14 Prettiest Towns In the Gulf Coast
Avid travelers making their way across North America must stop along the incredible and vast Gulf Coast. With 1,680 miles of pristine shoreline, the Gulf Coast boasts some of the world's most stunning beaches, and the water stays warm all year round, making travel accessible no matter the time of year. The Gulf Coast is a natural wonder and a multicultural hot spot for food, language, and art. When not at the beach, the many towns dotted around the Coast offer something for everyone, making for pretty, picture-perfect memories to last a lifetime.
Seaside, Florida
World famous as the filming location for The Truman Show featuring Jim Carrey, Seaside, Florida is a quiet beach community and the perfect place to lay back, relax, and people-watch. The white-washed post office, pastel-painted beach houses, white sand beaches, and crystal clear water are breathtakingly beautiful. Take a bike along the beach road, stop by one of the charming shops, or lie on the beach and enjoy the gentle surf. Seaside is a great place to plan a family vacation. Be sure to stop by food truck row to sample the delicious fare or enjoy a movie or a jazz concert under the stars in Central Square.
Dauphin Island, Alabama
Welcome to Sweet Home Alabama! Dauphin Island is a quaint bayfront town that captures the hearts of all those who visit. This charming, family-friendly town has it all, from fishing to sunbathing, swimming, and scrumptious food. Visitors are in for a treat when traveling to Dauphin Island. The Island's beautiful emerald waters are teeming with marine life waiting to be explored. While indulging in the Island's idyllic scenery, visitors can also explore the Alabama Aquarium, Audubon Bird Sanctuary, and Dauphin Island Sea Lab. The sunsets on the Island are so jaw-droppingly stunning that Dauphin was officially dubbed the Sunset Capital of Alabama in May 2014.
Captiva Island, Florida
Captiva Island is a picturesque town boasting some of Florida's best beaches and clearest water. The Island is home to many retirees, looking for rejuvenation, relaxation, and a laid-back lifestyle, but it has attractions for every age group!
People who crave the "Island vibe" will fall in love with the charm of this secluded haven. With its soft-sand beaches, blue skies, and seashell-laden shores, families and individuals alike feel like they're in paradise when visiting Captiva Island. Apart from walking along the sandy beaches, visitors to the Island can indulge in parasailing and kayaking, a dolphin cruise, or take a day trip to Fort Meyers and the Gulf Coast Berrier Islands.
Mustang Island, Texas
With 18 miles of beach, Mustang Island is an excellent place to visit for people on a budget, especially campers. The Mustang Island State Park offers 48 campsites with running water and electricity. Other diverse activities around the Island include bird-watching, surfing, jet skiing, sailing, kayaking, and a seaside golf course with a killer view.
Mustang Island is a photographer's dream come true. Sunset and sunrise on the Island are breathtaking. The untouched sandy beaches are strewn with seashells and sun-bleached driftwood. Turtles, dolphins, and over 400 species of birds are frequently seen and photographed around the Island.
Orange Beach, Alabama
Further away from all the hustle and bustle, head to Orange Beach for a restful vacation. Indulge in a laid-back day of fishing or hike through Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail. Make the trip perfect by taking a turn on the Wharf Ferris Wheel and enjoying the stunning view, or head over to Adventure Island to ride the bumper boats and go-karts, play games at the arcade, and get in a game of golf. For a calmer experience, take a dolphin cruise, try kayaking, or enjoy a helicopter ride over the white-sand beaches and aquamarine waters.
Naples, Florida
Naples in Southwest Florida is a haven for chic shoppers, art enthusiasts, and foodies. Shopping buffs and art lovers should head down to Third Street South and Fifth Avenue South, located in the historic downtown district. But if the beach, wildlife, and nature are what calls to you, there is plenty of that, too. With 300 days of continuous sunshine, it is no wonder thousands of visitors flock to Naples. Visitors will love the opportunity to bask in the sunshine, take in stunning sunsets, and explore the beauty of Naples Botanical Gardens and the Naples Zoo.
Gulf Shores, Alabama
Gulf Shores can only be described as magical, with its soft, white-sandy beaches and the turquoise water. The cool ocean breeze is truly exhilarating, and the hospital is warm and welcoming. Hike along a nature trail, dine out at a water-front cafe, or shop at the open-air center in this beautiful surf town. Gulf Shores offers a plethora of activities for travelers, whether they're flying solo or towing family along. Besides these everyday activities, visitors can head over to Waterville USA water park, the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, or Gulf State Park. There are also several fun water activities to indulge in when in Gulf Shores.
