7 Unforgettable Small Towns to Visit on the Gulf Coast
The United States' Gulf Coast shoreline spans five states and countless unforgettable getaway destinations. Most prospective travelers bring their minds to white sand beaches and relaxing resort towns in Florida, but those travelers looking for more unique destinations can also find them in the lowland natural scenery in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama or in the commonly neglected coastal Texas. Here are the most noteworthy stops for any visitor's next visit to the Gulf Coast.
Cedar Key, Florida
At the end of Florida State Road 24 is Cedar Key, Florida. It's an island city strung through multiple pieces of land dotted far off in the Gulf Coast of the Western portion of Florida. The busiest part of the small town lies around the Cedar Key Fishing Pier, with many wooden sheds and houses stilted on the ocean, particularly around the Cedar Key Public Beach.
Aside from the white sand beaches accessible almost anywhere in the island chain, the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge is a popular touring option across the Number Three Channel, and the Cedar Key Railroad Trestle Nature Trail is equally lush. Otherwise, it's popular to backtrack on the highway towards the #4 Bridge Boat Ramp & Fishing Pier, where Cedar Key Bridge provides stunning views and plenty of fishing opportunities.
Rockport, Texas
Rockport is behind the long straight of land known as San José Island and to the northeast of Corpus Christi. The main attraction in the pretty small town is the outcropping of Rockport Beach, where sand stretches far out into Arkansas Bay, providing a long stretch of solitary relaxation on Texas's only blue wave beach.
Bird watchers often visit the Rockport Rookery here, and families head to the Texas Maritime Museum at the foot of the beach. There are two competitors for the best sunset-watching spot in the town: one is overlooking Copano Bay, and the other is the Rockport Pier that looks out towards the Gulf Coast.
Naples, Florida
Naples is most widely recognized for its iconic Naples Pier, where visitors enjoy fishing, sunset-watching, dolphin-spotting, and birth-watching. Arguably more beautiful is the beach that runs perpendicular to it: a seven-mile white sand beach that follows a calm stretch of ocean in western coastal Florida.
Downtown Naples has two-tier boutiques with balconies over rows of palm trees and charming streets. Walk around town to visit Cambier Park for outdoor activities like softball or pickleball, continue on to Baker Park's water attractions, or return to the beach of Lowdermilk Park to play seaside volleyball.
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Bay St. Louis has one of the best piers in the state with the Washington Street Pier and Boat Launch. And through the heart of the town, just below the Bay-Waveland Yacht Club, is the imposing Bay St. Louis Bridge that connects the town to the Wolf River Marsh Coastal Preserve. Or, to the West is the Bayou La Croix Coastal Preserve, which is generally less filled with visitors and more filled with fishermen.
Plus, there are many family-friendly attractions other than nature preserves: Buccaneer State Park has an incredible 4.5-acre waterpark, and the Bay St. Louis Historic L & N Train Depot is a multi-faceted museum that tells tales of Mardi Gras, local art, and other Mississippi history.
Grand Isle, Louisiana
To the very south of Louisiana's New Orleans is the natural getaway of Grand Isle. This is an island paradise made of a long stretch of sand that feels like one big pier. To the west side of the island is the warm water of Grand Isle Beach, where the adjacent Grand Isle Bridge connects to the unique Elmer's Island Wildlife Refuge, where there are shallow bays and unique sand and marsh topography.
To the east side of the island are the more recognized attractions, most notably the Grand Isle State Park. This is a breakwater beach where most travelers come to witness wildlife like birds or dolphins and to enjoy the exclusion that lush greenery offers from other, busier beach vacations.
Fairhope, Alabama
Fairhope is a charming town along the Mobile Bay inlet of Alabama. Most attractive to visitors is the Fairhope Municipal Pier and the attached Shuxmarina. North Park Beach is the most popular weekend relaxation spot, where tall trees accent the long sandy coastline; kids usually enjoy the Fairhope Duck Pond just behind.
The other popular picnic spot is in Knoll Park, a greenscape that overlooks the pier and the beach out across the Gulf Coast water. Kids activities are concentrated in central town areas like Fairhoper's Community Park's outdoor recreation center, while more adult activities like top-quality golf resorts, like the Lakewood Golf Club, are available in suburban regions.
Port Aransas, Texas
Port Aransas is a modest town at the northern end of Mustang Island at the mouth of the Aransas Pass. Incoming sea vessels pass the Port Aransas Jetty, a popular fishing peer with an expansive seaside view. Neighboring the pier is the I.B. Magge Beach Park, equipped with a long outward-bound pier and overnight campsites, and bordering the ocean are the long beaches of Port Aransas Beach, where surfing and swimming are popular.
On the side of the peninsula opposite these beachside attractions is the quiet and quaint downtown, where it's popular to eat at Virginia's On the Bay and to tour on the Red Dragon Pirate Cruise. Plus, the nearby waterfront Roberts Point Park is the center of town events, featuring a music venue and an observation tower.
The Gulf Coast offers unforgettable shorelines and dramatic waterfront piers. Travelers can enjoy family-friendly picnics in lush greenscapes of various state parks and nature preserves, and the quaint and nostalgic feelings of the traditional small Southern towns that still hold activities and events for a full weekend experience. Each visitor to the Gulf Coast will find their own unique and stunning getaway town that holds a special place in their heart.
