Five Major Gulf Coast Cities: New Orleans, Houston, Mobile, Tampa, Biloxi

The US Gulf Coast hosts several major metropolitan areas, each with distinct character:

1. New Orleans, Louisiana: Cultural icon—jazz, Creole cuisine, Mardi Gras, historic French Quarter, major port.
2. Houston, Texas: Energy capital, diverse economy, world-class museums, massive port, no zoning.
3. Mobile, Alabama: Deep-water port, Mardi Gras origin, antebellum architecture, USS Alabama battleship.
4. Tampa, Florida: Beaches (Clearwater nearby), Busch Gardens, Ybor City historic district, growing tech/finance hub.
5. Biloxi, Mississippi: Casino resorts, Gulf Islands National Seashore, seafood industry, Keesler AFB.

Together, they form an economic and cultural arc from the Mississippi Delta to the Florida peninsula.