GULF COUNTY, FLORIDA–OCTOBER 2025–There is something special about the simple pleasure of enjoying a sunset on the beach. In Gulf County, Florida, simple pleasures, along with sunrises and sunsets, are a part of life and they draw visitors year-round who are looking to enjoy them. Situated on the central coast of northwest Florida, Gulf County is one hour east of Panama City and is bordered by the Central Time Zone. Its miles of shoreline offer a variety of amazing views that make waking up early a highlight of the day and watching the sun go down a mesmerizing experience from any vantage point.

Many find the perfect way to start the day is enjoying the views from their home-away-from-home. Gulf County has a wide array of lodging choices to fit any need. There are vacation rental homes of all sizes and inns and cottages, each with a character all its own. Camping, both primitive beach camping, and full hook-up RV sites, is a popular way to enjoy this coastal area, as well. Taking time for coffee on the balcony or a walk out to the shoreline is the perfect way to set the mood for the day.

During sea turtle nesting season, May through October each year, Gulf County offers a haven for threatened and endangered mama sea turtles to come ashore at night and lay their eggs. Each morning at sunrise the dedicated volunteers of the St. Joseph Peninsula Turtle Patrol walk the beaches to search for nests in order to mark and protect them from predators. A visit to the Forgotten Coast Sea Turtle Center (1001 10th Street, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456) reveals a world of information about these amazing creatures and provides an opportunity to learn more about the morning patrols.

Many believe there is nothing better than enjoying a sunset on the beach. There are plenty of options for that at one of the county’s many beaches and beach access points. St. Joe Beach is one of the favorites. The shoreline faces west for spectacular sunsets. Shipwreck Raw Bar (7008 West Highway 98, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-647-5050) is just across the street, offering a casual atmosphere and an extensive menu. 

Visitors can also enjoy stunning views from one of Gulf County’s parks. A popular spot is Salinas Bayside, which has a dock extending over St. Joseph Bay and an unobstructed view. The park includes a nature trail with a boardwalk above the bay and a path through native trees and vegetation.

A horseback beach ride is an opportunity to make amazing memories while enjoying shoreline views. These excursions, offered by The Rockin M Ranch (240 Cape San Blas Road, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-227-6117) and Broke-a-toe Horseback Riding On The Beach (Cape San Blas, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-899-RIDE) on Cape San Blas are family friendly and maintain a comfortable walking pace. No riding experience is needed.

There are plenty of ways to get on the water for that magical golden hour, too. Many local fishing guides offer sunset cruises. T-Man’s Charters (Frank Pate Park, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-227-5802) is one example of a captain who offers sunset cruises in addition to inshore and offshore fishing, snorkeling and more. Aqua Bear Adventures (Jetty Park Drive, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-227-8200) specializes in family adventures aboard a 45-foot sightseer catamaran. They offer sunset cruises as well as sightseeing and snorkeling trips.

What better way to end a day on the beach than relaxing by a bonfire? Bonfires are allowed on the beach, and the rules are clear and easy to follow. Some visitors choose to make their own while others take advantage of businesses that handle everything from setting up the fire to disposing of the remnants. Light Up Your Night Beach Bonfires (850-323-2691) and San Flea Beach Service (4372 Cape San Blas Road, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-628-4654) offer bonfire setups and beach chair deliveries as well as a host of other beach services.

Where to eat

Celebrating the sunset is a treasured pastime here. Visitors can experience taking in the spectacular view while enjoying a cool beverage, dinner with your favorite people, or tunes from a local band. The excellent dining options include a long list of locally owned restaurants offering seafood favorites and much more for those looking for a meal before or after the sun goes down. 

The White Marlin & Oysterette (602 Monument Avenue, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-308-0938) is one of Gulf County’s newest dining options. Diners enjoy a creative menu, craft cocktails and stunning views of St. Joseph’s Bay.

Haughty Heron (117 Sailors Cove, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-229-3463) is located on the water, next to Port St. Joe Marina. Scallop RePUBlic (411 Cape San Blas Road, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-227-9009) is a bayfront local favorite with a rustic atmosphere and an amazing view. These are also popular music venues, adding to the evening’s enjoyment.

Hunt’s Oyster Bar on St. Joe Bay (1937 SR 30A, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-227-2285) is directly on St. Joseph Bay, with indoor and outdoor seating. Known for its fresh-shucked oysters, Hunt’s features a raw bar and the freshest of seafood.