Grayton Beach, Florida
Home of the Grayton Beach State Park and Blue Wave Beach, Grayton Beach is a small village in Northwest Florida. With some of the prettiest beaches in the country, Grayton Beach is the perfect place to enjoy a day in the sun. The 2000-acre State Park has a rare dune lake, pristine beaches, natural wonders such as a salt marsh, a coastal forest with magnolias and oaks, and steep dunes. With biking, hiking, fishing, and more, Grayton Beach is a paradise for people looking to escape city life and enjoy good food, music, art, and a relaxed lifestyle.
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Enjoy Southern charm in this eclectic small town. Considered Mississippi's "secret coast," the uncrowded white sand beach of Bay St. Louis is glorious. Visitors can enjoy a walk along the many beachside paths or go kayaking down the water trails. People who enjoy simple pleasures can take a sunset cruise while sipping on cocktails and nibbling on charcuterie. For fishing fun, head to the Jimmy Rutherford Fishing Pier and cast a line to catch some speckled trout. Do not forget to shop and grab a delicious bite to eat at Old Town Bay St. Louis. It’s full of cool eateries, local shops, art galleries, boutiques, flower shops, and antique stores.
Panama City Beach, Florida
Twenty-seven miles of beautiful beaches await visitors in Panama City Beach. This small town attracts travelers who love to go deep-sea fishing, jet skiing, paddle boarding, diving, and kayaking. The white sands of Shell Island, with its clear waters, are another favorite tourist attraction. Families with kids can spend a day playing mini-golf at the Cobra Adventure Park or head over to Shipwreck Island Waterpark. St. Andrew's State Park and Camp Helen State Park are great spots for hikers, bikers, campers, and wildlife lovers. While at Panama City Beach, be sure to catch the sunset while on a catamaran cruise!
Destin, Florida
Also known as the Emerald Coast, the 24 miles of beaches in Destin have been many a vacationer's paradise for ages. Apart from the white sand beaches and 343 days of blue skies per year, there is lots to love about Destin. The Airforce Armament Museum, Destin History and Fishing Museum, and Emerald Coast Science Center are just a few of the attractions. Visitors can also go snorkeling, build bonfires on the beach, go golfing, take sandcastle lessons, and dine on some pretty darn good seafood. The calm waters of Destin also make it the ideal place for kiteboarding and paddleboarding.
Longboat Key, Florida
This secluded haven features 12 miles of pristine soft sand beaches and calm aquamarine waters. The quaint little cottages and inns dotted around the Island make for lovely accommodation. Located just west of Sarasota, Longboat Key boasts waterfront golf, luxury resorts, and upscale restaurants. Most visitors enjoy lounging on one of the many secluded and pretty beaches around the area, such as Beer Can Island and Whitney Beach, and taking a dip in the warm, turquoise gulf waters! Outdoorsy folks will enjoy Joan M. Durante Community Park. This protected wetland features a biking and walking path where crabs, birds, and fish can be seen going about their day.
Grand Isle, Louisiana
Located within Louisiana, a state otherwise known as a "sportsman's paradise," lies Grand Isle, which oozes Southern hospitality and offers some of the freshest Louisiana-style seafood. Most people head to Grand Isle to soak up the simple, peaceful atmosphere and get away from their otherwise busy lives. With seven miles of beaches, visitors (and their kids) can soak up the sun, take a dip in the warm waters, hunt for seashells, or build sandcastles.
The locals can usually be seen fishing, walking along the seashell-laden beaches, and watching the waves beat the shore. Bird watching is another pastime visitors enjoy indulging in, especially during the annual Migratory Bird Festival. Queen Bess Island is a prime spot to bird watch as pink roseate spoonbills and pelicans flock there to nest.
Sanibel Island, Florida
Best known as Florida's hidden gem, Sanibel Island is a Mecca for beautiful sunsets, luxurious hotels, pastel seashells, and postcard-worthy lighthouses. Visitors can often be seen bent over on the beach picking up seashells; it is one of the town's most popular activities. Boating and fishing are common activities on the Island, as is biking along the 24-mile-long bike path. With its unique and unusual shops, shopping at Sanibel is also an interesting and fun experience! For nature buffs, consider Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge; it's home to dolphins and manatees and is a stopping point for migratory birds. Sanibel is the town for all those who enjoy scrumptious seafood, boating, fishing, and good old relaxation.
The Gulf Coast has a lot to offer, from breathtaking views to pristine beaches, mouthwatering food, and activities for any age group. Spanning Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, these are some of the best small towns to travel to year-round. No matter the season, no matter if you are considering a day trip to one of these towns or a full-fledged Gulf Coast road trip, these towns are a hit.
