14 Most Scenic Towns on the Gulf Coast
The glorious Gulf Coast stretches itself in a massive U along the coastal states of the Southern United States. The aptly named Gulf States are Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, each offering unique views of the Gulf of Mexico. The small towns on the Gulf Coast are a massive tourist draw. They offer soul-enriching arts and culture, premium entertainment, access to state parks, and gorgeous weather. The beaches are less crowded, and the water is warm. The architecture will knock your socks off, and the animal life is amazing. Whether you're in the mood for an adventure to remember or want to kick back and relax, the following fourteen Gulf Coast towns have everything you could wish for and more.
Grand Isle, Louisiana
Grand Isle lives up to its name with grand beaches and magnificent bird-watching spots. Grand Isle Beach offers seven miles of fun in the sun and several crossovers to other equally fantastic beaches. Grand Isle is home to Elmer's Island Wildlife Refuge, where you'll find more beaches, wild dunes, and saltwater marsh. You can't camp overnight, but you can try your hand at fishing – the waters here teem with southern flounder, sea catfish, and red drum. There are also kayaking and paddling opportunities as you explore the coastline. This rustic, charming town doubles as a dolphin-watching spot, and for the adventurous few, it is a surfing haven. At the same time, it is the perfect place to build fairytale sandcastles as you watch the sunset over the water.
Bayou La Batre, Alabama
Bayou La Batre, made famous by Forrest Gump and its rich fishing history, is one of the best towns to visit on the Gulf Coast. Known as the "Seafood Capital of Alabama," this beautiful place embodies the spirit of small-town America. It is the place where many of the world's shrimp boats first entered the water, and hundreds more fishing boats remain. And one special vessel stands out among the rest. The Black Pearl, as featured in Pirates of the Caribbean, was built in a Bayou La Batre shipyard. As you may have guessed already, it's all about fishing in this pretty town, and you can even attend the annual Blessing of the Fleet if you time your visit right. Don't forget to check out the State Docks for some of the most picturesque coastal views.
Dauphin Island, Alabama
Moving on to Dauphin Island, a barrier island in the Gulf, you'll find southern charm and movie-like sunsets. The ocean water is something to wax poetic about, while the white sands invite bare feet. The island is connected to Alabama by a bridge, and you can get there with a fun ferry ride. Besides the stunning public beach, the island is home to Dauphin Island Marina, where you can schedule a fishing trip or rend paddleboards and kayaks. Here, you'll even find tour guides to help you spot dolphins in the deep waters.
If you're a bird lover, you must check out the Audubon Bird Sanctuary with its interpretive trail loop. The trail includes educational signs that provide information about the dune systems, the Gulf, and the swamp in the area. The Estuarium, a public aquarium, is home to a sting ray touch pool, which is a wonderful experience. And there is also the Living Marsh Boardwalk, where you can see more than 100 marine species. Other must-have experiences include a trip to Shell Mound Park on the north shore and the Historic Fort Gaines, built in the 19th century.
Pass Christian, Mississippi
Mississippi is also at the forefront when it comes to spectacular beach towns. The unusually named Pass Christian is a laidback town known as The Pass by locals. It is a historically charming place with eye-catching architecture and unmatched white sand beaches.
In Pass Christian, you can book a boating trip to see fish wrecks and reefs. Or you can choose a deep sea boat to take you 100 miles offshore until you're surrounded by nothing but the ocean and the tuna, wahoo, and Mahi you want to catch. You can also visit the Chandeleur Islands by boat to try and catch speckled trout, sheepshead, and jack crevalle. There are 119 historic homes and buildings to see when you're back on dry ground, including antebellum mansions and cottages dating back two centuries. But perhaps the best thing about Pass Christian is the quiet and relaxation that only an authentic sea town can provide.
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Waiting on Mississippi's western edge is Bay Saint Louis. This resilient and beautiful beach town lost nearly everything in the devastating Hurricane Katrina disaster of 2005. But, with the stunning tree angels looking on, the residents rebuilt their home, and it is as vibrant today as ever. Here, you'll find famous filming locations and the historical music hall where the voices of Etta James and Ottis Redding once shook the walls. For history of a different kind, visit the Old City Hall, where rumor has it, disembodied footsteps sound up in the dark, and objects move on their own.
Three miles from Bay St. Louis, you'll find Waveland, or Ground Zero for Katrina. The Ground Zero Hurricane Museum features interactive exhibits depicting the city's recovery after the disaster. Besides the museum, you can visit the resident lighthouse and catch some rays while fishing along the Garfield Ladner Pier.
Gulf Shores, Alabama
At the opposite end of the Gulf and across the water from Bay St. Louis lies Gulf Shores. The beaches here are the definition of family-friendly, and you'll go far to beat the views of the water. If you want to get up close to the water, you can spend a day on a fishing charter and go on the hunt for marlin, flounder, red snappers, and bluefish.
If you want to take in a bird's eye view, the Hummingbird Zipline Course at the neighboring Orange Beach Wharf will get your heart racing and open your eyes to the exceptional beauty from more than 100 feet in the air. While in Orange Beach, visit Orange Beach Waterfront Park with its walking paths, Kid's Park, and picnic areas.
Back in Gulf Shores, you can tour the Gulf Shores Museum and surround yourself with the natural wonders of Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. This 7,000-acre sanctuary on the Fort Morgan peninsula offers several miles of hiking and coastline to explore. It is one of the most beautiful places to see in Gulf Shores before moving on to your next Gulf Coast destination.
