I never could have anticipated all that my African adventure would prove to be.

The trip forever changed me, led me to a new level of enlightenment and enlarged my sense of gratitude for my good, comfortable and fulfilling life.

From the moment I landed in Tanzania, I sensed that Africa was going to provide spectacularly new and unfamiliar experiences.

Our trip included nine days dedicated to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Known as the “Roof of Africa,” it is the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. In addition, we would devote five days to visiting the southern Serengeti plains and Ngorongoro Crater. Our adventures were organized by Endeavor Expeditions and safari expeditions by Wander Africa.   

Mount Kilimanjaro is the most attempted — and most failed — of the worldwide Seven Summits. Though not as technically challenging as Mount Everest or Mount Aconcagua, Kilimanjaro’s elevation, cold temperatures and occasional high winds make it difficult.

We spent two days getting our bearings at the Legendary Lodge, a lush oasis located on a working coffee plantation in the foothills leading to Mount Meru. I could easily have lazed longer, but the time soon came for us to board transportation to Kilimanjaro. We would be joined by a Dream Team made up of four guides, 34 porters and two cooks.

The team members’ badly worn clothing scarcely qualified as proper hiking attire. It impressed me as no match for the weather and terrain we were about to encounter. Still, the team beamed with joy, excited to take a new group of visitors on a journey of a lifetime. 

The supremely conditioned porters carry (atop their heads) three times the weight that visitors do and at three times the speed. The Dream Team set up our tents each day, prepared meals and constantly asked how they might otherwise serve us. We learned to thank them in Swahili for their kindness. 

To scale the mountain, we took the Lemosho Northern Route, which covers approximately 60 miles in summiting the Uhuru Peak (19,341 feet) and descending to the Mweka gate. Among possible routes, it is the one that affords climbers the highest level of safety, an opportunity to acclimate to elevation gradually and the greatest likelihood of success. Along the way, climbers encircle the entire mountain.

The going wasn’t easy. We experienced nasty weather, altitude symptoms, and other illnesses and challenges. But we were buoyed by the Dream Team’s support and resilience, along with the leadership of Endeavor Expeditions’ co-founders Kristi “Momma Yoga” Sumpter and husband Jim Sumpter.

Jim has 25-plus years of expedition experience across four continents. In the Army, he led elite recon teams on foreign deployments. As a civilian, he’s achieved wilderness instructor certification from the Professional Association of Wilderness Guides and Instructors (PAWGI). Kristi is a 500-hour certified International Yoga instructor. I was especially humbled to meet our lead guide, August Joseph Ngowi; our trip was his 511th to the mountaintop. 

Mount Kilimanjaro is so high and vast that it creates unpredictable weather patterns. The peak is nicknamed Chameleon Kili given the rapidity with which conditions can change from heat to cold, wind, mist, rain and snow. No two days are the same as one proceeds through five biospheres: bushland/jungle, rainforest, heather/moorland, alpine desert and arctic.

Typically, Kilimanjaro has two rainy seasons, one in March through May, and the other around November. So, when the rain began to fall on Day 2 of our trek in January, we assumed it wouldn’t last long. Like a lot of assumptions, this one was bad.

We were equipped with only two sets of clothes and should have donned our foul-weather gear as soon as the rain started. We would learn that clothes don’t dry at altitude.

The rain would continue with few interruptions for six days. We elected to wear our clammy clothing until summit day when we were sure to experience the harshest conditions and weather of the trip.

On the evening of Day 5, several people developed nausea and diarrhea. I had skipped eating most of the day due to other gut issues I was having. Because I hadn’t become nauseous, we concluded that the meals that I passed on were to blame for others’ illness. Oops, another bad assumption.

The following morning, we began the rigorous ascent to base camp at 15,000 feet. I had a queasy feeling in my stomach and realized that food had nothing to do with it. The truth is that the meals served during our expedition — fresh produce, meat and starches — were incredible.

A guide called Lightness carried my bag while I focused on getting up the mountain baggage-free. Then Chandler Williams, a photographer on the trek, toted stuff so I could quickly get to my drinking water after taking urgent bathroom breaks. Sumpter escorted us over the final miles of the day at double speed, ensuring that we arrived at camp as quickly as possible.

The compassion and unselfishness demonstrated by everyone on the trip was inspirational. Sumpter had promised us that we would reach a personal summit in addition to the literal one, and I was beginning to understand what he meant. 

As we reached Kibo Camp on Day 7, the rain turned to sleet and snow. The camp resembled a moonscape and was bitterly cold, but we were warmed knowing that our push to the summit would begin in a few hours. I needed calories and struggled to eat some white bread.