At Keeper’s Bistro (114 Sailors Cove Drive, Port St. Joe, Florida 32456; 850-227-9872), the menu’s house-made specialties are the stars of the show and are the perfect complement to the views of the Cape San Blas Lighthouse.

The post Gulf County’s Simple Pleasures: Sunrises and Sunsets to Remember appeared first on Travel Media Press Room.

KINGSLAND, GEORGIA—MARCH 2025—Kingsland and surrounding Camden County are a nature lover’s paradise, boasting of a temperate climate, marshlands teeming with wildlife and birds, three major rivers and the Atlantic Ocean with its pristine Cumberland Island, Georgia’s largest barrier island and part of the National Seashore.

It’s no wonder two couples decided to use their love of the outdoors to create long-standing businesses and offer visitors a unique natural experience in the process. 

Peter and Jennifer Koerner operate Adventures Up The Creek (St. Marys, 912-882-0911, KayakUTC@gmail.com) paddling trips and Terry Landreth and his wife Darlene service, sell and rent bikes at Camden Bicycle Center (1929 Osborne Road, St. Marys). Their passion for getting people on the water and area bike trails is evident, and they share that love to those visiting the area. 

Entrepreneurs create business exploring Kingsland’s outdoors 

Both came to their nature-oriented businesses after other careers, the Koerners from Georgia fire departments and Terry Landreth after 22 years as a naval submarine engineer, his last stop at Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in St. Marys. 

About 27 years ago, Pete Koerner visited Kingsland to teach a field course at the Camden County Fire Department, met fire medic Jennifer Harrell and fell in love. 

“Six months later I moved down here,” he said. “And I was looking for something to do.” 

When Landreth left active duty with the Navy, he decided to open a bike shop. Trek and Giant bicycle companies trained him to sell their products in the southeast Georgia market and “we’ve been going gangbusters ever since.”

Both businesses have been enjoying success for more than 20 years and much is due to their customer service, attention to detail and safety and their vast knowledge of the area’s natural wonders. But it’s their genuine love for what makes Kingsland and the surrounding region special that gives visitors a unique outdoors experience.

Paddling Camden County

The three main places Adventures Up The Creek offer kayak trips are Crooked River, around St. Marys harbor and Lofton Creek. Each one offers a different experience.

Paddlers launch at Crooked River State Park in St. Marys (6222 Charlie Smith Sr. Highway, St. Marys, 912-882-5256) for a kayak trip among the river and accompanying marshlands. Koerner is adamant that visitors work with the tides, which change every six hours, so he utilizes tide tables to plan their trips, pushing off on the last hour of the outgoing tide and returning on the first hour of the incoming tide. It allows paddlers to work with the current instead of fighting the flow.

Lofton Creek, a black water creek with an “iced tea color” from tannins emitted from vegetation, is a great option for those who want a more peaceful paddle. In summer, Koerner puts paddlers in on Lofton around 8:30 a.m. to avoid afternoon heat and thunderstorms. In the winter, launches may happen later in the day.

Paddlers who want to enjoy the waterfront of St. Marys may launch into the St. Marys River from downtown and hopefully spot dolphins, river otters and a variety of seabirds that call the harbor and surrounding marshlands home. Adventures Up The Creek launches anytime from this location as long as the wind is below 10 miles per hour.

Biking Camden County

There’s so many places to bike in Camden County, an area boasting of flat and winding paths through maritime forests, marshlands and near waterways such as the Crooked, St. Marys and Satilla rivers. There are more than 12 trails around the Kingsland area alone, but also trails in neighboring Woodbine and St. Marys; the three cities make up the Three Rivers Trail. The Georgia Coastal Rail Trail follows an old railroad line from Kingsland north to Riceboro and Crooked River State Park in St. Marys has a mile of paved trails for bikers as well. 

In addition to selling and servicing bicycles from those with training wheels to electric bicycles, Landreth rents bikes to visitors traveling to nearby Cumberland Island. To access the island, that’s partially part of the National Park Service, one must transport their bikes to St. Marys, store the bikes at accommodations and then carry them on the ferry that operates to the island daily. Landreth takes the hassle out of visitors’ trips by meeting them at the ferry with his rental bikes. 

If you go

Camden Bicycle Center sells and services bicycles and e-bikes and rents bicycles for use on Cumberland Island. For more information, call (912) 576-9696 or email Terry Landreth at terry@camdenbikes.com.

