From sustaining historic sites to welcoming visitors, Gulf County Shows the Love
GULF COUNTY, FLORIDA–DECEMBER 2025–Gulf County, Florida, located at the heart of the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast, is known for its 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, genuine enthusiasm and an invitation to love Gulf County, too.
It’s clear to see this is not just a beach destination, it is home to a host of Gulf County entrepreneurs who love sharing it with guests. 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 welcoming staff serving organic coffees, teas and baked goods at The Joe (220 Reid Avenue, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-229-8065) and the handmade specialties of St. Joe Soaps (109 Reid Avenue, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-340-0900), which can also be found in many of the local lodging establishments who support the business. Some soaps are created with the world-famous Tupelo Honey, harvested by local beekeepers in nearby Wewahitchka. And finding the products of Smiley Honey (161 Bozeman Circle, Wewahitchka, Florida 32465; 850-639-5672) at area retailers is another sweet discovery. At Bay Breeze Antiques (219 Reid Avenue, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-229-7774), nautical accessories and beachy home décor are joined by locally created art. This quaint shopping district is filled with the warm and welcoming atmosphere created by entrepreneurs who support each other and love their hometown.
That love is no more evident than at the newly opened Hotel Saint Joseph (504 Monument Avenue, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-253-7957). Port St. Joe’s newest boutique hotel combines a tribute to the past with the best of today’s luxury and convenience. The hotel has brought new life to a storied local landmark, the former Florida National Bank, built in 1966. The vision for the hotel was conceived by local businessmen who reimagined the property as a way to create something new and exciting while saving a bit of the community’s past.
Nearby, the entire community is supporting the renovation of another downtown classic. The Port Theatre (314 Reid Avenue, Port Saint Joe, Florida 32456) will reopen as an art and cultural center. The theater showed its first movie in 1938 and has been a fixture in this town since then and, even through years of closure and disrepair, has retained its historic character. Now, local citizens have joined together to preserve, renovate and reopen the theater. The efforts are underway and, in addition to the work, the locals have also been sharing their memories of the theater, reigniting the joy the theater has brought and will bring again, upon reopening.
Of course, everyone here has an affinity for protecting the area’s popular 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 – are eager to share information about the annual sea turtle nesting and hatching season and how everyone plays a role in turtle conservation. To learn more, 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 and time at the visitor center or on a tram tour offer stories of the area’s history and culture.
These are just some of the ways the Gulf County locals show their love of their home and their love of sharing it with visitors. Whether scoping out the best selfie spots around town or taking the ferry service (St. Vincent Island Shuttle Services, 690 Indian Pass Road, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-229-1065) to the remote St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge (850-653-8808) located on an island off the mainland, visitors will find the culture of this community prevails. It preserves its treasures, it supports its people and it welcomes its visitors with open arms.
Where to eat
When enjoying the culture of Gulf County, of course its food is a centerpiece. There are many options for dining, on the water and off, and visitors love to try some of the longstanding local favorites that have become iconic dining spots here.
A Gulf County classic, Indian Pass Raw Bar (8391 County Road 30A, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-227-1670) is known for its fresh oysters – along with a menu filled with other seafood options – and its laid-back atmosphere.
The extensive menu at Shipwreck Raw Bar (7008 W Highway 98, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-647-5050) is a family favorite for breakfast, lunch and dinner in a comfortable, fun atmosphere.