The Best Gulf Coast Beaches You Need to Visit

The Gulf of Mexico is famous for its warm, gentle waters and white sand beaches. Families and frolickers flock to more than 450 miles of Gulf Shore beaches from Fort Morgan to Marco Island. Road trips to coastal Alabama and the Panhandle have been a staple of family vacations for decades, and low-cost airlines have taken over. Southwest Gulf Coast of Florida.

With all of these options, it might be difficult for you to choose the perfect beach holiday, but we’ll bring you the best of the best beaches on the Gulf Coast.

Best Sand: Siesta Key

Forget best beaches in florida; Siesta Key is consistently ranked as one of America’s best beaches. Do you want to know why? The secret of Siesta Key lies in the sand.

Three hundred million years ago, North America, South America, Africa and Europe collided together to form a single supercontinent called Pangea, lifting the Appalachians higher than Everest. Over the years, the continents retreated to the corners of the Atlantic Ocean, the dinosaurs died out, and millions of tons of rocks were washed away by the rivers to the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, forming a phenomenon that the locals call “sugar sand”.

Siesta Key has almost 100% quartz crystalline sand which is like walking on a cloud that never gets hot. It creaks underfoot like cottage cheese in poutine, and delights both photographers and children. The white sandy shores are so white they look like snow. You might think you are in Alaska if not for the palm trees, warm breeze and inviting ocean.

Tip: The free Siesta Key Breeze Trolley will take the stress out of planning transport during your stay on the island.

Best Beach City: Clearwater

Time and time again, Clearwater Beach has been voted the best beach town in Florida. Its beaches are nearly as beautiful as Siesta Key and still earn the nickname “Sandy Sugar,” but the city sets this place apart from others.

Spend your days exploring Caladesi Island, playing in the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, or lying on the soft sugar sand. You can even book a charter from Clearwater Beach Pier or take a cruise to nearby Tampa or St. Pete. Just make sure you’re back in time for sunset at Pier 60, the mainland answer to Mallory Square.

Pier 60 Sunsets is a four-hour nighttime tradition on Clearwater Beach that offers a variety of crafts and activities, as well as incredible sunset views from the 1,080-foot-tall Fisherman’s Pier.

Best Beach Adventure: Alabama Beaches

Alabama’s Gulf Coast boasts 32 miles of pristine coastline with over 15 public beaches in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.. Gulf State Park is located between these two cities, with more than 28 miles of bike paths. A number of bays and a coastal waterway offer over 100 miles of rowing routes.

over 50 dive sites sit close to shore, including day charters on the Oriskany, a sunken aircraft carrier that is now the world’s largest artificial reef. Biking, scuba diving and kayaking are just some of the reasons why we consider the beaches of Alabama to be the best adventure on the Gulf Coast.

This is just the beginning of your adventures on the Alabama coast. You can also book a sailing charter to watch the Blue Angels practice, go deep sea fishing or enjoy a sunset dolphin cruise. Add to that a dinner at the state’s first certified green restaurant Safari Club Gulf Shores or a guided nature walk along the pier in Gulf State Park. You will begin to realize that beautiful beaches are just the beginning of what Alabama has to offer.

The best beach resort on the Gulf Coast

This category is difficult to rank because romantic hotels in Florida and along the coast of Alabama. We really liked the location Sheraton Sand Key, located between the beaches of St. Pete and Clearwater. nature adventure Lodge at Gulf State Park kept us active and entertained throughout the holiday. However, one property excels in terms of location and activity, the Henderson Beach Resort in Destin, Florida.

Southern charm meets modern luxury at this 4-star hotel on the Emerald Coast. Kids can’t wait to swim in the lazy river, while adults will love the 10,000 sq. feet with scenography of salt crystals and quartz sand of the Persian Gulf. With six in-house restaurants, you don’t have to go anywhere. resortbut you are required to take a nature walk along the trails in nearby Henderson State Park.

Best Beach Party: Gasparilla Pirate Fest

There are those who claim that Interstate Toss Mullet Toss by Flora-bama and the Gulf Coast’s Greatest Beach Party is the best beach party in the Gulf. Actually, it’s in the title. The rules for throwing a mullet are simple. You stand in Florida and throw dead fish as far as you can into Alabama. A mullet is more than just a front/back haircut; it is also a marine fish. It sounds like a party to us, and maybe a little suspicious too, so we’re looking elsewhere for our “best beach party”.

