Condos on the Gulf Coast

Delicious fresh fish and seafood can be found all over the Gulf Coast. Many restaurants on the Gulf Coast serve fresh fish delivered daily from local fishermen and fisheries.

Cajun cuisine is extremely popular around the Gulf Coast, particularly in New Orleans. Unique to the area, it features a mix of cooking styles and local ingredients, often with seafood. Mulate's restaurant in New Orleans is the self-proclaimed original Cajun restaurant and is a must-try for Gulf Coast visitors.

Jambalaya is one mouthwatering, favorite Cajun dish. Jambalaya is a dish consisting of a mix of rice, vegetables, and different meats. Often, local seafood specialties such as shrimp and crawfish are served in jambalaya. Cajun cuisine is one great way that travelers can experience both the unique cooking and fresh seafood of the Gulf Coast.

Gulf Shores is a particularly family-friendly destination on the Gulf Coast.

Within Gulf State Park you'll find pristine white-sand beaches and calm turquoise water safe for family swimming. There's also a historic pier and several walking trails to make for a fun day out if you need a change of pace from all the other beach activities you have available on a Gulf Shores family vacation. At Gulf State Park, you can also take an exciting zip-line ride over the dunes, play a round of golf, or have a game of beach volleyball.

A great outing with kids in Gulf Shores is a trip to the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, where you'll get up close and personal with kangaroos, lemurs, sloths, and dozens of other furry friends. Or, make the short trip west from Gulf Shores to the Bon Secour National Refuge to watch and learn about native sea turtles and different migratory birds that live in this habitat.

There are lots of other ways to have fun in Gulf Shores. For an educational outing, head to historic Fort Morgan, an impressive 19th-century fortress guarding Mobile Bay with an interesting past. If you're looking for an adrenaline rush, Waterville USA/Escape House is a theme park with rides catering to all ages, as well as seasonal waterpark rides guaranteed to entertain. A number of family-friendly festivals take place at Gulf Shores all year round, from the Hangout Music Festival in May to the National Shrimp Festival in October.

While primarily known for its tranquil and beautiful beaches, the Gulf Coast is also synonymous with great parties, bars, and nightclubs. Visitors to Florida's Gulf Coast shouldn't miss Tampa's premier nightclub Club Prana. Featuring five levels each playing different music genres, and including an open-air, rooftop sky bar, Club Prana has something for everyone.

For a more sophisticated and unique experience, the Hotel Monteleone on Louisiana's Gulf Coast offers a once-in-a-lifetime occasion in the form of the Carousel Bar and Lounge. Named one of the top 20 bars in the world, the Carousel Bar features its namesake rotating bar serving quality cocktails.

On the other hand, for those wanting to get wet, Galveston Island's Float Pool Bar offers a fantastic view of the Texas Gulf Coast, a large variety of cocktails and beers, and a swim-up poolside bar. Many other bars, such as Buoy's Bar, are directly on the beach, offering picturesque settings.

The thousands of miles of coastline along the Gulf Coast feature some of the world's most incredible beaches. Luckily, there are plenty of Gulf Coast beach rentals that allow visitors to take full advantage of the sun and sand.

The beaches on the Gulf Coast are consistently rated among the best beaches in America. Specifically, Siesta Key near Sarasota, Florida was named the number one beach in America in 2015. Its stunning white sands and crystal clear blue waters provides vacationers with unbelievably breathtaking scenery. Furthermore, the calm, shallow waters are perfect to swim and wade in. Siesta Key is also home to a unique event, The Siesta Key Crystal Classic, where the beach is filled with amazing sand castles, sand art, and sand sculptures.

Another Gulf Coast beach often ranking in the top 25 beaches in the United States is Panama City Beach in Florida. Panama City Beach is similarly renowned for its awe-inspiring landscape, white sands, and emerald green waters. The beach includes four piers from which visitors can enjoy the magical scenery. Avid fishers can fish from the pier for unique catches such as red snapper and king mackerel. Panama City Beach also provides opportunities to enjoy many different watersports and water activities. There are plenty of beautiful boating excursions and cruises, diving and snorkeling locations, and more adrenaline-heavy sports such as jet skiing and parasailing.

Galveston Island is another fantastic Gulf Coast beach in Texas. It is home to many music festivals and events that you can enjoy right on the beach. Furthermore, Galveston Island State Park offers many scenic trails, where visitors can feel as one with nature while hiking and birdwatching. Alternatively, Galveston Island beach has a historic pier, Pleasure Pier, which features attractions such as rollercoasters and Ferris wheels, as well as fine dining and shopping options.

As one of the Gulf Coast's largest events, particularly in New Orleans, Mardi Gras is a can't-miss festival for visitors to the region. Taking place every year on "Fat Tuesday," New Orleans and many other Gulf Coast cities explode into parties, festivals, and parades during this time. New Orleans is specifically known for its raucous, city-wide parades and block parties celebrating Mardi Gras.

The Hangout Festival is another large, annual festival famous on the Gulf Coast. Specifically, the Hangout Festival is a music festival located on the beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama. Here, visitors can watch some of the biggest artists in the world perform. The festival features a diverse range of genres and artists, from Stevie Wonder to the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Kendrick Lamar. Gulf Coast vacation rentals allow convenient access to world-renowned events such as Hangout and Mardi Gras.