For the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure, a weekend on the Gulf Coast is just the ticket. Visitors can recharge in one of these six picturesque coastal towns, including Port, St. Joe, Gulf Shores and Ocean Springs. Relax on pristine beaches with soft, white sand, where visitors can dip their toes in turquoise waters while sipping an ice-cold margarita. Dive into fresh seafood and enjoy outdoor activities like kayaking, fishing and beachcombing. Stay at a historic inn, luxury resort or charming bed and breakfast with stunning ocean views. The Gulf Coast’s relaxed atmosphere, natural beauty and Southern hospitality make it an ideal destination for a 2024 getaway.
Port St. Joe, Florida
Port St. Joe, located on St. Joseph’s Bay in Florida, is known for its beautiful pristine beaches and friendly atmosphere. Dubbed the “Scallop Capital of the World,” the small town is a popular destination for self-proclaimed “scallop collectors” who collect scallops using snorkeling or scuba gear from July to September. Other water activities in Port St. Joe include booking a fishing charter, taking a scenic boat tour with a local operator like Salty Fish Excursions, or taking an ecotour with Fun Charters around Port St. Joe, Indian Pass, and Mexico Beach. Or simply rent a kayak to paddle around St. Joseph Bay for a few hours.
Check into the historic inn in the heart of downtown Port St. Joe at The Port Inn and Cottages, a boutique hotel within walking distance to historic downtown shops and restaurants like Sisters Bistro and Krazyfish Grille. Pharologists (or lighthouse enthusiasts) will want to visit the iconic Cape San Blas Lighthouse, originally built in 1848 to guide ships through the Gulf of Mexico and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Gulf Shores, Alabama
Gulf Shores, Alabama is a popular destination on the Gulf Coast and is known for its family-friendly beaches and attractions, so if you’re traveling with kids for the weekend, Gulf Shores is the perfect place for a family trip. Waterville USA is a combination water and amusement park with waterslides, a lazy river, go-karts, mini golf, and two themed escape rooms where families and friends have 60 minutes to find their way out. Other family-oriented activities include the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, home to 118 species of animals including giraffes, lemurs, kangaroos, tigers, and more, and Pirate’s Island Adventure Golf.
Spend the weekend at Turquoise Place, where traveling with kids is a breeze. The resort organizes kids’ activities, a 300-foot waterslide, a brand new splash pool, a putting green, and more. Located on the white sand beaches of Orange Beach, Alabama, the resort is home to one of the largest observation wheels in the Southeastern United States on The Wharf. Come after dark to experience the Spectra Laser Light Experience show or catch a show at the 10,000-seat Wharf Amphitheater. This open-air music venue hosts artists like Luke Bryan, Post Malone, and of course, Alabama.
Cedar Key, Florida
Cedar Key is a quiet island community, an off-the-beaten-path town known for its serene atmosphere and stunning views of the Gulf Coast. It is also Florida’s oldest port. It is known as the site of the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge – 13 islands along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico – established in 1929 to protect native and migratory birds during a time when feathers were highly valuable for making ladies’ hats. Today, thousands of herons, pelicans, cormorants and spoonbills nest in the Cedar Keys. The refuge is only accessible by boat, so visitors can book a private tour of the islands or a transfer with Cedar Key Boat Rentals & Island Tours and spend the day birdwatching. Stay at the historic Island Hotel & Restaurant, one of the oldest hotels in Florida.
Dock Street is the heart of Cedar Key. Visitors here will find streets lined with colorful buildings that house restaurants like Steamers Clam Bar & Grill and coastal-themed shops like For Shore and Salt Marsh Collection. This small town loves its festivals and hosts its annual Cedar Key Seafood Festival on the third weekend of October. From November 1-3, 2024, the town will host the 9th annual Cedar Key Pirate Invasion Festival, where pirates set up camp in the town park and take over the town to plunder and rob for charity.