At 10 p.m., I packed my gear and put on clean, dry clothes. Snow blanketed the ground, but the skies were clear. Gazing at the Milky Way, I knew the universe would provide us with everything we needed to complete our mission.

We began our assent at midnight with headlamps on. Our guides broke out in song, and chants kept us going. 

Guide: “One dream!”

Group: “One team!”

Guide: “One team!”

Group: “One dream!”

Guide: “Don’t stop!”

Group: “Until the top!”

The sun was rising as we neared the first of three peaks, Gilman’s Point (18,652 feet). Now above the clouds, I was freed of all sea-level worries and felt confident that I was looked after by the spirit in my soul.

About an hour later, we reached Stella’s Point (18,885 feet), and from there it was on to the tallest peak, Uhuru, which means “freedom” in English. Once we reached it, we celebrated our monumental achievement on top of the world. We had to be brief at that altitude as we could feel our bodies breaking down, and the intensity of that feeling increased with each second. I had been so focused on my every step that I forgot that a 10–12 hour trek back to camp awaited us.

The descent was grueling. We had exhausted our adrenaline during our final ascent and were coming off an emotional high. Getting back to camp was a matter of force of will. When we arrived there, I could barely form words.

The next morning, however, I felt great. The virus was gone, I was rested and I ate my first meal in three days without an issue. Separating from the Dream Team was hard. We thanked every porter and guide by name and gave them personal notes, tips and donations of gear. These mountain warriors had changed our lives.

In addition, an announcement was made about the formation by the Sumpters of a new nonprofit, Kids of Kilimanjaro, which is devoted to raising funds for the education of the children of porters and guides. Endeavor Expeditions’ founders believe that tourism should benefit communities as well as profoundly affect visitors.

The Kids of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is dedicated to providing tuition assistance to students of the families of the Kilimanjaro communities who lack the financial means to pursue education. Through fundraising efforts and community partnerships, the organization ensures that deserving students have access to quality education without financial barriers. By offering direct tuition payments, the nonprofit aims to empower Tanzanian youth with the skills and knowledge necessary for a brighter future. Through our commitment to education, we seek to uplift communities and contribute to the socio-economic development of Tanzania.

By investing in education, they envision a society where every child has the tools and resources to thrive and contribute positively to their community and beyond. Ultimately, their vision is to create a more equitable and prosperous Tanzania through the transformative power
of education.

Dream Team members cheered and spontaneously began dancing in response to the news. I was among trekkers who pledged to sponsor one or more benefiting children. Doing so will help us maintain our connection with Africa.  

Next, we set off on safari. Wander Africa provides some of the most exclusive and luxurious safari experiences available. After nine showerless days spent conquering fears and a mountain, we were ready to be pampered. 

At Sanctuary Serengeti Camp in Kichakani, we did not camp. We glamped. Spacious, luxurious tents were equipped with power and running water. The service was impeccable and included wake-up calls, five-star dining and turndown service. The staff was delightful and highly knowledgeable. 

Mohomed, our butler, treated us like family. Our guide Emanual taught us how to track animals while leading us to encounters with giraffes, elephants, zebras, wildebeests, lions, cheetahs, cape buffalo, hippos and more.

After three magical days in the Serengeti, we flew to Karutu, where we were greeted by Godwin, a guide who would introduce us to the Ngorongoro Crater. We stayed at the stunning Gibbs Farm, an eco-lodge that rejuvenates mind, body and soul. It sits on 45-plus acres of farmland, gardens and a working coffee plantation. Fully 85% of the food we enjoyed was sourced from the lodge property.

We participated in daily yoga sessions on a veranda, and one morning, I heard a chorus of roaring elephants and experienced a primal connection to Planet Earth.

At the Ngorongoro Crater, we closely approached wildlife species, many of which were caring for young. To the list of animals we saw on the Serengeti, we added black rhinos, warthogs, flamingos and serval cats. Housing as many species as it does, the crater is like a Noah’s Ark. 

While visiting the crater, we had the unique opportunity to spend time immersed in a Maasai village called Boma. While being respectful of the villagers’ traditional way of life and dignity, we participated in rituals and visited their schoolhouse. Like their dirt-floor houses, it is built with branch arches covered with layers of soil, urine and cow dung. The school was filled with bright young students learning English in a class led by a child.

Much of Africa remains pristine, and people live simply. While lacking finer things, they are authentically joyful and appreciative. There is love in all that they do.

Africa captured my heart. I am already planning my next visit.

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Want to Go?