To book a trip with Adventures Up The Creek, sign up on their website or email KayakUTC@gmail.com. The company offers five to six tandems and 20 single kayaks. They host groups up to 20 people. 

For visitors who wish to relax while taking in the area’s waterways or biking the trails, there are numerous chain hotels along Interstate 95, all centrally located to Kingsland restaurants and its historic downtown. Kingsland’s sister city of St. Marys is a short drive east.

The post Celebrating Kingsland’s Natural Gems appeared first on Travel Media Press Room.

BLUE RIDGE, GEORGIA–JULY 2024–What do turning off porch lights, washing your boots and planting milkweed have in common? They are all ways the local community in Blue Ridge, Georgia, is engaging visitors to support and sustain what is the heart and soul of its community: its diverse natural resources.

Just 90 minutes north of Atlanta off Interstate-575, the North Georgia mountains of Blue Ridge and Fannin County provide a landscape that, while seeing many changes, is still the bedrock of this community’s character and its appeal. From its changing mountain views to the constant babbling of its waters, this destination is marked by its connection to the environment. Cabins surrounded by trees or mountain vistas, artists who are driven to create by their inspiration from the natural elements and guides who share not only their best fishing spots but also their love of the land they call home. These are all parts of the Blue Ridge community and are also a big part of what keeps visitors coming back. They are drawn by more than 100,000 acres of the Chattahoochee National Forest and 100 miles of trout streams. 

Once here, they take to the variety of hiking trails like those recently created on the 190 acres of preserved land in Fightingtown Creek Nature Park (1126 Cedar Valley Road, Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513; 678-974-2609), a project resulting from the community’s commitment to free public-use trails and preservation of vital natural resources. They settle in and enjoy the views from the comfort of rental cabins that showcase the landscape. Whether the agenda includes a short drive to one of the area’s 16 waterfalls or a do-nothing day on the porch, visitors are engulfed by the natural landscape. 

Locals do not take this diverse environment for granted. In fact, they are actively working to protect and preserve their beloved natural resources and invite guests to join in.

With the warmer months comes a cherished symbol of summer in North Georgia. Enjoying the glow of fireflies is a highlight of summer evenings for many and can be an experience that creates lifetime memories. Georgia is home to more than 50 species of fireflies, more than any other state, and each year they put on a show in the back yards and wilderness areas of North Georgia. To help ensure future generations get to enjoy the sight and lasting memories, local wildlife, tourism and conservation specialists have embarked on an effort to protect and increase natural firefly habitats. The University of Georgia Extension has been working with local schools to offer hands-on learning about firefly biology and conservation strategies.

The program also supports local property owner efforts to plant native species, like milkweed, through education sessions and plant giveaways. In turn, the locals ask visitors for their support, too. By being conscious of the importance of native landscapes and doing small things like turning off porch lights during their visits, guests can be a part of ensuring future enjoyment and sustainability of Blue Ridge’s unique natural environment.

Emily Owenby, operations coordinator at Noontootla Creek Farms (3668 Newport Road, Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513; 706-838-0585) has been a driving force in the local effort. 

“Even insects as small as a firefly are really important for biodiversity,” Emily says. “And milkweed is so good for fireflies. It’s also really good for butterflies. It’s good for so many different things.” 

Though only in her early twenties, the Blue Ridge native’s connection to her family’s land is one that keeps her both tethered to earlier generations and looking forward to future ones. The farm comprises nearly 1,500 acres and surrounds miles of Noontootla Creek, known as one of the premier trout streams in the Southeast. 

“My great-grandfather was the first generation of the farm and he did all of that for us,” Emily says of his acquiring the land, piece by piece, and building a business that celebrates it. She and her cousins represent the fourth generation in this family business which has made conservation efforts a core value of their operation. In a county known as the Trout Fishing Capital of Georgia, water quality and fish health are critical concerns. The Owenbys know the health of the surrounding habitat plays a key role.

“We started off with the guided fly fishing,” she says of the business that now also offers a sporting clay course and quail hunting. Preserving buffer zones and nurturing native species is a critical concern for Emily. “A couple years ago, my Papa O, along with my uncle, my cousin and me, planted 400 River Birch trees alongside the creek.” The trees, along with native grasses and wildflowers, support a buffer zone along the creek. “All of it is native species to North Georgia, which is really important to us. That continues to support the already existing buffer zone that we have so we can keep the creek cool. Trout don’t like warm water. They won’t survive in warm water. So, we have to keep the creek cool if we’re going to continue to fish it. And it also provides a lot of support for bug life. The trout eat the bugs and they just keep growing if they do that.” 

