One of Florida’s most family-friendly destinations, Clearwater Beach is also a launchpad for visiting more secluded Gulf Coast beaches like Caladesi Island State Park.Spot dolphins on a sunset cruise while exploring the coastline of Orange Beach, Alabama, or bird-watch on Padre Island in Texas.Keep the white sands but escape spring break crowds at Mississippi’s Bay St. Louis Beach.<\/p>\n
Five U.S. states are lucky enough to have a coastline on the Gulf of Mexico. Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida attract millions of travelers each spring and summer to their white-sand beaches and emerald waters. With something for every beachgoer, like St. Pete’s water clarity, incredible bird-watching on Dauphin Island, or the long-standing seafood reputation of Bay St. Louis, these are the 10 best Gulf Coast beaches.<\/p>\n
Clearwater Beach, Florida <\/p>\n
Getty Images<\/p>\n
There’s plenty to do on Clearwater Beach<\/a>, one of the\u00a0most\u00a0family-friendly beaches in Florida<\/a>. When you’re done relaxing on the impeccably soft white sand, you can spot dolphins on a Jet Ski tour or get a behind-the-glass look at sea life at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium<\/a>. With plenty of resorts and hotels for all budgets, Clearwater is also a great base for exploring quieter Gulf Coast beaches like Honeymoon Island<\/a> and Caladesi Island<\/a> state parks. These barrier islands have miles more of the good stuff (sugar-white sand) and lots of space to stretch out.\n<\/p>\n Back in Clearwater, get nostalgic for the 1980s and ’90s at Hogan’s Hangout<\/a>, a bar owned by wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, or dress up for an upscale meal at a popular restaurant like the Island Way Grill<\/a>, which is also famous for its brunch. If you’re tired of seafood, head to Mandalay Prime<\/a> for some steak, and then hit up Reefers Social Club<\/a> for a nightcap.\n<\/p>\n Orange Beach, Alabama <\/p>\n Jim McKinley\/Getty Images<\/p>\n This subtropical vacation destination has that quintessential Gulf Coast look: a long strip of white quartz sand and aquamarine waters. Popular with families, Orange Beach<\/a> has plenty to do and see. The water sports hub is perfect for Jet Skiing, kayaking, and sailing. You can also swim and dive beneath its glassy waters. Spot playful dolphins during a sunset cruise or paddle along the Back Bay Blueway to see the cypress swamps the Alabama Gulf Coast is known for. When you want to stretch your legs, hop on one of the 18 hiking routes of the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail system<\/a>, where more than 28 miles of trails pass through several ecosystems home to wildlife like otters and alligators.\n<\/p>\n Bay St. Louis Beach, Mississippi <\/p>\n ArtistheJourney\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Biloxi may get all the press when it comes to Coastal Mississippi<\/a>, but if you have your heart set on a pristine stretch of sand and clear waters, head to the quiet seaside city of Bay St. Louis. The dog-friendly Bay St. Louis Beach has that white sand the Gulf Coast is famous for, and you can kayak the Grassy Point Blueway<\/a> to appreciate the gorgeous namesake bay. \u00a0\n<\/p>\n Once you’ve had your fill of the beach, make your way to the shops and restaurants in Old Town Bay St. Louis, right off Beach Boulevard. Grab a cone of lavender-honey ice cream from Creole Creamery<\/a>, a plate of fresh seafood at the Thorny Oyster<\/a>, or a frozen concoction at the Daiquiri Shak<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n West End Beach, Dauphin Island, Alabama <\/p>\n Andrea Fremiotti<\/p>\n One of the best islands to visit in the South<\/a>, Dauphin Island is a coastal dream filled with lovely beaches and historic sites like Fort Gaines, which dates back to the Civil War. The prime stretch of sand is West End Beach, which extends for 10 miles toward the island’s farthest point, where (very) long walks on the beach are incredibly peaceful. Nature enthusiasts can explore the trails of the Audubon Bird Sanctuary<\/a> and see Gulf Coast marine life at the Alabama Aquarium within the Dauphin Island Sea Lab<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n When hunger strikes, head into the main town to find casual restaurants like Pirates Bar & Grill<\/a>, where you can take in a panoramic sunset view. Or, if you arrive early in the morning, stop at the Lighthouse Bakery<\/a>, an incredibly charming spot famous for its pecan cinnamon rolls.<\/p>\n Holly Beach, Cameron, Louisiana <\/p>\n Judy Darby\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Located on the “Cajun Riviera,” Holly Beach is\u00a0one of the\u00a0best beaches in Louisiana<\/a>. A two-hour drive east of Houston, this remote beach is closer to the Texas border than New Orleans<\/a> and makes a welcome alternative to more tourist-heavy Gulf Coast locales. For bird-watchers, there are hundreds of species to spot, including the Louisiana state bird, the brown pelican. Holly Beach is dog- and car-friendly\u2014you can drive right on the sand. Beach camping is also welcome, and many people set up their RVs by the shoreline.\n<\/p>\n This area is known for local crab, which you can sample at eateries like Anchors Up Grill<\/a> in Cameron. Alternatively, drive about 46 miles north to Lake Charles\u2014although it’s not technically on the Gulf, North Beach offers beautiful white sands and even more dining and shopping options.