Outfitters/Guides

→ Endeavor Expeditions
Guided adventures with immersive and impactful experiences. endeavorexpeditions.com

→ Wander Africa
Explore authentic Africa through curated, luxurious and exclusive safari adventures. wanderafrica.com

Clothing/Gear

→ ThruDark
Offers rigorously tested performance outerwear, coats and rain gear along with base layers. us.thrudark.com

Giving Back

→ Kids of Kilimanjaro
Endeavor Expeditions’ founders Jim and Kristi Sumpter have established a new nonprofit, Kids of Kilimanjaro. The organization will supply scholarship funds to the children of the Mount Kilimanjaro guides and porters. The nonprofit believes that area tourism should benefit the Tanzanian people. To learn more and to pledge sponsorship, visit kidsofkili.com.

Floridians are resilient when it comes to disaster recovery. According to a study by WalletHub, Florida was the fourth most severely impacted state in the nation in terms of losses resulting from natural disasters from 1980 to 2023.

During that period, the state sustained 20 climate events each producing in excess of $1 billion in damages. Coastal counties regularly experience hurricanes and tornadoes and even blue-sky events, along with sea-level rise, algal blooms, fires and floods. 

In the case of major events like Category 5 Hurricane Michael in 2018, disaster recovery can take years and require coordinated efforts across county and state lines.

A man-made disaster, the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, dumped nearly 5 million barrels of crude into the Gulf and affected beaches and ecosystems from Texas to Apalachicola. Wildlife, reefs and flora are still recovering.

In response to the oil spill, the Florida Legislature created Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., a nonprofit organization tasked with dispersing settlement funds paid to the state by BP. Moving beyond recovery, Triumph is now focused on assessing applications from public entities seeking funding for projects aimed at strengthening and diversifying the regional economy in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf, Franklin and Wakulla counties. 

Currently in the pipeline are 27 proposals that have gained preliminary approval. They include one titled Adventure Within Reach. Submitted by VISIT FLORIDA in partnership with FloridaCommerce, it is intended to boost Northwest Florida tourism.

Separate from potential Triumph funding are Tourist Development Tax (TDT) revenues collected by counties throughout Florida. In Walton County, that tax, which is charged on short-term rentals, is 3% north of Choctawhatchee Bay and 5% south of the bay. According to the Walton County Clerk of Courts & County Comptroller, the South Walton TDT generated just over $60 million in fiscal year 2023, and the North Walton TDT produced $267,348.   

Matt Algarin, the director at Walton County Tourism, favors a regional outlook on tourism promotion like that embraced by the VISIT FLORIDA proposal.

“Promoting the region is equally as important as promoting the destination,” Algarin said.

That sentiment is shared by Algarin’s counterpart, Jennifer Adams Kemp, who leads the tourism promotion organization Destin-Fort Walton Beach.

“We would rather them stay in the region than go somewhere else, even though they may not get to me the first time,” she said. “They will get to me at a later date.” 

That regional approach has manifested itself in recent years in a broader effort across counties to promote all of Northwest Florida rather than any specific beach or location.

“We all have the same sand and water, from Escambia to Wakulla,” Algarin said.

Individual counties each have their respective attractions, but there is nothing to prevent visitors from parasailing off Panama City Beach one day and cooling off at Vortex Spring in Holmes County the next.

The greater goal for Algarin is to spread awareness that there are adventures within reach for anyone who visits Northwest Florida. 

Those adventures can take place above and under the water.

“We have a multiyear plan to grow the artificial reef network,” Kemp noted. 

Artificial reefs come in many shapes and sizes and are generally constructed of steel, concrete or limestone. Various types of marine life attach to their surfaces and in turn attract crabs, fishes and other food-chain members.

Andy MacAlexander is president and founder of the South Walton Artificial Reef Association (SWARA), a nonprofit that works with private and government entities to get more reefs onto the Gulf floor. 

Recently, SWARA participated in the sinking of a decommissioned 239-foot research vessel, the DEEP STIM III, 16.5 miles due south of Walton County. The sinking was celebrated as a tri-county artificial reef project. Visit Panama City Beach, Walton County Tourism and Destin-Fort Walton split the $750,000 cost to acquire, clean and deploy the ship, which was brought to Florida from Louisiana.

The Emerald Coast Reef Association and SWARA added reef modules to the ship’s deck, and the Coastal Conservation Association paid for towing.   

“Can’t be a pirate until you sink a ship,” MacAlexander joked when asked about why he became involved in the project.

MacAlexander, a lifelong diver, said the return on investment in artificial reefs is far greater than the cost.

“For every dollar you put down, the community is getting 30 to 120 back,” he has calculated. 

The STIM III immediately showed promise as a fish attractor. Within hours of its sinking, MacAlexander spied hundreds of red snapper checking out the wreck. Red snapper is a popular game fish that frequently tops 20 pounds; fillets fetch $15–$20 a pound at area seafood markets. And, the fish provides a food source for dolphins and other large predators.

