Plus, many Gulf Coast shorelines sit close to budget-friendly accommodations, attractions and dining venues, making them terrific choices for a cheap beach trip ... to its calm, shallow lagoon.

Landing in the top spot is Avila Beach in California. Tucked into a cove on the state's Central Coast, Avila Beach boasts ...

Not every sandy white beach with crystal clear water allows booze, and one city even bans alcohol one month of the year ...

Watching phytoplankton illuminate the world's shores is an otherworldly experience. With a bit of luck and perseverance, ...

Southern Living has highlighted one Mississippi beach town as having the whitest sand in the state. Biloxi, on the coast, is a top ... and parts are in the Gulf Islands National Seashore.

With the warm weather of spring emerging, people will start flocking to Gulf Coast beaches with the essentials: sunscreen, bathing suits and towels. Many will also have alcoholic beverages ...