, Florida 32456; 850-229-7774), which features nautical and locally created art as well as beachy home décor. This quaint shopping district is filled with the warm and welcoming atmosphere of restaurants and shops like these.
Of course, everyone here has an affinity for the beaches and waters. Far more than just a playground, locals want to ensure these important natural resources are sustained and protected. Organizations like the Forgotten Coast Sea Turtle Center (1001 10th Street, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456)–along with most every business in town–is eager to share information about the annual sea turtle nesting and hatching season and how everyone plays a role in turtle conservation. A visit to the St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve (3915 State Road #30-A, Port Saint Joe, Florida 32456; 850-229-1787) offers an in-depth experience of the beach habitat and beyond. Multi-use trails are beautiful settings for hiking, biking, horseback riding, birding and more. Time at the visitor center or on a tram tour offer stories of the area’s history and culture.
At the nearby Indian Pass Raw Bar (8391 County Road 30A, Port Saint Joe, Florida 32456; 850-227-1670) the stories are likely to include comparisons of who’s been visiting the longest and whether raw, baked or steamed is the best way to eat oysters. This family-owned business has been serving since 1929.
On Cape San Blas locals and visitors alike gather for food and stories at LongBill’s (7650 Cape San Blas Road, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-250-4310), a new restaurant from a veteran Gulf County entrepreneur. Folks can also be found completing the family shopping list at the Cape Trading Post (4975 Cape San Blas Road, Port Saint Joe, Florida 32456; 850-229-8775) and vying to be first in line at Weber’s Little Donut Shop (4975 Cape San Blas Road, Port Saint Joe, Florida 32456; 850-340-3552) for the morning donut run.
Just up the road, Wewahitchka is home to the beautiful Dead Lakes and to Smiley Honey (161 Bozeman Circle, Wewahitchka, Florida 32465; 850-639-5672). Together, they create some of the most popular honey on earth, made from the tupelo trees of the lakes. Visitors can hear the inside stories of how Smiley Honey was started in 1989 or how eco-tour guide Off the Map Expeditions (482 Gary Rowell Road, Wewahitchka, Florida 32465; 850-819-3053) came to have “favorite” trees.
Celebrate a special occasion with a creative gift from a Reid Avenue shop or a meal at a long-time favorite restaurant. Learn about the diversity of this coastal paradise, from the sea turtle nests of Gulf beaches to the sweet nectar of Dead Lakes tupelo trees. Return to a cherished family getaway or visit for the first time. This is so much more than a beach town. Everybody is welcomed as a local here. And Gulf County feels like home.