“This one was a success,” MacAlexander said, adding all three counties are on board to sink another ship soon.

For little fish, the vast gulf of Florida tourism can be intimidating.

While the dollars seem to come easily to big fish like Panama City Beach and Destin, smaller communities are having to work hard to get their fair share.

It’s no secret that tourism equates to big money in Florida. Most counties levy a tourist development tax of up to 6% on short-term rentals. This “bed tax” brings in more than a billion dollars to counties that devote the revenue to promotional efforts and other uses permitted by state law.

In Gulf County, a 5% bed tax brought in just over $4.7 million this past year, a record according to Silvia Williams, executive director of the Gulf County Tourist Development Council. The county divides the proceeds with 60% going to marketing and administration, 20% to parks and 20% to beach projects.

“I’m a little biased, but Gulf County is a super special place,” said Williams, who is a Gulf County native. She finds that the county attracts loyal visitors who care deeply about the environment and are looking for a no-frills experience. You won’t find big attractions or miniature golf courses here.

She noted that Gulf County is the busiest nesting place for the loggerhead sea turtle in Northwest Florida and added that the county’s summer marketing campaign centers on responsible visitation.

“We try to educate our visitors on ways to protect the sea turtles and respect the shores,” she said.

“We are steadfast in promoting our destination as a more natural Florida,” she added.

Williams says their upcoming spring campaign, “Finding Florida’s Quiet Shore,” is designed to appeal to families looking for an old-school vacation. She said the goal is to provide a vacation experience that leaves people feeling rested — not like they need another vacation.

To do that, Gulf County has been investing in its parks. New pickleball courts, trails and a boardwalk are just part of the improvements. Most people come for things like fishing, shelling, snorkeling, kayaking and paddleboarding. And, horseback riding is allowed on the beach. Point South Marina recently reopened; Williams said the Gulf County TDC has planned events for that venue.

If they venture inland, visitors can experience the Dead Lakes with its prehistoric feel and sample the legendary tupelo honey.

“We are unique; you can have the best of both worlds here,” Williams said.

The local, down-home feel in Gulf County is important to drawing visitors, many of whom have been coming for years.

“We have a lot of families who come with parents who came here when they were kids with their families,” Williams said. “They tell us they love the locals and the mom-and-pop feel of local businesses.”

Williams doesn’t view neighboring counties as competitors. She feels the nature-centered experiences that Gulf County offers are responsible for their growth.

“We are super excited for the future,” Williams said. “We are just trying to do what we do and offer what our area is known for.”

In Bonifay, Lesley Hatfield, president of the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce, said it is easy to be a little envious of her beachy neighbors to the south. “But in our position,” she said, “we are thrilled for their success because we are not that far away from them, and a rising tide lifts all ships.”

Hatfield hopes tourists passing through their quaint Holmes County small towns like Westville or Ponce De Leon catch a glimpse of things that are fun and interesting.

“Hopefully our small-town culture will get people to come back and visit us,” she said.

The bed tax for Holmes County is 3% and brings in between $8,000 and $11,000 a month. Part of that money has been spent on campaigns developed by Kerigan Marketing Associates, Inc., out
of Mexico Beach.

Launched after the pandemic receded, the marketing effort featured a remodeled website and advertising to showcase the unique features of the county. The county’s “Wild, Welcoming Unexplored Florida” campaign developed by Kerigan won a Silver 2023 Flagler Award from Visit Florida in the Rural County Marketing category.

“We have never won anything,” Hatfield said. “So we were over the moon for that statewide recognition for what we are doing in our first year.”

The biggest tourism draw in the county has been Vortex Spring Adventures in Ponce De Leon. The crystal-clear 68-degree water attracts visitors interested in diving, snorkeling, swimming, rope swings and almost anything that floats. Hatfield said the venue has added a music festival and its own rodeo.

Adrenaline junkies can choose between an additional pair of natural springs in the area, one in Holmes County and one just across the county line in Walton County, that are perfect for cave diving.

The abundance of wilderness areas has spawned several off-road adventure areas for four-wheelers, including hundreds of acres of trails and mud at Vortex Spring Adventures. Mudd’n185, in Westville, is another popular off-road venue.

Another big draw to the county is the Northwest Florida Championship Rodeo held every October. Bonifay has hosted the rodeo since the Kiwanis Club first started it in 1946.

Hatfield said the marketing campaign kicked off in February 2022 and has already exceeded expectations. She hopes they can keep spreading the word that counties like Holmes have a lot to offer visitors.

“We have so many wonderful natural resources,” Hatfield said. “The world has become very noisy and chaotic, but families can come here and get off the beaten path and have a unique experience with nature, food and small-town culture.

“It quiets some of that chaos.”

