making our way around the gulf of Mexico

 Hello Gulf of Mexico:  Gulf Shores, AL & Biloxi, MS

Born from our desire to see all fifty states, my friend Jenny and I embarked on a three state road trip from Panama City, FL to Gulf Shores, AL to Biloxi, MS.  The cities span only a 4 hour stretch of road, but we spent a long weekend surveying the beaches, dive bars, and local delicacies of the deep south.  

Stop number one was the spring break, beach town, of Gulf Shores, Alabama.  We spent most of our time on the white sand beaches, soaking up the sun and cooling off in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico.  Nights were spent dancing at the neighborhood beach bars, fraternizing with the locals.  A favorite stop for handmade dessert was Sweetie Pies, where we had chocolate chip cookie that were bigger than the plates and the famous strawberry shortcake.  See more notable Gulf Shores restaurants here.  

Next stop on our Gulf Coast tour was Biloxi, Mississippi.  Our trip here was less spring break and more coastal cool.  We walked the beaches, stopping at various piers to feed the seagulls and watch the local fishermen.  We visited the first cast-iron lighthouse of the south, Biloxi Lighthouse, which was constructed all the way back in 1848.  Out of character for our fisherman vibes, we stayed at the Imperial Palace Hotel and spent time at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.  The best dining options for Biloxi can be found here as we were young and on a budget and probably didn't spend the time to eat the best local food in the region (Miller Light and a Hard Rock hot dog = dinner back in my early 30s!).  

While I don't claim that these touristy beach towns gave me the real impression of life in the south, I did enjoy my time exploring these meridional states.  The United States is so diverse and I'll never tire of exploring my own backyard.