How to Find a Quiet Beach on the Gulf Coast

Beaches along the Gulf of Mexico offer clear water, white sand and a chance to get away from it all. Follow these steps to find a beach that's quiet as well as beautiful on your next visit to this region.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Consider North Lido Beach if you're in or around Sarasota, Fla. There are three beaches on Lido Key; of them, the north beach is the most remote. There's little parking and no lifeguards, but also very few crowds.
2. Find quiet in Orange Beach, Ala., at Alabama Point. There's a long stretch of sand, big dunes and plenty of room to stretch out by the clear, blue gulf.
3. Travel to Port Aransas in southeast Texas and check out Mustang Island State Park. Despite its proximity to bustling Padre Island and Corpus Christi, the island park remains quiet and offers more than five miles of beaches in a natural, uncluttered setting.
4. Head southwest from Tallahassee, Fla., to St. George Island State Park. Bounded by the Gulf of Mexico on one side and Apalachicola Bay on the other, the island offers more than nine miles of beaches.
5. Take a boat to either Anclote Key Preserve State Park or Shell Key. Located near St. Petersburg, Fla., these islands are home to dozens of birds. Anclote Key features a picturesque 1887 lighthouse.

Tips & Warnings

• Beaches are generally less crowded on weekdays rather than weekends, and are quietest in the mornings and evenings.
• Bring food and water with you; part of what makes these beaches quiet is a lack of eating establishments.
• Many of the quieter beaches don't have lifeguards on duty, so take extra care and swim with a buddy.

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