7 Delightful Towns to Visit on the Gulf Coast

Apalachicola lines its Florida Panhandle downtown with more than 900 historic buildings, a former cotton port now known best for its oysters. Up the coast in Mississippi, Ocean Springs traces its start to a French fort built in 1699, among the oldest footholds on the Gulf Coast. A pier more than 1,400 feet long reaches into Mobile Bay at Fairhope, while Port Isabel marks the far southern tip of Texas with a lighthouse first lit in 1853. Here are seven of the most appealing small towns on the Gulf Coast.

Fairhope, Alabama

Fairhope lies along the eastern shore of Mobile Bay, a short drive from the Mobile metro area. Established in 1894, the town is known for its laid-back attitude and its arts scene, with galleries like the Eastern Shore Art Center. Events throughout the year, including the Fairhope Arts and Crafts Festival, bring in artists and visitors alike.

Fairhope has a number of parks and green spaces in its downtown core, such as Fairhope Municipal Pier and Park, with wide views of the bay. The pier, a popular spot for fishing and walking, extends more than 1,400 feet into the water and is a good place to watch the sunset. Several beaches lie nearby, including North Beach Park and Magnolia Beach.

When the summer heat sets in, the Fairhope Museum of History makes a good stop. The former city hall building displays exhibits of local artifacts.

Ocean Springs, Mississippi

Founded in 1699 at the site of the French Fort Maurepas, Ocean Springs is one of the oldest towns on the Gulf Coast. It is a resort town with deep historical roots. Museums like the Ocean Springs Museum of History and the Walter Anderson Museum of Art cover the town's past and its artistic legacy.

Natural attractions stand out here too, with the Davis Bayou area of Gulf Islands National Seashore at the southeast end of the town limits. This stretch of marsh and bayou has walking paths and boat launches into the preserve. The Davis Bayou Campground nearby offers a place to stay overnight.

Apalachicola, Florida

Apalachicola, in Florida's Panhandle, was once a busy cotton port and retains much of its character, with more than 900 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The downtown is lined with restored, mainly 19th-century structures that now contain shops, seafood restaurants, and hotels.

The Apalachicola River, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico, is central to the town's identity, with boating, fishing, and wetlands to explore. Apalachicola is also known for its oysters, served fresh at waterfront eateries like Up the Creek Raw Bar.

The John Gorrie Museum State Park tells more of the town's story. It honors Dr. John Gorrie, who built an early ice machine and patented mechanical refrigeration in 1851, work that laid the groundwork for modern air conditioning. The value of that invention is clear to anyone on the Gulf Coast in summer.

Bay St. Louis, Mississippi

With roots reaching back to the late 17th century, Bay St. Louis has a collection of historic homes and churches, many carefully restored. Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church is one example, its present building dating to 1908 and the parish itself to 1847. The Old Town district is the heart of Bay St. Louis, with businesses and shops set in many of the old buildings.

Bay St. Louis Beach is the town's main stretch of sand. Nearby, the Bay Bridge connects Bay St. Louis to neighboring communities and gives a wide view of the coastline, a popular route for walking and cycling.

The annual Bay BridgeFest and the monthly Second Saturday Art Walk bring residents and visitors together for music and art in the Old Town.

Port Aransas, Texas

Port Aransas is on Mustang Island off the Texas coast, a barrier island reaching into the Gulf across from Corpus Christi. Reached by ferry or bridge, the town is a popular spot for a laid-back beach stay in southern Texas, with 18 miles of open beaches for swimming and fishing.

Birdwatching is popular here, and the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center at the north end of town is a good place to see a wide range of species. The Port Aransas Nature Preserve at Charlie's Pasture gives an open view of the protected wetlands, and the nearby Mustang Island State Park has trails for hiking, camping, and boating.

Cedar Key, Florida

Cedar Key is an island town off Florida's northwest coast, known for its relative isolation from the rest of the state. Established in the mid-19th century, it was once a busy port and a railroad hub. Today it is a quiet retreat on the Gulf Coast.

Cedar Key's downtown district has museums like the Cedar Key Historical Society Museum and restaurants serving locally caught seafood. Steamers Clam Bar & Grill, a longtime spot near the water, is one of the best known. The Cedar Key Museum State Park, at the north end of the key, has paths along the forested shore, a museum, and a restored 1920s home.

The Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge is popular with birdwatchers and kayakers exploring the area's marsh and island ecosystems.

Port Isabel, Texas

Port Isabel is at the southern tip of Texas on the Gulf Coast. Established in the early 19th century, the town is marked by landmarks such as the Port Isabel Lighthouse, first lit in 1853 and decommissioned in 1905. Now a state historic site, the tower is open to climb for views of the town, the Gulf, and the surrounding area.

Museums, including the Port Isabel Historical Museum, cover the town's ties to the sea and its settlement by the Spanish and, later, Americans. Next door, the Treasures of the Gulf Museum is more child-friendly, with a focus on the shipwrecks that occurred nearby.

Port Isabel is also the gateway to South Padre Island, known for its beaches and its attractions, including Gravity Park and the Beach Waterpark.

Find Delight on the Gulf Coast

The Gulf Coast has many small towns like these, with their beaches, historic districts, and mild weather, and the region has plenty more. The seven here span four states along the same southern shoreline, each with a character of its own.