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In the months after the COVID-19 pandemic began to recede and Florida relaxed protocols that included a ban on short-term rentals, visitation soared and with it, bed tax collections.

In 2022, both Walton County and Panama City Beach collected record amounts of what is formally known as the tourist development tax (TDT), and in 2023, collections fell off only very slightly, suggesting that they may have plateaued at a very high level.

Collections in southern Walton County, where the bed tax is 5% and the county’s tourism is concentrated, totaled $62.69 million in fiscal year 2022 and $60.01 million a year later. In Panama City Beach, collections in FY 2022 and FY 2023 stood at $37.74 million and $37.36 million. (In both locations, the fiscal year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. A TDT of 3% is collected in Walton County north of Choctawhatchee Bay; it was introduced at a rate of 2% in March 2021 and raised to 3% effective with the start of FY 2024.)   

While bed tax-funded organizations such as Walton County Tourism and Visit Panama City Beach are thought of as marketers primarily, growth in collections has permitted them to engage in other noncustomary activities.

“We’re doing a lot of great things with our revenues,” said Matt Algarin, who became Walton County Tourism’s director in July 2022 after joining the organization as a content writing specialist in May 2017. “We’re doing things with our money that other counties in the region don’t do.” He noted as an example the county’s beach safety (lifeguards) program.

“When you bring millions of people to the beach each year, there is an obligation to try to keep them safe,” Algarin said, “no matter if they are visiting a public beach or a private one.”

Visit Walton County also pays for maintenance activities that typically would be handled by a public works department funded by property tax dollars.

“We have a maintenance department of more than 70 employees that falls under the tourism budget,” Algarin said. “They handle everything from trash removal along the beach to maintaining our 19-mile multiuse path to maintenance and construction of beach boardwalks and accesses. It’s incredibly important when you are a high-end destination that the aesthetic is consistent with the experience that people are looking for and paying for.”

Walton County Tourism maintains entryways to the beach areas of South Walton and has spent more than $40 million to acquire property for beach accesses and parking areas.

“We spend only about 27% of our budget on marketing activities,” Algarin said, making Walton County Tourism something of an anomaly among TDT-funded destination marketing organizations (DMOs). “People might expect that percentage to be higher, but it is still a lot of money when you look at the total amount of money we collect. If you are spending 27% of $60 million, that’s a pretty good chunk of change.”

With the establishment of the 3% taxing district, Walton County’s DMO altered its identity.

“We have transitioned ourselves away from calling ourselves Visit South Walton,” Algarin said. “We are Walton County Tourism. South Walton is a brand, and we are calling the county north of the bay Authentic Walton. The two brands correspond to our two taxing districts.”

At Visit Panama City Beach (VPCB), the bulk of TDT dollars are devoted to marketing, but the recent wealth of collections has enabled the organization to bank and carry forward dollars that it plans to devote to the construction of a 130,000-square-foot multipurpose building at the Publix Sports Park on Chip Seal Parkway.

“While our revenues have grown dramatically, we have not increased spending proportionately,” said VPCB president and CEO Dan Rowe. “We are still very prudent in how we spend our dollars.”

Known variously as the Sabre Center, the Western Region Resiliency Center and the Indoor Events Center — “Pick the one you like,” Rowe said — the new building will cost an estimated $60 million. Visit Panama City Beach will cover a portion of that cost. The project also will be supported with a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and a contribution from Bay County. VPCB is also seeking a grant from Triumph Gulf Coast.

The diversity in funding sources and the occurrence of multiple names for the center reflect the collection of purposes it will serve.

The center will be constructed to withstand 200 mph winds, Rowe said, and “will have high-speed internet connections no matter what happens with the cellular networks.” It will be employed as an emergency operations center and shelter during big blows, or what Rowe calls “gray sky days.” And, it will house a business resource center in the aftermath of destructive storms.

“Post Hurricane Michael in 2018, businesses had no place to go,” Rowe said. “It took a while for SBA and other agencies to get their act together. Eventually, they erected a tent in the parking lot next to the library on Middle Beach Road. Now, as soon as the wind stops blowing, we’ll be able to respond to the needs of our business community and get them what they need to stand back up.”

The center will be equipped to accommodate classified briefings for up to 200 people among entrepreneurs, innovators and military officials. It will be a place where businesses can collaborate and advance ideas.

“We expect that the genesis of many projects will occur there,” Rowe said. “Zoom is one thing, but getting out of your office and participating in face-to-face meetings tends to inspire a lot.”

Rowe envisions that the center will host dinners and graduation ceremonies along with athletic competitions ranging from wrestling to cheerleading.

“We have seen what sports (baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse) have done for the destination,” said VPCB vice president of marketing Jayna Leach. “Indoor sports is really going to be a great addition.”

