12 Of The Most Adorable Small Towns On The Gulf Coast
The majestic Gulf Coast of the United States, consisting of five southern states - Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida - has a plethora of small coastal towns that are charming yet outstanding in their natural, historical, and cultural attributes. Many of these small towns also possess a sense of community that makes them even more appealing and enchanting than other towns in close proximity to them. From the quaint town of Port Isabel, Texas, all the way around the Gulf of Mexico to the picturesque town of Port Saint Joe, Florida, here are a dozen of the most adorable small towns to be found along the southern coast of the United States.
Port Isabel, Texas
Home to the Port Isabel Lighthouse, first constructed in 1852, the small town of Port Isabel possesses several attributes that give it a sense of charming ambiance. From cruises aboard the Black Dragon Pirate Ship to South Padre Island, allowing guests to experience riding on a pirate ship, to fishing, to dolphin & whale-watching, Osprey Cruises has adventures for all who love the Gulf of Mexico waters.
Downtown Port Isabel has several other venues that offer tranquility. Situated on the eastern border of Mexico, Port Isabel is home to Arturo Galvan Coastal Park, which provides stunning views of the Madre Lagoon. Plus, for those who wish for a sense of solitude, Pirate’s Landing Fishing Pier is situated at the entrance to the Queen Isabella Parkway, which leads visitors to South Padre Island.
Morgan City, Louisiana
Morgan City, home to over ten thousand residents, is also home to its own share of attractions that provide a sense of peaceful ambiance. Lake End Park, named after Lake Palourde, which translates into “lake of clams,” is situated between Lake Palourde and Flat Lake. Offering guests a range of activities, including swimming, fishing, kayaking, boating, and biking, Lake End Park is the epitome of comfort in Louisiana. Morgan City is also home to Morgan City Petting Zoo and Jimmy Magee Park. While the park offers simple pleasures, such as walking trails, a playground, and picnic areas, the petting zoo features a variety of animals that children can interact with, including pigs, horses, turtles, chickens, goats, and rabbits.
Pascagoula, Mississippi
Situated along the Mississippi Sound, the picturesque town of Pascagoula has a wealth of natural aspects that provide both residents and visitors with tranquility. From Pascagoula Beach Park, offering guests snacks, picnicking, fishing, swimming, and hiking, as well as movie and music opportunities, to River Park, at the mouth of Krebs Lake, with fishing, boating, and kayaking options, Pascagoula is a nature lover’s dream.
Downtown Pascagoula is also home to several fantastic attractions. Along with being the location for Jimmy Buffett’s childhood home, where he was born in 1946 on Christmas Day, downtown Pascagoula has a wealth of great restaurants and art galleries, like Off the Hook Seafood and Cajun Restaurant, which is located on Krebs Avenue, and Singing River Art Gallery, situated along Delmas Avenue.
Foley, Alabama
The bustling town of Foley, along the coast of Alabama, is home to some great attractions that make it well worth visiting. From the Foley Railroad Museum, which features exhibits such as a model train display and an actual ride on the Charles Ebert Express II around Heritage Park, to the Holmes Medical Museum on Laurel Avenue, downtown Foley is exceptional in its rich history.
The town of Foley is also home to some phenomenal outdoor aspects, as well. The Glenlakes Golf Club, situated just southwest of downtown, offers its own share of amenities, including two separate courses and a 35,000 square foot clubhouse with a junior Olympic-size swimming pool. Plus, between there and downtown, Captain Crazy’s Paradise has over 70 arcade games and eighteen pinball machines.
Perry, Florida
Fifty miles southeast of Tallahassee, along the Florida Panhandle, the quaint town of Perry is not far from Keaton Beach, offering pristine white sand and crystal-clear, transparent water, as well as Iron Horse Mud Ranch, which is quite the opposite. Iron Horse offers five different mud recreation areas, spanning over 100 acres of mudding and mud trails, as well as a Mega Truck obstacle course.
Perry is also home to some phenomenal indoor attributes, as well. Forest Capital Museum State Park is also located a mile south of the town of Perry. Adjacent to the museum, the 1864 Cracker Homestead offers guests an experience of what it would have been like to live and work on a homestead during the 19th and 20th centuries in the Florida Panhandle.
Port Aransas, Texas
The tiny town of Port Aransas, situated along the shore between the Atlantic and Corpus Christi Bay, may perhaps be one of the best places in Texas to taste fresh fish and other seafood delicacies. Both Grumbles Seafood Company and Port A Beachlodge Restaurant offer some of the most delicious seafood cuisine. Plus, Grumbles is in close proximity to the Port Street Pier and Dolphin Dock.
Some other amazing attributes to downtown Port Aransas include Mustang Island State Park and I.B. Magee Beach Park, both offering visitors opportunities to fish, plan a picnic, or even camp for a night or even the weekend. Mustang Island State Park, situated on State Highway 361, even offers five miles of beach, perfect for swimming with friends or family.