<\/p>\n Henderson Beach State Park, Destin, Florida <\/p>\n Romona Robbins Photography\/Getty Images<\/p>\n In its gulf-facing panhandle, you’ll find some of the best beaches in Florida<\/a>. To start, head to Destin for fantastic resorts<\/a>, prime golfing, and Henderson Beach State Park<\/a>. Here, nature trails wind through the 30-foot-tall white dunes and the coastal scrub habitat, where wildlife finds refuge under the pine and oak canopies. Because of its location near the edge of the Continental Shelf, Destin has been dubbed “the world’s luckiest fishing village,\u201d where you can cast a line for the blackfin tuna, grouper, amberjack, and king mackerel that gather in the area.\n<\/p>\n Where the water is shallow and emerald green, conditions are perfect for snorkeling, kiteboarding, and paddleboarding. Keep an eye out for the dolphin pods that take advantage of the fish found just offshore. When you\u2019re not relaxing on the soft, snow-colored sands, you\u2019ll find rides, Florida’s largest candymaker, and \u201cpier-to-plate\u201d seafood at HarborWalk Village<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n Padre Island National Seashore, Corpus Christi, Texas <\/p>\n Joe M. O’Connell\/Getty Images<\/p>\n This protected stretch of the world’s longest barrier island has 66 miles of undeveloped coastline and one of the last intact coastal prairie habitats in the United States. Padre Island National Seashore<\/a> also borders the Laguna Madre, one of the few hypersaline lagoons in the world. It’s a great place for windsurfing, but you can also lounge on one of the best beaches in Texas<\/a>\u2014Whitecap Beach\u2014and swim in the calm, warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Discover the area’s unique environment, home to tidal mud flats, more than 380 species of birds, and sea turtles whose hatchlings are released between June and August.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Siesta Key Beaches, Florida <\/p>\n Jack Elka Photo\/Getty Images<\/p>\n The 99 percent pure quartz sand on Siesta Key<\/a> is always cool to the touch. Enjoy the shallow blue-green waters of this barrier island off the coast of Sarasota, Florida, or join the drum circle that forms on the beach every Sunday at sunset. Beyond its Edenic shoreline, Siesta Key is known for its fun atmosphere and activities. Go sailing, fishing, or sightseeing out on the water, or hit the Siesta Key Oyster Bar<\/a> or Daiquiri Deck<\/a> at Siesta Key Village.\n<\/p>\n Shell Island, Panama City Beach, Florida <\/p>\n Laura Jennings\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Many of Florida\u2019s beach towns<\/a> are quaint little seaside respites. Not Panama City Beach<\/a>, though. Located in the Panhandle, this is the closest you\u2019ll get to Miami\u2019s party beaches on the Gulf Coast. That said, if you\u2019re looking to get away from the crowds, it’s hard to top a day on nearby Shell Island. The seven miles of wild coast, bordered by the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrew Bay, is an undeveloped oasis perfect for swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, and beachcombing. Keep an eye out for the island\u2019s notably plentiful namesake shells and ample wildlife, including deer, ghost crabs, and sea turtles.\n<\/p>\n To get there, take the Shell Island Shuttle<\/a> or the Shell Island Ferry<\/a>, or rent your own boat. Don’t forget to pack plenty of water and snacks, since the island is void of shops and services. You may be lucky enough to get a visit from the ice cream boat, though!\n<\/p>\n St. Pete Beach, Florida <\/p>\n Michela Sieman\/Travel + Leisure<\/p>\n St. Pete Beach is famous for frequent sunshine, clear Gulf waters, and the historic pink Don CeSar Hotel<\/a>, with its unique 1920s Moorish-Mediterranean take on art deco architecture. This chill resort city on a barrier island off the coast of St. Petersburg, Florida, is popular with families and couples looking for a friendly, quiet getaway. Walking along the sugar-sand shore, swimming, spotting manatees, and celebrating the sunset in front of Paradise Grille<\/a> are all popular beach activities here.\n<\/p>\n After a day on the sand, head to Jimmy B\u2019s\u00a0Beach Bar<\/a> behind the Beachcomber Hotel or the wildly entertaining RumFish Grill<\/a>, where you can dine on fresh seafood surrounded by three giant, colorful aquariums full of snook, tarpons, and stingrays.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"One of Florida’s most family-friendly destinations, Clearwater Beach is also a launchpad for visiting more secluded Gulf Coast…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":182729,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[202,204,203,199,201,200],"class_list":["post-182728","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-st-petersburg","tag-st-pete","tag-st-pete-headlines","tag-st-pete-news","tag-st-petersburg","tag-st-petersburg-headlines","tag-st-petersburg-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/182728","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=182728"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/182728\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/182729"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=182728"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=182728"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=182728"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}