Share the article
Look, we get it.
The Gulf Coast can be fickle depending on where you are and when you visit.
That said, Summer is prime time to experience many of Florida’s shiny blue waters and several small coastal towns and island hideaways in the Gulf, which are not often promoted as regular vacation destinations.
If you ask the locals, they’d like to keep it that way, but honestly, I wouldn’t be doing my job guarding some highly underrated sunny shores that will surely draw you back if you only knew they existed.
Maybe you’ll just throw some extra cash in the tip jar to keep the locals happy and be welcomed with open arms as you lounge by the sea and tuck into ‘frozen concoctions’ in some of the South’s most authentic escapes.
Here are the top 4 Travel Off Path beach destinations on the Gulf Coast that locals wish we didn’t know about:
4) Ship Island, Mississippi
As Mississippi continues its sudden rise to fame and drives vacationers away from Florida and Gulf Shores, there is an oasis of quiet that even those who flock to Biloxi often miss.
That would be Ship Island, yes, a true clear-water paradise in Mississippi and easily accessible from nearby Gulfport (where the Mississippi Coast Airport is located).
Operational seasonalbut always active in the summer, you can hop aboard one ferry to this sun-drenched island with wide-open beaches, but minimal shade (pack accordingly).
If you are a history buff, you can take a tour from a park ranger and learn about the significance of Fort Massachusettsthe island’s historic brick fort dating back to the Civil War era.
While even formerly nameless towns like Pass Christian are starting to emerge, Ship Island remains a rare escape from the mainland’s brown waters and growing crowds, which is precisely why tourism officials want to promote it, and locals may think twice before sharing it.
3) Port Aransas, Texas
Texas and beaches aren’t always synonymous with each other, but that’s because the beaches worth seeing (ahem, not Galveston) are a little harder to get to.
Corpus Christi, for example, has fewer flights than I have pickle jars in my refrigerator, the most common gateway to Port Aransas, a charming barrier island town about a half-hour away.
Texans know and love “Port A,” as they say, but outsiders in neighboring states typically don’t make the trek, as a road trip in the Lone Star State seems like it will never end, especially if you choose to stop at Buc-ee’s.
Maybe if you get one, you’ll never leave it behind Beaver nuggets…
Snacks aside, once you arrive in Texas’ most beautiful beach destination, don’t expect the murky waters of Galveston—quite the opposite.
Think clear water most days with the beach as parking (as long as you get a parking space). beach permit).
2) Holly Beach, Louisiana
We know what you’re thinking: “Wait, Louisiana has beaches?”
Yes, it’s true.
There aren’t many to choose from, but there are a few worth checking out that don’t reflect the, well, bayou backdrops of the Bayou State as you might imagine.
We’re not saying Holly Beach is the Maldives, but we are saying this is Louisiana’s biggest surprise for a sunny vacation.
As someone who lives in California, I can’t keep track of how many health-conscious friends I know, but once you’re here, you won’t be able to resist your craving for soulful Cajun seafood fresh from the source.
This is Louisianans’ favorite destination for an out-of-state getaway, but as long as you’re respectful, support the local scene, and maybe exaggerate some fishing stories, they can handle some new faces.
1) Nokomis, Florida
I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: Nokomis is Florida’s best-kept secret and the only beach paradise on the East Coast that draws me away from the West Coast.
But the locals here guard it like they’re contracted to Fort Knox, like they’re shooing you away to nearby Siesta Key and Clearwater hoping you don’t realize that Nokomis is just as great, if not better, if only for its authentic coastal vibe.
Here, tiki bars still feel like neighborhood hangouts, and finding a front-row parking spot on the beach, even in summer, isn’t a problem.
The shores of Nokomis have white sand and snorkelable waters, especially along the jetty, where sharks have been sighted occasionally, but that’s all the more reason to keep your toes in the sand and join in the local darling drum circles on Wednesday and Saturday evenings to enjoy beautiful sunsets.
