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I live in the Nashville, TN area and am considering a family vacation to Gulf Shores, Alabama since that is one of the most direct gulf coast locations from here. I've never been there but I am very familiar with North Padre Island (Corpus Christi, TX) as I lived there for many years and loved it. I can take my family to North Padre but it's about twice as far to drive from here. Can anyone who has been to both places compare them for me? I'd like a vacation spot that's at least as nice as North Padre if not nicer. In considering Gulf Shores, I'm looking for clean and pretty beaches, nice people, great restaurant options (most especially great seafood), affordable and nice condo/townhome rentals that are on or very near the beach, some things for the kids to do (age 7 and 3), family-friendly, and not terribly crowded. If we go, we'll probably start with a long weekend to see if we like it. If we do, we may visit for longer in the future. Can anyone recommend any other nice gulf coast locations as alternative choices? I'd love to consider the Florida panhandle, but I hear it gets much more expensive as soon as you cross into Florida. We'll pay more if we have to, but I'm aiming for less than $100/night, as much less as possible while still having decent quality accommodations. Thanks for any ideas.
The beaches are prettier--sugary white sand vs brown with occasional snakes--as much as I love Texas, Alabama coast (esp Orange Beach) would be my first pick. Mississippi's more casino-oriented. Classic Florida panhandle (Destin-Ft Walton) pretty crowded as well. Pretty much anywhere you go on the "Redneck Riviera" will be fairly crowded. Keep in mind that my knowledge may be dated, as it's been a few years since I was up there. I am pretty much around Texas from Galveston to SPI all the time, though. Texas beaches have a "wilder" or less touristy vibe--except during Spring Break, of course!
I'm from Texas and we ALWAYS go to Gulf Shores. I am married and have an infant. I used to live about an hour from Corpus Christi, and I never had a reason to visit Padre Island.
The beaches are prettier--sugary white sand vs brown with occasional snakes--as much as I love Texas, Alabama coast (esp Orange Beach) would be my first pick. Mississippi's more casino-oriented. Classic Florida panhandle (Destin-Ft Walton) pretty crowded as well. Pretty much anywhere you go on the "Redneck Riviera" will be fairly crowded. Keep in mind that my knowledge may be dated, as it's been a few years since I was up there. I am pretty much around Texas from Galveston to SPI all the time, though. Texas beaches have a "wilder" or less touristy vibe--except during Spring Break, of course!
Ditto Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Fort Morgan areas. I love Texas, but for beaches it's Alabama! Just commercial enough without being too much so as in FL... with many, many stretches of pure white sandy beaches & dunes with clear clean gulf waters! Enjoy!
Funny I lived on North Padre for ten years and when I think back on it, snakes don't come to mind. I'm sure they were part of the habitat, just don't remember seeing that many. Giant flying roaches? Oh yeah, lots of those. Lots of little lizards too.
Yeah, North Padre sand is kind of brownish from what I remember....well, more like beige. I think there's a big difference in the color and cleanliness of the sand from Galveston down to South Padre though. This is from my own memories as well as others I've spoken to. Many think South Padre has the prettiest beaches on the Texas Gulf Coast.
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--as much as I love Texas, Alabama coast (esp Orange Beach) would be my first pick. Mississippi's more casino-oriented. Classic Florida panhandle (Destin-Ft Walton) pretty crowded as well. Pretty much anywhere you go on the "Redneck Riviera"
will be fairly crowded. Keep in mind that my knowledge may be dated, as it's been a few years since I was up there. I am pretty much around Texas from Galveston to SPI all the time, though. Texas beaches have a "wilder" or less touristy vibe--except during Spring Break, of course!
