Gulf Coast County Adventure In Florida Plus Giveaway!

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

We are huge on family trips and if we can be active while we are gone it will make the trip even better. A warm travel destination is always a high on our list, and I would rather go were there is not a ton of people at while we are visiting! The kids fell in love with kayaking this summer with their grandpa so every time we talk about going somewhere they want to know if they can kayak, explore lakes, and hiking trails when we go!

If you are heading down to Florida be sure to check out the adventures from Gulf County Adventure Guide and you can also check them out on Instagram with the hashtag #GCFLnofilter. There is so much to do there we were having a hard time picking out our favorite activity for our wish list! Bella picked out the turtle treasure hunt, Kylie wants the Dolphin parade, and Michael was all over the Kayak through the Dead Lakes.

More Information on the adventures with Gulf County Adventure Guide:

• Go on a turtle treasure hunt – Join adventure guide Jessica Swindell on a Turtle patrol on the beach she only takes 4 people at a time. Jessica gives visitors a chance to view baby sea turtle nestings in the highest density-nesting beach in North Florida. 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. The moms do a good job of camouflaging their nests. We determine where the clutch is and dig just to the top egg. Once we find that, we measure the depth and then put a self-releasing screen on top for protection. We place posts and caution tape around the nest so people know to stay away. We number it and place a sign on it. We can continue to get new nests from May through early to mid Sept. 
• Shark fishing – Go on a 3-hour shark fishing trip with Fish’N Xpress with all equipment, bait and licenses included! The 60 ft, 44 passenger boat leaves at 5pm and comes back around 8pm, and is very safe for kids. You put your hook in the water and can catch up to an 8 ft tiger shark, get your picture taken and release the shark at the end!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. 99% of people 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. 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. If you go out early in the morning in April, the birds are all coming into nest and other critters are just showing up. The fog comes off the water. It’s very still, where you feel like you’re in the wilderness.
• Wake up early to watch the Dolphin Parade – A family happened to be up early one day and they saw a pod of dolphins playing and chasing a school of fish. They were so close to shore, they could see them from the deck that day. After that, they got up early so they could walk down and see them from the beach. They loved the “dolphin parade” and watched them swim by every day.
• Adventure out to a different beach every day – Take your family out to a different beach every day and try out a new adventure. Whether it’s scalloping in the Bay, shelling at the tip of the Cape, or fishing by Indian Pass.
• Go out bike riding on an afternoon adventure by the coast. Be sure to watch for Eagles flying by!
• Horseback ride right along the beach and watch the sunset over the ocean
• Snorkeling, paddleboarding, watching the sunset, or even camping on the beach!
• St. Joseph Peninsula State Park – Go for a hike and witness the local wildlife, such as deer, bobcats, squirrels, raccoons, Kingfishers, Great Horn Owl, and even otters!
• Rent a charter boat and go “snuba” diving – Snuba allows you to dive with air but without the tank. No special certification is needed
• Go on an Ecotour with Captain Charlene from About Fun Charters. Tour St. Joseph Bay at sunset and see birds, fish, sea life and the resident dolphin – Danny. Or is it Dolly? We’re not sure

Plus you can enter to win $50 gift card to have an adventure of their own in their local town and there will be 10 lucky winners per week!!! Be sure to enter below the contest ends on 10/25!!!