story by

 

Liesel Schmidt 

 

|

  

photos by 

Jennifer Kollar- Sundal

W

hen you live at the beach, craving a bit of 

the country life can seem like it would take 

miles of travel and hours of time in the 

car—or on a plane—to satisfy. But bordering 

the beachside community of scenic Highway 30A, 30A 

HorseFarm at Arnett’s Gulfside is a horse ranch that lies on 20 

acres of picturesque and pastoral land adjoining the 13,800-

acre Point Washington State Forest of Florida’s Emerald 

Coast—which means that the 

smell of horse manure, hay, and 

good-old-fashioned farmland 

can be yours for the asking, 

without ever straying far from 

the shoreline. 

Since opening her stables in 

2011, owner Karen Arnett and 

her team of equally-impassioned 

equine experts have been making 

it their mission to provide 

families who live, work, play, and 

vacation in the Destin area and 

its surrounding communities with an unforgettable experience 

not typically found in coastal towns. “The goal here has always 

been to create a place for people to come and enjoy something 

different at the beach, and the community response we have 

received has been amazing,” says Event and Social Media 

Coordinator Jennifer Sundal. 

And little wonder is there in that enthusiastic response, as 

Arnett’s offers a wide range of services, experiences, activities, 

and even community events—all 

of which take advantage of the 

sprawling landscape and its many 

attributes, from event spaces 

like the Tackroom to the well-

populated farm and the trails that 

border the property, fairly begging 

for explorations on horseback. Not 

that you’ll necessarily beat a trail to 

the trails too quickly, as Frank the 

miniature donkey might distract 

you on your way. “Frank is one 

of people’s favorite things to see 

46     |    VIPDestinMagazine.com

ADVENTURE

Barn Meets Beach

46-47 AdventureOut - 30A Horse Farm at Arnett's.indd   1

9/26/18   5:19 PM