Apalachicola, Florida
No Gulf Coast visit is complete without a Florida destination. Apalachicola is one of the mainstays of the Florida Gulf coastline and offers sheer enchantment in the form of waterfront parks and simply splendid beaches on the nearby St. George Island. Apalachicola, or Apalach, exudes an Old Florida atmosphere and boasts a gorgeously restored historic district. This includes the old-world homes of sea captains and river pilots who led historic water journeys. Moreover, you'll find Victorian-style homes here dating back to the 1830s. If you want to take a beach path less traveled, head to the St. Joseph Peninsula, which stretches in arc form from the mainland and runs along the coast for 20 miles. Here, you'll be surrounded by towering dunes and wild waves as you ponder your next Gulf Coast stop.
Mexico Beach, Florida
Maybe that next stop is Mexico Beach, just over 35 miles from Apalachicola. It is a quintessential beach town with zero traffic lights and happy family restaurants. It is a great vantage point from where you can admire the emerald Gulf waters and the complementing white-sand beaches.
Part of Florida's Undiscovered Gulf Coast, Mexico Beach is famous for dolphins and mild ocean temperatures. The cool temperatures carry through to the sand, which stays highly tolerable throughout summer. So, if you want to hit the beach barefoot, you won't hop about like a cat on a hot tin roof. Make some time to head out to St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge while you're in Mexico Beach and see loggerhead turtles and bald eagles in their natural habitat.
Cedar Key, Florida
Cedar Key is another must-visit Florida Gulf Coast town. Located on an island, Cedar Key went through the wringer in 2023 when Hurricane Idalia caused extensive damage. However, being no stranger to devastating storms, Cedar Key is already rebuilding. If you visit this town with its old-fishing-village charm, you won't find franchises like McDonald's. What you will find is family eateries, wooden cottages, and historic buildings overlooking the sea. You might also run into a ghost or 13 if you visit the famous Island Hotel.
If you're into ghostly vibes in ethereal natural surroundings, kayak out to Atsena Otie Key, where you can catch a glimpse of the old cemetery guarded by oak trees. Back in Cedar Key, follow Trestle Trail to a 100-year-old trestle where salt flats and an abundance of birds await as the sun sinks in the west.
Grayton Beach, Florida
Grayton Beach also boasts several cottages in a variety of pastel colors. Along the beach, sea-weathered homes keep watch over the tides. The Grayton Beach State Park promises emerald-water adventures, including paddleboarding and kayaking. Here, you can also gaze at the dunes in awe and take in the scenic Western Lake. If you've never seen a coastal forest, the one in the park will blow your mind. Here, foxes, deer, and bears roam while great blue herons and bald eagles swoop over the lake.
Near Grayton Beach, you'll find the first permanent underwater sculpture museum in America. The breathtaking Underwater Museum of Art lies 58 feet below the surface and consists of a 'garden' filled with an assortment of wonderful sculptures. This museum provides a great opportunity to see the marine ecosystems of the Gulf up close.
Seaside, Florida
The last Florida entry on this list of scenic Gulf Coast towns is the pretty town of Seaside. If the whitewashed houses look familiar to you, it's because the town formed the backdrop for the film The Truman Show. This panhandle town lies between the Gulf and Western Lake, with easy access to Grayton Beach State Park and Grayton Beach.
Seaside has pure white beaches that almost resemble flour or sugar. The dunes here are very high but are crossable via nine wooden boardwalks. However, the beach boardwalks are private, so it may be pricey to use them. There are many ways to enjoy the magnificent surroundings here, including bike rides, boat rentals, parasailing, and jet skiing. You can even take sand sculpture lessons to build a perfect white sandcastle.
Port Aransas, Texas
Determined not to be outshone by Florida's gorgeous Gulf Coast towns, Port Aransas in Texas brings beauty and fun for a memorable day at the beach. There are 18 miles of coastline waiting to be explored. As part of the magnificent scenery here, you'll find Roberts Point Park full of frolicking dolphins and five nature preserves where migratory and local birds and animals thrive.
This tiny town on Mustang Island bore the brunt of Hurricane Harvey in 2017. But it has since rebounded perfectly. Today, you can go deep-sea fishing, visit Barnacle Billie, a 200-pound loggerhead sea turtle, and explore Mustang Island State Park. And while you're at it, book a GlowRow Tour and view the marine life through a transparent kayak decorated with neon LED lights.
Rockport, Texas
Another uniquely beautiful Texas Gulf Coast town is the magical Rockport. Within the town limits, you can visit the Texas Maritime Museum and uncover the secrets of the Fulton Historic Site. Throughout the town, you can play spot-the-bird by keeping your eyes peeled for roseate spoonbills and whooping cranes.
Rockport Beach Park offers the best beach life with volleyball courts, cabanas, BBQ pits, and play areas for the kids. There is even a pretty saltwater pool for you to relax and do some more bird watching. You can also take in the expansive views of the sea while throwing a line in the water. Rockport allows fishing from the shore, piers, or by kayak, which means you have several opportunities to reel in the big one as night falls on this enchanting place.
Surfside Beach, Texas
If you only visit one town on the Gulf Coast, make sure it's Surfside Beach. Here, golden sands beckon with stunning seashells begging to be collected. Palm trees planted along the rocky shoreline give the town an island feel. Enjoy four miles of beach, including a fishing pier, before picnicking on the sand while watching the surfers ride the waves.
You can tackle the waves, too, if you're an avid surfer. Several stores on the beachfront rent surfing gear, and you can even take surfing lessons from one of the many surfing schools in the area. Visit Surfside Jetty County Park to watch the ships sail through the channel leading to Houston. And don't forget to take a stroll on the Surfside Beach pier at sunset to see if you can spot dolphins down below.
The coastal regions along the Gulf of Mexico are some of the most gorgeous destinations on Earth. Along with barrier islands, you'll find sea corals, marine forests, seagrass beds, and salt marshes everywhere. And you'll have a never-ending view of the majestic ocean from every angle.