In January, Leach attended the International Media Marketplace event held at the Javits Center in New York City. So, too, did Nicole Barfield, the communications director at Walton County Tourism. For representatives of DMOs, the IMM can involve the equivalent of speed dating among journalists, bloggers, influencers and tourism industry counterparts.

Both VPCB and Walton County Tourism view New York and the Northeast as emerging markets.

“Northeast markets started popping up on the radar as COVID restrictions were lifted by Gov. (Ron) DeSantis, and people there were looking for new destinations in Florida,” Leach said. “But for that region, we are still something of a hidden gem.”

Both DMOs are courting St. Louis and Chicago. Walton County Visitation is focused on Charlotte as a source of business meeting visitation. Rowe said that the southern tier of Midwestern states, including Indiana and Kentucky, is becoming more of a factor for Panama City Beach. Surprisingly, Rowe said, so, too, is Orlando.

“It’s because our world-class beaches are second to none,” he said. “And travelers may come to Orlando and want to see New Orleans, and they discover us along the way.”

Panama City Beach, Rowe likes to say, “is an all-American beach town where everyone is welcome.” Leach has made accessibility a priority with a “Fun for All” initiative. In concert with Bay County, VPCB has provided Mobi-Mats and specially designed walkers and chairs at the M.B. Miller County Pier so that “people who never thought they would be able to put their toes in the sand are able to do that,” Leach said.

For Walton County Tourism, the target audience is relatively narrow.

“Our mission has always been to attract the affluent traveler,” Algarin said. “If we can bring in fewer people who will spend more money, that’s going to be the winning formula for us. Our marketing agency knows who our target is. We want people who are willing to spend 20 grand a week.”

Fewer people means less wear and tear on roads and public amenities and less congestion.

“We are always trying to find that balance — how do we support our tourism-related businesses without making it difficult for people to get around?” Algarin said. “Our residents want to enjoy the same things that our visitors do.”

As good as business has been in the past couple of years, there is no opportunity to relax, Algarin said.

“To maintain those levels, we have to replace the 15% to 20% of the visitors who do not return in consecutive years. We can never rest on our laurels. Coca-Cola has been around for a long time, but it still spends billions of dollars a year to make sure you remember who they are.”

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The iconic Gibson Inn, a cherished landmark in the heart of Apalachicola, is thrilled to announce an exciting expansion project that will further enhance its legacy as a destination of choice for current and future travelers seeking timeless elegance and modern comfort. The expansion will include the addition of 24 well-appointed guest rooms along with an array of enhanced amenities, including a new cafe, elevator, courtyard pool, a spa with multiple treatment rooms, and fitness center.

For over 115 years, the Gibson Inn has stood as a cornerstone of the Forgotten Coast, a testament to its rich history, Southern hospitality, and architectural grandeur. As custodians of this heritage, representatives from the inn are honored to usher in a new chapter while remaining steadfast in their commitment to preserving the soul of the current inn.

The expansion project is a carefully crafted endeavor designed to complement the inn’s historic charm and character with thoughtful additions that elevate the guest experience for today’s modern traveler.

Rooms of Distinction: The expansion will include the construction of 24 new, thoughtfully designed guest rooms that combine modern comforts with the inn’s timeless experience. These rooms will offer a variety of configurations to cater to different traveler preferences, ensuring a memorable stay for every guest. The addition of a state-of-the-art elevator will enhance the overall guest check-in experience.

Enriched Amenities: The expansion brings with it an array of enhanced amenities. A spacious pool area will be introduced, providing guests with a tranquil oasis to unwind and relax. A new spa with multiple treatment rooms will provide a sanctuary for relaxation and rejuvenation. A modern fitness center will cater to the wellness needs of its valued guests. Additionally, a new cafe will provide guests with a delightful space to enjoy and relish in fresh local cuisine.

The Gibson Inn’s expansion project is a testament to its commitment to providing unparalleled guest experiences. By combining its historic charm with contemporary amenities, the inn will continue to be a premier destination for travelers seeking a refined yet welcoming environment.

“We embark on this expansion with great excitement and deep respect for the history that has shaped the Gibson Inn into an enduring treasure,” said Jason Bogan, General Manager of the Gibson Inn. “Our goal is to create an enriched environment where past and present seamlessly intertwine, offering an experience that honors our legacy and authenticity while providing contemporary comforts.”

The expansion project is currently underway and is expected to be completed by summer 2024. During the construction period, the Gibson Inn will remain operational, ensuring that guests continue to enjoy their stays without disruption. Regular updates and announcements about the progress of the expansion will be shared through the inn’s official website and social media channels.