Fairhope, Alabama
Known for its charming downtown, artistic atmosphere and scenic views of Mobile Bay, Fairhope is a delightful town with a fascinating history. Founded as a utopian experiment in the 19th century, Fairhope has had a reputation as an arts community for over 100 years. A testament to the town’s contribution to the arts is the 12th annual Fairhope Film Festival, held each year on the second weekend of November – this year’s festival will be held November 7-10, 2024.
No visit to Fairhope is complete without taking a stroll through the Fairhope French Quarter, home to the largest crepe myrtle tree, a symbol of Alabama’s heritage. The downtown area is filled with unique shops like the Fairhope Store, Fairhope Soap Company, Dr. Music Records and restaurants, with a courtyard reminiscent of New Orleans. Plan a stay at the famous Grand Hotel Resort & Spa, originally built as a luxury hotel in 1847 but used as a military hospital and then a U.S. military training facility during the Civil War. Today, the resort is known throughout the South as the Queen of Southern Resorts. It sits on 550 acres and includes two 18-hole championship golf courses, ten tennis courts, eleven pickleball courts, croquet lawns, pools, a spa and more.
Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Ocean Springs is another artistic coastal town with colorful galleries, charming cafes, and historic streets. It is home to the Walter Anderson Museum of Art, which showcases the artist’s paintings, drawings, carvings, and writings about the natural beauty of the Gulf Coast. Visitors can also discover Shearwater Pottery, founded by the Anderson family, and tour the studio, learn about its history, and purchase unique items. Another stop on any Ocean Springs art tour should be The Art House, a cooperative that attracts art lovers from across the United States.
Thanks to its proximity to Gulf Islands National Seashore, the pretty coastal town has plenty of activities for outdoor adventurers, such as stunning beaches, hiking trails, and birdwatching and kayaking opportunities in the Davis Bayou area, where visitors can view bayous and wildlife. Book a weekend retreat at Gulf Hills Hotel & Resort, tucked among the oak trees along Fort Bayou. The historic hotel opened its doors in 1927 with 66 guest rooms and a golf course, then transformed into Mississippi’s first working dude ranch. The hotel once hosted Elvis Presley, who always stayed at Villa No. 9.
Dunedin, Florida
Thirty minutes west of Tampa lies Dunedin, a charming coastal town known for its unusual Scottish roots. The name “Dunedin” is the Gaelic word for Edinburgh, the city in Scotland. Today, the city is twinned with Stirling, Scotland, and Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada, and hosts the popular Dunedin Highland Games & Festival each year.
Visitors to Dunedin should check out Honeymoon Island State Park – one of Florida’s most popular state parks. The park offers more than four miles of pristine beaches to explore and is one of the last remaining pristine pine forests, recognizable by its undisturbed, mature pine stands. The forests provide a habitat for eagles, ospreys, great horned owls, gopher tortoises, raccoons and armadillos. From Honeymoon Island, adventurers can also take a small ferry to nearby Caladesi, one of the few pristine barrier islands along the Gulf Coast.
Make the historic Fenway Hotel your home for the weekend. Dating back to the early 1920s, the hotel was a destination hotel for wealthy guests, then a training center for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Located close to downtown Dunedin and the bustling waterfront, the historic building with its vintage design and rooftop bar is now a popular hotel, bar and food court with weekly live jazz performances.
There’s no better way to relax, unwind and recharge than to spend a weekend in a small Gulf Coast town. Consider Port St. Joe, Florida, famous for its pristine beaches, scallop shells and the historic Cape San Blas Lighthouse, or take the family to Gulf Shores, Alabama, and keep them busy with visits to water parks and zoos. Cedar Key, Florida, is a quiet island known for its wildlife refuge and historic inn, while Fairhope, Alabama, offers an artsy downtown and the luxurious Grand Hotel Resort & Spa. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter where visitors land; they can’t go wrong with a two-day trip to one of these pretty coastal towns.
