With Florida dominating the south eastern coastline of the United States, it would be easy to overlook the potential of a beach holiday in Alabama. After all, when we think of Alabama we tend to think more of its inland waterways and alligators rather than crystal clear seas. However, Alabama does have its own stretch of coastline and Gulf Shores is one of its premier beach resorts.

Gulf Shores is situated on the Gulf of Mexico which means you can look forward to warm waters that are a pleasure to swim in. The beaches are soft and welcoming and this combination means it is perfect for a family beach holiday. As well as sunbathing, swimming, and making sandcastles, you may also wish to hire a boogie board from one of the surf shops for some fun amongst the breakers, or perhaps you might decide to try some kite flying. The list of activities that can be indulged includes surfing, parasailing, jet skiing, kayaking, and banana boat rides. Another popular Gulf Shores attraction is sea angling. Opportunities exist to land a big haul either from shore or boat and there are plenty of charter trips for those wanting to try out some deep sea fishing.

Alabama is a fascinating state, full of history and charisma, and it’s well worth prying yourself away from its pristine beaches to check out some of its other attractions. One place that will appeal especially to families with small kids is a visit to Alligator Alley. Based in Summerdale, Alligator Alley is home to lots of rescued alligators and allows you to get close to these wonderful natives of Alabama and observe them being fed!

Another recommended attraction is the Baldwin County Heritage Museum. Alabama has a rich history from the early Native American years to periods of French, Spanish, and British rule and then through to the story of the American Civil War. The Baldwin County Heritage Museum provides a window into the past lives of Alabama’s residents and makes for fascinating viewing.

Among the busiest tourist spots in Texas, Port Aransas is a small city, but incredibly popular due to its excellent fishing and beaches. It's based on small Mustang Island, just off the Gulf Coast. Port Aransas can make the perfect location for a family holiday, but as it is also a popular destination for college students on spring break, you may want to check your dates before you book! A humid sub-tropical climate similar to South Florida is just one of the regions attractions, but the town's small size and the popularity of its beach means that hotel prices can be very high indeed.

The beach at Port Aransas is one of its main draws, and you will probably spend at least a few days here, especially as you're allowed to drive cars and even park (if you have a permit) on the 18 miles of beach! Along with sunbathing and reading a good book, the beach provides opportunities for a wide range of water sports, such as water skiing, parasailing, surfing and windsurfing. You can also perfect your swing while the kids are swimming by trying out the course at the Newport Dunes Golf Club. It's a challenging course, and the views are truly spectacular out over the sea. But in addition to these predictable holiday pursuits, the authorities have also been aiming to build the city's tourism revenues by promoting eco-tourism, so there are also a great many bird hides, kayak paddling trails and there is also a large nature reserve under construction which will soon provide opportunities for hiking and wildlife spotting.