7 Cutest Small Towns In Gulf Coast To Visit In 2024
The Gulf Coast is a spectacular place to visit this summer if you love beaches or the upcoming fall for warm weather and low crowds around some nation-renowned attractions. With each town more tempting than the last, see which scenic shores catch your gaze or embark on a Gulf Coast road trip along the white-sanded beaches, emerald waters, and boundless outdoor adventures. Building up its attractions into the year 2024, we've got some real charmers dating from the 1600s, now cuter than ever.
The long and narrow Grand Isle, at the very southern tip of Louisiana, prevails in a hospitable resort vibe and voluminous nature, like the Grand Isle State Park, anchoring the far end of the island across from the marina. San José Island, via a quick ferry hop from Port Aransas, offers 21 pristine miles of beaches that recently went public, with serene golden sands, the best saltwater fishing, and shelling souvenirs, while Orange Beach boasts one of the world's best beach bars.
Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi, one of the nation's oldest towns, is a real stud of the coastal Mississippi in the Gulf of Mexico. First settled by the French in 1699, soon after joining the Union in 1811, the thriving town began attracting tourists with its seaside location for coastal attractions, the beaches, and the centerpiece of the 1848 Biloxi Lighthouse. As a historically significant center for the seafood industry, shrimping, oystering, and saltwater recreation continue to rule the scene. The town bursts with cultural vibrancy through its cute downtown, with cultural influences from consecutive French, British, and Spanish rule. The lighthouse is a symbol of the town's resilience, including its stoicism against several major hurricanes.
Visitors can enjoy guided tours to the top for, arguably, the best view of the Gulf Coast. There's also go-karting at the popular Finishline Performance Karting and the top-rated Golden Nugget Biloxi Hotel & Casino, while the Reef, a must-hit for dinner, is a lively, kid-friendly beachfront venue for seafood and drinks, while the neighboring Woody’s Roadside serves burgers and fish tacos. Don't miss the Biloxi Bay Bridge at sunset for a selfie across, which continues onto Lover’s Lane. Beauvoir, Confederate President Jefferson Davis' post-civil War home turned museum, offers insights into his life and times in the Confederate South, as well as beautiful, restored gardens. The Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art celebrates the innovative spirit of the potter in a beautiful building designed by architect Frank Gehry.
Grand Isle, Louisiana
As you might expect of a southern state's southern tip, the aptly named narrow barrier island prevails in a hospitable resort vibe and voluminous nature. A grand idea to visit this summer, Grand Isle basks in the Caribbean-like seaside beauty under the sun as a beach lover's paradise and a heaven for every watersport, including Wake Side Cable Park. This "ski resort" for wakeboarding, kneeboarding, skiing, and wakeskating offers thrilling obstacles and jumps. The land-crawling creatures can stick to the splicing trails, like the most popular Grand Isle Birding Trail, for a winding hike through a beautiful oak forest. The Butterfly Dome features beautiful butterflies among other fauna in the natural flora of the island, while Elmer's Island Beach doubles up as a wildlife refuge.
Towing the waterfront across the marina at the tip of the further island, the serene Grand Isle State Park offers camping and bird-watching opportunities, with a remote feel and plenty of fish in the sea. Attracting anglers for some phenomenal offshore fishing around the island, several charter boats access only the best local spots. From the miles of beaches to the boundless wildlife, it is easy to see why Grand Isle has been an ecotourism magnet for over two and a half centuries. So catch the adventurer's fervor and recharge at the mega-popular Starfish Restaurant with mouthwatering seafood alongside other loyal island fans.
Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Biloxi's neighbor, Ocean Springs, the City of Discovery, is a small coastal town with a relaxed feel, deep history, and cultural experiences. Epitomizing a quaint, cottage Main Street community with its centuries-old live oak-lined streets of the Coastal Mississippi, no wonder there's so much artistry with all the lush landscape and small-town appeal that makes you want to sit down with an easel. Having weathered Hurricane Katrina, this cute beachfront town, filled with art studios, shops, and historic churches, is a fierce force of resilience that likes to go wild at art festivals. Attracting worldwide photographers, Ocean Springs caters to entertainment for every taste, from colorful storefronts to flavorful restaurants like the Murky Waters BBQ and the tasteful Charnley-Norwood House from the 19th century.
The Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival, the state's largest fine arts festival, paints the streets with artists, crafts, musicians, and food vendors. Visitors can stop by the Ocean Springs Art Association, which represents 300 local artists, and the Walter Anderson Museum of Art for beautiful works. From Shearwater Pottery to the Mary C. O'Keefe Cultural Centre of Arts and Education, there's an engrossing experience for every age and interest, and you can leave with the best souvenir. Flaunting over 200 independent shops, galleries, and restaurants, Ocean Drive captures the chatter of a sophisticated southern lifestyle, from a walkable downtown to the white-sand beaches and nightlife. Home to three whole entertainment districts, it is truly a year-round, 24/7 community where patrons can mingle outside with go-cups.
Orange Beach, Alabama
Fringed by white sandy beaches, this coastal town with its warm southern climate and crystal-clear waters feels like an oasis, with new, shiny attractions, having only transitioned from its fishing village slumber into a major tourist destination in the late 20th century. Steeped in the history of maritime activities and the natural abundance of the Gulf's resources, it is just 7.5 miles from the more crowded Gulf Shores. Having staved off tourism for so long, today visitors can enjoy a spectacular beach scene for water sports and combing, as well as one of the best beach bars in the entire world, called the Flora-Bama. Located on a tri-county line, there's easy access to Florida's coast, like Perdido Key, making it great for a crowdless weekend escape or a relaxing road trip stop.
