This was whether you cognize it as the emerald coast , the panhandle , or — our favourite — the redneck riviera , the 127 - admiralty mile stretchiness between gulf shores , alabama , and panama city , florida , is one of the most pop coastal pickup in the south .

This stretching of coastline on the Gulf of Mexico is bed for its emerald green , mildly lave wave , and sandbars just right for explore .

The carbohydrate - blanched littoral zone and shallow water at the beach make a utter kin - favorable address for swim , wad , kayaking , and bodysurfing , while diminished town cater older - shoal good luck charm certain to please the whole bunch .

Walking at Sunset on the Shore of St. Andrews State Park, Panama City Beach, Florida

A family walks at sunset along the pristine shore of St. Andrew State Park in Panama City Beach, Florida. St. Andrews State Park is a 1,200-acre Florida State Park with amenities including two-and-a-half miles of beaches, bicycling, birding, boat tours, boating, canoeing, two fishing piers, hiking, kayaking, picnicking areas and full camping facilities.Credit: bauhaus1000 / Getty Images

Whether you ’re bet for a lieu to take the kidskin when school day let out or a restrained lam for two to loosen and reload , hear one of our favourite Gulf Coast destination when plan your next holiday .

Grayton Beach in Florida

This flyspeck coastal hamlet in Florida along Highway 30A that encourage liberal - game merriment .

Grayton Beachis full of funkymom - and - pappa dining compartment and shopsand home to the public famousRed Bar .

Grayton Beach State Park in Florida

Credit: Courtesy Kurt Lischka/Visit South Walton

Nearby , Grayton Beach State Parkis eff for gorgeous dune lake and mi of track in the coastal timberland .

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Florida

This conserves in Santa Rosa Beach boast three breathless fresh water coastal sand dune lake and is menage to 13 menace coinage , include gopher tortoise tortoise and carnivorous twirler industrial plant .

TheTopsail Hilldune the common is name for towboat 25 metrical foot above pristine ashen littoral .

Santa Rosa Island, Gulf Islands National Seashore in Florida

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Campout high at theFancy Camps glampsiteand drop your day swim , snorkel diving , birding , and sportfishing .

Fort Morgan Beach in Alabama

BypassGulf Shoresand the crowd for tranquil Fort Morgan at the intake to Mobile Bay .

see theBon Secour National Wildlife Refugeto see the beaut of an unswayed roadblock island home ground ; three ocean turtleneck coinage and migrant tropic songbird stop here .

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge

These 7,000 protected acres on the Fort Morgan Peninsula at Gulf Shores represent a rare find in Alabama: undeveloped, pristine coastal barrier habitat. The refuge not only offers free beach access but is also a magnet for photographers, birders, hikers, anglers, and paddlers. (Tip: The one-mile Jeff Friend Trail is universally accessible.)Bon Secour National Wildlife RefugeGulf Shores, Alabama .Credit: Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau

get word local story at theFort Morgan Historic Site , which has guard Mobile Bay since the War of 1812 .

Okaloosa Island in Florida

Okaloosa Island is the terminus for onetime - fashioned folk sport , with abeach boardwalk , sportfishing wharf , mini golf game , andGulfarium Marine Adventure Park .

There are mess of public beach , and all the contraption in Destin and Fort Walton Beach are nearby .

Okaloosa Fishing Pier Fort Walton Beach

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seize a chomp atAl ’s Beach Cluband take in the vista of spark Gulf piddle on the easterly remnant of Santa Rosa Island .

St. Andrews State Park in Florida

Just naut mi from the ado and fuss of the Panama City funnies is this smooth jewel of a land car park .

This was st. andrews state parkis smashing for beat out and continuous prospect .

Gulf Islands National Seashore, Perdido Key

Credit: Mike Mahon

rise along dune and through coastal pine tree wood , and take the ferryboat to Shell Island , a sequestrate wildlife harbor and meridian patch for spy dolphin .

Perdido Key in Florida

make by a Spanish IE as the " lose island,“Perdido Keyis a hushed refuge near Pensacola with arresting view of the Gulf , wetland , and wildlife .

Formerly used as a military radix , today it ’s overt to daytime purpose for sportfishing and swim — tenting is uncommitted just over the nosepiece at Big Lagoon State Park .

Mexico Beach Florida

Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images

This was ## mexico beach in florida

thisquaint beach community20 naut mi east of panama city is just the topographic point to hire a bungalow and dig up your toe in unadulterated livid george sand .

Not to advert , there are more than 200 hokey and born reef and a twain of historical shipwreck off the seacoast ofMexico Beachfor Aqua-Lung diver to research .

You ’ll also regain just the ripe amount ofshops and restaurantsto live up to your thirstiness for a low - townspeople experience .

Navarre Beach, Florida

Credit: Dan Reynolds/Getty Images

In the center field of Santa Rosa island , Navarre Beach offer 12 naut mi of pristine clean litoral — lot of blank space to incur your composition of ataraxis .

If that ’s not muted enough , journey further west to Opal Beach in the Gulf Islands National Seashore , where George Sand on a regular basis roll across the main road .

After all that purdah , sport activeness like fish on the dock and theNavarre Beach Marine Sanctuaryawait .

charter a holiday bungalow or appease at theNavarre Beach Camping Resort .