The farm also ensures the integrity of the creek and health of the fish by requiring anglers to use nearby washing stations before stepping into the creek with waders that have been in other waters. That is to prevent invasive species from getting into our creek. If our clients come with their own waders, or they’ve been fishing in a different stream, this is to help prevent invasive species that could kill or introduce disease into our creek.”

Emily’s family also preserves the traditions of the region through a variety of activities and classes throughout the year. Introductory fly fishing and children’s classes are popular, as are guided bird walks and Women on the Water Retreats, which Emily hosts. That sharing of knowledge seems only natural for Emily, who recognizes the same type experiences herself. She reflects on that while standing near the buffer zone she is passionate about protecting.

“You can see trees that my grandfather and great-grandfather planted,” she said of her vantage point. “And you can also see, in front of them, the trees that my grandfather and I planted. So, it’s really neat to see the succession of forests that we have going.”

Noontootla Creek Farms is just one of many local businesses that appreciates the integral relationship between Blue Ridge’s environmental vitality and its appeal as a place to both live and visit. 

It is no accident that Oyster Fine Bamboo Fly Rods (494 East Main Street, Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513; 706-374-4239) is located in a spot known for its exceptional fly fishing. Here, fly rods are born of exceptional craftsmanship, keeping a generations-old tradition alive. Handcrafted and hand- engraved, the fly rods Bill Oyster creates are unmatched. He is also keeping the rod-making art alive through classes that draw students from around the world. 

The Wyoming native has a love of fly fishing and, after moving to the South and meeting his future wife, chose to live and work in Blue Ridge. The combination of natural resources and a welcoming downtown made this the perfect location.

“When we realized Georgia was home, this is the best trout fishing in the state, so we moved here,” Bill explained. “We knew we needed the right setting for our clients. We started teaching the classes too, so we needed a place for them to come and stay for the week. Here, they can take their lunch breaks, walk up the street to all these great shops and restaurants. And they can go fishing after class every day in all these trout streams all around us.”

Since its founding in 1943, Mercier Orchards (8660 Blue Ridge Drive, Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513; 706-632-3411) has depended on the land for its harvests and the land, along with fourth generations of farmers, has provided. Today the business is a beloved part of the Blue Ridge community and a favorite stop for visitors. Through the years, they’ve added a variety of tours, U-pick events and, most recently, community tree planting days, that offer visitors a chance to connect to the land in ways that many haven’t experienced before.

“We take people out and we give them a wholesome experience,” says Mercier’s Joe Foster. “The orchard is beautiful and we give them a great setting to spend time with their family and pick some fruit. That resonates with people more than anything because in that process, we’re teaching them. We’re teaching them that there’s a lot of effort that goes into growing food. It’s not a guarantee.”

Mercier’s operations are geared to be as resourceful as possible, and they use their crops in a multitude of ways to minimize waste. Apples, depending on size, maturity and other factors, are sold as whole fruit and also processed into cider, pies and a variety of other products. Any waste that remains is recycled as livestock feed or natural fertilizer.

As part of the fourth generation of this family business, Joe and his contemporaries are doing their best to guarantee the orchard’s future and extend its reach into the community. This year’s planting included 16,000 new trees. With a life span of up to 45 years, those trees bode well for sustainability for generations to come.

If you go

Check out even more of the diverse list of local businesses keeping the environment at the forefront:

At the Folk Collaborative (2984 Mobile Road, McCaysville, Georgia 30555; 706-492-7753) the apothecary creates a selection of all-natural products made from locally grown and foraged ingredients using traditions and knowledge passed down through generations of Appalachians. Its bakery brims with pastries and pies filled with apples from the orchard out back, where visitors can enjoy family picnics.

The 4 Elements Art Gallery (491 East Main Street, Blue Ridge, Georgia 30513; 706-258-2987) invites visitors to experience the Earth, Air, Fire and Water through galleries that celebrate these universal elements. The works of renowned resident artist George Charriez, along with a curated selection from other featured artists, draw art lovers into the world of nature through a collection of works, from peaceful to evocative to amusing, like no other.

The post Saving and Sharing are Natural Priorities in Blue Ridge, Georgia appeared first on Travel Media Press Room.