Whether you're here for the comprehensive entertainment experience or the marina for boating and excursions, Gulf State Park is a prime destination for outdoor lovers with a nature centre and over two miles of beaches with a fishing pier and trails from the sand to explore the wildlife of coastal Alabama. The Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail winds through six unique ecosystems over a winding 28-mile paved path for hiking and biking with birding opportunities. Bursting with attractions against the sparkling gulf waters, Wharf is the heart of shopping, dining, and entertainment to linger after watching the sunset. Its 112-foot Ferris wheel, one of the tallest in the Southeast, affords patrons a panorama of the Alabama Gulf Coast, while the Wharf Amphitheatre is a popular concert venue with a restaurant.
San José Island, Texas
St. Joe for locals, predominantly owned and managed primarily for wildlife, offers public access, which is restricted to the beaches, and the tourists don't fret. Just a hop from the hub of Port Aransas, visitors can enjoy easy access to the most unruffled nature in Texas, with the warm gulf waters lapping up its 21 pristine miles of beaches. From non-motorized watersports to a wealth of waterfowl, as well as shelling, St. Joe, the fishing capital of Texas, offers some of the best saltwater angling in the South from its rocky edges at North Jetty. With no vehicles allowed on the island, a daily ferry from Port Aransas Fisherman's Wharf carries passengers towards a generous catch, like speckled trout, redfish, and flounder.
Offering the once privately owned beachfront property to the public, few are aware of the vast, untouched sands to roam, spread out, and relax, digging your toes into the warm, fine grains under the summer sun—pure paradise. The crystal-clear surf, like a tamed animal, washes up the most unique shell collection to your feet, for engrossing beachcombing and ready-made gifts or souvenirs to display on your mantle, including lightning whelks, shark eyes, sand dollars, starfish, and angel wings. With cozy cottages and private beach homes back at Port Aransas, as well as fine local eateries and kid-friendly restaurants for fresh seafood and other cuisine, visitors can easily visit San José Island in 2024 for beach time and fishing.
Seaside, Florida
Designed meticulously by Robert Davis and Andres Duany as a model of an old-fashioned sense of community—revived—the touch that is often missing in modern urban planning, Seaside is a perky town with pastel-colored houses and white picket fences. Everything is within walking distance and screams of cuteness while encouraging community interactions and sustainable living—the principles of New Urbanism. As a relatively young town established in the early 1980s, Seaside welcomes visitors with a unique mix of new attractions and old-Florida style to imbibe local culture. From the downtown area to the beach, everything is within walking distance.
The Seaside Farmers Market is a great place to mingle on Saturday mornings with locals while browsing for fresh produce, baked goods, dairy products, and fresh artisanal foods. Nearby, Grayton Beach State Park, a coastal forest, beckons hikers for wildlife sightings along the nature trails that ultimately start and end along the beach fringe. Tourists can enjoy a bike ride to get down to the sands even faster, whizzing through separate ecosystems on the way to Grayton Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the US, for swimming, sunbathing, and fishing after. Don't miss the simple and elegant design of the town's Chapel, a popular place to host weddings, and stop for self-reflection, a memento, and to appreciate its delicate beauty.
Vilano Beach, Florida
Just north of St. Augustine, with access from its historic downtown, Vilano Beach has been a local beach destination for over two centuries. Offering an unparalleled beach experience with a casual vibe, quiet ambiance, and natural beauty—the remedy for city blues—adventures start on the drive. The Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway supports a rich wildlife habitat of birds, the gopher tortoise, and endangered species. Operating daily, the Dolphin Bay Scenic Shuttle beats the traffic from the public pier of this census-designated community to St. Augustine Municipal Marina in the historic downtown to learn about the old city's own natural environment and cultural heritage, rooted in the 1500s. The Vilano Beach Pier over the Tolomato River is the best vantage point for the spectacular sunset over downtown St. Augustine.
When hunger strikes, Vilano Beach offers some of the best local restaurants on the Northeast Coast, like Cap’s on the Water, The Reef, and Kingfish Grill, all waterfront, with outdoor seating to enjoy dinner or drinks and views. All as one offering the freshest seafood whipped up in any style, whether you enjoy an artisanal take or the Old Florida favourite shrimp and grits, try Minorcan Clam Chowder on a breezy day, a succulent cocktail shrimp, or flavorful farm-to-table. Visitors can join the friendly local anglers or the surfing "crowd" taming the great waves, whether you're a seasoned pro or catching your first wave. Otherwise, just relax and watch from the sands without the crowds typical of the Sunshine State beaches.
Stretching from Florida to Alabama through Mississippi, coastal Louisiana, and finally Texas, if you start a 2024 coastal road trip inland in the Lone Star State, you could end up basking on Florida's Vilano Beach or in Seaside, a young town modeled in New Urbanism style with a chapel to reflect on your enriching adventures. Expect some sore muscles after biking the 28-mile Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail through six unique ecosystems, with artsy souvenirs from Ocean Springs after cultural activities in the neighboring Biloxi, a resilient town from 1699 with French, British, and Spanish influences, a lighthouse, and a scenic bridge. No matter which locale is selected, you are bound to be enthralled by the cuteness of the small towns on the Gulf Coast.
