Mississippi vs Alabama, which deep south state has the best coastline/beaches? (home, restaurants)
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Planning a vacation to the south next year (summer) for the first time and looking to stay in a sizable city, near the beach somewhere, preferably where it's hot/warm. Which state would be ideal for this?
Does Mississippi have good beaches? I feel like I generally hear about Gulf Shores being the first decent beach on the gulf as you head east from TX. I usually fly to Mexico myself..
In the summer there isn't anywhere along the Gulf Coast that isn't hot. Mississippi isn't known for it's beaches and Alabama has Dauphin Island and Gulf Shores. But Alabama only has sixty miles of coastline, why isn't Florida with it's abundance of beaches a part of the question?
I'd go to Gulf Shores, AL or Panama City, FL at least - I agree, throw some Florida in there!
Mississippi isn't known for it's beaches. However, I would offer this alternative. Go down and spend a few days sweating but having a marvelous time in New Orleans (break out your 100 percent linen or at least 100 percent cotton clothes). Then go to Gulfport, MS and see the former home of Jefferson Davis and eat some seafood. Then catch the shuttle (a boat) out to Ship Island off the coast of Mississippi - I believe it leaves at 9 am and 5 pm or something like that. Anyway, it will drop you off on Ship Island and it's a really beautiful state park with some ruins of a prison there and a very nice state park. The dolphins are so tame that they may come right up to you. The water is very clear. The beaches - UNLIKE THE BEACHES ON THE MAINLAND OF MISSISSIPPI - are beautiful.
You might want to be sure to check if the Island is open though - it closes pretty often due to hurricane damage. It's closed now but I think it is scheduled to open March 5, 2022.
If you made thread a poll, Alabama would've won it by a landslide.
This. One of the nicest small towns in the South is there as well, Fairhope. It's on Mobile Bay, not the Gulf. Definitely worth a visit, and several excellent waterside seafood restaurants there.
Location: New Albany, Indiana (Greater Louisville)
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First visit I would stick with Gulf Shores or Orange Beach AL, they are really nice by any standard. I do like MS coast as well and went there last year but the water is browner with a good amount of Mississippi River leaf debris. Because MS beaches are artificially shaped there are far fewer waves and in some areas it's very shallow far out. My favorite coastal town in MS is Bay St Louis, very quaint feel.
Alabama easily. My favorite beach is Gulf Shores, AL. Orange Beach is also nice. The gulf coast beaches of Alabama and Florida Panhandle are absolutely beautiful. Mississippi is not known for its beaches.
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