Abbeville, Louisiana
Home to Palmetto Island State Park, situated on the Vermilion River just south of downtown Abbeville, with approximately 100 different campsites, and the Louisiana Military Hall of Fame & Museum, located downtown, the town of Abbeville is well worth visiting. The Louisiana Military Museum showcases a variety of military memorabilia, including an actual Bell Helicopter and a replica of a World War II landing craft.
Abbeville is also home to several more natural attractions, including a phenomenal golf course. Southern Oaks Country Club offers an on-site restaurant & bar, which serves a variety of dishes, including Western omelets, kids’ meals, and a shrimp quesadilla. Additionally, if you frequently find yourself downtown, near the Veterans Memorial Bridge, Dupey’s Seafood & Steak offers excellent seafood cuisine.
Ocean Springs, Mississippi
The town of Ocean Springs, situated along the coast of Mississippi, is best known for being the home to several historic attributes, including the G.I. Museum and the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial. While the G.I. Museum preserves artifacts and memorabilia from America’s military forces, the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial honors the over six hundred Mississippi veterans who gave their lives for their state during the Vietnam War.
Ocean Springs also boasts a scenic side, featuring natural attractions such as the Gulf Islands National Seashore and the Fontainebleau Nature Trail. The Fontainebleau Nature Trail, a part of the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge, is a 1.5-mile scenic trail with two different observation platforms. The Gulf Islands National Seashore, first established over fifty years ago and spanning more than 135,000 acres, is considered one of the largest of its kind in America.
Dauphin Island, Alabama
Part of a barrier island by the same name, the tiny town of Dauphin Island is home to several natural attractions that are well worth visiting. Along with the Audubon Bird Sanctuary and the multiple fishing charters on Dauphin Island, visitors to this quaint island town can enjoy several excellent beaches, like Dauphin Island Beach, located in the center of town, West End Beach, or East End Beach. Picturesque Dauphin Island is also home to the Mobile Bay Ferry, which provides scenic rides out onto Mobile Bay. Additionally, for those planning to stay overnight, the Dauphin Island Campground, situated along the eastern end of Dauphin Island, offers approximately 150 sites. They are also within walking distance of the bird sanctuary, the ferry, and Historic Fort Gaines.
Port Saint Joe, Florida
Off the shores of Saint Joseph Bay, the charming town of Port Saint Joe boasts a plethora of awe-inspiring natural attractions that draw people to visit. From the T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park to Cape San Blas, the stunning views and vistas of the Gulf of Mexico are phenomenal. Plus, guests can enjoy camping at one of 46 camping sites in the Shady Pines Campground, eight cabins, or even try primitive (without electricity) camping.
Port Saint Joe is also home to the Constitutional Convention Museum State Park, and the Forgotten Coast Sea Turtle Center. While the Forgotten Coast Sea Turtle Center, home to the annual Sea Turtle Festival, which takes place in George Core Park, showcases the importance of protecting sea turtles, the Constitutional Convention Museum State Park emphasizes the first Constitutional Convention, held in Florida in 1838.
Grand Isle, Louisiana
Further along the barrier islands of the Gulf of Mexico, on an island by the same name, the tiny town of Grand Isle is home to some phenomenal natural attractions. Grand Isle State Park, one of the top state parks in Louisiana, offers a range of fabulous coastal activities, including swimming, fishing, kayaking, and hiking opportunities. Grand Isle State Park is also known for its incredible bird-watching during spring migration, when thousands of neotropical birds stop on the island after crossing the Gulf, giving visitors an unforgettable glimpse of Louisiana’s coastal wildlife.
The town of Grand Isle is also dotted with an abundance of fishing opportunities, including Calmwater Charters and Capt. John’s Fin-tastic Charters. Additionally, for those planning to stay on the island overnight or longer, Starfish Restaurant and Hurricane Hole Restaurant both serve delicious seafood cuisine. Meanwhile, Blue Dolphin Inn offers excellent rooms and cottages, great service, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
Apalachicola, Florida
The charming coastal town of Apalachicola, along Apalachicola Bay and about two hundred miles east of Pensacola, is home to Orman House Historic State Park and John Gorrie Museum State Park. While both state parks are within downtown Apalachicola, Orman House is an antebellum mansion overlooking the Apalachicola River, while John Gorrie’s house lies within the historic district.
Apalachicola is also home to some phenomenal natural attractions, such as the Scipio Creek Boardwalk, located in close proximity to the Orman House, which offers visitors an overlook of the Apalachicola River, and Lafayette Park. Lafayette Park, situated just off Apalachicola Bay, offers guests awesome activities, including walking, running, and hiking, as well as boating and kayaking in the bay.
An Adorable Retreat Along The Gulf Coast
From the waters off Port Isabel, Texas, to the waters off Port Saint Joe, Florida, the great attributes offered on the Gulf Coast provide a substantial amount of natural, historic, and cultural facets that lend the towns they are in charming, amiable qualities. Plus, the dozen towns listed above are only twelve of the most adorable, quaint small towns along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico that do so. There are so many more out there.
