From Texas to Florida, here are five white, sandy beaches on the Gulf of Mexico, all offering warm Gulf waters to swim in and engage in water sports. The blue waters and neon-colored fish one sees while swimming gives the feeling of being in the tropics, without having to travel all those miles!
Galveston Beach
The farthest West of the five, Galveston beach is on the southeastern edge of Texas, on the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf waters are almost always a pretty, transparent blue and the beaches are soft, white sand. While the waves produce enough swell for kids to have fun body-surfing, skim boarding, or boogie boarding onto the beach, there isn’t anything that will dash them into the Gulf floor.
Mississippi Barrier Islands
While the waters here are not a translucent blue, the Barrier Islands are a fun place to spend the day. Ship Island Excursions takes visitors to the islands by way of a ferry boat in a trip that lasts almost exactly an hour. Dolphins will most likely porpoise along the sides of the ferry, making for great pictures. The islands themselves have beautiful beaches, and the shallow, calmer waters on the Sound side make the Barrier Islands a great place for kids to swim. There is a boardwalk leading past the Civil War era Fort Massachussetts, which can be toured. A snack/drink stand, showers, and beach chairs and umbrellas are all island amenities.
Alabama’s Gulf Shores
The white sand in Gulf Shores is called “barking sand” by the locals because of the noise it makes when people’s feet slide through it. The waters here are usually fairly calm and not too cool. Except for occasional seaweed days, the waters are blue and visitors can see straight to the bottom. Walk the beach for shells, and maybe even find a whole sand dollar! Chairs and umbrellas are available to rent for shade. Banana boat rides, kayaks, and parasailing are all fun options to consider.
Pensacola Beach
Only around an hour and a half east of Gulf Shores, Pensacola Beach lies right over the Alabama/Florida border. It closely resembles Gulf Shores, although the waters here tend to stay clearer for longer periods of time than those of Gulf Shores. There are plenty of activities offered along the beach. For a more adult experience visit the beachside bar and eatery, The Dock, for delicious Bushwhackers that can be ordered with an extra test tube shot!
Panama City Beach
Three hours south of Pensacola, Panama City Beach is on the Gulf side of Florida. Year-round warmer temperatures make this beach great to visit in the spring and early fall as well! St. Andrew’s Cove, an offshoot of Panama City Beach and located in St. Andrew’s State Park, is a great place to take the kids. The cove is protected from high, rough waves of the open Gulf by a circle of rocks. The Cove makes for a great snorkel experience, as the rocks provide a safe-haven for a variety of brightly colored tropical fish, and even schools of graceful stingray.
These five beaches are some of the summer highlights that the Gulf Coast has to offer! Each has its own unique variety of beach fun and marine animals, so be sure not to forget the camera. And definitely don’t forget the sunscreen!
Cheryl Metzger - Cheryl Metzger is a professional pianist who enjoys moonlighting as a writer. She is currently working on a fantasy story for young ...
