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How to Have an Adventure-Packed Gulf Coast Vacation

How to Have an Adventure-Packed Gulf Coast Vacation | Plumlee Realty Vacations

If you’re looking forward to a Florida Gulf Coast vacation that is filled with all the adventures your heart desires, then this is the post for you. We’re talking about how to have the best vacation adventures and what to do to check off a few items on your life’s bucket list. Here’s a hint: It all starts well before you ever reach your Indian Rocks Beach vacation rental. Read on, adventurers!

1. Have an adventure mindset.

Adventure starts with your expectations. What kind of vacation are you envisioning in your head? If it’s one filled with tons of rest and relaxation, long beach days and quiet nights at your rental, then that’s perfectly fine. That’s what you can have and enjoy to the fullest. However, if your mindset is centered around adventure, then your vacation expectations are very different. You probably have thoughts of offshore fishing on a charter boat, speeding around the Gulf of Mexico on a jet ski, snorkeling or scuba diving the local waters, speedily zip-lining along over the beautiful Florida landscape, or parasailing for a bird’s eye view of the coastline. It all starts with your expectations, and from there you can start planning the vacation adventures of your dreams. Remember that adventure is a state of mind more than anything else!

2. Make a bucket list. 

Do you have a bucket list yet? If so, review it and see what you might be able to check off that list of life adventures. If not, you should definitely make one. Go big or go home, as they say. Make it your goal to try something brand new that you’ve never done before during your Florida vacation. You may not fully be aware of how many things you can do here. Some of the big adventures on the Gulf Coast are not for the faint of heart! Jet surfing, sky surfing, sky diving, and diving with sharks are just a few of the many adrenaline-pumping activities you can do—if you dare. Explore your options and start making a vacation bucket list! Take a look at more Gulf Coast adventures as well as beach and watersport rentals available to you.

3. Have a family meeting.

If it’s not just you embarking on adventure, then it’s a really good idea to get your family’s input. Sit down together one evening in advance of your vacation and get an idea of what types of adventures your family is willing (and able) to have. Obviously some activities will have age requirements, and some such as scuba diving require advance training and certification. Know what your family is up for, get input from each family member, and then research your options and know ahead of time what you can and can’t do.

woman snorkeling in the ocean | Plumlee Gulf Beach Realty

father and son riding jet ski in the ocean | Plumlee Gulf Beach Realty

man playing with a dolphin | Plumlee Gulf Beach Realty

4. Plan ahead.

Once you have an idea of what you and your family want to do on your Florida Gulf Coast vacation, it’s always best to plan ahead for any big adventures. Booking online and in advance may come with additional discounts, so start researching what’s available to you. Some adventures may fill up quickly and require reservations, so be sure you know how far in advance you may need to book that outing or adventure. Don’t forget to check out social media for discounts, too. When you check-in to your Indian Rocks Beach rental, please ask us about the discounts we offer on local adventures and attractions. The Beach Welcome Center is also a wonderful resource for you to peruse. There you can find discounted tickets for Busch Gardens Tampa, Sea World Orlando and Adventure Island just to name a few.

5. Think microadventure.

Your Gulf Coast vacation adventures don’t always have to be grand, expensive endeavors. Have you heard of the term microadventure? It’s a great concept! The term microadventure was made common by British adventurer and author Alastair Humphreys and is defined as an adventure that is “small and achievable, for normal people with real lives”. Microadventures are simple and don’t require much planning or preparation. They can be anything you want them to be, really. It’s about breaking out of your comfort zone and regular routine by doing something different. Anything. Never fished? Take a family outing to the pier. Been dining indoors most of your vacay? Pack a picnic and take it to the beach! Never taken a swim in the Gulf of Mexico? Do it! Never tried paddleboarding? Take a lesson! You are only limited by your imagination.

6. Stay flexible.

It is necessary to plan ahead when it comes some of your vacation adventures, especially the big ones. But it’s also very necessary to allow time for spontaneous adventures to happen. You really can’t do that if all of your time is planned out and you don’t have any space for the unplanned adventures that may present themselves during your Florida Gulf Coast vacation. You also may find that the experience you were hoping for doesn’t work out for some reason. That’s okay! Stay flexible, keep an open mind and be willing to make last minute changes if need be. You’re on vacation, remember. You’re here to enjoy your time to the fullest. Your vacation is too short to worry about the small stuff. Focus on savoring the moments and the memories that you’re making each and every day. 


Adventure is always calling, but the question is are you listening? Set your mind on adventure and you will find it in the most unexpected places, at the most unexpected times, and in the most unexpected ways. And those are the BEST kind of adventures! Happy Adventuring!



what’s the best vacation adventure you’ve ever had, big or small?

We want to know! Drop us a comment. We’d love to hear about it!

How to Have an Adventure-Packed Gulf Coast Vacation | Plumlee Realty Vacations