Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Rimming the Gulf of Mexico, the coastlines of Florida, Alabama and Mississippi hold many attractions for residents and visitors alike. Between Pensacola, Florida, and New Orleans, Louisiana, the variety of wildlife and nature preserves, historical sites, amusement parks and entertainment centers provides a sense of discovery for any traveler visiting the Gulf of Mexico
Located southwest of Pensacola, the Gulf Islands National Seashore begins in Gulf Breeze, Florida, and travels west to Ocean Springs, Mississippi. The national park is open all year. Visitors can walk along the bright white beaches or bike on the Live Oak Bicycle Trail. Programs for school-aged children and teens offer a combination of fun and education. For history enthusiasts, the park contains many forts, dating from the Spainish Bateria De San Antonio of 1797, through the American Civil War, to World War II.
With most of the park being coastal marshes, a main attraction is the wildlife. Sharp-eyed visitors can see birds such as herons and ospreys, or reptiles such as sea turtles and various types of amphibians. Mammals on both land and sea make their homes in the protected natural area. The land contains raccoons, beavers, foxes and the protected beach mouse, while the watery areas are home to river otters, manatees, seals, dolphins and whales.
Gulf Islands National Seashore
Florida District Park Headquarters
1801 Gulf Breeze Parkway
Gulf Breeze, FL 32563
850-934-2600
nps.gov/archive/guis/extended/FLA/indexFL.htm
Gulf Islands National Seashore
Mississippi District
3500 Park Road
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
228-875-9057, extension 100
nps.gov/guis
Between Pensacola, Florida, and Pascagoula, Mississippi, the coastline of Alabama faces the Gulf of Mexico, with the biggest city being Gulf Shores. This resort destination consists of the sugar-white sand and bright green waters famous to this part of the Gulf. The town also serves as gateway to Orange Beach to the east, and Fort Morgan to the west. Further west is a ferry to Dauphine Island. This 30-mile stretch of beach consists of hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts and camping. The many attractions compliment visitors' goals of recreation, relaxation and entertainment.
In Orange Beach, Adventure Island amusement park offers a roller coaster, water rides, prehistoric wetlands, alligators and pirates. The Orange Beach Indian and Sea Museum displays artifacts from Native American and maritime history, with local families adding to the collections of antique school and fishing memorabilia.
Ten miles west is Gulf Shores. Here, the Pirates Island Adventure Golf provides two 18-hole golf courses, with tropical plants, canons and a pirate ship. Nearby Waterville blends amusement park rides with a wave pool and lazy river. Zooland Animal Park has a natural setting as home to 250 jungle and tropical animals.
West of Orange Beach is Fort Morgan, with Fort Morgan Historical Site. Visitors can explore the brick fort used during the Civil War and Spanish-American War, up to World Wars I and II. The Mobile Bay Ferry runs between Fort Morgan and Dauphin Island, where attractions include the 160-acre Audubon Bird Sanctuary and pre-Civil War Fort Gaines, with cannons, a blacksmith shop and a gift shop. All the attractions have the backdrop scenes of beaches and the Gulf of Mexico.
Alabama Tourism Department
401 Adams Avenue, Suite 126
PO Box 4927
Montgomery, AL 36103-4927
800-252-2262
334-242-4169
alabama.travel/contact
The adjacent cities of Biloxi and Gulfport sit in the center of the Mississippi coastline on the Gulf of Mexico. Along this stretch of the gulf, casinos and resorts thrive alongside shopping, golfing, fishing and relaxing. One of the area's casinos is the Beau Rivage, with rooms, dining and entertainment. Travelers to this region often decide to spend their time on a boat, fishing the gulf waters, or sitting on the beach for the sun and waves.
Cultural and history buffs can find many museums and antebellum homes and sites. Visitors interested in the Civil War can travel to Beauvoir, the home of Jefferson Davis. Heavily damaged during Hurricane Katrina, the home has since been restored. Another attraction is the day trip to Ship Island to see Fort Massachusetts, both a Union fort during the Civil War and later a prison for Confederate prisoners.
Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
875 Beach Boulevard
Biloxi, Mississippi 39530
228-386-7111
beaurivage.com/hotel
Beauvoir, The Jefferson Davis Home
2244 Beach Boulevard
Biloxi, Mississippi 39530
228-388-4400
beauvoir.org