Adventures Abound in Gulf County, Florida
PORT ST. JOE, Fla. (PRWEB) March 13, 2017 -- No doubt many vacationers don’t consider themselves adventure travelers. But they are, and Gulf County can help bring out everyone’s inner adventurer.
Adventure travel is on the rise across the globe, and here in the U.S. one of the top five states for adventurers (naturally): Florida, according to the Adventure Travel Trade Association. Gulf County has seen this trend first-hand. Visitors have always found adventures, big and small, on and around the area’s 244 miles of shoreline, but there’s always a new twist to explore.
“Four years ago, our loyal visitors brought boats; today they bring kayaks, too,” says Jennifer Adams, executive director of the Gulf County Tourist Development Council. “When people think of a Panhandle vacation, they often picture sitting on the beach in the summer. We want visitors to do that, but we also want them to discover their inner adventurer. And Spring and Fall are perfect times for adventures in Gulf County.”
The adventure travel market in North America, South America and Europe grew an average 65 percent a year from 2009 to 2012, according to a 2015 report — the most recent — by the Adventure Travel Trade Association. What’s great is travelers are more adventuresome than they thought. Adventures are defined broadly, as they should be. Think backpacking, birdwatching, camping. And scuba diving and snorkeling, too. As many as two-thirds of travelers are some kind of adventurer, and the travel group breaks adventure travelers into four groups:
- 14.4% are “up-and-coming adventurers,” who have dipped their toe into an adventure
- 23.9% are “adventure grazers”
- 20% are “adventurers”
- 7.5% are “adventure enthusiasts”
In Gulf County, there’s another category: professional adventurer. Actually, they are Gulf County’s adventure guides. They tell their stories to help visitors plan, and some accompany visitors on their next adventure. Gulf County has more than 20 of these guides, and they and their tales are featured on Gulf County’s website — https://www.visitgulf.com/adventure-guides.
Gulf County has an adventure for every kind of adventurer — from newbies to veterans. Here are just a few ideas.
For up-and-comers and adventure grazers:
- Turtle walks at dawn
- Hiking and eco tours
- Dog walks on the beach (Yep, pooches are welcomed!)
- Camping
For adventurers and adventure enthusiasts:
- Diving
- Snorkeling
- Kayak fishing
About Gulf County
Gulf County, located in Northwest Florida, is designed by nature. Our 244 miles of shoreline, year-round adventures and wildlife encounters beckon to explorers. Our waters — Gulf of Mexico, St. Joseph Bay, Indian Pass Lagoon, Intracoastal Waterways and Dead Lakes — offer diverse experiences and untouched beauty. We have biking, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, snorkeling, camping and more. People here like to play hard and get dirty, seizing unexpected adventures every day. But when folks want to relax, we flow with the current, watch spectacular sunsets and walk with turtles at dawn. Learn more about our adventure: http://www.visitgulf.com and on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest. #LiveUnpacked
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Amy George, Gulf County Tourist Development Council, https://www.visitgulf.com/, +1 980-395-9328, [email protected]
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