For more information and updates on The Gibson Inn’s expansion project, please visit GibsonInn.com.

About The Gibson Inn | The New Old Florida

The Gibson Inn, located in the heart of Apalachicola, is a historic boutique inn that exudes timeless Old Florida grandeur and Southern hospitality. Constructed in 1907, the inn has been meticulously preserved to retain its original charm while offering modern amenities to its guests. With its prime location, unique accommodations, and warm ambiance, the Gibson Inn has become a favored destination for travelers seeking an authentic and unforgettable experience.

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As its whistle blew in big cities to tiny towns, curious Gulf Coast residents rushed to railroad tracks to glimpse the shiny blue and silver Amtrak locomotive.

Some 300 passengers boarded the 2016 Gulf Coast Inspection train from New Orleans to Jacksonville — the first time passengers had traveled the route in more than 10 years. The passenger rail line, Sunset Limited, had been active between 1993 until 2005, when Hurricane Katrina brought it to a halt.

“The turnout in Tallahassee was remarkable,” said Knox Ross, president of the Southern Rail Commission (SRC). “We had thousands of people here. You had the Florida State cheerleaders and FAMU cheerleaders. You had people everywhere.”

This trip marked the first real victory in the mission to restore passenger rail to the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama. For North Florida, too, this was the first passenger train seen since 2005. It would also be the last.

Grassroots efforts to “get back Amtrak” crop up across North Florida every few years, but none have gained significant traction at the state level. That may soon change.

“Pensacola is really leading the way in this corridor idea,” Ross said. “I think Mayor D.C. Reeves has taken a really proactive role in looking at this as a goal of theirs.”

Reeves attended the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C., in January 2023, just as the Biden administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law went into effect. The bill, which has already allocated more than $280 billion for projects throughout the country, was a major topic of conversation.

“The National Rail Association leadership as well as the CEO of Amtrak were doing a session about the $66 billion — that’s billion with a B — that is going to be invested in passenger rail service,” Ross said. “That is not only to update infrastructure but also to potentially identify new corridors where passenger rail service could either be implemented or restored.”

A large portion of these funds are being allocated to Northeastern states that already have a robust passenger rail network. Improving these existing rail lines is crucial, but the absence of service in North Florida has officials, including Reeves and Leon County Commissioner Rick Minor, wondering what it will take to put the area on the railroad map.

In the months following his trip to the Capitol, Reeves started making calls and forming relationships with members of the SRC, officials at Amtrak and local leaders in every town with a train depot from Pensacola to Tallahassee. Tallahassee Mayor John Daley is extending that effort east to Jacksonville.

“Now is the time,” Reeves said. “Three years ago would have been too early, and three years from now will be too late. The dollars are there. We’re going to continue to push this as far as we can take it.”

This growing coalition has applied for a $500,000 Corridor Identification and Development (Corridor ID) Grant through the Federal Railroad Administration to investigate the viability of restoring passenger rail to North Florida.

Unlike North Florida, the member states of the SRC (Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana) have made a concerted effort to restore their portion of the New Orleans-Jacksonville line over the past two decades. A new line from New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama, is set to reopen soon thanks to years of negotiation with rail line owners and others.

Minor believes SRC membership could be the first step toward the restoration of passenger rail across North Florida. Joining the SRC requires the State of Florida to take the first step.

“We’ve been working on this since Katrina and in an organized way for probably 14 years,” Ross said. “What that has really taken is having a champion in a leadership position.”

He noted that in Mississippi, former U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran and U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker have taken the lead.

“I think that the ultimate return of Amtrak to Tallahassee and points west really lies with the Florida Department of Transportation and the State of Florida and what their vision is for passenger rail transportation in the state,” Ross said.

Minor, who has been a long-time advocate, cited the benefits of rail including reduced interstate traffic, additional hurricane evacuation routes, and safer and more affordable transportation for seniors and other vulnerable groups. He also believes it would provide a major boon for the regional tourism economy.

Economic profitability has been an issue. In its final three years of service, Amtrak’s Sunset Limited ridership from its Tallahassee depot declined from 3,778 passengers in fiscal 2003, to 2,488 passengers in fiscal 2005.

Minor believes Sunset Limited would have performed better had it been more reliable and convenient. Only one passenger train traveled the route, and boarding times were often very early in the morning or late at night.

“If you take a look at what Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama are doing right now, they’re working with Amtrak and they’re committed to making that service reliable twice daily now going from New Orleans to Mobile,” Minor said. “We need to piggyback off their efforts, increase reliability and make sure that the departure and arrival times are something that people want.”

The reliability issue has been a product in part of strained relationships with the companies that own the rail lines. Because passenger and freight trains often use the same tracks, concerns about the timeliness of deliveries often take priority over the desire for passenger service.