On the other hand, people might think our pick for the best beach party, Gasparilla Pirate Fest, is suspicious because it’s not exactly on the beach, but it’s certainly a reckless good time. The world’s only fully-rigged pirate ship, the José Gasparilla, sails to the Tampa Bay waterfront in a bizarre reenactment of Gasparilla’s flotilla, replete with loud cannons and flying beads. The pirates dock at the convention center, where the mayor of Tampa hands over the key to the city, followed by a festive “Pirate Parade”. This is the third largest parade in the country.

Gasparilla season is more than noon; it’s eight weeks of events, including road races and festivals, that are sure to take place somewhere on the beach.

The most unusual beach of the Gulf Coast: Venetian Beach

Venice Beach, California is home to the Freak Show and Muscle Beach. Not to be outdone, Venice Beach, Florida is the sharktooth capital of the world. This makes it the most unusual Gulf Coast beach.

When we first heard this nickname, we thought it was nonsense from the tourist office. After more research, we realized that hunting for shark teeth is a thing, including the annual Shark Tooth Festival in April.

We procured special strainers and pulled out our teeth with almost every spoon, standing a foot from the pier in the water. We even found teeth when we walked along the sandy shore. Local restaurants show impressive images of teeth, including the fossilized teeth of the world’s largest shark megalodon, which became extinct millions of years ago.

Tip: You can rent shark tooth screens at the pier if you don’t have one at home.

The best seafood on the Gulf Coast

Who doesn’t love seafood when they go to the beach? Everything is so fresh and delicious, but especially delicious on the Gulf Coast.

There was a time in the early 1900s when the Gulf Coast cities were known as the seafood capital of the world. The region was known for fresh Biloxi shrimp, oysters and scallops from Apalachicola Bay. However, we love crab soup, so our “best seafood choice” is Firefly in Panama City Beachwhere can be the best crab soup in the world!

Crabs were once commonly harvested throughout the lowlands, but today they are harvested almost entirely in the Persian Gulf. It is a rich bisque-like soup made with cream and a little dry sherry. Crabmeat, roe and just the right amount of shallots, onions and nutmeg provide a deep nutty flavor. When cooked properly, the ingredients blend in a cascade of flavors that delight your senses and stay in your mouth after you swallow.

Firefly PCB does it so well that it’s worth a trip to the Florida Panhandle for soup!

The most remote beach on the Gulf Coast

Florida Bay beaches are known for their accessibility, but Cayo Costa undoubtedly the most remote beach of the region. This is a state park that can only be reached by boat. Logistically easy access from a major airport is to fly into Fort Myers, rent a car, drive an hour to Pine Island, and then take a ferry and cross the Gasparilla Sound to Cayo Costa in an hour. As soon as you land, you will take a tram to cross the island and get to the beach of Cayo Costa.

You may wonder why you came to Cayo Costa. There are no restaurants or hotels on the island. There are only lodges and campsites in the State Park. Once you dip your feet in the sand and hear nothing but the sound of the surf, you will understand. It is known for some of the best shell shooting in the Sunshine State with sunsets that defy the imagination.

Final Thoughts on Finding a Beach on the Gulf Coast

The Gulf Coast beaches of Florida and Alabama set the standard for beach holidays in America. Luxurious resorts, stunning sandy beaches and warm, calm waters make you want to come back again and again. You’ll find all types of accommodation, from state park camping to penthouse rentals and everything in between.

Each beach town has a slightly different vibe. Southern cities such as Marco Island, Naples and Fort Myers reflect the Latin influence of nearby Miami and Fort Lauderdale. They are also close to the Everglades, the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States.

Pure water, Saint Peteand the beaches of Sarasota echo Tampa’s urban rhythm with unexpected sophistication.

Panhandle beaches such as Panama City Beach, Destin, Pensacola and Gulf Shores offer a variety of opportunities to explore the sand dunes on the barrier islands. They also have vast backwaters where boating and birdwatching reign supreme, whether you’re rowing, driving or sailing.

All of these options are exceptional value for a vacation, no matter which Gulf Coast beach you choose.

This article originally appeared on Geek Wealth.