It’s already been a hectic start to 2022—time to chill out. If a laid-back vacation is what you’re craving, we’ve got just the spot. Gulf County, Florida, is a dreamy beach town perfect for families who want to reconnect and soak up not only the sunshine but some relaxing vibes. Gulf County is known for its friendly locals and small-town feel where you can spread out and take up space, kick back, enjoy the beautiful beaches, easy outdoor adventures and excellent food.
It gets better: You don’t even have to plan this trip. (well, maybe just a little…) They have local expert concierges ready to help make your stay the most memorable for your crew. One of our editors, Jamie Aderski, gave their free online concierge service a try.
Now, this is the way to travel! The idea of planning a vacation (something that’s supposed to be fun) gives me a headache. The nice folks at Gulf County, Florida, came up with a solution, with their local concierge service. I’ll break this genius vacay hack down for you below:
Step 1: Answer a Few Questions
I filled out a handy-dandy online questionnaire about my family and what we like to do for fun. Choices like arts & culture, snorkeling, boating and more made for a thorough list—here we go!
Experience ordinary magic in Gulf County, Florida. Plan your trip today!
Step 2: Pick Your Concierge
This is so cool. You can choose the person you want to put together your dream vacay! How? Vetted, knowledgeable locals are listed with their favorite activities, so you can pick one that fits your family’s vibe—love it!
Step 3: Get Your Personalized Trip Recommendations
Yes. From a real-live human! I was so impressed with the email I received from my concierge, Kelli. She was so sweet and pointed out that she also has two kids of similar ages to mine—Kelli gets it. A detailed, specific shortlist of where to stay and what to do based on my family's preferences was included.
The beach is calling! Get your personalized recommendations from a local expert now.
Kelli’s Recommendations for My Family (& They’re Spot-On)
Homebase
Our recommended hotel was Mermaid Landing in St. Joe Beach. Kelli noted that the beach is calm and easy for young kids and has a pool if the waters get too rough for our gang—good call. Now I don't have to spend hours researching where to stay, my least favorite part of trip-planning—YAY!
Restaurant Recommendations
Somehow she just knew that I love a good raw bar. Shipwreck Raw Bar is a family-friendly seafood restaurant that I know we will all love. They even have cute photo ops outside and a pirate ship for my "mateys" to enjoy—arrr!
Kelli gave us a solid breakfast and lunch option, too: SandDollar Cafe. Not only is this place quick, which is ideal when traveling with toddlers, but their shrimp & grits are epic. You read my mind yet again, Kelli!
Wildcard Activities
This is so fun. Kelli gave us more options for things to do, like enjoying the St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve. We love to picnic and play, and wouldn’t have otherwise known about this beautiful spot. It has an impressive lookout tower for discovering an array of wildlife who call this place home. They even offer guided tours—excellent for my animal-obsessed kids.
From wild to mild, let a Gulf County concierge personalize picks for you!
Adventures
I loved getting Kelli’s adventure recommendations since she has two kids similar to mine. She recommended an easy-breezy pontoon boat ride AND suggested who to rent from and where to explore, two things I would have no clue about otherwise. I even learned from her that Gulf County has the highest percentage of nesting sea turtles in North West Florida. We are definitely going to check out The Forgotten Coast Sea Turtle Center she mentioned—done and done!
Bottom line: This concierge service made it oh-so-simple and fun to learn why the Gulf Coast is a hidden gem of a spot. A personalized itinerary from a local speaks volumes about why Gulf County is special and a no-brainer for our next trip.
—Jamie Aderski
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