Still, the profitability question persists. Developing infrastructure to support safe, high-speed, reliable rail transportation requires a significant investment from the state even with the potential infusion of federal dollars.

“I hear that argument sometimes,” Minor said. “People will say, ‘It wasn’t profitable before Hurricane Katrina, and you want to spend X million dollars now. How do you know it’s gonna be profitable this time?’ To which I would say, when it comes to transportation infrastructure, almost nothing is actually directly profitable.”

“There’s the presumption that roads and asphalt, because they’re the standard, aren’t a major subsidy,” Reeves said. “Of course they are. Airports are subsidized significantly at the federal level for infrastructure. Passenger rail absolutely is like every transportation infrastructure that we have. It’s just a matter of deciding what’s valuable to us.”

“I’m optimistic to a fault,” Minor said. “I do believe passenger rail service will come back to North Florida. It’s just a matter of when.”

Washington County is among rural destinations tapping into its natural beauty to attract visitors and generate revenue.

According to the latest data available from VisitFlorida, total visitor spending in Washington County was about $21.6 million in 2021, with about $7 million spent at local lodging and $6.3 million spent in local restaurants. That data reflects growth from 2020 visitor data, which showed spending of $18.5 million, a depressed amount due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2023, tourism generated about $2 million in state and local tax revenue and supported more than 300 local jobs with wages alone totaling more than $5.7 million.

Heather Lopez, director of the county’s Tourism Development Council (TDC), said nearly all those numbers are a product of ecotourism.

“With more than 382,000 acres of rolling hills covered with stately pines and mixed hardwood forests and 16,000 acres of pristine water, Washington County is home to some of the best outdoor recreation in the state and offers a rich local heritage through history and events,” Lopez said.

Washington County’s ecotourism is largely tied to the crystalline beauty of its natural springs, where water temperatures hover at 70 degrees year-round. Situated mainly along Holmes Creek and Econfina Creek, the springs offer a variety of activities including swimming, snorkeling and kayaking to photography and camping. Popular among cave divers is the cave system at Cypress Springs, which reaches depths of at least 65 feet. Holmes Creek itself is a 34-mile scenic paddling trail, part of the 64-mile Choctawhatchee Paddling Trail.

Tourists also seek out Florida’s tallest waterfall, located at Falling Waters State Park in Chipley. The 73-foot waterfall flows into a cylindrical limestone sinkhole known as Falling Waters Sink and is the centerpiece of the park’s other features, such as its butterfly garden, lake and areas for camping, hiking and birdwatching.

Ebro’s Pine Log State Forest is another popular destination, especially for campers.

Although the outdoor enthusiasts are drawn to its natural beauty and recreation, Washington County also features a few nontraditional attractions.

Notably, Seacrest Wolf Preserve offers a rare opportunity to experience wolves up close and personal. The preserve offers popular educational walking tours, which take visitors through large natural habitats that are home to gray, Arctic and British Columbian wolves. Seacrest is one of the few places in the world where visitors can interact with pure-bred wolves rather than just view them through a fence or glass enclosure.

Also characterized by efforts at species preservation, the Orange Hill Gator Farm works to dispel myths about alligators. Licensed through the Florida Wildlife and Fish Conservation Commission, the farm is home to more than 600 gators, including hatchlings. Visitors can arrange for a tour that features one-on-one contact with the baby alligators.

The TDC has also coupled its popular nature-based tourism attractions with heritage tourism, notably the Washington County Heritage GeoTrail, a geocaching trail based on 32 historic locations throughout the county, some of which predate the county, itself. Players look for caches in four quadrants of the county, learning more about local history along the way.

While nature is at the heart of Washington County’s tourism industry, Ebro Greyhound Park and Poker Room remains a popular draw for visitors. Florida voters overwhelmingly supported a 2018 measure to ban greyhound racing in the state, but the park still offers simulcast wagering, as well as its popular poker room. In addition to being the county’s only gaming facility, the pari-mutuel park is also one of its largest employers. The Poker Room is open from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m., Sunday to Thursday, and is open 24 hours each Friday and Saturday.

The county is also home to one of the nation’s largest free festivals. Held the last full weekend in June, the Panhandle Watermelon Festival is a Northwest Florida tradition and features live entertainment on Friday night by country recording artists. In recent years, Friday night’s performance has featured Darryl Worley, John Anderson, Restless Heart and Mark Wills. The 2023 festival attracted more than 10,000 people.

“We offer rich heritage, breathtaking beauty and Southern charm,” Lopez said. “Washington County is a place steeped in history and natural resources. We are the perfect place to get away from it all and experience life naturally.”

For more information on tourism in Washington County, go to: visitwcfla.com.